When Should You Rent Video Equipment?

As a film producer, you probably understand how expensive it is to get the right equipment for your gigs, whether you are buying or renting. Buying is expensive because you need to spend a huge amount of cash at once to get what you need. Renting on the other hand may seem cheap but it can also be expensive in the long run, especially if you will need the equipment for may gigs.

New devices are being released by the day and each one seems better than the previous one. But it makes no sense to keep replacing equipment every month; after all, you are running a business and you need to make some profits. Lots of equipment are needed for film production. These include cameras, camera lenses, jibs, dollies, lights, and camera stands to mention but a few. The question most film producers struggle with is whether to buy or rent film production equipment.

When you should rent

• You are low on funds – This could be the case if you have just finished school and want to start your career in film or if you were previously working with a production company but you want to start your own solo venture. Renting is a good option because you will be able to get quality equipment without having to spend so much money. Additionally, you will not be responsible for costs such as maintenance and repair.
• You are just starting out – If you are just starting out, you are probably low on funds and this explains why renting may be the better alternative. Even if you do have the money, you might have limited experience and therefore, you may not know what works well for you and for particular gigs. Thus, it is better to rent equipment as you figure out what works for you.
• You have a client with specialized needs – If you are only going to need certain equipment for a particular gig, it makes more sense to rent them. Video production equipment is expensive and therefore, you should only buy something if you absolutely need it and if you are going to use it for a long time.
• You have limited space – This could be the case if you work from home or if your studio is small. You will not have enough space to store all the equipment you need. If you have too many things lying around even when they are not in use, this makes it cumbersome to work from your studio and even your clients may not enjoy the experience.
• You are shooting in a foreign location – This is not an uncommon scenario in the film industry. Even if you have your own equipment, you may be forced to rent because transporting equipment is quite difficult. Additionally, the cost of shipping equipment may be higher than the cost of renting and in this case, it makes more sense to rent.

These are just some of the situations in which it makes more sense to rent equipment than to purchase. However, having your own video equipment also has numerous advantages and you should therefore weigh the situation to know whether it is better to rent or to purchase.