Friday's Featured Resource- Lens Rentals


When I was planning my trip to Rwanda this last spring, I was so excited to finally be taking a camera that could go the distance. I knew from my prior experiences in South Africa that I needed a "real" camera and the right lenses to have any chance at all at capturing the magic of such an expansive and exotic place. When you get the one chance of your lifetime to gather the Cape of Good Hope in your lens, you really don't want to be wielding your adorable Elph. Trust me.
But. All I had in the canvas backpack that doubles as camera bag was my Canon Rebel XTi and one really nice portrait lens. That's it. I considered buying another lens, but with all my other travel expenses, I couldn't even fathom taking on one more purchase. Especially when my trip was funded in large part by my blog readers.
So. What to do?
Lucky for me, I had my favorite shutter sister on my speed dial, so I called that girl up and asked her to advise. Do I bite the bullet, find a credit card that has $600-1000 left on it for the lens I really needed for this trip or suck it up and stick to those amazing children's faces?
Neither, my sage sister replied. Rent a lens, my friend.
Rent a lens??? I had never heard of such a thing, but there I was one hour later, exchanging email with the incredibly kind Roger from Lens Rentals, an very friendly and efficient Nashville based internet company with a big heart and all the help and advice I needed. For roughly $100, I could not only rent the $1000 lens of my dreams for a few weeks, but I could take it to Africa worry-free because of LensRentals extremely reasonable insurance program. Roger then talked me into the perfect lens for me (a wide angle for shots like the one above) and I had it fedexed to my house in plenty of time for my trip. Return postage and cushy packaging included. Easy as pie.
Have you ever rented a lens before? If so, tell us your favorite resources and lens to rent in the comments below. If not, give Roger a try and let him know this shutter sister sent you.