How Can Renting Camera Lenses Improve Your Photography?

We’re going to let you in on a little secret: A new camera lens can improve your photography much more than a new camera.

Yes, really! 

If you’re not quite sure which lenses suit your style or you can’t squeeze shiny-new lenses into your budget, consider renting them. The team at Ted’s Cameras share 4 reasons why you might want to hire camera lenses before buying them.

Camera lenses can be an investment, and renting gives you the opportunity to test them out in ‘real life’ settings before committing to a purchase. Though there’s always a market for second-hand gear, it’s easier – and often, cheaper – to simply return rented camera lenses if they don’t suit your style. At Ted’s, our 14-day exchange policy applies to our rental program, too, so you can swap your lenses for something else if you’ve played around with them a little and you know they’re not going to work out. 

Pro Tip: Schedule your rental to line up with a trip or event where you’ll be using the camera lenses a lot. This will help you to get a feel of the camera lenses, and how they perform in different lighting situations and for different subjects.

In the photography world, gear acquisition syndrome is a real thing! For many photographers, nothing beats trying out a new toy, and figuring out if it should be a permanent addition to their kit. Whether you’re a professional photographer or a newbie, renting camera lenses can help you to experiment and develop new skills. Instead of dealing with old or unexciting equipment, a rental can reignite your interest in photography and inspire you to get out in the field.

It can be hard to justify buying a lens that you don’t need on a regular basis. Enter: rental lenses. When you need a specialty lens for just a few days, weeks or months, it’s a smart move to rent them. Let’s say you’re going on a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife safari. The photographer in you will probably want to pack a super telephoto lens to capture the details of exotic animals in the distance, but if you won’t use that lens in your everyday life, you might not want to drop thousands of dollars on one. The same goes for specialty lenses like fish-eye, macro and tilt-shift lenses. Like almost anything you rent, the cost of renting camera gear is typically much lower than the cost of buying it.

Pro Tip: If you’re just starting out, you’re most likely still developing your photographic style.

Our program has a minimal rental time of six months (and a maximum of three years!), so it’s great for dabbling in various types of photography to see what sticks. It’s a fun process. And if you’ve been behind the camera for a while, think of trying new lenses as a creative challenge!

Have you been commissioned for an event like a wedding, concert or sports game? Rent a lens or two for backup – just in case things don’t go your way on the day, or something happens to your original lens. You can also turn to rentals when your main gear is out for repair. That way, you can keep working while you wait for the repairs to be completed.

Pro Tip: If you fall madly in love with a lens, you can apply to buy it at any time. You don’t need to wait till the six months is up to make it your own.

With so many great reasons to rent a camera lens, the trickiest thing is picking which lens you want to try out first! So where should you start?  

These are the bestselling camera lenses in the shop right now:

The best lens for beginners: Canon 50mm f1.8 STM

This budget-friendly nifty-fifty is an awesome alternative to the zoom lenses that come with most entry-level DSLRs. Thanks to its longer focal length, this prime lens is perfect when exploring shallow depths of field and bokeh - best for  shooting close up shots and portraits.

The STM motor locks in a fast, smooth autofocus - giving you sharp, crisp stills and video sure to impress.

The best lens for advanced photographers: Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f2.8E ED VR FX

A step up from your standard zoom lens, this Nikon lens boasts the brand’s high-quality finishes and has a classic 24-70mm zoom range. It’s designed for FX format Nikon DSLRs, but it can also be used on DX format cameras, too. 

The constant f2.8 aperture and built-in stabilisation mean it works well in all lighting situations. With these specs, the Nikon AF-S can adapt to whatever you’re shooting, from portraits and landscapes to weddings and architecture.

The best lens for pro photographers: Canon 70-200mm f2.8 L IS III

This is one of the best-loved lenses in the high-performance Canon L series, and for good reason. It has a versatile 70-200m focal length that can frame a range of scenes, plus a constant f2.8 aperture and USM motor for fast and accurate autofocus. 

While the telephoto lens is a jack-of-all-trades, you’ll find it shines brightest when shooting sporting games, weddings and event photography.

Sold on the benefits of hiring before buying? Check out our online rental program with Studio19, or drop by your nearest Ted’s Cameras store for more information and advice on our wide selection of camera lenses.