Is Camera Rental Really Worth It?
The video production industry is one where equipment investment matters just as much as creativity. Getting your footage shot with a good crew and a high-bit-rate, quality camera really matters. But since these cameras start at around 100,000 TL, camera rental has become a widely used alternative today. In this article, we'll share our thoughts on whether camera rental is really worth it, or whether buying is the better move.
Video Shooting Equipment
Before we start, let's clarify something: the video production examples we'll cover here are for small and mid-sized shoots. This article isn't a reference point for projects using cameras like the Red or Alexa.
Whether you're producing something simple or something complex, there's a set of basic equipment you'll need. Let's quickly run through it:
- Video Camera
- Lens(es) for the camera
- Microphone
- Lighting equipment
These 4 items are the most basic pieces of video shooting equipment. Of course, to take things to a higher level, you'll also need dozens of other pieces of gear, like a tripod, gimbal, monitor, or camera cage.
Sometimes you'll need a fog machine, sometimes an RGB light. This is exactly where the question of whether to buy or rent all this equipment becomes worth asking — which is more advantageous?
Equipment Rental Cost Comparison
Purchase Cost
Let's put together a simple cost comparison for March 2022, based on products sold by Fujifilm and Godox.
Mid-Range Equipment
| Equipment | Purchase Cost | Daily Rental |
|---|---|---|
| Fujifilm XT-4, 16-80mm lens | 25,299 TL | 400 TL |
| Rode Wireless Go-2 Microphone | 6,499 TL | 250 TL |
| Godox FV150, 2-piece LED video light kit | 9,979 TL | 300 TL |
| Total | 41,777 TL | 950 TL / day |
While the purchase cost for just these 3 basic items comes to 41,777 TL, the total daily rental cost for the same equipment through Vusto Rental is just 950 TL. That means the equipment only pays for itself after roughly 44 single-day rentals — and that's based on a very basic calculation.
And this doesn't even include a tripod, gimbal, cage, memory card, spare battery, or any other equipment.
Advantages of Camera Rental
Let's break down the advantages of renting equipment, point by point.
No Upfront Investment
Take another look at the cost table above — for even a small shoot, you'd need a minimum investment of a full 41,777 TL. With rental, there's no such upfront investment; you only pay for what you need, when you need it.
Rising Equipment Prices
As unfortunate as it is to say, video equipment prices keep climbing against the Turkish lira. Take this example, based on data we pulled from Akakçe:
The Sony A7S III was priced at 36,000 TL on March 24, 2021, and exactly one year later, on March 24, 2022, it was hovering around 64,000 TL.
Disadvantages of Camera Rental
As many advantages as there are, camera and equipment rental does have its downsides too. Rental companies make every effort to minimize these risks, and while the odds of running into problems are quite low, they're never zero. Let's go through the disadvantages of equipment rental point by point:
The possibility of a faulty camera
Even though camera rental companies carefully inspect all equipment at the end of every rental, malfunctions can still crop up during use. For example, the sensor stabilizer, which reduces footage shake, might have been damaged during the previous rental. A fault like this can often only be noticed once you're already using the equipment.
A microphone cable that keeps cutting out
You're about to shoot a really important interview and you've rented a lav mic. But the cable got bent too many times during a previous rental and it keeps cutting out intermittently. Unfortunately, neither you nor the rental company can catch this until you actually use it.
A battery that drains fast or is worn out
Every battery has a lifespan, and that lifespan can get longer or shorter depending on usage habits. A battery that wasn't charged properly, was exposed to high voltage, or was left somewhere too hot can leave you stranded halfway through a shoot.
Conclusion
Of course, it's hard to give a single answer to the question of whether camera rental is really worth it for everyone. But you can find the most efficient approach by buying the equipment you use often and renting the equipment you use less frequently. For example, for mid-level work, you might buy a camera and rent a microphone or lights whenever you need them.
For all your rental needs, you can turn to Vusto Equipment Rental. That's because we're also a production company ourselves. We shoot and edit footage with our own equipment and deliver it to our clients. That's why, the moment any piece of equipment we use develops even the smallest issue, we replace it right away and keep up with maintenance without fail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it more advantageous to rent or buy a camera?
Buying the equipment you use frequently and renting what you use less often is generally the most efficient approach — for example, buying a camera and renting a microphone or lights as needed.
How many days does it take for rented equipment to pay for itself?
In our example calculation, an equipment set worth 41,777 TL rented at 950 TL a day only pays for itself after about 44 days of rental.
Does camera rental have any disadvantages?
There's a small chance of issues like a faulty sensor stabilizer, a microphone cable that cuts out, or a worn-out battery; reputable rental companies work hard to minimize these risks.
