Mark III rentals

[RichNY]

Looking for feedback on what could be a dumb idea.

Do you think the Mark III has enough buzz to make buying a few extras and renting them out the way lenses are rented would be profitable? What might a fair weekly rental on a camera like this be worth?

I haven't finished the white paper yet so I don't know if there is a way to easily view how many shutter activations would be made/rental period so as to charge for excessive use (like leasing company's do with mileage)

[Rontech1]

Don't know about the MK III, but the MK II is priced here. (first place I found)
http://www.lensrentals.com/item/canon-eos-1ds-mark-ii
I think a premium is in order for the MK III. But have NO idea what the market would be:confused:
As for shutter activations, maybe record when it comes back, and reset folder options? (I think you can do that with that one) Like a full reset on the camera. I think though that someone that is willing to rent a MK III would be most likely to use it a LOT while they had it. I know I would if I spent that kind of money to rent before purchase.Maybe a set 200 sa (or whatever) and if it is reset when it comes back you get charged for 1000 @ .05 per sa.
I don't own one so I am really not sure.
Not likely I will for a while either:mad:
Remember when Hertz rented Shelby GT Mustangs in the 60's? A lot of people rented them on the weekends and took them racing. Returned em on Monday AM with the thing beat to death.:D
Just my .02,
Ron

[EOS Man]

Sounds good except the shutter cycles part. Very hard to keep track especially if people use their own CF cards with existing file numbering. Those who are dishonest can reset the file number so it appears that they took fewer pictures. Wear, tear and others can be charged for but I think the shutter count is the hardest part unless there's a software to tap into the camera's internal counter (if the camera even has one that is).

Sure it could earn you some bucks, looking at the buzz about the 1D Mark III all over the place...

[cdifoto]

CanCount can keep track of shutter count on 1 series bodies. They don't go by CF card numbering or anything. Renting camera bodies isn't an innovative service though. It would have a demand, sure, since I'm certain anyone offering rentals on current equipment at reasonable rates would be able to get customers. Only thing is, when you offer bodies, people come to expect you to offer lenses as well, else they might as well go somewhere that has both...unless of course you're the only one left with the body available.

[RogerCicala]

Obviously I don't think its a dumb idea - that's my link above. And there is huge demand - I can't keep bodies in stock.
The tough part is figuring depreciation. Its pretty easy on lenses. I know roughly what a two year old lens in good shape is going to be worth and price the rental accordingly. When Canon replaces a camera body the ones I have in stock drop in worth like a stone.
The other part is that when a $2,000 lens is damaged, repairs will only cost a fraction of that. When a body is damaged its generally not worth repairing.
Even with all these negatives I still rent a lot of bodies (I have 10 our right now) and it is, at least so far, profitable.

[adam75south]

there you have it. straight from the source.