San Francisco Camera Rental Resources – Camera Rental and Camera Equipment Rental

Posted on: February 24, 2023

San Francisco Camera Rental Resources – Camera Rental and Camera Equipment Rental

We've got all the production resources you need in San Francisco.

At our Blare Media San Francisco Production Company, we pride ourselves on providing our clients with high-quality and affordable video productions that are tailored to their unique needs. We use our creative and technical expertise to take a vision from concept to reality and deliver a complete product that makes our clients proud. On the other hand, for our clients that are already independent filmmakers, we offer camera equipment rentals that include a Director of Photography or extra crew members, as well as pre-production consultation and post production assistance. In the San Francisco Bay Area, there are a number of reputable equipment rental options for any budget and any level of filmmaking experience. If you are ready to venture on your own, these camera rental resources will be your guide to getting started. From budget-friendly to specialty equipment to guidance on how to use the equipment, you will find something for everyone in this list of San Francisco photography and video camera rentals.

 

San Francisco Camera Rental Resources

 

Fireside Camera

2117 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123

For your photographic needs, consider Fireside Camera, San Francisco’s oldest independently owned camera store since 1954. At Fireside Camera, you will find a simple selection of mirrorless and digital cameras, lenses, and teleconverters with rental periods of 3 days or a week. Mirrorless cameras are small in size and great for live exposure simulation and completely silent shooting. Call or walk-in to speak with their friendly, knowledgeable and helpful staff or view their rental inventory online. If you are interested in learning more photography themes, techniques, and styles, join Fireside Camera for their photography club meet-up every other Monday at 11:30am at the Maritime Museum.

 

City College of San Francisco Cinema Department

For the absolute beginner videographer, perhaps the simplest place to start is City College of San Francisco. The Cinema Department at CCSF loans state-of-the-art cameras, as well as sound, lighting, and grip equipment to students who are presently enrolled in production courses. Students in beginner level courses can borrow Canon DSLR cameras and Zoom recorders (to capture professional sound outside of a studio setting). Meanwhile, intermediate and advanced students have access to Black Magic Pocket Cinema 4K and 6K cameras, prime lenses, gimbals, soft LED panels, hard lights, grip equipment, and dollies. Visit CCSF’s website to browse the course catalog and consider enrolling in some of its Broadcast Electronic Media Arts courses, like Basic Film Production, Narrative Filmmaking, Cinematography & Lighting, Documentary Filmmaking, and Special Effects.

 

Express Media

2225 Palou Ave, San Francisco, CA 94124

If you have been an independent filmmaker in San Francisco for a while, you have probably heard of Express Media, the city’s largest video production equipment rental company since 1989. Express Media is your go-to for state-of-the-art broadcasting and industrial video equipment. Their inventory includes ultra high-definition (UHD, sometimes referred to as 4K) and high-definition camera equipment from Sony, Ikegami, Hitachi, RED, Panasonic, and Canon, and accessories for in studio production, as well as electronic field production (EFP is an industry term referring to a video production which takes place in the field, outside of a studio). You can rent camera packages or camera equipment a la carte, and Express Media offers a pricing match promise to meet or beat any advertised prices on similar equipment. Consider checking their inventory for your next project for the price matching alone.

 

Element Camera

5835 Doyle St STE A, Emeryville, CA 94608

Just on the other side of the Bay Bridge you will find Element Camera in Emeryville, specializing in vintage anamorphic and spherical glass lenses, including Kowa, Lomo, Cooke, Zeiss, Schneider, B&L Baltars. Additionally, you can choose from an assortment of Arri Alexa Mini, Arri Classic, and Red Helium cameras. If you have never used a vintage lens before, check out Element Camera’s social media to see samples of the incredible results you can obtain using their vintage lens setups. Vintage lenses filter light differently than modern lenses and consequently allow more light and light anomalies in through the lens. These light anomalies can result in large colorful sun flares or interesting haze and bokeh or blur qualities to your images. Consider visiting Element Camera and trying vintage lenses for a completely different look to your shots.

