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Great service, the best! I just got done returning my second order from Borrow Lenses earlier this week.
This time I rented the 5D Mark II & the Canon 14mm f2.8 L II. Previously I had rented the Canon 85mm f1.2L II. Both times I received the equipment on time, packaged nicely--encased in foam.
Each time I get the equipment from them I inspect it thoroughly and have never had a problem.
I've found the phone support to be quite well; a helpful person always answers during normal business hours.
Some of the negative reviews on here aren't very fair. You can't blame Borrow Lenses when FedEx makes a mistake and delivers it a later date--Btw, that's never happened to me.
You should give them a try, and if you're still weary, call them!
You can see a few shots I took with their equipment here on Flickr: http://bit.ly/BL-yelp
I almost never do 5 star reviews knowing that there will always be a better business out there. However I find it hard to imagine that someone else can top http://BorrowLenses.com. So here's my 5 star seal!
Great customer service. Great price (at least I think so). Great selection of lenses and other equipments. Whether you are going to Yellowstone for the photo trip of your life or just wanna check out an equipment before buying one online, this is the place to be.
The best way to use their service in my opinion =
1. Look on the site for the equipment you'd like to use for your next adventure. Book online and do it earlier than later.
2. I wouldn't trust a precious lens to a postal service, so go pick it up yourself if you are available.
3. Though I trust those guys, if you are renting lenses and other sensitive equipments, bring your camera in and test to make sure the equipment works for you.
4. Their insurance plan is so so. I wouldn't buy it for most occasions...
good service but no weekend rates...
most places if you wanna rent, say the nikon 70-200 vr, the going rate is 35 bucks a day and if u get it friday you keep it till monday morning for the 1 day rate. at borrowlenses you have to rent it for 3 days at $58 dollars. That's a pretty noticeable price jump.
anyways good service, quick when you get there so you're in and out in a jiffy but the lack of weekend rates is a pain
Needed to rent a fast lens to shoot a night high school football game and found http://borrowlens.com as a result of a google search. The lens was great. Being able to pick it up in SF was real nice. Called there a couple of times and always got a live person who knew what was going on. Highly recommended.
I just bought my first DSLR and wanted to try out a good lens. I found these guys online and lo and behold, they're local as well. Ordered online, picked it up with no issues, also got a polarized filter, returned no problems. Easy transaction. I plan on using them again for sure since you can try out all the lenses you need before you make any real financial commitments. It's a plus for me since I'm a novice.
I just wish they had more filters. I've read up on ND filters and graduated filters, but they don't offer any of these.
This place is a Photographers Dream! They offer a reasonable cost for some of the best lenses you can ask for. I'm a amateur photographer and Borrowlenses has helped me experiment with different lenses and try lenses out before i buy them. I have rented from them since '08 and I've never had a single problem. As far as I know they only offer NIKON/CANON, but i only have a NIKON so its perfect for me. The best thing about their rentals is that they don't charge you a hold for the full cost of the lens to rent from them, THAT'S TRUST! My only advise to them is to have more pick-up options in the east bay! http://www.flickr.com/...
Excellent customer service, no automated machine. Friendly and helpful regarding when I should ship back my lense. I recieved my lenses on time and made my trip wonderful. Couldn't have had a better experience with this website. I'll definately order from these guys again.
Thanks!
I dropped my 35mm f/1.4L on the floor and messed it up....and I had 5 shoots lined up within a week. Needless to say, I was IN NEED! I live in Oklahoma, so no local places rent out equipment, but one of them directed me to http://Borrowlenses.com.
I was nervous, but thought I'd give it a shot. The fact that there was no deposit was a very nice surprise! So I thought I'd rent a 35mm...but they were out of stock for another few days. So, since I'm impatient, I thought I'd test out a 24-70mm f/2.8L instead.
I got it. I used the heck out of it for a week. I LOVED IT!
Great packaging, flawless delivery and arrival, super easy, TOTALLY WORTH IT. I will use them again in the very near future. What an amazing experience altogether!
Thank you Yelp for the ROTD!! you guys rock!
