Silly camera rental question

D

dstevens

Well-known member
I'm thinking about renting a camera to how much I like before I decide about buying it.

All the camera places near me ( Boston, MA) state on their websites the renter must have insurance and a deposit to rent. I certainly understand that if someone going to use the camera professionally for a couple days. Is it ever done to ask for a waiver if I just want to stay on the rental company's property, hold the camera, shoot a little footage with my own dv tape and take the dv tape with me so I can see what it looks like?
 
I don't really see a reason to sit in their office and shoot whatever there is instead of paying deposit (and getting it back after) and having ability to shoot whatever you like to get better idea if the camera suits your needs.
 
I know that a place here in Atlanta will let you do that, they actually have a sales person give you a demo and then you are allowed (with supervision) to play with the camera for a little while… It is not really a great way to see if you really are going to like the camera over all but it will allow you a little play time with it…. and it is free.
 
Pretty standard stuff. I just got my insurance agent to type a letter, on letterhead, stating my policy covered "video camera rentals", which it did, but only up to $500. I left that part out.

I'd imagine even some kind of renters insurance would have such.

Tim
 
Most houses require a cert of insurance within a larger general aggregate policy of between $50k and $1M for rentals. If you only take a smaller package (e.g., DVX100a kit @ $6000) then you might be able to work something out.

We rent our DVX100a without a cert., but you'll have to provide a card and deposit in its absence. The deposit is returned after we check the camera in (usually three business days).

e
 
Personally, in the past I've always gone to a friend that had the same camera I was looking at to get a feel for it before forking out a lot of cash. Not only do you get an unbiased (mostly) real-world report on the pros and cons of the camera, but you don't have to put down a deposit.

Granted, I'll never be the first one on the block with the latest and greatest, but this way I have the opportunity to test many cameras without being force-fed a sales pitch!
 
DM makes a good point... I would agree... if you know someone with the camera it is always a great way to get some play time with it...
 
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