Renting a Lens Before You Buy, or For When you Need It — LensRentals.com
Our preferred rental store
When I need a lens or a camera body in a hurry, I turn to LensRentals.com. Their service is outstanding, and there’s no beating the convenience of just putting the lens back into the box when done, and attaching the return label.
See my 10-page review of the Coastal Optics 60mm f/4 UV-VIS-IR APO macro, which LensRentals.com is now renting.
Not sure you’ll like a particular lens or camera body for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Leica, Hasselblad or Olympus or Panasonic? Rent it first before you buy.
LensRentals.com has an interesting article on filter quality.
See my 23 pages on Filters that includes general advice as well as spectral transmission graphs.
Reader Scot M writes
I just wanted to reiterate how helpful it was to learn about LensRentals.com from your site. Their service is great and the lens range is excellent. They not only saved me literally hundreds of dollars (maybe even over a grand) but also being able to rent several different tele lenses finally allowed me to track down the infuriating focusing-screen problem with my D700. I don't know how long or how much it would have cost (in money and sanity!) otherwise.
The only downside... I have been absolutely lusting after a Nikkor 135mm f/2 DC ever since I rented one, but I just can't quite bring myself to do it!
DIGLLOYD: Trying a lens can satisfy an urge to buy either way, potentially saving you a lot of money. Not to mention renting lenses that might really only be needed for a one-time trip.
