So you want to rent a lens

There’s so many things that are out there in the world that we have no clue we can rent, until magically, it’s pointed out to us.

A designer gown for an incredible price? - Rent the Runway will let you.

A wedding gown, tuxedos, furniture, cars, kids.. you get the idea.

But did you know you can rent lenses? Professional luxury lens? and even the camera bodies too?? If you’re close to a reliable camera store, they’ll all be at your fingertips for what could be a very hefty price, but online! Online is where your selection goes beyond your wildest dreams.

When I was planning to go to Mexico, I wanted to make sure I had the easiest time with my camera as possible. My camera is already heavy enough, I didn’t want to bring my 5lb, break my arm zoom lens, plus another lens that will let me shoot close. No. I wanted one lens that would let me do it all. Zoom in. Zoom out without ever having to stop to switch it out for the ‘other one’ so I could get the shot I wanted.

I put it out there to a lot of professional photographers to find the ‘perfect vacation lens’ and though they all had their opinions, one made the most sense. The 24-105L series zoom lens. Now my next question to myself was: “where will I get it, and how can I pay the least amount of money for it?”

Though there are a lot of trusted reliable websites, I went with the best one for me. Lens Pro To Go. Not only did I get a great deal – 14 day rental for the price of 7!! But I also got to experience true customer service. Of course I had questions, which led me to call while I was placing the order, and they picked up right away. No automated voice, no press 1 for English, they answer and they’re funny. Or at least my guy was. Not to mention very patient and helpful.

After placing my order, they called me…and being the hyper skeptical, overly cautious person that I am, wasn’t prepared for their call. He asked me a series of questions, ranging from why I was renting the lens, to if I were a professional, to whether or not I have a blog/website so they can see the photos after.

Since I can be less than forthcoming at times, I wasn’t willing to give my blog and details and only supplied the necessities so he could complete my order. I have no doubt this is standard, but I was new to renting and I’m a private (information) person, so it was hard for me to give it all up.

I didn’t know what to expect when it arrived, but it came in a huge box. I dove into it and quickly understood why it was such a huge box. This massive hard cover case was inside.

Just seeing it was getting me happy and I loved the touch of the question on their sticker of who my favorite superhero is. Once I worked the {very difficult} snaps, I opened up to see the lens nestled nicely into thick thick padded foam. Plus a tootsie pop! Another fun detail that Lens Pro To Go adds to their rental.

I really liked that {while it was in the case} I didn’t have to worry about breaking the lens. Outside the case was another ballgame, but this case seemed indestructible.

I took it with me to Mexico and loved every minute with the lens. I had 5 days after to keep playing with it, and I was sad to see it go. I’ve always thought I wanted a 24-70mm lens, but now using this one, I’m thinking I know what I’ll be saving up for. It’s the perfect all around zoom when you only agree to bring one.

Its not as heavy as other zoom lenses, which is another reason why I chose it, but still after awhile (read: 8 hours) of the camera and lens together, the weight will catch up.. as evidenced by my vein beginning to pop out of my arm from holding it up.

And a reminder of the fantastic photos taken with it…

If you ever get the chance to rent a lens, check out Lens Pro To Go, they’re really great to work with and they provide everything for you to ship it right back. Whenever I get the itch to rent again, I’ll definitely be using them again.

Have you ever rented a lens before?

What’s the most obscure thing you’ve rented that we would be surprised that you can?


*they have no idea I wrote a review. All opinions are mine. I did this solely on my own because I had such a great experience with them and not many people know you can rent lenses!

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Gaining a little perspective

Every night I drive home from work, I see this line of trees against the sunset and I do my best to stay straight while craning my neck left to see the gorgeous view.

For weeks as the sun was staying up a little longer each night, I would tell myself how much I needed to come back with Monty to capture this view. The silhouette of the trees was something I wanted to see if I could capture, so finally, one Saturday I made no excuses, grabbed my Monty, 2 lenses and headed out to the field.

It was hard. I still have small issues with being visible by passing cars (regardless of them going 60mph), but I pushed my little insecurity aside and walked down the side road closer to the trees, keeping my back to the cars going by.
 
It was so relaxing, until I thought my brand new L series zoom lens was broken. The auto focus wouldn’t work. No matter what I did, it wouldn’t focus. Panic was setting in as I had to manually focus just to get the next 20 minutes worth of photos. Still worried it wasn’t working, I switched lens to give myself a break before attempting to use the zoom again, and that’s when I saw it. Really saw it. What I thought was auto focus was it actually in manual focus the entire time.

I felt like an idiot. Like a complete idiot! I can’t tell you how many times I looked at the MF thinking it said AF the entire time. In the end I was more than happy with being the idiot rather than having a brand new broken lens on my hands.


The sky was all sorts of different colors that night. Even gray.. I kid.

Now as I drive past these trees and that field, I think, I was there. I actually stopped there to photograph the sunset. Its small little feats like this that help me go on. Before I whiled away my weekends if I didn’t have anything productive to do, but lately I’ve been seizing the moments I do have and no longer putting off little things like this that make me happy.

