I'm wondering if there is any place I can rent some of the leica and other stuff discussed here in the alternative forum. I'd also love to try out a Rollei 6008 AF sometime as well.

I don't know of anyplace that has stuff other than canon and nikon in the 35mm and Hasselblad and mamiya for medium format anywhere near SF.

Last week I rented my cut down mirror 5D and a few leica and olympus lenses to another photographer who wanted to try it out for a job. Worked out great for both of us. Now if there isn't anything else out there in the bay area, maybe I should start a little leica and alternative gear rental operation? What do you think? Is that crazy?

I hope whoever rented your gear wasn't going into a paying gig when trying it for the first time.

Have you tried Calumet Photo in SF, Pro Camera Rental in SF, and Keeble and Shuchat down in Palo Alto?

I've rented from both calumet and procamera and both are nice to deal with however neither has the the Rollei or at least not when I checked last. Neither rent the Leica lenses either, however Keeble and Shuchat might but its a long drive from SF.

keeble only has a couple M lenses and an M6, no R gear. it's all listed on their website.