 

Elewa Camera 

Another find on the other side of the Bay Bridge is Elewa Camera based in Alameda. At Elewa Camera you will find all the usual leading-edge cameras, lenses and production equipment, in packages or a la carte. Most impressively, at Elewa Camera you will find complete 360 degree virtual reality camera rentals and VR rental packages. For example, a popular rental is the Nokia OZO, which is the first VR camera to capture 360 degree spherical video and surround sound. This camera features eight 2K by 2K sensors, a 195 degree field-of-view lens, and eight microphones, and will allow you to create a seamless virtual reality experience. Visit their website to begin the rental process and call or email for any questions.

 

 

BorrowLenses

1664 Industrial Rd, San Carlos, CA 94070

If you want the convenience of browsing online and having rental equipment delivered to your door, but also want to support a San Francisco Bay Area business, look to BorrowLenses. BorrowLenses is a full-service photo and video equipment rental store that ships to all 50 states, and offers free shipping on rentals over $149. This hugely successful brand started in 2007 in the San Francisco Bay Area by two best friends Mark Gurevich and Max Shevyakov who were on a mission to make renting gear affordable and easy. You will find a comprehensive inventory of equipment, and the entire rental process is done completely online through their website. However, if you want the in-person experience or if you need guidance on what rentals to choose, you can stop by the headquarters in San Carlos. BorrowLenses is dedicated to hiring passionate local photographers and videographers to provide excellent customer service and help you with your rental needs.

Rent Directly from Other Artists

If you are looking for specialty equipment or having trouble finding exactly what you’re looking for, consider browsing sites like ShareGrid and Shoots.video to find San Francisco locals who have their equipment for rent. Don’t forget to befriend San Francisco filmmakers and ask them for their favorite equipment and rental resources.

General Info on Camera and Camera Equipment Rentals

San Francisco is home to many rental options for high-quality cameras and camera accessories. Camera rentals include a wide range of accessories, such as lenses that are compatible with Sony, Canon, Nikon, and Canon EF mount. Some of the most sought-after cameras available for rent in San Francisco include the Sony Venice and Canon Cinema EOS, among other high-end models. Whether you’re a professional filmmaker, videographer, or photographer, renting cameras in San Francisco is a smart choice for capturing your vision. With an extensive selection of camera models and accessories, you’ll find exactly the camera rentals you need for your project.

San Francisco has many options available for camera rentals and camera equipment rental. Along with cameras, rental companies also provide a range of lighting and audio equipment, as well as accessories to enhance your footage. You can find camera rentals for various mount models, including those from Sony, with a variety of mount options available. Additionally, rental companies offer top-quality lenses that can be used with the mount for Sony cameras and other mount models. Whether you’re working on a small-scale project or a larger production, San Francisco has everything you need to achieve your vision. With an extensive selection of lighting, audio, lenses, accessories, and camera gear available for rent, you can capture stunning visuals and achieve exceptional sound quality.

Rent Lenses in San Francisco

If you’re searching for camera lens rentals in San Francisco, you’re in luck! You’ll have access to rental for a vast selection of high-end lenses, including ARRI Signature primes and zooms, Canon CN-E primes, Fujinon Premista zooms, Zeiss Super Speeds, and more. Rest assured that you’ll find the perfect rental lens for your needs, but be mindful that all rentals are subject to availability, and due dates and other terms must be strictly followed. Fortunately, with a diverse range of options for lenses from some of the most reputable lens makers today, you can trust that you’ll have access to the full variety of lenses necessary for your SF project.

Lens, Cart, Lighting, and Other Equipment Rental

Renting filming gear in San Francisco is a breeze, with options for equipment beyond just cameras. From lighting and audio equipment to various accessories like gimbals, tripods, and sliders, rental companies offer high-quality gear for all types of productions. Whether you’re working on an indie project or a commercial shoot, San Francisco has a wide range of rental options to choose from. Rental locations are accessible and open, and there are plenty of options for lighting and audio gear for rent to capture exceptional footage and sound.

SF Camera Rentals – Blare Media

Blare Media Production Company is here for all your camera and equipment needs in San Francisco! We have an extensive stock of cameras and accessories to mount onto almost any camera. Contact us today to find equipment and get started on your San Francisco video project!

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