GearUpThe five minutes you spend checking gear at pickup decide how smoothly your shoot goes and whether you get your full deposit back. Here is a checklist you can follow at the counter.
1. Compare the kit against the list
Ask for the list of everything in your rental and check each item off: body, lenses, caps, batteries, charger, cards, straps and cables. If something is on the list but not in the bag, say so before you leave.
2. Check the camera body
Power it on and look over the body before you sign anything.
- Exterior
- Look for scratches, dents and loose doors or covers. Point out anything you find.
- Sensor
- Take a photo of a plain wall at a small aperture to spot dust.
- Controls
- Try the buttons, dials and touchscreen. Check that the shutter fires.
- Ports
- Make sure the card slots, HDMI and audio ports work if you need them.
3. Check the lenses
Look through each lens for scratches, haze or fungus. Mount it, check that autofocus works and the zoom and focus rings turn smoothly, and confirm the front and rear caps are there.
4. Check batteries and cards
Check the charge on every battery and ask whether they were charged before pickup. Make sure the memory cards are empty and have enough space for your shoot, and format them in the camera you will use.
5. Record the condition
Make sure any existing scratches or faults are written on your rental record, not just mentioned out loud. Take a few photos of the gear at the counter. If something is damaged later, this is what protects your deposit.
6. Confirm the return details
Confirm the exact return time, the grace period, and the late fee. Ask how your deposit will be returned. Read more in security deposits for gear rentals, explained.
How GearUp makes this easier
Shops on GearUp check out each component of your rental and record the gear's condition at pickup, including notes and photos. On return they check the same list, so there is no guessing about what was in the bag. Find a camera for your next shoot.