I continue to give these guys 5 BIG STARS! I cant find one fault. They always give me great friendly service and decent pricing. I cant say enough good things about them. in fact I'm joining there affiliate program and putting them on my website. If you have a Nikon or Canon DSLR and love photography like I do, you just cant go wrong. Take for instance the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens. One of Nikon's best. retails for $1900. you can go rent this lens for the weekend for about $58. Hmmm, $58 or $1900? its a no brainer! Thanks http://www.borrowlense.../ don't change a thing!!
Ok, so I'm thinking its time to maybe go work for them part time.
Maybe get some free rentals out of the deal? what ya think, you guys hiring? :)
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Being the wannabe photographer that i am, and not being able to drop major coin for a $2000 Nikon… Read more »
Great photog equipment and support. They do it right - every time. One excellent partner in my business!
As a part time event photographer, I don't always have the gear needed to complete a job. Borrowlenses has whatever you need to fill in any holes in your gear lineup. What I like about this place is that its very reasonable priced.
The best part is the local service. Do your order online and pick up/ drop off in person. I hate shipping really expensive stuff. Here there are no worries. The local option also allows me shorter rentals, 3 days minimum instead of the usual 1 week for mail order rentals.
The have what I need and they do it fast and cheap. Its a winner.
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I've used these guys a couple of times and they're awesome. Granted I never really picked up anything from the main shop before. I had most of my stuff shipped to Kamera Korner in San Jose because my photography gigs were in Santa Cruz when I was a student there. Being a college student and a photography enthusiast I didn't (and still don't) have the coin to plunk down for a pro-grade 70-200mm f2.8 VR or a 17-35mm f2.8 wide tele. These guys let me do my job AND play with lenses I could only dream of owning, all for a very nice price. Being local I used the 3 day local pick up option and they never disappointed. The lenses were always at Kamera Korner when I got there and their choice in partnership is awesome because the Kamera Korner guys were great and I even bought a lens from them afterwards. All in all great service, great selection, and great prices. Thanks guys!
I live in a dinky little town all the way in Minnesota and the closest rental place is two hours away from me and costs me $25 a day to rent one lens and they aren't even nice people to do business with! Borrowlenses is the complete opposite, I love it that I can get the lenses shipped right to me and they arrive in perfect timely fashion! They are incredibly reasonable in pricing and have an awesome selection! I will forever do business with BorrowLenses from now on! I had to call them to ask a question and they were SOOOO nice on the phone! Great customer service, great price, great lenses.
This review is for local pick up for renting lenses since I work close to San Mateo. I have rented lenses here for Canon DSLR 4 times now and each time is always smooth and awesome. Very friendly staff and the new location is a lot bigger and easier to find! The fact that you can rent $1K + lenses for around $50 is awesome! Vince at the front desk is always pleasant and knows his stuff! Thanks guys! The only problem is having the lens you want in stock!
Had a really great experience renting a lens here and would definitely come back. The lens was ready when they said it would be; they even let me pick it up and drop it off 10 minutes before opening so that I could catch my train up to SF (This place is definitely within walking distance of the Burlingame Caltrain station; in half an hour I was able to walk there and back, with enough extra time to pick up and eat a donut from Royal Donut).
I rented a gorgeous lens that is over $1100 (Canon 24-105L F/4 IS). It was about $90 for 10 days including tax and insurance. The 10-day period gave me a chance to test-drive it for an entire week before heading off to my close friends' wedding.
The only sad part was returning it.
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Excellent service. I especially enjoy the No Deposit and the local 3-day rental rates!! I am lucky to work in San Mateo, it is so convenient. I will definitely be taking lenses out for test runs while I am still working here. The staff was also very friendly and knowledgeable. The selection is incredible. Check it out for yourself. They have lenses I wasn't even aware of. They carry sundry 3rd-party lenses which is great because those are the one's I'd probably eventually buy and its great to test them out for a weekend for about $30 bucks!!
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Fantastic operation! Ordered online, picked up the order in person with no issues. Convenient location for the bay area. Great prices and no hassles or deposits. If you need a lens for a specific shoot or just want to try a new lens, check these guys out for sure!
