It happened... I need your advice.

Yesterday, my brother in law sent me this text:




Now I understand cameras are just objects, things that can be replaced with $$.  But still there is a bit of awkwardness to getting asked to use your camera, forget that it's out of country in a party city!

I don't think I would ever ask to borrow someones camera.  I sent him text stating that I am using my gear, and that this was not possible at the time.  

Especially today, when most cell phones are going to do a great job for the traveler.  I know he has an iPhone too.  

How do you respond to this when asked?  

Nefarious wrote: Yesterday, my brother in law sent me this text… How do you respond to this when asked?  

You're right, it's only a thing but your relation to the brother in law
and his income will make the whole difference in this matter.

If nothing happens, you're both happy. If, on the contrary…

OMG, I hate being asked to use my camera.  Cameras have gotten inexpensive, at least for entry level.   I leant out one of my older cameras some time ago, and honestly wont' do it again.  I had a tiny scratch on it from the person who borrowed it.  Seriously had I done the scratch, I wouldn't have even thought about it.  But I didn't. In all reality it was so tiny.  I don't know, this is so tough to talk about.  I don't mean to sound full of it, but my camera gear and I have a special bond. I'm sure that must sound really wacky, but it's the best I can do.  

In short, I don't lend my gear any more.   

This is really a sticky wicket and can be a quite complex, definitely a rabbit hole.

In a nutshell, it is all about relationships:

1) Your relationship to your sister and her husband (assuming 'sister');
2) Your relationship to material goods (= money).

And your priorities/ethics/morals/love in these relationships. (In my book the ball's in your court as they have already played their cards and now you have to decide on your priorities/ethics/morals/love and what trumps what. 

That's a big fat no. Just tell him you don't lend any of your equipment to anyone and that renting is probably his best option. 

This never ends well. 

So, I MIGHT have one circumstance that I would allow someone to use my camera...

Two folks in my life are professional photographers. One shoots weddings, the other shoots whatever. He's good at everything. Both are set financially for the most part, and have more integrity than most. If one were to come to me and say "My camera is down, backup is down, and the shoot is tomorrow...", I might consider this. 

For a leisurely trip? No, they can plan and invest in that themselves. It's an additional $150 to rent a set up for the week.

Troponin wrote: That's a big fat no. Just tell him you don't lend any of your equipment to anyone and that renting is probably his best option. 

This never ends well. 

Okay, my answer.  If my sister and B-I-L asked to borrow anything it would boil down to the character of my sister and B-I-L.  If my sister and B-I-L were of low character, wronged me in the past (lied/cheated/stole/et cetera from me or others), were not trustworthy ... then no.  If my sister and B-I-L were of good character, then yeah. 

In my book Love trumps Material Goods (money).  Honoring their request to use my precious camera would be more important than the cost of the camera.  Yes, it would be extremely painful should the camera come back damaged ... yes, I would have sleepless nights wondering if they're taking proper care of my baby.  But that is what love is all about, putting another persons well-being above yourself.  If they were of good character, they, in return, would take every precaution to insure the camera's safe return. 

Assumptions: 
1) This is a special vacation (which is why they're requesting to borrow a nice camera);
2) They are on a budget, otherwise they'd purchase their own camera;
3) They desire to capture the best memories of their trip possible (not on a cell phone), see #1.

An alternative is to get them a nice Point & Shoot, especially a water-proof camera they can take into the waves/pool. 

GaryA wrote:

Troponin wrote: That's a big fat no. Just tell him you don't lend any of your equipment to anyone and that renting is probably his best option. 

This never ends well. 

Okay, my answer.  If my sister and B-I-L asked to borrow anything it would boil down to the character of my sister and B-I-L.  If my sister and B-I-L were of low character, wronged me in the past (lied/cheated/stole/et cetera from me or others), were not trustworthy ... then no.  If my sister and B-I-L were of good character, then yeah. 

In my book Love trumps Material Goods (money).  Honoring their request to use my precious camera would be more important than the cost of the camera.  Yes, it would be extremely painful should the camera come back damaged ... yes, I would have sleepless nights wondering if they're taking proper care of my baby.  What that is what love is all about.  If they were of good character, they, in return, would take every precaution to insure the camera's safe return. 

Assumptions: 
1) This is a special vacation (which is why they're requesting to borrow a nice camera);
2) They are on a budget, otherwise they'd purchase their own camera;
3) They desire to capture the best memories of their trip possible (not on a cell phone), see #1.

An alternative is to get them a nice Point & Shoot, especially a water-proof camera they can take into the waves/pool. 

One good option, IMO. 

www.borrowlenses.com/product/Sony-Cyber-shot-RX10-III

Waterproof gets expensive to rent because the less expensive ones aren't worth renting. You end up with high end items if you look to rent those. 

I would just be straight up and let them know I needed the camera for that timeframe. I’m the same way though… Never lend out anything.

Easy answer here: "no".

Unless someone has experience with similar equipment, why would I trust them? The likelihood of anything being returned in its original condition is almost zero.

Unless someone opens with "I have a very strict 'I break it, I buy it' policy", why would I trust them to replace anything lost or damaged?

Pushback? Depending upon what he does for a living, ask if he'd loan a piece of equipment out to someone that had no experience. Probably wouldn't get through to him.

They're going to Cancun? Suggest they rent or buy.

"I don't loan my equipment out to anyone, ever."

Sorry, don't mean to be a butt wipe, but there is no way in h-e-l-l, I would let anyone use my camera gear regardless if they could afford to replace it or not.  I don't want to be put in the position to collect.

I’m a bit of a wise ass with my family so I can be brutally upfront with them. I would ask him what’s wrong with his iPhone.  I think The iPhone is plenty good for 85% of the people out there.

Jerrid wrote: Sorry, don't mean to be a butt wipe, but there is no way in h-e-l-l, I would let anyone use my camera gear regardless if they could afford to replace it or not.  I don't want to be put in the position to collect.

Sidebar: No one needs permission to say "no". Ever. A request does not imply acquiescence, despite what some may want/think.

Well I'm happy to see others feeling the same as I did!  


Speaking of all of this, has there ever been an occasion when you let someone use your camera?

Nefarious wrote: Well I'm happy to see others feeling the same as I did!  


Speaking of all of this, has there ever been an occasion when you let someone use your camera?

From family to friends ... yes.