8 Best Places to Find Camera Equipment Rentals in Detroit

Michigan’s film industry took a hit when the state government ended the tax incentives that drew major productions to the state. Despite this, Detroit still plays an important role in the Midwest arts scene, with an independent theater — Cinema Detroit — and an annual film festival called Cinetopia that features a short-film competition highlighting Detroit Voices.

Whether you’re making an indie film, documentary, or music video, Detroit has all of the gear you’ll need to make a world-class production. We’ve come up with this list of the top eight places to find camera equipment rentals in Detroit to get you started. If you’re looking for a location, too, browse Peerspace to find unique venues rented out by local hosts.

1. PROCAM Photo & Video Gear

34224 Plymouth Rd, Livonia, MI 48150

PROCAM has three different locations based in Detroit, Chicago, and Cincinnati. They offer a range of services, including studio and equipment rentals, printing and imaging, and more. If you want to buy a new camera but aren’t ready to make a purchase, try it out first with a PROCAM rental. You can apply your three-day rental fee to purchase the same item within 30 days.

PROCAM also offers in-store workshops, such as “Get to Know Your Modern Digital Camera” for a very affordable price. Their inventory is perfect for still photographers, but they have plenty of the latest video gear, too, including LCD monitors, LED lighting, and drones. In addition, they have a list of local professionals if you need to find a cinematographer or camera team for your project.

2. Stratton Camera

23815 Industrial Park Dr, Farmington Hills, MI 48335

Stratton Camera offers cameras, lenses, and other accessories for cinematic productions. Their modern inventory includes the Arri Alexa XT Plus and RED Epic Dragon 6K camera, as well as Cooke anamorphic lenses. They also have an expendables store stocked with markers, tape, and freshly roasted coffee. (Yes, they have their own coffee shop on site!)

With tens of decades of experience, Stratton Camera is a reliable choice for camera equipment rentals in Detroit. You can pick your gear up in Farmington Hills during weekday business hours.

3. Nationwide Video

50888 Century Ct, Wixom, MI 48393

Nationwide Video has 10 locations around the United States, including one in Detroit. They specialize in A/V equipment sub-rentals, so they’re an exceptional option for companies that film or broadcast live stage shows or music events. They even offer training to get your team up to date on the latest gear, including LED walls and camera switching systems.

Their inventory includes indoor and outdoor LEDs, lighting fixtures and consoles, monitors, and more. They offer free ground shipping throughout the United States and competitive rental rates. Whether you’re renting for a one-off event or ongoing production, consider Nationwide Video to get all of the A/V and camera equipment you need.

4. Mercury Sound & Lighting

28854 Wall St, Wixom, MI 48393

Mercury Sound & Lighting offers audio, video, and lighting equipment for projects of any size in the Detroit area and other parts of Michigan. Whether you’re hosting a live stage production or a movie screening, Mercury Sound & Lighting can get you set up with projectors, lights, staging, drapes, and more.

Rent gear for your own crew to use, or hire Mercury’s professional team to set up and manage the event for you. They have experience rigging venues — from churches to auditoriums — and will bring all of the cables, stands, and lighting gear you require.

5. Pegasus Lighting & Stage Equipment

20570 Eight Mile Rd, Southfield, MI 48075

Pegasus Lighting & Stage is another great option for camera equipment rentals in Detroit for a corporate awards ceremony or convention. With video walls and even a video dance floor, they can turn your venue into a high-tech event space for a keynote speech or presentation. They also have Sony HD cameras to record your event and broadcast it in-house or over the internet. 

Visit their showroom in Southfield, MI, to check out their inventory and pick up any expendables you need, from confetti to fog machine fluid. Their lighting gear includes the latest LED fixtures and is suitable for concerts, parties, corporate events, and movie and TV productions.

6. On Site Specialists

32380 Howard Ave, Madison Heights, MI 48071

On Site Specialists (OSS) is based in Madison Heights, but they serve clients all over Michigan. They have all of the A/V gear you’ll need, including projectors, lights, speakers, and Sony HD cameras. They also have switching and playback machines for live broadcasting, and a complete set of lighting and rigging options for live performances, trade shows, and more.

You can rent equipment for your own crew to use, or hire a technician for setup and operation. Give them a call during business hours to request a customized quote.

7. KitSplit

If you’re a solo photographer or small film crew, renting gear from a commercial renting house can be intimidating — and expensive. For a more personalized rental experience, try looking for the gear you need on KitSplit. This peer-to-peer marketplace lets local photographers advertise their own photo and video gear to local renters. You can pick up a lens for the weekend to try it out, or find a good deal on an action camera or GoPro when the rental houses are closed.

It’s easy to make a last-minute booking using the online calendar, and you can add insurance to your rental with just a few more clicks. You might even decide to open up your own gear closet to rent out your equipment for a little extra cash!

8. Peerspace

Peerspace is another excellent option to find locations and camera equipment rentals in Detroit. With a range of venues available from local hosts, you can search for an offbeat location for your film production or photoshoot. Some locations have lighting and camera equipment available on site, or you can also arrange for equipment delivery to a venue of your choosing.

If you want to get everything you need in one custom package — including catering for your cast and crew — call up the Concierge service for personalized help making your booking.

Detroit has a lot to offer film productions, from the latest gear to a range of venues for your crew to shoot in. Add your voice to Detroit’s indie film scene by working with local rental houses and locations to get your project made.

Find unique production spaces in Detroit on Peerspace