UK lens hire

spxxxx · 10-02-2008, 09:45

Found this on another site - just what we need in the UK - and very reasonably priced.

Seems slanted to Canon at the moment

Lenses For Hire Ltd.

Simon

**stepheno** · 10-02-2008, 09:56

Good link....their prices seem reasonable too.

JMitchell · 10-02-2008, 11:17

Hey you can hire that mega 1200 5.6 lens for £2,500 for a week! Score!

fionaB · 10-02-2008, 15:19

that is a terrific idea! and not too expensive either.

Fi

IanHoughton · 10-02-2008, 19:13

I've also used this place in the past Hireacamera.com - Home - camera hire, camcorder hire, hdv hire, lens hire. Excellent service, also do Nikon SLR's / lens and at a reasonable price.

Rob Barron · 12-02-2008, 16:08

Wow, what a great bunch of people they sound. A photographers company if ever I saw one

Only thing worth keeping in mind is that this company does not have any insurance for any of its lenses and it is part of their T&C that if you borrow something and it gets stolen, you pay for the replacement. If you've been tempted to find out what that 1200mm lens is really like, it could end up costing you your house! Just make sure you've got insurance of your own that covers it.

I would also echo what that company says about E&L, they are a nightmare! They charge the earth to insure you - it all looks very good until you realise that their starting level is for £250 of gear to be covered, don't know about you but that wouldn't cover any one of my lenses! - have huge exclusions and excesses and argue tooth and nail to avoid paying out if you make a claim. I know insurance companies can be difficult at the best of times but my friend's experience of having had a camera bag and gear stolen from his home was not at all pleasant. His home insurance did not cover the amount of his gear, hence he had taken out E&L insurance, telling them exactly why he had chosen them. When he was burgled, they came up with all sorts of garbage. Best one was: 'So you are saying they broke in while ou were in the house and yet you didn't hear a thing?' It was between 1.30 and 5am, burglars tend to work odd hours and are pretty good at being quiet!!!

They tried telling him they were not going to pay because they believed (on only the above reasoning) that he had colluded with someone to break in, steal his gear and then claim and split the money! The police had given a full report and had suggested absolutely no question of the facts of the incident, they were entirely happy that a genuine crime had been committed.

Only when the police arrested a known criminal with a record as long as a lamp-post who had by then already moved the gear on to an untraceable 3rd or 4th man down the line did E&L decide they would pay up. They offered no apology for questioning my friend's integrity and they locked in so many excesses and exclusions that the amount he got back was tiny compared to what he had lost.

After his experience, which happened to be around the time I was considering that my gear was getting rather valuable and really should be covered, I tore up the E&L leaflet I had been considering signing up with. Fortunately, someone else recommended I ring my own household contents insurer (Prudential) and so i did. No problem, the whole lot covered and my monthly premiums went up by less than £2 a month!

Get insured but don't bother with E&L is my advice!

Cheers,
Rob

AQ · 12-02-2008, 16:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Barron

Get insured but don't bother with E&L is my advice!

Cheers,
Rob

Thanks for the timely reminder Rob.

Having just got a new camera and hopefully some more lenses to come I will speak to my own insurers. Your story about E&L came just in time.

StewartR · 13-04-2008, 12:36

I'd like the opportunity to correct/update some of the information provided by spxxx and Rob Barron above, in case it gives a misleading impression of the business.

To declare my interest: I'm the co-owner of LensesForHire.co.uk. I'm aware that Pixalo has a very strong policy against commercial postings and advertising, and I've checked with the administrators that they're happy for me to do this.

Anyway, since Rob posted, we have arranged a deal with a specialist insurer to allow customers to purchase insurance against accidental damage to hire lenses, as part of the hire transaction. It's optional and it typically adds about 10% to the hire price.

Also, whilst it's true (as Simon said) that we launched with just Canon lenses, we have just started the process of diversification into Nikon equipment. Within the next few days will be offering a number of Nikon lenses for hire.

spxxxx · 13-04-2008, 13:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by StewartR

we have just started the process of diversification into Nikon equipment. Within the next few days will be offering a number of Nikon lenses for hire.

Just gone down in my book

StewartR · 13-04-2008, 14:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by spxxxx

Just gone down in my book

No need to think like that, Simon. A business that only serves half the market can't survive. In the medum to long term the only possible end results are to cater to both the Canon and Nikon communities, or to go out of business. Guess which we'd prefer? And in the short term, more customers means more money to invest in more lenses.

spxxxx · 13-04-2008, 16:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by StewartR

No need to think like that, Simon. A business that only serves half the market can't survive. In the medum to long term the only possible end results are to cater to both the Canon and Nikon communities, or to go out of business. Guess which we'd prefer? And in the short term, more customers means more money to invest in more lenses.

Only pulling your leg ..........

fionaB · 13-04-2008, 16:18

just read all the TnC on the site and noted the insurance had been added, still very reasonable prices including insurance which i think can only boost the confidence of potential users. I personally am thinking strongly of a hire of one in the summer! lol determined to get some decent red kite pics!

Fi

LJR69 · 14-04-2008, 21:52

Great news to hear the Nikon lenses being added. I would love to have a Nikon PC Micro 85mm f/2.8D for a week at some point

(assuming that's one of the lenses that works its way into the collection eventually)

Prices seem very reasonable. Insurance is a must I'd say.

morlandroger · 14-04-2008, 22:06

Great food for thought. For us amateurs the chance to use a "biggie" now and then for a special event.

Kodak · 15-04-2008, 12:32

I have used Lensesforhire and I cannot speak highly enough of them.

The best service around.

