UK specific - Where can I hire camera bodies?

[ted_smith]

Hi

Further to (there was a url link here which no longer exists) regarding best films to use for a wedding, I've now met with the couple more formally and agreed prices etc. Terrified? Yes. Excited? Yes.

My panic now is that I think I need a backup camera body, or maybe even two backup camera bodies - everything I read says "Only a fool would shoot a wedding without a backup body". Does anyone know a good place in Derby, Derbyshire, or even just 'the Midlands' here in the UK that's good for camera hire?

I have a Nikon F80 and a Nikon D70s that I intend to use. I know many of you might be thinking "Are you mad shooting a wedding with those?" but I think they're up to the job. They've never let me down yet for other stuff, allbeit, I've never shot a wedding! But I'd like to hire either a better camera for the day and use those as backups or just hire another F80 or an F100 as a backup to those I use (I don't want to jump up too much as I want to be familiar with my gear on the day!).

Cheers

Ted

 

[RedTownCats]

Try http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/rental

-- should say that I've never used them from rentals.

 

[Wishy]

Hi

Further to (there was a url link here which no longer exists) regarding best films to use for a wedding, I've now met with the couple more formally and agreed prices etc. Terrified? Yes. Excited? Yes.

My panic now is that I think I need a backup camera body, or maybe even two backup camera bodies - everything I read says "Only a fool would shoot a wedding without a backup body". Does anyone know a good place in Derby, Derbyshire, or even just 'the Midlands' here in the UK that's good for camera hire?

I have a Nikon F80 and a Nikon D70s that I intend to use. I know many of you might be thinking "Are you mad shooting a wedding with those?" but I think they're up to the job. They've never let me down yet for other stuff, allbeit, I've never shot a wedding! But I'd like to hire either a better camera for the day and use those as backups or just hire another F80 or an F100 as a backup to those I use (I don't want to jump up too much as I want to be familiar with my gear on the day!).

Cheers

Ted

Should imagine an F80 or an F90X would be cheaper to buy than rent. Paid about £50 for my F90X with some cheap glass and film.

 

[Ian Grant]

You run the risk of hiring equipment you're not familiar with, a weddings not the right place to be unsure of the camera bodies.

Ian

 

[pentaxuser]

When you look at the cost of hiring a la Calumet and given that you might want a backup camera on a permanent basis, buying a backup might be better. If you then decide that you can permanently do without, you can always sell on e-bay. The loss, if any, is likely to be outweighed by the hire charge.

Maybe too late for this wedding but here's where membership of a camera club which has a number of film users comes in handy. Once they get to know you and given that the backup camera is only required once in a blue moon, one of them might be happy to lend you his camera for a consideration which will be a whole lot less than Calumet's charge.

You might persuade a secondhand shop to give you the camera in exchange for a cheque for its full purchase price and the cheque's return for the camera's return in the same condition you received it plus a nominal charge for the day or two, especially if it thought that you might become a customer. A bit like camera pawnbroking so to speak. OK the shop might argue that it potentially loses a sale if a potential customer walks in when it is "on loan" but if the loan duration is very short then any customer with his heart set on say a F100 is likely to come back the next day to negotiate a deal. We have a secondhand shop in Northampton which is probably too far away but in your shoes I'd give it a go if I was doing a wedding. Most secondhand shops have cameras that have sat on shelves for weeks earning no keep. You'd be offering a nice little earner. Worth a try.


pentaxuser

 

[ted_smith]

Thanks guys.

I am currently trying to source an inexpensive F100 and have e-mailed Fforbes or whatever they're called to ask if they'd consider part exchange with my Nikon F80. I really want an F100 now (having read up on it for 2 or 3 days) but they're still quite pricy even in this digital age. The wedding is not until end of Sept so I have a couple of weeks to get ready yet, and used to, whatever camera I may end up with.

Cheers

Ted