I think for me, I get in this waiting game and feel I can’t do “this or that” because what if the moment I start to do that, I’m not waiting anymore?? Then it would have been a waste! Well, after a very very long time, I’ve finally understood that living my life means actually living my life. Even if it means doing things out of the ordinary or on my own.

Surprisingly, I’ve been a lot happier. Who would have thought.

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Many lessons learned

Things I didn’t know going into my Saturday:
- staying in bed for 30 minutes after my alarm clock went off would prove to be a very bad idea
- taking an hour to chop 2 cucumbers, 7 pieces of bacon, 2 avocados, cilantro and about 20 cherry tomatoes while slowly sipping my coffee, would lead to the rest of the morning in chaos.
- thinking I had plenty of time to cook the remaining {big} dishes was foolish
- not thoroughly reading 2 recipes would send me into an insane panic and a frantic call to my mom.
- wearing a thick heavy robe while frantically running around the kitchen only makes things worse.
- pausing to tweet would leave me wondering why I paused to tweet {and waste more time}
- not realizing I had never worked with puff pastry nor know what to do with it, which resulted in another frantic call to my mom. {how was I to know you fold it open!?}
- giving myself only 15 minutes before everyone arrived to do my hair, change out of my pj’s, clean the disaster that was my kitchen, make the drinks, take the breakfast bake out of the oven, and scrape the stuck apple tart off the cookie sheet would darn near do me in.

Then everyone arrived and filled my home. 14 showed. {the most that’s ever been in my home at one time}. I hoped for 15 and I wasn’t disappointed in the least. They had a great time, I had a great time, they loved my food and I gave away a lot of fun prizes and jewelry.

I had grand plans to take photos of everything from the food to my setup before everyone arrived but I left myself no time for it.

Finally after the last 2 guests left, my friend and I jumped in her truck to head south to witness thousands of migrating cranes land for the night in the wetlands. Me armed with Monty and her with her “new” camera that she bought from me just minutes earlier. I’m so happy to see my old camera go to someone I know and can help learn it.

It was the perfect way to relax, sitting out in the middle of a wildlife preserve, listening to the birds fly over, after such an insanely busy morning.

How was your weekend, my friends?

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A big huge thankful me - 41

Hidee ho, Ranger Joe (name that tv show)

I’m sitting here picking away at my gel nail polish. pick pick picking. They’re driving me nuts! I’ve been lazy and won’t make an appointment at the salon to have them take it off for me for a measly $5, so instead I choose to have them snag on everything they come in contact with. Anyone else like that?

This past weekend has been one big ball of Captain Insane-o! From Friday morning to well after 11pm Sunday night, I was zipping here there everywhere and this girl is a big haggard.

I had many great parts to my weekend. Met w/some lovely ladies in the morning, followed by having lunch with a good friend with shopping immediately after. There’s nothing better than having someone trust you with picking their outfit choices. And there’s nothing worse than going shopping and not being able to buy anything…or I should say, not buying the 2 things you absolutely die for, because they happen to be the 2 most expensive things.

You can bet I’m keeping an eye on them in my virtual cart online, waiting for them to go on a 75% off sale… it could happen!

What are the 2 things, you may ask? Red corduroy pants and an emerald green silk top that I’m positively in love with! The pants are just a hair too short and I can’t decide if I’m ok with that, but they fit everywhere perfectly and I haven’t found a pair of pants that fit perfectly in months!
{side note: did you know Ann Taylor offers customers wine, Saturday nights?!}

For the rest of the weekend, the only sad thing about it was that I didn’t get to play with my new baby. My sweet and glorious beauty that arrived Friday. Things were too incredibly hectic, that I only got to touch it for 10 minutes after getting home Friday and it breaks my heart.

Please, I’d like you all to officially meet Montague

He goes by Monti and Gue as well and answers, “as you wish” when I ask him to do something for me. He’s remarkable and you wanna know the best part!??? I told G-man I was going to buy him because he went on an amazing sale, and G-man said he’d buy it for an early Christmas present!!

I nearly leapt out of my skin, I was so elated!! My very owe 5D Mark III. I’ve wanted this camera for so so very long and I can’t wait to learn it. I feel so blessed that my sugar daddy love would do this for me. It truthfully was the last thing I was expecting.

So now I have 2 cameras. But I would love nothing more than to sell my first camera to a blogger who is wanting to start out with their first DSLR. My original camera is a Canon Rebel T1i and it comes with the 18-55 kit lens, plus the battery charger, cables, and manuals (that were bought in addition to the camera). It’s a wonderful camera to learn from. Super easy to use and as you’ve seen in my past posts, it takes beautiful pictures.

I’m asking $400 for it w/$5 shipping and I’ll send it insured to anyone in the US. :) It could be your’s or someone special’s Christmas present, as it was for me almost 3 years ago. If you’re interested or know anyone who is, email me: amazinggrape81{at}gmail{dot}com


How were your weekends, friends?? Pin It Now!