Never lend or borrow Nikons or Canons or any photography gear EVER!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ต.ค. 2024
- #photography #nikon #canon
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You have a Nikon Z9? Canon R3? Sony A1 or maybe a Nikon Z6. It doesn't matter what you have or lenses either. In this video I tell you why you should never lend or borrow your photography gear to friends or employees. Your gear that is.
I've learned a few lessons in my photography journey when doing just that.
Here it is.
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I have two photographer buddies that are like brothers to me. We share gear at the drop of a hat. Shit happens sometimes. It could happen to you or me with our own stuff. But these two guys can have anything in my bag and vice versa. Too bad you’ve not had the same experience. I consider myself blessed.
I'll add lighting to that. Lights have a lifespan and if you lend them for a long duration you don't know how much life is left in them. Batteries are the same no matter the type.Great point Vahagn.
Ohh you lend out a battery you will never see that battery again. Same thing with lights, Lights are very fragile. You never get them back in one piece.
Totally agree, We all become passionate about our gear! I don't even like to loan out a screw driver!!
hehe , lol yah
I had to deal with this topic back in 2011. A friend of mine who knew nothing about cameras was considering to buy either a Canon, a Sony, or a Nikon, and he asked to borrow my 5D Mark II with a few L lenses to try it for some time! My jaw dropped because he knew he was asking me to borrow thousands of dollars worth of gear to toy with! Obviously my answer was a straightforward no (in the nicest possible way) and he got upset. A few months later he bought a Nikon D3200 and I bought a 7D as a second body; however, I was not impressed with the dynamic range or the noise performance of the 7D compared to the 5D Mark II and another friend of mine wanted a camera to shoot video with professionally, so I ended up giving him the 7D as a gift. When my first friend with the D3300 found out, he got so pissed at me and said "so you won't lend me your gear but you'd gift an expensive body to someone else?!" The funny bit is that I tried to explain to him that the 7D costs a fraction of what he asked to borrow, plus it was not even a piece of gear I was intending to keep or shoot with anyway, and by the time I purchased it and decided to sell it, he had already gotten himself a camera. However, he insisted on staying upset with me for some time but we ended up speaking again shortly after. Until today I still don't get how he thought asking to "experiment" with someone's thousands of dollars worth of gear was OK! I'd never even think of asking someone that question!
Vahagn, I totally agree! It speaks volumes about someone’s personality when they ask to hold/try my Nikon pro body with my 200mm f/2 lens after they just had fries or other greasy finger food… and I ask them to wash their hands first, which I do myself, but they act put out. I am confident enough to just laugh at their attitude, as I am not the one that should be apologizing.
The one that gets me is I had a lens repaired and it was working well for a few months. One of my "friends" had an opportunity and he wanted to borrow that specific lens. I took it to him late at night so he would have it for the job he was doing the next day. He calls me a couple days later telling me it's ok to come get it. Didn't even bother to bring it to me. I get the lens, he says they ended up not using it because they chose to use a different camera with a different mount for their production. When I got the lens, I didn't carry my kit with me to test it. I needed to use it the next week and AF is no longer working. I can't say for a fact he dropped or broke the lens but when I tried to get it repaired again the manufacturer tells me they can't service that lens anymore. So it's been on a shelf at an independent repair shop waiting for parts to surface for almost a year now. That pretty much cured me of being helpful.
Good talk about lending camera equipments to "Friends" or fellow photographer. I'm not comfortable with lending my gears out or even borrowing for the sakes of the item breaking in some way. I hear people say "Look out for Number 1" which is yourself and your belongings, once it's out of your hands then anything can happen. As for them wanting to borrow from you, what happen to their gear and why do they suddenly need yours ? Great video on the subject.
I have always been a proponent of the saying "Neither a lender or borrower be" as far as my photo gear goes. It just makes too much sense.
Damn, I was just about to say that.
Vahagn: I am a student of Ayn Rand and have read all of her novels to include: WE THE LIVING, THE FOUNTAINHEAD and ATLAS SHRUGGED. I don't care if other people like me.
Great topic.
I've had issues in the past, thought I would address this . You should never feel guilty of saying no. I feel guilty asking to borrow anything.
I was on the fence, but after i heard you say "greasy hands"... that did it. I have greasy hands.
A million percent. This specialized Murphy's Law applies to all gear and tools, from lawn mowers to boomboxes - they come back broken; there is no escaping it.
Lending out can lead to busted friendships or relationships. I loaned a camera out to a friend and it came back with a different battery! An aftermarket POS and my new OEM battery was MIA. No explanation. Boom!
Yes, I have been lucky. I have done it a couple times. No issues.
If the items are insured, I don't sweat it.
Great advise. I'm a super nice guy but I have to be ready for that question because eventually one of my friends are going to ask me and I will have to say no, and they might get mad, but if they appreciate the friendship, they will understand.
