When taking a professional photograph, it is essential to have all of the basic equipment at the ready. One of the primary tools you will need is a light meter. For those of us who are not necessarily "professional" photographers and may not have a permanent need for such equipment, renting is a viable, cost-effective option.
Renting Options
The most secure way to rent expensive equipment is at a locally trusted lender. To seek out the more favorable renters, first find a list of the major camera shops in your area. Your phone book's Yellow Pages is always a good place to start. Once you have gathered a fairly complete list, head to on-line photography forums, such as The Photo Forum, to find opinions from other photographers on which renters have the best reputations. You can also talk to the photographers at local studios to see if they have any personal preferences.
If you would rather do your renting on line--wherein the equipment is mailed to your home address--steer clear of websites such as Craigslist and other, less-moderated (and, consequently, less secure) listings. Aim for an established merchant that has been in business for at least five years and has positive reviews attached to it. Don't always trust the snippets posted on the merchant's website. Instead, seek out independent ratings from buyer's resource such as Price Grabber or another consumer reports website. Remember, if you decide to rent on line, you are usually responsible for any damage done to the equipment during transit on its way back to the merchant.
Price Range
The price of the equipment you intend to rent is more or less proportionate to its quality. BorrowLenses.com, for example, lists two available light meters spanning in rental periods from three days to four weeks: the Sekonic 358, which runs from $11 to $45, and the Sekonic L-758DR, from $18 to $75. To save a few dollars, go straight to a local renter so that you won't have to pay for shipping costs. Higher-end models will obviously cost just a little extra, but the great thing about renting is that you can get the results of a sophisticated piece of equipment without having to spend your life's savings.
Most rental facilities offer an insurance option that costs a bit more up-front, but will save you from paying large fees for any subsequent damage to the meter.
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