Renting Lenses/Equipment

As I'm not wonderfully rich, I thought I would look into renting a lens or 2... or 3. I was a bit disappointed when I saw that all the places I could find want the whole value of the lens as deposit If I could afford that I would buy the lens anyway!

400 f2.8 = £4999 deposit
85 f1.2 = £1300 deposit and then the rental cost in advance!

If I go down to my local hire car centre and ask for a 5 series BMW they don't ask me for a £30,000 deposit!?!

Does anyone know where I can hire equipment with a normal deposit? maybe £200-£500.

Peace.

That's normal practice here across the pond...

When you rent a vehicle, you must have car insurance....that's what takes care of the replacement cost of the car if you trash it

Hence the reason for not having to fork over the replacement cost of the vehicle....

I know what you're saying, but _usually_ people have enough room on credit cards to cover the cost of a replacement lens...

I don't

I would be slightly suspicious of a vendor who doesn't want a downpayment matching the current market value of the lens you're renting.

Unless they're liquid beyond belief!

Just a thought....

Tom D

Where I am, the hire car company provide the insurance, all you put down is £500 deposit which covers the excess (that's the point of an excess, isn't it?). Why don't other companies do that with other hire items?

Oh well, I guess I'll just have to save more money. I don't even have a £5000 limit on my cards! I've spent half of that anyway!

adamlc wrote in post #3231483
Where I am, the hire car company provide the insurance, all you put down is £500 deposit which covers the excess (that's the point of an excess, isn't it?). Why don't other companies do that with other hire items?

Oh well, I guess I'll just have to save more money. I don't even have a £5000 limit on my cards! I've spent half of that anyway!

Since we're talking 2 different countries, you got me!

Just another thought....

I've seen "rent to buy" where you rent a lens and work out a payment plan with the vendor based on fair market value of the lens; not full retail price, or new price...

Trust me...I definitely commiserate with ya!

Tom D