Subscribe by email
Subscribe by RSS feed
FREE LENSES!!
November 17th, 2008
Well, sort of. More like FREE LENS! And you only get it for a week. But other than that: FREE LENS! Sorry, I’m a weak man when it comes to hype and gratuitous caps and exclamation marks.
BorrowLenses.com has graciously agreed to give my US readers, a chance to win a free lens rental. I’ll get to the details in a moment, but let me tell you why I love this idea.
First, BorrowLenses has been getting some excellent reviews and I like to support folks who treat others well. Secondly, if you’ve read this blog much you’ll know I am a fan of keeping your business running well and without debt. So many photographers shell out on optics they only use occassionally, making each use an expensive one. Rental is a great way to go, and if it’s hassle free and accompanied by personal customer service and solid pricing, I’m a fan. Thirdly, renting optics give you access to a wider range of creative tools. Want to play with a tilt/shift lens but don’t need to shell out for it – just rent one. If this giveaway introduces more of you to the notion then I’m happy. On top of that, one lucky winner gets to take a lens for a test drive. Win-win.
So, here’s the rules – short and sweet.
1. You need to be in the US. To my international readers, I am in Canada, so I too feel your pain.
2. The order will need to be made online and you will need to provide a credit card number. This won’t be charged but they will need it to ensure you don’t run off with their lens 
BorrowLenses.com is a reputable business but if you don’t feel comfortable with this condition please don’t enter.
3.The offer excludes super telephoto lenses and pro camera bodies.
4. To enter, go to the BorrowLenses.com site, look around, then come back here and tell me who you are, which lense you’d chose, and why. Contest is open until Monday, Nov.24th, 11:59pm – after that I make the draw, randomly, and announce the winner the next morning. The rental includes return shipping so you’re out of pocket not a dime.
I’m still in Kenya, will be there until Saturday, then home late Sunday. In fact I’m writing this on Friday the 14th, just hours before I leave, so I’m cheating, but I wanted to give you all something to do while I was gone. If you have questions, feel free to leave them, but I doubt I’ll be around to see them. Sorry. The rules should be pretty simple. Good luck, y’all.
Super cool!
My name is Willy and I am a gear aholic (I dig new gear).
I would choose the Nikon 24mm f/3.5D ED PC-E.
I live near Washington, DC the home of so many majestic monuments, and historical buildings. Winning the week long rental would be the perfect excuse to spend a couple mornings/evenings running around DC being “that guy” with the cool gear.
I’m not going to enter because I want to see this go to someone that can really use it. But I wanted to write and tell you that borrowlenses.com is just an awesome company with excellent people and products behind it. Their service is awesome and yes, I’ve used them. Great idea here.
Does the UK have something like this?
I’m Jenny and I shoot Nikon. I would like to try out the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AF. I have the 1.8 and want to see if the 1.4 is worth upgrading to.
Thank you!
Hello – my name is Tim. I live in Ohio. I shoot Canon and would choose the Lensbaby 3 (composer if they had it but hey – I am flexible). I would love to play around with a lensbaby and portraiture. Just looks like alot of fun.
I’ve got my 18-135 out in the mail for repair and it looks like it’ll be gone for thanksgiving, when i want to do some nice portraits of my family up in new england.
so to cover that range, i’d love to rent the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S for the normal range.
I’m Jarret and I would love to test out the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR AF-S. I take tons of photos of my kids, and a fixed f/2.8 would be great especially in the rock climbing gym.
Thanks for the chance David.
My name is Lisa asnd I too am a gear aholic. I heard John Shaw say once that “You must have a good reason to acquire a new lens or piece of equipment” and “Lust IS a good reason”.
I photograph nature and weddings so this was a tough choice, just one Canon lens..Hmmm. My first pick would have to be the new 18-200mm IS. I usually buy faster lenses (300mm f2.8, 135mm 2.8, 500mm f4, and even the 70-200 mm f4) but this lens has appeal for both weddings and travel with its wide range without needing to change lenses.
I would also love to try out the 65mm 1-5X Macro lens as I do photograph a lot of flowers and insects. I have also been toying with a fisheye (15mm f2.8) or wide angle (10-22mm). I own the 500mm and my husband owns the 300mm so perhaps we can have more marital bliss by renting a second 500mm for our next photo trip.
Thank you! Lisa
I’m Eric and I would get the Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G. I’m thinking about buying that lens at some point, but I want to try and fiddle around with it a bit before I decide if I want to make that very expensive plunge.
@Jenny –
The 1.4 isn’t that great – i’ve found that the usable f range is about the same as the 1.8 – it gets really really soft at 1.4. I would wait to check out the newly announced f/1.4G
I would absolutely love the opportunity to shoot with the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS. My wife and I are going on a trip to China and Japan soon for two weeks. A trip like that is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us, so what better all-around lense could you get to document the experience and wonders of that country than the 70-200mm IS?! The large aperture and high focal length are perfect. And you can’t beat the “L” class lenses for Canon bodies! I’m an aspiring (mainly landscape) photographer who would love to make a living from it someday. I’ve had my eye on this lens for a long time now, but don’t have the budget yet to purchase it! I think it would be the perfect travel photography companion for the trip, as well as a great opportunity to try it out for a possible future purchase.
Thanks BorrowLenses.com and David for giving all of us the chance to rent our dream lens!
