Travel photography isn’t exactly a cheap hobby to get into. Camera body, lenses, tripods, insurance … and on and on. It all adds up! Here are three essential sites for travel photographers on a budget who are looking to save big:
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© Sherman Geronimo-Tan
VoucherBin
VoucherBin UK is a coupon/voucher site that offers deep discounts on everything from home decor and lighting, to travel, to (wait for it …) photography gear. As of May 2015, the site stocks nearly 20,000 vouchers so there’s quite literally something for everyone. The actual amount of money you’ll save varies widely, but you can expect to save up to 60% on major brand name gear. That’s nothing to sneeze at! What’s more: some vendors offer add-ons like free shipping to boot.
B&H Photo
New York-based B&H Photo is a legendary institution, a mecca for photographers. Their brick and mortar store stocks almost every last thing photography-related you can imagine: lenses, tripods, lens cleaners, backpacks, etc. Basically, if they don’t carry it, you probably don’t need it. Their website provides access to their entire inventory and the staff is among the best, most helpful, and most knowledgeable in the business. They can answer almost any question you have, whether it’s in person or via their customer support email.
Adorama Rentals
Imagine never having to buy another lens again. That’s a pretty sweet proposition when you consider that most decent lenses cost north of $2,000 and the really good lenses can reach $15,000 or more. Enter Adorama Rentals. This ancillary arm of the famous Adorama brand serves photographers from all niches by providing a rental repository for almost any lens imaginable.
Naturally, prices vary widely depending on the exactly lens you’re looking to borrow. An entry-level Canon EF-S 18-135MM F/3.5-5.6 IS STM LN for example runs around $15 (USD) per day, while a more elaborate, professional grade Canon EF 200-400 F/4L IS USM 1.4X costs $150 daily. But when you consider that the latter costs north of $11,000 (!), it’s not a bad deal.