I don't usually ever get this question, but my answer immediately would be, "want to borrow my wife too?"
No way. My gear isn't even that expensive but I've seen too many fumbles with other peoples stuff. I hold my lenses like I do with my baby or a loaded weapon.
The thought of others hold your most prized items. the gear you baby, clean, look after and day dream about. not gonna happen. It never comes back returned the same way.
I will never lend out my Wife >> same for my HARD earned Nikon Gear which I use as a Hobby
hehe Peter. I agree man. The only person I would trust is my blood family only because they share the same careful traits as me. hehe
The nice guy will finish last. Just say NO.
Say sorry I need it for a shoot soon. hehe
I have only offered to share with my second shooter when I am on the shoot with them.
Well this happened to me, I took the lens shot it for 20 minutes, Gave it back to the guy, this was years back when I was second shooting and the next day he calls me blames me for the lens not AF, I think he was trying to weezle his way from paying me for my work. wtf .
Hi Vahagn: I start by saying how much the lens or camera costs and then add: "If you break or damage it, you will be buying me its replacement at full retail." "Oh, you are not willing to do that?" "OK then, you CANNOT borrow my gear!"
The rule I've lived by is, you don't lend anything you can't give, outright. It doesn't matter who it is, or what it is, (money, car gear).. Yes, I have older cameras that I do not rely on that I may loan but not the ones that I need for work.
Well… to be honest. I decided to keep my G 24-70 2.8, but I don’t use the dslr anymore.
My friend does though, so I told him,
it’s just sitting there doing nothing anyway.
Just have it for now, until I need it or want to sell it.
He’s sort of like family, but I know he takes care of gear in general so I have no problem it.
If I was still shooting dslr though, there’s no way I’d lend it unless we’re all together.
I still suggest people take your advice though.
Good video.
Someone lent Nikkor 200-500mm to a friend, but when he returned it, it was stuck at 500mm, doesn't squiz at 200mm again!!
yup. sounds like it was dropped. Anytime I break anything I replace it no questions asked, or atleast get it fixed for the person. Least I can do, exactly why if its not mine I dont borrow.
My daughter "borrows" my camera gear and "forgets" to return it. i just give it to her anyway.
Daughter's are different. :) hehe
I've only lent out gear twice to non family - both times I regret it.
I lent a Mamiya medium format film camera as a prop for a commercial - It came back totally destroyed.
I lent an on Nikon FM to someone that wanted to try film - it came back without a rewind lever or field of view preview lever.
When a photog borrows gear they are usually focused on the job and not the gear they borrowed.
Lending / borrowing gear can destroy a friendship...
Did they do the right thing and offer to repair or pay?
Our mentality on this is like: if anyones gonna drop my camera it's gonna be ME!
worst feeling when you drop your camera. even worse when you drop someone else's camera , worse than that when it's in front of the owner haha
Simply said, a photographer who makes a living as a photographer should never lend their equipment. If you're a hobbyist, you may be able to make exceptions for temporarily switching equipment for a few chosen people who are careful with the equipment, especially if you're taking photos together. However, I have acquaintances that I will not be willing to lend anything to.
I don't let anyone borrow anything of mine electronic. If you really want to piss me off, take your finger and touch my computer screen. That is a no no. I let my former boss borrow my snow blower and he brought it back and it was messed up. Never again did I borrow anything to anyone. Most don't care.
First what’s up Vahagen
So you're saying that 600mm won't be here any time soon? 🙂
hehe sure it will , lol the review haha :)
I have only 2 people id trust to lend gear . even though they have never asked .You could say...id love to but its against my or company policy :)
Cameras and lenses, like wives and children, should not be borrowed!
Agreed. :)
Hi Vahagn I fell into such a situation and will not repeat the same mistake.and tell them (գլուխդ պատին տուր) ha .. ha....
lol yup. they mad they should do that instead of being mad at you.
My rules are simple, who breaks it pays for it, and I make it clear from the start, if it isn’t understood the borrowing doesn’t happen.
This means that I would never borrow something that I know I can’t afford to replace straight away if needed.
I regularly borrow and lend gear with a friend, a real friend, but then he is the one taking the Mickey that I am the one that has a bag for a bag for a bag for everything, whilst he is cleaning equipment using a 50 dollars super soft brush and distilled water.....
NO if they really need it let them use a rental service.
I just give an excuse, like, Im using it, or my other friend has it. haha
If you're the kind of guy who constantly borrows gear, you're not my friend.
A family member wanted to borrow my D750 back in the day. Didn't happen and i definitely wouldnt let anyone borrow my Z9 or A1.cant imagine if someone tried to borrow your new lens.
One time i had family in towm and i had a canon and nikon. I woke up to the sound of my cousin trying to mount my canon DO 70-300 lens on my nikon body.i woke up fast
Neither a lender nor borrower be...
Don’t tell me, you lent someone your mic stand and didn’t get it back? 🤭