I rent several times per year. I don't know what you'll find for UK hire companies, but in the states I use LensRentals.com and they don't normally require a deposit. My local camera store rents old, beat-up gear, AND they charge full retail price as the deposit.


I know what it's like to want to invest in a lens instead of renting, but sometimes it's just worth taking the plunge. When I rent, it's usually either lenses that I don't have and feel would help my shoot (10-22, 100-400, 200/2, tilt-shift) or lenses that we don't have two of (my fiance also shoots, but we don't have two wide angle and two telephoto lenses yet). For my upcoming honeymoon, I'm planning to rent the 10-22, the 500/4, and maybe the 300/4 for our Alaska cruise.


I'd stay away from the 70-300 DO and go with a 70-200 instead. The zoom DO is heavy and has poor contrast, from what I've heard. The 70-200/4IS would be a great travel lens.