Being a filmmaker, especially during the earlier phase, is difficult. While you might have a lot of amazing ideas, you won’t have the right equipment to picturize it in most cases. After all, not having the right gear can take its toll in your career sometimes.
So, how do you take care of this issue?
Well, if you don’t have the money to buy a piece of gear, you may try renting it. There are a lot of people out there who are offering their equipment for a small price.
Hence, you can always take it from them, pay the required amount, and give it back when the duration is over. However, here are a few things that you need to know in this aspect.
Will Renting a Camera be Affordable?
Well, yes. When you compare it to buying a camera, renting will always be a much affordable option no matter how you look at it. Heck, in this case, you’ll probably have to spend 1/20th of the money you had to use while purchasing a full-fledged camera model.
However, here’s the thing.
According to philadelphia camera rental, the cost of renting a piece of camera equipment might depend on what you’re asking for. For example, the price of the lens will be much higher than a LCD screen or something as such. Also, the quality of lenses might play a role in this case too.
So, no matter what you are renting, don’t forget to ask the renter about specific charges as soon as you can. This way, you can create your financial plan in your own way.
What About the Duration of the Rental?
The rental duration of the camera equipment will entirely depend on the organization or renter you are working with. For example, some people might proffer you their tool for a whole week while the others may let you borrow the same for three days.
In any case, please remember, the price you are paying for the equipment might also depend on the duration. So, let’s say, if you keep the item for seven days, you will need to pay much more than what you had to offer during a three-day duration.
What is the Process of Renting a Camera?
Nowadays the process of renting a camera usually happens online. If you want, you can always go to the official website of the renter and –
- Search for the equipment you are seeking for your purpose.
- Check the price (it should be written below) and click on the ‘add’ sign.
- Once it’s added to your cart, you can go there and press on the ‘buy’ option.
- Now, you will need to add a billing address where the equipment will be sent.
- If you are done with it, all you need to do is to pay the price and that’s that.
Most people tend to ask for credit card payment while renting their camera. However, you may also be able to use a debit card or a ‘cash on delivery’ option with some people.
The best thing here is that you can ask the equipment to be delivered wherever you want. They will not ask for any additional money, as long as they are capable of delivering there.
When Should You Rent a Camera?
Honestly, there’s no specific time to rent a camera. Yes if you have a huge job to take care of, it might be best for you to turn to a better and more capable option.
However, that’s not always the case.
If you want, you can also rent a camera to try out a new gear before buying it. This way, you’ll have an idea about how you need to use the product properly.
Some people also consider renting to practice using a camera. It may be because they’re trying to understand how a camera works or they simply want to click a few pics during their journey.
So the aspect of renting a camera is quite subjective and depends on the person. In any case, we think it’s always better to rent a camera before buying it to check if it’s suitable for you or not.
Should You Lend a Camera Lens?
That’s literally the most common thing people rent. And there are two reasons behind it.
Firstly, the lens of the camera is considered to be the most important and expensive part of the entire equipment. Therefore, it might be best to rent it rather than purchasing it.
Secondly, not every type of lens works in the same manner. Their way of capturing light as well as offering contrast are different. By renting, you can understand what’s more suitable for you.
In any case, when you are renting a camera lens, always look for something that’s a little more compatible to you rather than going experimental.
After all, it’s always best to use something that you know about rather than going for an option that you have no idea about. This way, you’ll at least know how to make the most out of a lens before splashing your cash on it. However, again, it depends entirely on your preference.
So, go for whatever you want.
What Should You Ask Before Renting a Camera?
You should never rent a camera blindly. Always ask questions. It might be related to the camera or some of the policies they follow regarding their renting services.
For example, if this is your first time renting a camera, you should ask about –
- What is the price of renting an entire camera?
- How does the expense look if you want to get something more specific, like a lens?
- Does the company have any additional pricing policy?
- What will happen if you fail to return the camera within the asked duration?
- How much do you have to pay if you lose or break the equipment?
These are some of the common questions that you should ask before renting a camera. It has to be enquired before you get the camera, though. Or else, if something happens to the tool, you’ll be in grave danger.