Why rent a camera when you can buy one? Here's the math.

Let's say you want a Sony A7 IV for an upcoming trip. Buying one new costs around AED 9,500 for the body alone. Add a versatile 24-70mm lens and you're looking at AED 14,000+. Now ask yourself: how many days a year will you actually use it? If the answer is under 30, renting is the smarter move by a wide margin.

On flppit, a Sony A7 IV with a kit lens rents for roughly AED 150-250 per day depending on the lister. Even at AED 250/day for 20 days of use per year, that's AED 5,000, saving you AED 9,000 in year one alone. And you're not stuck with a depreciating asset that loses 20-30% of its value the moment you unbox it. You also get to try different cameras and lenses for different occasions without committing to one system.

The break-even point is typically around 60-80 days of use per year, depending on the camera model. Below that threshold, renting wins every time. Above it, buying starts to make sense, but only if you're not the type to upgrade every couple of years. For most hobbyists, weekend photographers, and content creators who shoot seasonally, renting is the financially rational choice.