I had an infant photo session coming up the next day and needed a couple of faster lenses. My first thought was Keeble & Shuchat because they are closer to my house and I've rented from them before. When I called, they did not have any of the lenses I needed on such short notice. I had heard about BorrowLenses before and decided to try them out. Turned out they had both of the lenses I needed: Canon 50mm f/1.2L and Canon 16-35mm f/2.4L. I was thrilled! Ordered them online, got in my car, and had them in my hands another 45 minutes later.
For just under $100 I was able to rent two lenses for 4 days (they don't count the day you rent as one of the days, so it was a 3-day rental). I also received a discount for being a SmugMug customer, though I had to ask for it when I came to pick up the lenses because the online coupon didn't work.
Overall, definitely looking forward to another occasion to play around with cool new lenses! (Although not looking forward to the drive to San Mateo.)
I used http://BorrowLenses.com to rent a telephoto lens for Coachella.
The price was pretty decent, considering I had it for a week, although I barely used it while I was there.
The shipping was fast, two day turn around just like their website said, and I had no troubles when returning the prepaid package.
Would definitely use http://BL.com again. Best way to get a handle on lenses before you buy. I just wish I lived closer so I could pick up and not pay $30 for shipping.
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I've rented from BL 4 times. Twice I rented the Canon 10-22mm wide angle, a Canon 24mm f/1.4 and a Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS which I took on a 3-week around-the-world trip to cover a motor race. I've picked up from them in San Mateo, picked up from the shop in San Jose and had lenses shipped to me. Pretty much every combination of working with these guys and every interaction has been very positive.
I'm not a great photographer by any stretch but I do love to try new lenses and experiment and BorrowLenses is a super cheap way to try out a $1k lens that I'm not sure I will use enough to justify purchasing. That you could rent a $10k Canon L zoom lens for a weekend for a couple hundred bucks is... unbelievable.
My only wish is I had more photography needs for my business so I could rent more often!
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Rented a Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM. Sweet lens. Good service. Easy, fast, and no hassle. Lens was in perfect condition when I got it.
Place was hard to find, but I was forewarned by the reviews. Getting back on the freeway was a bit hard too because there's construction and the detour sign isn't all that apparent. But is that their fault? Nope.
In any case, great way to upgrade my kit for a weekend. They were totally cool, and were very soft about the return date.
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Ergh, put a reservation on a Canon 35mm f/1.4L a month in advance for a friends wedding, confirmed the reservation a week before the wedding. Wedding weekend comes up, and the lens isn't available. WTF?
I put a reservation in, they should be more cautious about double booking/sandwich booking lens rentals if a reservation is placed. Either that or have more backups.
Customer service was very apologetic, and offered an alternative lens in exchange. Did they have an 85mm f/1.2L available? Nope. How about the 35mm f/1.4L next week? I have a photo shoot then too. Nope. No dice. They suggested an 85 f/1.8 as an alternative. Ergh... no thanks. A $400 lens != a $1200 or $1800 lens in quality.
Seriously if you book a month in advance you should have some guarantee you'll be able to get your lens.
They were curtious enough to cancel my other rental (a Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8), but I was really looking forward to the 35L.
I've rented numerous times from another local shop and NEVER had my reservation canceled. BorrowLenses has a great selection though, and the web site makes renting a breeze, but I think I'll try elsewhere next time I need a lens for a weekend or longer.
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My dad told me about this place believe it or not! I came here because every picture I was taking had an artifact in it in the same spot. I tried cleaning everything, with no joy. I dropped my camera off to these professionals, they cleaned my ECD for like $35 and returned my camera to me within the hour!
In need to "borrow lenses" and came upon this site. Checked it out a couple times and saw the selections were very adequate to fulfill every need for lenses, bodies, flash, and extras. The website is easy to navigate and the site states if the item is in stock. All the questions that I had can be found answered in the FAQ's area.
The overall experience was easy and the site is in constant communication from the time you purchase the order, to the time the package is shipped and from there they utilize the services of FedEx to deliver your goods. FedEx allows for you to track the package from hub to hub.
