In a world full of Instagrammers and YouTubers showing off incredible photos from around the world, it's hard not to get discouraged about your own travel photos. Everything looks so tailored and “picture perfect,” when in reality they are likely to be highly edited or taken with professional equipment.
How would you like to take professional tier photos of your travels without having to drop buckets of money on a fancy camera?
This is actually a mistake I made myself - I dropped over a grand on a camera I never wound up using because it was bulky and uncomfortable and I had my iPhone on hand anyway. I'm currently in the process of selling the camera and then using the profits to upgrade my personal device for a better camera phone. Today, cameras on phones are getting better and better - one professional photographer friend of mine even suggested I simply upgrade my phone instead of splurging because of how great these cameras are becoming. (And yes, I wish I'd listened...)
But if you really want to try out your photography skills or just want to try out a camera you’re thinking about purchasing for yourself, I highly recommend renting the equipment first, and it’s super easy!
Below I’ve listed a few sites that you can rent equipment from. In an effort to compare prices, I’ve listed out what it would cost to rent the GoPro HERO6 for one week.
BORROW LENS
GoPro HERO6 Black Camera from Borrow Lens one week rental: $50.00 This rental includes:
HERO6 Camera
Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery (Spares Rentable Here)
The Frame for HERO6 Black
Quick Release Buckle
Quick Release Tripod Mount
Long Thumbscrew
Short Thumbscrew
(2) Short Pivot Arms
Protective Backdoor
USB-C to USB-A Cable
Carrying Case
For this purchase, you would need to buy your own memory card which can cost anywhere from $22.00 to $36.00 depending where it's purchased. This also doesn’t include shipping costs which ranges anywhere from $25 to $30. (However, if you sign up for their mailing list you have the ability to receive $30 off your first shipping cost). In total, adding these extra additions (minus the email listing coupon) this purchase adds up to:
$50 + $36 + 30 = $116.00
LENS RENTAL
GoPro HERO6 Black from Lens Rental one week rental: $47.00 This rental includes:
HERO6 Black Edition
The Frame
AABAT-001 battery
Quick-release buckle
Three-way pivot arm
USB-C cable
Tripod mount
Shipping costs for this rental ranges from FedEx 2 Day $25.00 to UPS Next Day Air $63.00 depending on how quickly you need the equipment. For this purchase, you will also need to purchase a memory card, which again ranges anywhere from $22.00 to $36.00. In total, this purchase can add up to be:
$47 + (standard shipping) $25 + $36 = $108.00
*Though if you really needed next day shipping, this could potentially reach ~$146.00
LENS PRO TO GO
GoPro Hero 6 Black - Complete Kit from Lens Pro to Go one week rental: $77.00 This rental Includes:
HERO6 Black Edition
GoPro Battery for Hero 5&6
USB 3.0 A to C Cable
GoPro Flat Adhesive Mount
GoPro Curved Adhesive Mount
GoPro Hero 5 & 6 Frame
GoPro Short Quick Release Buckle with Screw
GoPro Hero 5 & Hero 6 Protective Lens
SanDisk 64GB Extreme Plus MicroSD Memory Card
Free Shipping Included *up to 2nd day air - overnight available
Lens Pro to Go includes everything needed that’s excluded from the last two sites i.e., free shipping and memory card. The total cost adds up to be:
$77 + $9 protection cost (mandatory) + free shipping + included memory card
= $86.00
Lens Pro To Go is the winner with a purchasing difference of over $20 compared to both sites!
If anyone has rented equipment for traveling or for their own personal use or has any tip & tricks not mentioned above, please add your suggestions in the comment section below.
*Insurance not added into costs
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