Most travelers have a smartphone or a cell phone that take a decent picture, However, for a once in a lifetime cruise vacation you might be hoping to capture some professional quality images. But when you start looking into DSLR cameras you quickly discover that a good camera can cost more than a great cruise. There is a simple solution. Camera rentals are a great way to get the latest in technology without paying thousands of dollars for a camera that you might use a few times a year at best.
Camera Bodies
A base camera body with no lenses can be very expensive. As an example, the Canon 5D Mark IV sells on Amazon brand new for just over $3,000. But LensRentals.com offers the same camera body for a seven-day rental for only $158.00. And full insurance coverage will only cost another $36.00 for the entire seven-day rental period. I added in FedEx 2-day shipping for another $25.00 and the total comes to $219.00, or less than 10% of the cost to buy the camera.
Lenses
Just to compare the lens rates I selected a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II on Amazon and the cost was $1,800. The rental was $75 for seven days and the added insurance was only $18. And even with a full $25 in shipping the cost is $118, far less than 10% of the purchase price. Because the lenses are rented separately from the camera bodies, this is also a great opportunity for you to try a new lens on your own camera while you are on your cruise. Having access to a wide angle lens or a fisheye can be helpful when trying to capture a scenic sunset over the ocean or when sightseeing. Packages are also offered. Some are complete kits with the camera, two lenses, a case, and an extra battery while others are just a series of lenses. The benefit to ordering a package is that the shipping is far more affordable.
The only thing better than taking a great cruise is taking great pictures on your cruise. But if you are not interested in investing a few thousand dollars camera equipment, then you should consider renting quality equipment for your trip. Your pictures will be professional quality shots and will not cost you $25 each or more because you are buying them from the cruise ship photographer.
