BUY, LEASE OR RENT?

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

- 

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.