Lens envy

I'm renting the 14-24mm f/2.8 lens from Pro Photo Supply to try out at the beach this weekend. It is an ultra ultra-wide with less edge distortion (or so I've read, I have no working knowledge at this point). As a person in the market for a new lens in the next year or so, it is awesome to be able to rent equipment and take it for a test drive before purchasing. I always ask how much the lens is in the event I want to buy it. (Haha, yeah, right.) And I'm always a little scared after learning how much they are. I mean, I can handle being super careful for a weekend but no wonder I see people packing around those lined, could-be-run-over-by-a-car-and-not-be-crushed suitcases for their gear. These things ain't cheap.

If I may just talk up Pro Photo for a moment... Their rental department isn't open on the weekend. If you call ahead to reserve a lens, you can pick up the lens on Thursday after 3p.m. and keep it for the entire weekend returning it by 10a.m. on the following Monday* for the price of one night. Awesome!
Also, a while back I did a processing test for prints - Costco, Snapfish, (the now defunct) Scrapbook Pictures, and Pro Photo Supply. Pro Photo Supply used to have only matte and glossy as paper options. They have now added the beautiful Luster. And it is a perfect balance between the shiny glossy and the flat matte. I highly recommend it.

*I don't know what their policy is if the following Monday is a holiday so check before you decide to rent a lens on a holiday weekend or be prepared to pay for an extra day if you don't return it by 10a.m. on Monday.