Not sure if you want to buy? Rent first and try!
Readers regularly email me asking which lens to buy out of several choices. While I address this topic in as many ways as I can in my reviews, sometimes there is no substitute for trying a lens yourself.
The solution: rent the lens at a reasonable cost, typically about 5-7% of the new-lens price at LensRentals (shipping might raise that slightly for short rentals). With sales tax alone at 9.25% here in CA, that seems like a no-brainer if you have any doubts about whether a particular lens if for you. With the convenient to/from shipping, there’s no hassle.
LensRentals rents Nikon, Canon, Zeiss, Leica and other brands, both lenses and cameras. When you decide to buy, please give our trusted sponsor B&H Photo your business using the links on this site, thank you.
Here’s something to make it easier: I’ve arranged for a 5% discount for diglloyd.com readers: use . LensRentals now helps support this site with their ad in this blog and elsewhere, a win/win for all concerned. Give them a try, I and I think you’ll be pleased.
I’ve used LensRentals.com on a numerous occasions when I need fast and reliable delivery of a lens for testing (they also rent cameras). They are located near the Memphis, TN shipping hub, and so they can get things out quite late in the day as well.
Their policies and prices are very straightforward, and the return via the pre-paid return label means you can drop the lens off for return anywhere you like— even if you’re on a trip.