HI, I’m Pete, I would love to try the Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro. With winter around the corner this lense would be great for the early morning frost. Thanks for the chance.
I would definitely try the Canon TS-E 45mm f/2.8. I’ve been dying to try a TS at the college I go to. There is a window in the deans office that overlooks a courtyard with great lighting in the morning. I want to try and put together a time-lapse with the TS of people coming and going through the courtyard. Its just one of those lenses I would use maybe once a year and I’ve been thinking about renting one.
What an awesome contest. I have only been shooting for two years and don’t have much experience with most lenses so I am having a VERY hard time choosing. I think it would either be the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro or Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L. Either one would be so cool!
I’m always jealous of the beautiful ultra wide-angle shots I see on Flickr, and don’t have the funds to go get my own lens. So, my choice would be the Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM for Nikon.
I’m Brian and I would choose the Tokina 11-16 f2.8. I’m a big fan of the Nikon 12-24 f4, and I rent it a lot. But since I shoot in a lot of low light situations, I really want the extra stop. Plus, this lens is hard to find. I’ve also told myself I won’t buy any more DX lenses because I want/plan/dream to upgrade to a full frame body sometime.
I shoot Canon and I would LOVE to play with the 200mm f/2, but I see that is in the super telephoto category. My second choice would definitely be a Tilt & Shift lens, probably the 45mm. I am a bit obsessed with shallow DOF, but I’m always stuck on the same focal plane. I love many of the portraits I’ve seen coming from these T&S lenses and want to try my hand at it.
What a cool opportunity! My name is Stacy and I normally do portraits, but am getting into landscapes for myself and I would love to try a wide angle. The Nikkor 12-24mm would be my choice.
Thanks for pointing the way, David.
I actually looked into rental at my local shop and they wanted an arm, a leg, and my first born son to rent a lens for the week. BorrowLenses’s prices are so much nicer on my wallet! (a chance at winning a free rental is even nicer on the wallet, too!)
I would test drive the Nikon 70-200mm. I have been on the fence about getting a Nikon 24-70 or the Nikon 70-200 for quite some time. I’m leaning heavily towards the 70-200 right now, but a little play time with it might make my decision much easier! I am attending a workshop in early December so you sent this info got to me just in time. I’ll be visiting BorrowLenses whether I win the drawing or not – of course winning would be great too!
Thanks for everything, David.
-J.
I’d definitely choose the Canon T/S 24mm mainly because I’m intrigued about how to use it and to experiment with what type of shots I could get from the funky DOF you can get with those lenses.
I have been wanting to try the Tamron 70-200 f2.8 to see how it compares to the Canon version. Would love to get it for free!!
i shoot canon and do a lot of portraits. i would love to shoot with the canon 85mm lens f/1.2L II just to see if there is a major difference in the quality of prints and being able to play around with the aperture.
I feel it is my duty, as the founder and lead hoodlum of the Central Illinois Photoblog, to try out the Nikon 14-24 f/2.8 Shizzle of a Pizzle. I must advise all the other Nikon shooters here in Central Illinois (and there are so many) about this fine piece of glass. I encouraged all my readers to come over here for their shot – but they are so lazy – so I have to do all the work. Having read all the comments so far, if you’re not gonna grant me serenity, I say give it to Rory. Dude is taking his wife to China fer cryin’ out loud – she can carry that sweet Canon lens for him. Oh – and finally – I love borrowlenses.com too – they’ve taken good care of me over the last few years. What a great sponsor. In fact if they want to sponsor me – well, I am available.
Hello~
My name is Ron Warren of sunny Queen Creek, AZ (Phoenix area)! I would pick the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L because I think it would be a great solution to the low-light wedding reception dilemma.
Hello from Brooklyn, NY. Thanks for the opportunity to be part of the contest. I would love to try the Canon 85 1.2 L since the holidays bring family together and I would love to try this glass out on family portraits. Thanks.
Hey, thanks David. I appreciate you man.
My name is Jason, and I would without a doubt get the Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8. Why? Ha! There’s a big smile on my face right now. For fun. I shoot enough stuff for other people. I need to get out more and shoot for fun, and I have been absolutely DYING to take a tilt-shift to the Sky Lobby (70th Floor!!) of the JP Morgan Chase Tower in Downtown Houston, Texas. It’s the tallest building in Texas, the tallest five-sided building in the world, and one of the world’s tallest structures. (see Wikipedia page for more info). I live pretty close, but have never had the chance to shoot a tilt-shift. My dream is to let the frames fly from 70 stories looking onto the streets of H-town. Aaaah, the therapeutic sound of the mirror and shutter. Thanks again David.
Wow – how to choose? If I had to pick one it would probably be Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS My current arsenal will get me only 17 to 100mm – would love to explore some longer lengths. Outstanding site and work. Thanks for the chance!
Almost missed this contest!! I actually almost rented from BorrowLenses the other day for a gig I did, but then at the last second decided I didn’t need the extra gear.
Anywho, the lens I would want to rent would be the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS. I have always wanted to get my hands on this lens and give it a run. I have the 18 – 55mm f/2.8 IS lens and love having 2.8 all the way through, I can only imagine having it for the 70-200 zoom.
[...] are one of his sponsors and he writes about his experiences with the system here. Also – check out David’s post today. Although I’m diluting my chances, he’s running a little contest for a free one-week [...]