Rental pricing usually reflects more than purchase price. Camera bodies often depreciate faster than lenses because new models replace them more quickly, so rental shops may need to recover their investment over a shorter useful life. Bodies can also involve more turnaround work between rentals, such as resetting settings, checking and cleaning the sensor, and general inspection.

There’s also a risk factor: bodies are complex electronic devices and may be more fragile or costly to repair if damaged. Lenses, while expensive, often stay current longer and may be seen as more durable rental inventory. Demand can matter too—many photographers rent specialty lenses for occasional use, while body rentals may be driven more by urgent need, backup requirements, or travel, which can support higher pricing.

So the short answer is that rental rates are typically based on depreciation, maintenance effort, repair risk, and demand—not just the item’s retail cost.