Also if you have a queery regarding a price ie the long lenses, which appear to be expensive, ring them up for a difinitive price and maybe you wil have a smile on your face afterwards.

10-02-2008, 09:45	#1 (permalink)
spxxxx Been here a while Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chesterfield, UK Posts: 406	UK lens hire Found this on another site - just what we need in the UK - and very reasonably priced. Seems slanted to Canon at the moment Lenses For Hire Ltd. Simon

10-02-2008, 09:56	#2 (permalink)
stepheno Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6,621	Re: UK lens hire Good link....their prices seem reasonable too.

10-02-2008, 11:17	#3 (permalink)
JMitchell Feet under the table Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 3,515	Re: UK lens hire Hey you can hire that mega 1200 5.6 lens for £2,500 for a week! Score!

10-02-2008, 15:19	#4 (permalink)
fionaB Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 5,451	Re: UK lens hire that is a terrific idea! and not too expensive either. Fi

10-02-2008, 19:13	#5 (permalink)
IanHoughton Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Hinckley, Leicestershire, UK Posts: 551	Re: UK lens hire I've also used this place in the past Hireacamera.com - Home - camera hire, camcorder hire, hdv hire, lens hire. Excellent service, also do Nikon SLR's / lens and at a reasonable price.

12-02-2008, 16:08	#6 (permalink)
Rob Barron Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Poole, Dorset Posts: 5,200	Re: UK lens hire Wow, what a great bunch of people they sound. A photographers company if ever I saw one Only thing worth keeping in mind is that this company does not have any insurance for any of its lenses and it is part of their T&C that if you borrow something and it gets stolen, you pay for the replacement. If you've been tempted to find out what that 1200mm lens is really like, it could end up costing you your house! Just make sure you've got insurance of your own that covers it. I would also echo what that company says about E&L, they are a nightmare! They charge the earth to insure you - it all looks very good until you realise that their starting level is for £250 of gear to be covered, don't know about you but that wouldn't cover any one of my lenses! - have huge exclusions and excesses and argue tooth and nail to avoid paying out if you make a claim. I know insurance companies can be difficult at the best of times but my friend's experience of having had a camera bag and gear stolen from his home was not at all pleasant. His home insurance did not cover the amount of his gear, hence he had taken out E&L insurance, telling them exactly why he had chosen them. When he was burgled, they came up with all sorts of garbage. Best one was: 'So you are saying they broke in while ou were in the house and yet you didn't hear a thing?' It was between 1.30 and 5am, burglars tend to work odd hours and are pretty good at being quiet!!! They tried telling him they were not going to pay because they believed (on only the above reasoning) that he had colluded with someone to break in, steal his gear and then claim and split the money! The police had given a full report and had suggested absolutely no question of the facts of the incident, they were entirely happy that a genuine crime had been committed. Only when the police arrested a known criminal with a record as long as a lamp-post who had by then already moved the gear on to an untraceable 3rd or 4th man down the line did E&L decide they would pay up. They offered no apology for questioning my friend's integrity and they locked in so many excesses and exclusions that the amount he got back was tiny compared to what he had lost. After his experience, which happened to be around the time I was considering that my gear was getting rather valuable and really should be covered, I tore up the E&L leaflet I had been considering signing up with. Fortunately, someone else recommended I ring my own household contents insurer (Prudential) and so i did. No problem, the whole lot covered and my monthly premiums went up by less than £2 a month! Get insured but don't bother with E&L is my advice! Cheers, Rob __________________ Rob Barron robbarron@aol.com If you look down on other people, don't expect them to look up to you!

13-04-2008, 12:36	#8 (permalink)
StewartR New here Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 5	Re: UK lens hire I'd like the opportunity to correct/update some of the information provided by spxxx and Rob Barron above, in case it gives a misleading impression of the business. To declare my interest: I'm the co-owner of LensesForHire.co.uk. I'm aware that Pixalo has a very strong policy against commercial postings and advertising, and I've checked with the administrators that they're happy for me to do this. Anyway, since Rob posted, we have arranged a deal with a specialist insurer to allow customers to purchase insurance against accidental damage to hire lenses, as part of the hire transaction. It's optional and it typically adds about 10% to the hire price. Also, whilst it's true (as Simon said) that we launched with just Canon lenses, we have just started the process of diversification into Nikon equipment. Within the next few days will be offering a number of Nikon lenses for hire.

13-04-2008, 16:18	#12 (permalink)
fionaB Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 5,451	Re: UK lens hire just read all the TnC on the site and noted the insurance had been added, still very reasonable prices including insurance which i think can only boost the confidence of potential users. I personally am thinking strongly of a hire of one in the summer! lol determined to get some decent red kite pics! Fi

14-04-2008, 21:52	#13 (permalink)
LJR69 Getting Comfy Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Thatcham, Berkshire, UK Posts: 155	Re: UK lens hire Great news to hear the Nikon lenses being added. I would love to have a Nikon PC Micro 85mm f/2.8D for a week at some point (assuming that's one of the lenses that works its way into the collection eventually) Prices seem very reasonable. Insurance is a must I'd say.

14-04-2008, 22:06	#14 (permalink)
morlandroger Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lake District, North West England Posts: 518	Re: UK lens hire Great food for thought. For us amateurs the chance to use a "biggie" now and then for a special event.

15-04-2008, 12:32	#15 (permalink)
Kodak New here Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 4	Re: UK lens hire I have used Lensesforhire and I cannot speak highly enough of them. The best service around. Also if you have a queery regarding a price ie the long lenses, which appear to be expensive, ring them up for a difinitive price and maybe you wil have a smile on your face afterwards.