KitSplit, the Airbnb of the photo industry, is expanding

By Hillary K. Grigonis June 15, 2016

kitsplit expands to three new cities professional photographer camera bag — Daniel Jędzura

A new company is changing the way photographers, videographers, and even drone enthusiasts look at gear rental. KitSplit, considered the Airbnb of the photography industry by Forbes, is expanding their peer-to-peer rentals to the Philadelphia, Boston, and greater Washington DC area after a successful launch in New York City.

KitSplit allows photographers to rent gear from other photographers, while taking care of the logistics like insurance. Founded by a group of photographers and videographers in New York, the platform has gained about 5,000 members after only about a year.

“We’ve had an amazing response in these new cities,” KitSplit said in their expansion announcement. “We already have millions of dollars worth of gear, and hundreds of members in these new spots, joining over $40 million dollars of gear and 5,000 members already on KitSplit.”

According to the KitSplit website, a photographer with $20,000 worth of gear could earn $22,464 a year just by renting out gear for three days a month.

Along with finding a way for photographers to earn some extra cash without worrying about insuring their gear to renters, KitSplit aims for a more competitive pricing model than traditional gear rental companies. A Freedom 360 GoPro VR kit is $350 a day, the Sony a7S II just $100 a day, for example.

KitSplit also offers more than cameras and lenses — including drones, follow focus kits, microphones, computers, and even cables and batteries. Lighting gear from flashes to strobes and accessories are also available for rent. Virtual-reality videographers can find a pretty good selection too, from multi-camera rigs and processing stations to VR headsets. Live-streaming gear is also available through KitSplit.

While the gear rentals are currently only available in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington DC, photographers worldwide can register their gear — according to its website, KitSplit uses those registrations to determine where to expand to next.

Topics

Hillary K. Grigonis

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Hillary never planned on becoming a photographer—and then she was handed a camera at her first writing job and she's been…

Photography

‘Photoshopped’ royal photo causes a stir

The Princess of Wales with her children.

[UPDATE: In a message posted on social media on Monday morning, Princess Kate said that she herself edited the image, and apologized for the fuss that the picture had caused. “Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing," she wrote, adding, "I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused."]

Major press agencies have pulled a photo of the U.K.’s Princess of Wales and her children amid concerns that it has been digitally manipulated.

Photography

Nikon sale: Get up to $700 off select Nikon cameras and lenses

nikon d780 review product 1

Crutchfield has a huge sale on many different Nikon cameras with some of the best camera deals that we’ve seen in a while. With nearly 30 different items in the sale, the best thing that avid photographers can do is take a look for themselves. However, if you want a little insight before you dive in, take a look at what we have to suggest below.

What to shop for in the Nikon sale
Nikon makes some of the best DSLR cameras around with our overall favorite -- the -- available for $2,197 reduced from $2,297. The camera is perfect for both photographers and videographers with a 24.5-megapixel full-frame image sensor. Its rugged magnesium-alloy body is weather-sealed against dust, dirt, and moisture so it’s great for all occasions. The Nikon EXPEED 6 image processor is optimized for low-light performance while maintaining long battery life with an autofocus sensor module with support for 51 focus points. You just need to add a lens to reap the benefits with features like the 273-point phase-detection AF system detecting and tracking subjects throughout the entire frame.

Photography

Best camera deals: Save on DSLR, action cameras, point-and-shoot

Best DSLR cameras for beginners Canon Rebel T7i

While utilizing one of the best camera phones can be nice for capturing everyday happenings on the fly, a more traditional camera offers superior optics, sensor size, and overall image quality. A camera by a brand such as Canon, Sony, or Nikon is a great way to more deeply explore the photography process, or to simply ensure you’re getting higher quality photos of the moments you don’t want to miss. Right now there are a a lot of savings out there if a traditional camera interests you, and there’s big savings to pounce on whether you’re looking for a DSLR camera, an action camera, or a point-and-shoot camera. We’ve rounded up all of the best camera deals out there right now, so read onward for more details.
Best DSLR camera deals

DSLR cameras are bulkier than mirrorless cameras, but they produce high-quality images that will let you capture the most beautiful moments. You'll be able to see directly through the lens with the mirrored optical viewfinder while composing your shot, and you've got your pick among years' worth of lenses, depending on what kind of pictures you want to take. DSLR camera deals are always in demand because they're expensive though, so hurry if you want to pocket the savings from the bargains we've gathered below.