Buy or rent
Nov 27, 2018 09:33:10 #
I understand there is no correct answer to this as it always comes down to individual situations.
I have a Canon 7D Mark ii with a Canon 100-400 ii plus a 1.4 ext. i am mulling whether to buy a good used 500 mm f4 to extend my reach. I can’t decide whether to try to buy one or periodically rent one.
I enjoy shooting air shows, eagles, sporting events,etc. I have never rented one before but to rent one of these is not cheap. Since they hold their value so well it seems that a few rental fees and you will have spent more than I would lose in depreciation.
I am 64 and in reasonably good shape but I probably won’t be lugging heavy glass around forever.
Have any of you had to make this decision and what was the final deciding factor?
Do any of you that have a 500 or 600 mm lens find you use it more than you thought? I don’t think I want a 600 mm due to the extra weight.
I welcome any and all input.
I have a Canon 7D Mark ii with a Canon 100-400 ii plus a 1.4 ext. i am mulling whether to buy a good used 500 mm f4 to extend my reach. I can’t decide whether to try to buy one or periodically rent one.
I enjoy shooting air shows, eagles, sporting events,etc. I have never rented one before but to rent one of these is not cheap. Since they hold their value so well it seems that a few rental fees and you will have spent more than I would lose in depreciation.
I am 64 and in reasonably good shape but I probably won’t be lugging heavy glass around forever.
Have any of you had to make this decision and what was the final deciding factor?
Do any of you that have a 500 or 600 mm lens find you use it more than you thought? I don’t think I want a 600 mm due to the extra weight.
I welcome any and all input.
Nov 27, 2018 09:41:48 #
Since they hold their value so well it seems that a few rental fees and you will have spent more than I would lose in depreciation.
I think you answered your own question. Use it just a few times and you break even. If you lose interest or don't want it anymore than we
sell it
I think you answered your own question. Use it just a few times and you break even. If you lose interest or don't want it anymore than we
sell it
Nov 27, 2018 09:45:37 #
Mi630 wrote:
I understand there is no correct answer to this as... (show quote)
With a 500mm f4 you are definitely in the try before buying price range. It is a seven pound lens. If you do not already have a good gimbal you will need one for this baby. If you have the cash flow, buying and using it for a month or two then reselling would be better than renting for just a week at an exorbitant rate.
Do you have a local camera store with which you have a developed relationship? If so, you might be able to swing a one day loan.
For me, I have used a 150-600 Sigma, but find I rarely go past 400mm. But a lot of that is my subjects. Runners and closer action. So I now rely on a 70-200 2.8 and a 2x extender.
Nov 27, 2018 09:46:13 #
Lenses tend to hold value longer than bodies. In general, camera bodies are updated at 2 to 4 year intervals, while lenses are updated at 1 to 2 decade intervals.
I prefer to buy things. If I need them they're there. Don't have to wait for a rental to ship to me.
I prefer to buy things. If I need them they're there. Don't have to wait for a rental to ship to me.
Nov 28, 2018 06:08:50 #
It's a lot like borrowing something from a good friend. Let's say I borrow a 200-500 lens from him that I have been wanting and saving the money for. Something goes south and I break his lens. Now I have to replace his lens with the money I was going to buy the lens with. I loose my money and still do not have the lens. Buy, never borrow!
Nov 28, 2018 06:28:00 #
Nov 28, 2018 08:13:38 #
Renting the 500mm f5.6 lens is going to be around $400 weekly. Buying a good condition, used lens is going to be around $3200. If you are going to be using the lens often I think that you best bet is to buy it.
Things coming to worse you can always sell the lens and take a small loss. Your renting fees are gone forever.
Things coming to worse you can always sell the lens and take a small loss. Your renting fees are gone forever.
Nov 28, 2018 08:21:45 #
I always prefer to buy rather than to rent. However, if I need something that is very expensive, and I know this will be a single-use experience, I would rent it. Having said that, I don't recall renting anything (other than cars) in decades.
Nov 28, 2018 08:32:09 #
I have the 500mm f4 as well as the 100-400 Mk ll and teleconverter. I have to admit that the 500mm f4 gets less use since I got my 100-400 with the TC. The 100-400 with a TC is 560mm and s very sharp and maneuverable but it is f8 when used this way and that can be very limiting. The 500mm is f 4 and this is a definite advantage both for light and also for those nice creamy backgrounds that you want in bird photography. The sharpness of the 500mm lenses is unrivaled and when used with a 1.4 TC you get 700mm you can get 1000mm with the 2X TC nd get good results if you are careful. There is a downside. I don’t care if you get the version one at eight and a half pound or the version 2 at seven pounds these lenses are heavy, bulky and hard to haul around so let that be part of your decision. You will also need a very good tripod and gamble head to get the most out of it. More weight to haul. Good luck on your decision.
Nov 28, 2018 08:33:45 #
jerryc41 wrote:
I always prefer to buy rather than to rent. However, if I need something that is very expensive, and I know this will be a single-use experience, I would rent it. Having said that, I don't recall renting anything (other than cars) in decades.
I agree. Rental to try out an expensive piece of equipment is... well, ...expensive and more importantly reduces available funds for purchase. Most rentals are done by the week. I do not know that a week is sufficient in most cases to make a purchase decision. Like the lens in question, a Canon 500 mm f4, which rents for around $400 a week. That is not a lens I would use indoors, so checking it out is going to require time outdoors and my testing will be weather dependent. I work a full time job. So I will have the weekend. Or rather one morning and afternoon, if I am lucky, since I am married and will have a list of things to do on at least one of those days. If you are a pro and have a job that requires the lens and you do not want it on your inventory (and so that the rental is fully deductible for that tax year rather than having to depreciate it over time) then rental is a good option. But otherwise, buying and later reselling makes more sense. You can test at your leisure and any loss in resale will be less than a long term rental.
Nov 28, 2018 08:35:10 #
I would suggest buying a Tamron 150-600 - I have used this on my trip to Costa Rica and good some good Photos of Birds and my daughter in law took some fantastic pictures on her trip to Africa of course die hard canon users will say that it is not as good as Canon etc. You can rent one and try it before you make a purchase.
Nov 28, 2018 08:43:15 #
He already has the 100-400 which when used with the TC gives him 160-560mm. Why would he want the Tamron.
Nov 28, 2018 10:08:34 #
lowbone wrote:
He already has the 100-400 which when used with the TC gives him 160-560mm. Why would he want the Tamron.
Good point. Since I bought my Canon 100-400 II and use my TC with it my Sigma 150-600 C hasn't been off the shelf.
Nov 28, 2018 10:24:24 #
Jakebrake wrote:
Good point. Since I bought my Canon 100-400 II and use my TC with it my Sigma 150-600 C hasn't been off the shelf.
Same boat. I now use a 70-200 2.8 with a 2x on a Canon 80D. My Sigma 150-600 has not been used in over 8 months. The lens extender combo gives me more flexibility and I rarely use anything over 400mm.
Nov 28, 2018 10:54:56 #
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