Lending lenses?

[Paul Heester]

Would any members be interested in lending lenses to other members?

Between all the members we must have quite a range and its possible other members might want to try out lenses before they buy their own or just out of curiosity. Lenses such as macro, fisheye & tilt/shift might be considered too specialist for most people but could be languishing in some peoples camera bags unused. I know certain rules would need to be made clear on length of loan and any potential cost of breakages. I remember getting my own macro lens and the new world it opened up to me when I started using it and the fun I had. I would be happy to lend some of mine and would be great to see peoples results after as well.

[davidc]

Normally I'd be willing/interested but after I loaned one to a guy at work, he left the company and now I've had to send the lens in for repairs I'm currently less inclined

An edge case no doubt but still fresh in my mind. Probably interested in the long term though.

Is that a sign I don't learn my lesson?

[Rose]

Interested in principle- probably easier to manage in the context of a club event or walkabout where both parties are attending ?

I hired a Canon 100-400 from Lenses For Hire for the Biggin Hill air show one year. It enabled me to get a feel for the lens before deciding to purchase one. I highly recommend LFH - their customer service is excellent.

[Mike Farley]

Dave's and Rose's responses largely reflect my own views when I saw this post. The lender is taking a risk with expensive equipment, so there has be a significant degree of trust in the borrower. As Dave's experience unfortunately demonstrates, even people we think we know well are not always reliable. Given the problems associated with managing such a scheme, it is not something which the club can run on a formal basis.

Rose's twin suggestions of lending equipment when both parties are present and using hire companies for longer periods are good ones. Feedback from an owner and the opportunity briefly to try a lens on one's own camera might be all that are required to make a buying decision. Members also have the option to use this forum to make informal arrangements between themselves.