Production Gear: Why to Rent Instead of Own

If you are planning for your next video production, should you rent production gear instead of purchasing it? In many cases, you will find that if you rent production gear, you can get access to better equipment with more flexibility while saving money. In addition, renting also gives you access to the support of the experts who provide the gear. Therefore, if you want the best possible equipment for less money and with less hassle, you might want to rent production gear for your next project.

Here are some of the top reasons you should rent production gear instead of owning:

1. When You Rent Production Gear, You Get the Latest and Best Quality Equipment 

The proliferation of inexpensive video production gear has made it tempting to purchase everything you need for your next project and future projects. However, that is not always the most effective move. First of all, given the price of modern gear, it is unlikely most independent producers will be able to afford the same level of equipment the pros use. There is some impressive lower-cost equipment available, but it is rarely on par with what the pros use. This means that you will be sacrificing the quality of cameras, lenses, audio gear, and other equipment. That will certainly impact the overall quality of your production.The other problem is that the latest options you buy this year will likely soon be replaced with something even better. Constantly upgrading is simply out of the question for many producers. When you rent production gear, there is no need to worry about those things. When you need equipment, you can rent the latest and greatest gear used by the pros without breaking your budget.

2. Renting Production Gear Saves Money

Unless you happen to be working with big-budget financing, cost is one of the significant factors driving production decisions. In trying to keep within budget, purchasing decisions often lead to sacrificing the quality of cameras, lenses, and audio gear. It may also lead to doing without specialized items like dollies and gimbals. However, if you want to work with the level of equipment the pros use, the choice to rent production gear will get you access to the latest professional gear without breaking your budget.

3. There’s No Need to Purchase Equipment that’s Rarely Used

Getting ready to shoot a scene or a whole production requires a seemingly endless list of equipment. The costs of purchasing and storing tripods, c-stands, gimbals, apple boxes, and other equipment can be cost-prohibitive for many producers. However, if you rent production gear, you can get access to what you need when you need it for a lower cost and without needing to store it when not in use.

4. Your Choice to Rent Production Gear Gives You Ultimate Flexibility

For most productions, you don't need every piece of equipment for every scene. For instance, you might need a dolly to shoot a specific element and then not need it again for the rest of the production. When you rent production gear, you can get the piece of equipment you need only when you need it. There is no need to own it, maintain it, store it, or worry about it until you are ready to use it. Often, on lower-budget productions, producers and directors will do without something when the budget doesn't allow for purchase. With gear rental, you can get that equipment when you need it and shoot that scene the way you want.

5. Rental Gear Often Comes with Support

With the many pieces of gear needed for most productions, it isn't that unusual for something to go wrong. When equipment breaks, malfunctions, or has some other issue, it can be challenging to get support. When you rent, you have options. Many rental companies will help talk you through a solution. Other times, they can just swap out the equipment so you can get back on track. When you rent production gear, the rental company can worry about repairs and replacements while you focus on your production.

Rent Production Gear for Your Next Project

Whether it's the cost savings, the access to the latest gear, the flexibility, or the available support, renting equipment for your next project is a smart move. With the right gear at the right cost, you can get the most out of every dollar of your budget. Check out all of the rental options available and save time, money, and hassle on your next production.