BUY, LEASE OR RENT?
Digital Photographer|Issue 251
When investing in expensive, high-end and professional camera equipment, is it better to own it outright or to hire the kit whenever you need it? We explore the pros and cons of each option
BUY, LEASE OR RENT?

Whether you’re an enthusiast or a professional, there’s no denying that photographic kit is expensive. There are certainly ‘budget’ options for lenses and accessories, but it can often take many paid shoots to reap back the initial outlay on gear, so any purchase you make should be carefully considered against your business budget in the first place.

While it is sometimes possible to save money by using creative solutions on a shoot– for example, choosing to use a kit zoom lens over a premium prime – when you’re producing high-end content for clients, you simply need the best tools for the job at hand.

Of course, buying new gear isn’t always necessary, especially if you’re only planning to use an item for one or two jobs (we’re looking at you tilt-shifts), so have you considered renting or leasing specialist cameras and lenses? That way, you can build the cost into client quotes, or you can make payments gradually instead of in one big splurge.

Over the next few pages, we’ll look at your best options for buying, renting, and leasing equipment – and the advantages of each.

Buying camera kit

Esta historia es de la edición Issue 251 de Digital Photographer.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición Issue 251 de Digital Photographer.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHERVer todo
Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8 Art
Digital Photographer

Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8 Art

This is anot-so-standard zoom lens, as Matthew Richards discovers on a test drive

time-read
1 min  |
Issue 285
AstrHori 120mm f/2.8 Macro 2x
Digital Photographer

AstrHori 120mm f/2.8 Macro 2x

Matthew Richards finds out if double the magnification means couble the value

time-read
1 min  |
Issue 285
DxO PhotoLab 8 Elite
Digital Photographer

DxO PhotoLab 8 Elite

DXO's flagship editor gets an upgrade but, asks Rod Lawton, are the results worth it?

time-read
3 minutos  |
Issue 285
Panasonic Lumix GH7
Digital Photographer

Panasonic Lumix GH7

Gareth Bevan thinks a new sensor and AF make this the hybrid camera to beat

time-read
3 minutos  |
Issue 285
STORM CHASE
Digital Photographer

STORM CHASE

Paige Vincent on the adrenaline rush, the risks and her passion for shooting in the face of storms

time-read
5 minutos  |
Issue 285
PROTECT YOUR IMAGES FROM AI
Digital Photographer

PROTECT YOUR IMAGES FROM AI

Pandora's box is open and, for better or worse, Alis here to stay. Here’s how you can protect your images from being used to train Al models without your permission

time-read
4 minutos  |
Issue 285
CREATE AI COMPOSITES
Digital Photographer

CREATE AI COMPOSITES

Serge Ramelli explains how to make AI work for you, by creating otherwise impossible portrait backgrounds

time-read
3 minutos  |
Issue 285
Paul Wilkinson's top 25... PORTRAIT TIPS & TRICKS
Digital Photographer

Paul Wilkinson's top 25... PORTRAIT TIPS & TRICKS

Even with so much information out there, taking perfect portraits can be hard work. Pro photographer Paul Wilkinson guides us through this huge genre with his pearls of wisdom

time-read
10+ minutos  |
Issue 285
MASTER MINIMALISM
Digital Photographer

MASTER MINIMALISM

Less is more in the world of minimalism. Rebecca Greig explores what makes minimalist captures work

time-read
6 minutos  |
Issue 285
LITTLE WONDERS
Digital Photographer

LITTLE WONDERS

Kim Bunermann meets Louise B to discuss the joys and challenges of working with newborns and freshly baked parents

time-read
8 minutos  |
Issue 285