When deciding on the extra expenses I chose to buy the insurance since the item I needed retails for over 1G. As for the delivery I opted to pay extra for 2 day.
****Make sure that if you need the item for a certain date keep this in consideration when you order. Give yourself time to have this item delivered. This is where the snafu came about and gives this transaction a 3 star. I called the 800 number a few times and each time a real person was on the other end. I talked to a Vincent and an Alex. Alex was very attentive to the problem and made every effort to allay my anxiety. In the end, I received the item in time for my gig, but a day later than I paid. So far I have been refunded for the half the shipping. I understand that the delivery problems are the responsibility of FedEx, the company also admits the error, but since this company (BorrowLenses) contracts with this one carrier they too should be held accountable. I am currently awaiting response from BL for a full refund on shipping since FedEx has told me that shipping will be refunded. Update to be posted.
Overall the item I received seemed all most new, and came with extras I did not expect to receive that would be needed for my item. The whole feel of the experience seemed that the ppl behind this company are thoughtful and anticipate the business aspect for photogs. Packaging was good and complete instructions for return of the item were easy,
In the future I would use this site with confidence for business and recommend to fellow photographers.
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I rented a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 this past weekend and it was in great shape. The staff was very alert and knowledgeable of the equipment. Being able to have a local place to pick up the lens was great. I am planning on using them again in the future.
My brother needed some lenses for his camera so he could take good pictures of my son's christening and first birthday. He found this website and asked m wife and I to reserve a lens.
We found the place and the first thing I noticed about the place was that though it was a bit small (about the size of a small dental office waiting room), it was very homely and the receptionist at the front was very nice and accomodating.
After we finished renting out the lens, we brought it back and again, the receptionist was very nice and no-nonsense.
I would totally recommend this place!
Being on a teacher's salary, I can't exactly drop $800 for a fisheye lens...so I was thrilled to come across BorrowLenses and even more thrilled to see that their prices were rather reasonable.
The rental agreement was pretty straightforward. I emailed them prior and got a response really quickly. The guys who work there are really nice. I read other reviews so I knew ahead of time that the store was a bit difficult to find. I agree with the other reviewers - the location could be better. It's street parking and the store is not clearly visible if you are driving on Peninsula but there is a pretty large sign that says BorrowLenses on the wall that is visible from Peninsula Ave.
Today I dropped the lens off on my way home from the airport. Again, it was hassle free and I got a confirmation email within 30 minutes telling me that they inspected the lens and it was in excellent condition. I would recommend BorrowLenses to others and would personally rent from them again, if needed.
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This place is great! There is a guy named Vinnie there who really knows his stuff! He can handle any question you got in person or on the phone!
I've been renting from these guys for 2 years. They are professional, affordable, and so friendly. I have had a few problems with delivery but these guys go out of their way to make it up to you. They rock! Rent your lenses and equipment from them!
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I have rented equipment through many business in the Bay Area and I decided to try BorrowLenses to compare with the others. I am so glad I did. Their selection of equipment is great and the prices are unbeatable! Not to mention their customer service is stellar. I received two emails from them confirming my rental which you don't normally receive from other places. That confirmation alone puts my mind at ease that my reservation is safe and secure.
Their customer service is also exceptional. I received a call informing me that they had a problem getting one of the lenses that I reserved but they resolved the issue within 24 hours and called me again to say it was taken care of.
I think I found my new place for renting equipment for my busy wedding season this summer. I can't recommend BorrowLenses enough!
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Very nice and excellent service here.
My first time here I borrowed the 70-200mm F/2.8L. 3 day rental pickup was quick and easy... lens was in great condition but the hood had white scuff marks... I really wish they took note of that because when I returned the lens the guy was like "did you by any chance drop this?".... NO i didn't. it looked liked that when i got it. he continued to inspect the lens and i left the store feeling like he really thought i was the one that scratched it up. everything besides that was cool.
My recent rental was the 135mm F/2L. Lens was in excellent condition and the staff was very nice again.
I highly recommend their services and as an unemployed graduate student I will return to them whenever I need more than my 17-55 F/2.8.....
