CameraLends: The Airbnb of Film Gear Rentals

Let's face it, filmmaking equipment is expensive. Enter CameraLends. The concept sounds like a dream come true: the Airbnb of film gear rentals. Easy and affordable. Rent equipment or rent out your equipment.

I explored their website and searched our area (San Francisco). I came across a couple Red and Black Magic cinema cameras, film and digital cameras, GoPros, lighting equipment, stabilizers, memory cards, audio recorders, drones, and much more. Although some daily rental fees were questionable (owners set their own prices), according to a comment reply from CameraLends, they insist contacting their support team with the owner's info so they can try to convince them to lower their prices. That works for me! Regardless, most prices I came across were reasonable.

But wait, what about insurance? According to their FAQ:

What happens if my gear is damaged or lost? We understand accidents happen, and we know how much your gear means to you. That’s why we guarantee your gear will be fully replaced and fixed in the case of damage or loss. We offer a damage waiver to Renters’ that reduces their responsibility, but we’ll step in regardless and next-day ship to make things right as soon as possible.

What prevents the Renter from just keeping the gear? Video and photo equipment is expensive, so the risk of theft is naturally there. That’s why we do our best to ensure our community is peer-reviewed and pre-screened before any rental is accepted and in their hands. In the event of theft, we have the Renter’s credit card information, mailing address, phone number and verified identity to follow-up with the local authorities. Either way, the Owner’s gear will be fully replaced and taken care of.

I am excited to use the service soon and see the community grow.

CameraLends

How It Works
CameraLends is a peer-to-peer lending community for photographers and videographers. Owners post unused gear to rent out to other photographers. You can rent gear directly from local photographers, faster and cheaper than traditional means.

Reserve
Request to rent camera equipment directly from nearby owners for the dates you need, with the price you want to pay.

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Confirm
An owner will accept your reservation request which will confirm your rental.

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Pick up
Find a time and place that works for both of you — like a convenient coffee shop after work or on your way out of town.

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Affordable rates
Our inventory is owned by photographers and videographers just like you. Most of the time this gear is collecting dust. Because of this, lenders are often willing to price lower than rental shops.

Flexible pickup
Have a last-minute request? Don't worry, that's our forte! When traditional shops are closed, our lenders can still help you out.

So what are you waiting for? Head on over to CameraLends!

Adrian Nava
Writer/Director