Best Camera Rentals in San Francisco Bay Area

Chater Camera is a full service digital cinema and video rental company. They rent premium cameras, lenses and accessories to the motion picture industry in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and Northern California. Their inventory includes high-end equipment from ARRI, Sony, RED, Canon, Phantom, Cooke, Zeiss, and more.

Family owned and operated since 1929. San Jose Camera & Video is the largest photo specialty shop in the South Bay. We offer a large selection of cameras, lenses and photography accessories. We stock tripods, straps, backpacks, lighting, gimbals, filters, flash, backdrops, film and so much more! We carry equipment from most of the major brands including Canon, Sony, Nikon, and Fujifilm. Our knowledgeable sales staff is here to help you find that perfect camera, lens or accessory. San Jose Camera also offers a variety of photography classes. Covering from camera basics seminars to multi-day workshops, our classes are designed to help you take better photographs.

Looking Glass Photo has been outfitting photographers with gear, guidance, and community since 1971. Rooted in Berkeley, they are a boutique-style outfitter for photographers of all kinds. They offer thoughtful, human guidance to help customers invest wisely in gear, whether buying new or used cameras, lenses, binoculars, printers, papers, inks, and film/darkroom supplies. They also offer rentals, outfitting sessions, private lessons, and classes. Everything they do is built around the idea that you should feel less overwhelmed and more excited every time you choose to work with them.

In 1980 Janet Coleman was managing the only sound stage for rent in San Francisco, Stage A. The stage was booked non-stop. On a daily basis expendable replacements were needed immediately but never available. Janet recognized the need to provide supplies and equipment to local productions filming on stages and on location. She also saw that numerous independent grip and electric companies were starting up, and their trucks needed to be stocked. In 1984 she launched JCX, her own, independent expendables and equipment company in a small warehouse space on Army St. with one employee. Over the years, in addition to film, television, and television commercials, JCX’s client base has grown to include still photographers, lighting designers, theaters, concert venues, tech companies, artists, and schools. Today, JCX is owned and operated by Janet and Ealey’s long-time co-worker, valued friend, and SF Native: Jennifer Burns. And JCX wouldn’t be the same without colleague and right-hand man extraordinaire Zack Lipson. JCX offers in-house repair services for lighting, and we are happy to bid on any and all productions/projects/studio build outs, etc.