I was amazed at how they help you in any way.
I was so late for my lens pick up on a Sat and they stayed until I got there. Basically, 35mins afte closing time.
The staff is very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable and the transaction to rent my lens was so easy. The price is fairly low, but I can't be so accurate on that since they are the only place I rented from. The only gripe I would have is that they sometimes won't have the lens you are looking to rent, but I know that they will contact you if you ask them to when it arrives.
My only gripe would be the location. It's a little hard to find and it's in San Mateo. I wish they would open another store here in the south bay!
These guys are always helpful and low stress. they make renting easier than you probably think it could be. I will use them for a long time to come. Website is easy to use, customer service is consistently excellent and they have a huge selection. Five stars for sure.
Great guys & excellent service. you really can't ask for more !!!!
I called before placing an order & they were really nice and helpful.
I'll gladly visit them over & over again.
Lens was in decent shape. People were nice and straightforward.... they also were flexible in my rental time that worked towards my advantage (a week and a day). I'm reasonably local, so it was huge.
I rented a lens for a trip overseas, and it generally made my trip less stressful.
This place is a great place for experimenting with camera gear without having to spend hundreds of dollars buying it. I borrowed an EX-430 flash for my canon dSLR for three days; I picked it up at Kamera Korner. Everything from placing my order to dropping it back off for return went smoothly. Too bad I didn't find out about this place earlier, it would have easily saved me at least a couple hundred dollars.
I e-mailed BorrowLenses asking for advice on the appropriate wide angle lens to rent and knew I was in good hands when Jeff promptly replied to my e-mail full of info! He listed different types of lenses in the EF-S and L-Series that were compatible with my Canon XSi and explained each and everyone to me. We e-mailed each other just three days before I was in the Bay Area and the lens he recommended was available and waiting for me! I had no problems using their site but had to send a reminder e-mail not to ship the lens to NJ because they did not confirm that I was going to pick-it up.
For those of you traveling to SFO, their San Mateo office is about 10-15 minutes away from the airport! If you can, pick up your lens after you arrive and drop it off before you leave but take note of their business hours. I had no problems picking up the lens but due to a conflicting schedule, I couldn't make their 6pm closing time on Friday to return it. I also couldn't make their 10am opening on Saturday because it was the same time as my flight back to NJ! But they helped me out and said it was OK for my friend to drop it off when they opened with no extra charge. For this very reason, I totally agree with Eric K. for a drop box or something like it. Total cost for 1 week rental plus insurance was $67.
My experience with the lens I rented (Canon 17-55mm EF-S f/2.8 IS) was so good that I plan to buy one for my own and will definitely rent from them in the future. Maybe I'll post an update about my shipping experience :)
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Very pleasant to deal with, fast shipping. Relatively reasonable price
I love BorrowLenses more than cupcakes. I've rented from them twice, once because I was traveling in the area and picked up. And the second time when it was shipped to me in Jersey. Both times have been no-hassle with excellent customer service.
A few days ago, a crowdsurfer fell on my lens and killed the motor....I had an extremely important show in 2 days and *needed* a lens....plus it was a Friday! Next day delivery? No place in NY or NJ had an available lens at such short notice. I called these guys up, and it wasn't available...*BUT* they did recommend another similar lens for concert photography. Even though it was a weekend, I had it the next day, saved my show, and the recommended lens is now my new love and I need to buy one asap. In short, they've saved my butt a couple times, without a hassle, for cheap, and with a smile.
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I always hear the expression, the next best thing since sliced bread. That's how I would describe BorrowLenses.
It's the perfect way for me to experiment with different lenses for a special occasion or before buying one to make sure it's worth it. I decided to borrow the Nikkor 50mm/1.4. Not only did I get a few tips from them, but I also realized what I did and didn't like based on my shooting styles. Like I realized that I'm pretty lazy and with a 50mm, moving around in heels wasn't so practical.
The guys working there are super friendly and I didn't feel like such an idiot approaching them.
If you live in the Bay Area, how fortunate to have free pick up and not pay shipping charges! You can also arrange for a pick up in Kamera Korner in San Jose for $15.
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