Nikon RF lens rental service

[the_hunter]

Does anyone know if there are any services that rent or loan Nikon Rangefinder lenses? I am looking for rarer lenses like the 25mm and 85mm f1.5 so I know that could be an issue right off the bat.

FYI I live in the US so a store in Hong Kong or Austria that lends gear for a daily test period does me no good. I would prefer a US-based service/store or possibly Canadian.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

You're probably going to have to find someone with these lenses and see if they will loan them to you. You might try calling all the rental houses you can find, but those are fewer and fewer these days.
If Adorama has the lenses you want to try, you could buy from them risk-free, and return within a few days.

Phil Forrest

 

[the_hunter]

You're probably going to have to find someone with these lenses and see if they will loan them to you. You might try calling all the rental houses you can find, but those are fewer and fewer these days.
If Adorama has the lenses you want to try, you could buy from them risk-free, and return within a few days.

I fear rental places don't keep old gear in stock, I don't think I have ever seen one that rents film gear. I will keep the Adorama return policy in mind, but I would prefer not get stuck with something I don't like.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

I would imagine that trying to find rentals will be a dead end. Nikon RFs were last made 20 years ago, and were last in widespread professional use in the 60's. Rental houses depend on frequent turnover, and would long ago have sold off any rare lenses.
Though the Nikon lenses may not be a possibility, Camera Quest still has new stock of the Voigtlander S mount lenses in the focal lengths you are seeking. The prices are reasonable, and I can attest that the Voigtlander lenses are at least the equal optically of those from Nikon. Unless you need the specific Nikon lenses, it might be better to purchase the CV lenses outright. Sadly, the options for us shooters of vintage equipment have shrunk, and will continue to do so.

 

[keytarjunkie]

Darn, I was hoping you were beginning a rental service of your growing collection! I'll take the Komura, please!

If such a service existed, it would first exist for Leica M lenses before the more obscure S-mount. I agree with the above, you will need to find a private loaner or a shop with an excellent return policy. There are no rental houses that stock S-mount lenses, it's like going to Hertz and asking for a 1953 Corvette.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

The now-dead Lens & Repro which was on 17th St in Manhattan, just behind Adorama and right upstairs from 17th St Camera, used to rent gear like this, mostly to motion picture productions, but it was working cameras and lenses. I think they were the last out there. I don't know who bought up their stock, but it surely cost a pretty penny.

Phil Forrest

 

[the_hunter]

Camera Quest still has new stock of the Voigtlander S mount lenses in the focal lengths you are seeking. The prices are reasonable, and I can attest that the Voigtlander lenses are at least the equal optically of those from Nikon. Unless you need the specific Nikon lenses, it might be better to purchase the CV lenses outright.

I am aware of the Voigtlander glass, but I would prefer Nikon lenses for my personal reasons. I might get a Voigtlander someday down the road to compare to the vintage Nikon lenses
.

 

[the_hunter]

It's like going to Hertz and asking for a 1953 Corvette.

That is what I feared but Just wanted to see if there was some hidden place in the mid-west overlooked by the coasts or some new Instagram driven rental website. If my collection grows, I might have to start renting some out as I have enough trouble deciding what I want to use on a daily basis.

 

[the_hunter]

The now-dead Lens & Repro which was on 17th St in Manhattan, just behind Adorama and right upstairs from 17th St Camera, used to rent gear like this, mostly to motion picture productions, but it was working cameras and lenses. I think they were the last out there.

I am not surprised such a thing used to exist, just wish they still around.

 

[enasniearth]

I guess you are asking someone to loan you 2 very valuable lenses for a small rental fee
The downside is if they are damaged it not something easily replaced
The two lenses you are curious about are rare and most folks would only lend if a close lifetime friend asked kindly - and even then perhaps not
If I have been curious in the past — I had to buy then resell if it was something I didn’t end up wanting to keep

 

[the_hunter]

I guess you are asking someone to loan you 2 very valuable lenses for a small rental fee
The downside is if they are damaged it not something easily replaced
The two lenses you are curious about are rare and most folks would only lend if a close lifetime friend asked kindly - and even then perhaps not
If I have been curious in the past — I had to buy then resell if it was something I didn’t end up wanting to keep

Glad to see you read my post.

 

[css9450]

...Just wanted to see if there was some hidden place in the mid-west overlooked by the coasts ...

Oh, there might be. But we're not sayin'... Don't want the coasts to find out!

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I'll never loan out valuable gear to anyone ever again. I loaned my Rolleiflex 3.5E Planar to a classmate back in 2011. The selenium meter worked perfectly and so it was a special sample. I explicitly stated that the camera could not get wet or even dewy. Wouldn't you know it, when my classmate returned it, the camera had gotten rained on and the meter was very erratic. I should have taken a deposit of what I paid for the camera plus what I put into it with Krikor doing an overhaul.

I've sold quite a few bicycles on craigslist and have gotten in arguments with potential buyers who want to test ride the bike but haven't paid for it yet. They offer me their ID, their camera, their girlfriend, as collateral. I always state that they need to hand me the sales amount in cash to test ride it and if they don't I walk away.

I'd say, buy the lenses you want to try, treat them carefully, and if you don't like them, resell them.

Phil Forrest

 

[the_hunter]

Oh, there might be. But we're not sayin'... Don't want the coasts to find out!

Can't blame you! I have seen firsthand what the California fools have done to Texas, it is truly terrifying and makes me want to leave the entire country.

 

[the_hunter]

I'll never loan out valuable gear to anyone ever again. I loaned my Rolleiflex 3.5E Planar to a classmate back in 2011. The selenium meter worked perfectly and so it was a special sample. I explicitly stated that the camera could not get wet or even dewy. Wouldn't you know it, when my classmate returned it, the camera had gotten rained on and the meter was very erratic. I should have taken a deposit of what I paid for the camera plus what I put into it with Krikor doing an overhaul.

I'd say, buy the lenses you want to try, treat them carefully, and if you don't like them, resell them.

This is not too far from what I have experienced selling online. I assumed buying what I want and selling it off if I don't like it was the only real option and will likely have to relegate myself to this reality. Sadly that is something I have already done and it can be difficult to sell gear off especially if is rare and shipping off a rare lens to a strange from eBay while PayPal and eBay dimes and nickles you $2000 down to $1569 is unnerving and frustrating.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I wish I could find someone who would graciously loan me a Zunow 50mm f/1.1... 🙄

Phil Forrest

 

[the_hunter]

I wish I could find someone who would graciously loan me a Zunow 50mm f/1.1... 🙄

Me too, but it is hard to even find those lenses I doubt many would be willing to lend it out. I have considered lending some of my gear (mostly Nikon RF stuff) to local people, but I don't want to ship stuff off.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

When I sold my M2, back in early 2005, the buyer came back asking for his money back several days later. I asked why and he said the camera was dropped and the viewfinder blacked out. I was confused as to how I should give the buyer his money back and had a sickening chuckle at his expense.

Phil Forrest