Lens Rental Sources (?)

[Bean Counter]

Hey guys,

I'm looking to rent a Canon lens for a trip to the Grand Canyon. I want to cover the mid range that takes a 77mm filter. Examples: EF 24-105 f/4L IS; EF 24-70 F/2.8 (the Mark I); or the EF-S 17-50mm F/2.8 IS.

Has anyone rented a lens online? Other advice?

Thanks.

[hrd2fnd]

hey BC, pope has a thread on this topic. not able to post it from phone but do a a search for lens rentals I recall researching this last year


 hrd

[denali]

I have used lensrentals.com a couple of times, very happy with their service.

[Bean Counter]

Thanks to both of you guys 

Other comments still welcome.

[popeshawnpaul]

Assuming you have a crop sensor camera, I'd go with either the 17-55 efs or 10-22 efs.  Lensrentals is great. 

[Bean Counter]

Thanks Shawn. Yup, I has a crop 

I already own the 10-22. Its good quality glass and does some fun things for closeups, but I'm not loving it for scenic shots.  Main complaint about using it for scenic shots is that I'm getting a lot of banding across a blue sky with my B+W Kasseman CPL w/NMRC.  Even when zoomed in to 22mm.  I dropped $160 on that CPL so I'd like to get a midrange zoom that fits that lens.

I'm a little less inclined towards the 17-55 since I see myself upgrading to the 5D Mk II some day. I'd rather have less invested in lenses that will be impossible to use on an upgraded camera and that I might possibly loose money on 

The other option is getting a step up ring for the kit lens (58mm to 77mm). but since the front lens element rotates when focusing I've heard its a royal PITA to achieve the desired level of polarization and keep it in focus. Can this be done? 

"Zoom with your feet" is an axiom I often ascribe to but that can be a little tough standing on the edge of a rim with an 8,000' foot drop 

[smdave]

I have the 17-55 efs great lens (Shawn talked me into it years ago) I grab that more on the 40D then I do my 5d with the EF 24-70 F/2.8 (maybe I have a bad copy).

It also has held its value if you buy this lens you will not take a bath on reselling it if you move up to only FF.

[Bean Counter]

Ok I'll keep my eyes open for it on Craigslist. I just don't want to buy new--then there will be at least some hit. I bought my 10-22 for $500 and could probably resell it for that and the 70-200 f/4L for $350 and could definitely sell it for more than I paid for so i know what you mean by holding their value. I am running out of time though. I can't make someone post a lens for sale when I need it at a good price point. That's why I'll probably rent for this trip coming up soon.

[smdave]

Definitely used there is one on seattle craigslist for $750 with the hood, new they are $1000.00.

[Knocker of rocks]

hey BC, pope has a thread on this topic

It was Pope(shawn) not Pope(eiger sanction)

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,5099.msg54985.html#msg54985

[Skillet]

My god, and I thought us firearms guys used a lot of acronyms... 

[Bean Counter]

Acronyms:
IS: image stabilization.. For shooting in low light. You can use a slower shutter speed to minimize blur that would have occured from shakng the camera over a 1/10 second exposure.
EF: Electronic focus lens. So when they say "Canon EF 300mm" etc you know they're talking about a lens. All canon lenses for 25 years have been electronic focus.
EF-S: Short back focus. For us Jr. Pros who use crop sensor cameras. Don't work on the expensive full frame cameras like the 5D Mark II that I mentioned. Sensors are a huge cost driver in a camera body so Nikon and Canon invented cameras with smaller sensors to make them much more affordable to the masses.
Mk: Mark... As in Mark I, Mark II, or Mark III. Higher number = newer version. Basically the III will be the newest version and often 3x more expensive. I mentioned the EF 24-70 Mark I lens (as opposed to the Mark II) because the Mark II has a larger 82mm filter thread and my 77mm wont fit on there. The EF 24-70 Mark 1 is about $1,000 and the Mark II is about $2,000+ 
F/x.x: "F-stop." Lowest aperture setting. When a lens has a range of apertures listed (F/3.5-5.6) it means that the lowest aperture increases as you zoom in. Having a wide minimum aperture makes it a 'fast' lens. You can use it in lower light without a flash and to capture movement so a moving subject isn't blurry.

Edit:
Oh yeah, one more:
L: Luxury. Canon's high end glass. Equivalent to HD / ULD / ED glass in binoculars or spotting scopes

Clear as mud?

[huntnphool]

Canon 17-55mm 2.8 IS from www.lensrentals.com

[MuleySniper]

Yeah I'll second lensrental.com. Great service and an affordable way to try out lenses.


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[popeshawnpaul]

Thanks Shawn. Yup, I has a crop 

I already own the 10-22. Its good quality glass and does some fun things for closeups, but I'm not loving it for scenic shots.  Main complaint about using it for scenic shots is that I'm getting a lot of banding across a blue sky with my B+W Kasseman CPL w/NMRC.  Even when zoomed in to 22mm.  I dropped $160 on that CPL so I'd like to get a midrange zoom that fits that lens.

I'm a little less inclined towards the 17-55 since I see myself upgrading to the 5D Mk II some day. I'd rather have less invested in lenses that will be impossible to use on an upgraded camera and that I might possibly loose money on 

The other option is getting a step up ring for the kit lens (58mm to 77mm). but since the front lens element rotates when focusing I've heard its a royal PITA to achieve the desired level of polarization and keep it in focus. Can this be done? 

"Zoom with your feet" is an axiom I often ascribe to but that can be a little tough standing on the edge of a rim with an 8,000' foot drop 

The camera should be the source of banding.  A 10-22 shouldn't be used with a polarizer if the sky is in the image.  It covers too much field of view and makes the sky look even more uneven than normal.  You can fix the uneven sky in photoshop and most landscape photographers have to do this and learn how to do it.  In LR, I use the simple gradient tool to even out the sky.  Most lenses don't rotate in the front when zooming...  Step up rings would work well for landscape work.  I'd be using that 10-22 in the grand canyon if I were there...