Renting a Canon flash – London

[TimmyWimmyWoo]

Hello all!

This is my first post in P&V – I've been lurking here for several years, but only joined last week when I passed my DAS and needed bike advice… but whilst I'm here

I've got to go and take some quotes and photos of clients next week for their brochure. It's all going to be handheld, outside, on the coast - so probably overcast!

I've got a Canon 20D and 50mm f/1.8 which I'm quite comfortable with using fully manual for head & shoulders shots, but I think I want to rent a decent Speedlite and diffuser thingy (I'm quite technical, y'see) to combat the oppressive light I'm likely to face.

To this end, can any of you lovely folk recommend me a place where I can rent such a Speedlite from? I'll need it for about 2 weeks, and I'll be putting it on expenses so price won't be much of an issue. Also, if you have any other suggestions for kit I might need, I'm all ears!

Thanks muchly all – and I do look forward to chipping in around here with some appalling shots of Essex when I get the time!

[Simpo Two]

Speedlights aren't expensive in the scheme of things - just buy one and add it to your collection for next time. The job will probably pay for it.

Edited by Simpo Two on Monday 16th March 09:54

[nick_bbb]

Here you go...

http://www.fixationuk.com/

...a 580 II is £11 a day or £44 a week.

[TimmyWimmyWoo]

I'd love to Alas, I'm not a freelance 'tog – I'm a poor salaried editorial assistant who may or may not have ensconced himself in several thousand pounds of Triumph Street Triple shaped debt over the weekend, so purchase really isn't an option I've looked at Calumet who do a 580 for £80 per week, but haven't found anyone else to compare to. I'd love to use lensesforhire.co.uk as they've been awesome in the past, but they don't seem to do flashes.

Ta for the suggestion though Herr Simpo!

Edit: Ah, Fixation appear to be half the price of Calumet. Stirling work, Nick – I'll go twist the financial director's arm…

Edited by TimmyWimmyWoo on Monday 16th March 09:59

Edited by TimmyWimmyWoo on Monday 16th March 09:59

[Simpo Two]

What I find amazing is that the company is large enough to have a Financial Director but won't buy the OP a goddamn flashgun to do the job they're getting him to do for nothing!

Edited by Simpo Two on Monday 16th March 10:45

[mikee boy]

Simpo Two said:

What I find amazing is that the company is large enough to have a Financial Director but won't buy the OP a goddamn flashgun to do the job they're getting him to do for nothing!

Different budgets for different projects. Capital vs services. The whole reason the Govt leases hospitals from the private sector. Short-sighted stupidity etc etc

[TimmyWimmyWoo]

They're probably more than happy to despatch me with the office bridge camera to do the job – the most important part of the job is getting the quotes, but I figure that if I can get decent, print-useable images then that'll be a bonus! I'm really a writer/sub-editor, but like to show off the fact that I've got a photography string to my bow, as it were.

[Simpo Two]

Strings to bows are good - these days you need as many as you can get!

I just noticed you're only 30 miles away - you could have borrowed one of my Speedlights (except they say 'Nikon' on the front)

Good luck with the shoot!