8 Places to Find Camera Equipment Rentals in San Francisco

Looking for top-notch camera equipment rentals in San Francisco? Then you’ve come to the right place since that’s precisely what we at Peerspace share with you ahead. As you know, San Francisco’s creative energy is out of this world. So much so that it’s one of the coolest cities in America to find a unique space for an event or photoshoot. It also happens to be the city we call home, so it’s got a special place in our hearts.

But renting a Peerspace is only half of the process: you also need the right gear. In many cases, we can provide you with both. As the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals, we are home to hundreds of amazing professional production spaces in the Bay Area. All Peerspace are owned and operated by local hosts, many of whom are in the production industry. This means their spaces include professional gear or can be rented for an added fee along with their studio spaces.

But for now, let’s get on to the list! Whether you’re shooting fashion stills or need equipment to produce a music video, these are the camera equipment rentals in San Francisco you need to know about.

1. Samy’s Camera

1090 Bryant St. San Francisco, CA 94103

In addition to the gear they sell, Samy’s Camera offers an incredible array of camera equipment rentals. In fact, they have anything you might need to complete a shoot from start to finish, from the latest DSLRs to studio lighting and computers to edit your work. Gimbals, tripods, mics — yep, Samy’s has everything anyone could need. In addition to their rental offerings, they also offer equipment delivery and pick-up seven days a week.

Their rental rates are reasonable, but you need to understand their rental schedule to get the best value for your money:

• If you schedule a pick-up for after 3 p.m., the rental begins the next day.
• As long as you have the equipment back before 11 a.m. the following day, you’re only charged for a one-day rental.
• If you pick up before 3 p.m., you’re charged for one day as long as the gear is returned within 24 hours.
• You can also rent for the weekend at the single-day rate, so long as you pick up after 3 p.m. Friday and return before 11 a.m. Monday.

Samy’s also offers package discounts for long-term rentals, so plan your shoot accordingly. Ask a bunch of local photographers where to go to rent gear, and you’ll hear Samy’s mentioned again and again.

2. Looking Glass Photo & Camera

1045 Ashby Avenue, Berkeley, CA

Looking Glass Photo & Camera is a one-stop photography supply shop with a generous catalog of camera equipment rentals. After 40 years in the business, Looking Glass knows its stuff. Their camera and lens offerings are most attractive in their Canon and Nikon collections. However, they also offer some Fujifilm medium format gear, in addition to a variety of lights, tripods, and backdrops.

Looking Glass offers a weekend deal, where your weekend rental only costs the single-day rate so long as it’s picked up after 3 p.m. on Friday and returned by noon on Monday. They also have a helpful service where they’ll provide a loaner camera if you bring your gear to them for repair.

These are the most Instagrammable places in San Francisco and may just introduce you to the site of your next creative project!

3. Studio B Camera Rentals

2121 Bonar St, Berkeley, CA 94702

Studio B Camera Rentals offers a variety of production gear and camera equipment rentals. The company is focused on video production and, overall, has a more limited offering than other rental companies. However, their catalog offers almost everything you’ll need for a shoot. They have a selection of digital cinema cameras, compact HD cameras, and DSLRs with good video capabilities. They also offer any other equipment that may come in handy, like monitors, tripods, microphones, and lighting.

Studio B’s rental rates are competitive for the area. In addition to equipment, Studio B also has its own scalable production crews available for hire, so you can bring in some extra hired guns to round out your team if necessary. They’ll put together a team that fits the size of your production, and handle all equipment delivery logistics.

4. Mike’s Camera

214 Strawberry Village, Mill Valley, CA 94941

Mike’s Camera in Mill Valley is a smaller rental operation. While they don’t offer as wide a selection as other companies, the core of their selection is solid. Mike’s also has a good range of lenses, suitable for most photoshoots.

While the equipment list isn’t extensive, the rental rates are the best around. They have separate daily, weekend, one-week, and two-week rates, so plan accordingly. If you decide to buy from them, Mike’s will apply a portion of the rental fee to the purchase of new equipment, which is a great bonus if you try something out and end up loving it.

5. Fireside Camera

2117 Chestnut St. San Francisco, CA 94123

Fireside Camera is the oldest independently owned and operated camera store in San Francisco. Despite being a small operation, they have a good selection of new and used equipment. Plus, you’ll get the benefit of their highly experienced and knowledgeable staff that has a positive reputation in the community.

Since they’ve been in business for years, they’ve got plenty of used equipment for sale. They’re known to occasionally rent used equipment too if you see something you just have to have, so stop in and check them out. Additionally, they offer a variety of Fujifilm cameras and lenses for rent. If you’re interested in patronizing an indie shop with a long history, make Fireside your first stop.

6. Borrow Lenses

529 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Borrow Lenses is an online service that will ship camera equipment rentals all over the United States. However, they also have a local pick-up spot at Peak Design here in San Francisco. Just rent online and schedule a local pickup, and you’ll be good to go. They have an extensive gear selection for still photography: DSLRs, Mirrorless, Medium Format bodies, lenses, lighting, and support equipment. They’ve also got all of the best video gear around, and any lighting or audio equipment you’d ever want.

Their rates are competitive as well. The only downside is that your shortest available rental is three days. If you’re interested in delivery, they’ll ship to your home or place of business. But, it might be easier to go the local pick-up and drop-off route.

7. Chater Camera

1336 Ninth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710

Chater Camera is another rental company focused primarily on video needs. They’ve got a catalog full of premium lens and camera equipment rentals, plus a solid array of lighting and audio accessories. Rental pricing is on the higher end here. However, their staff is knowledgeable and supportive, and they’ve got the newest equipment on the market.

If you need a piece of equipment that they don’t happen to have, Chater will find it for you and sub-rent it, but they’ll need 24 hours notice. They also know tons of people in the business. So if you need someone for your production, they’ll be able to recommend reliable talent.

Check out these studio photoshoot ideas in San Francisco to enhance your next Bayside photography project!

8. Peerspace

If you’re already booking a space, why not book the gear at the same time? Peerspace is the world’s largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals. We help connect the creative community with awesome production spaces and studios. However, in addition to providing spaces for photo and video shoots, many of Peerspace’s hosts also offer gear rentals. So as you’re planning your shooting locations, you might also consider renting gear directly from a host on Peerspace.

So what types of fully-equipped studios can you book in San Francisco? Here are a few of our favorites:

• This fully-equipped photography and videography studio in FiDi (pictured above) with professional camera equipment ideal for live streaming
• This fully-equipped green screen studio in Lindenville with a sound stage, lighting equipment, and video equipment included
• This large studio with a cyc wall in the East Side with an extensive equipment rental house on-site
• This bright and airy studio in the Mission with lighting, grip, and camera equipment rentals

As you can see, there are plenty of professional studio spaces available through Peerspace. And with this amount of amazing venues that also include camera equipment rentals in San Francisco, you can see how Peerspace can be your one-stop-shop for all your photography and videography projects.

Camera equipment rentals in San Francisco: conclusion

We hope this guide on camera equipment rentals in San Francisco proves useful to you and your projects. Renting equipment is a great way to tap into your creative energy or to be sure that an expensive piece of gear is really what you need without making a substantial investment. This, combined with shooting in one of the great locations you can book through Peerspace, is sure to result in some magic.

Find production spaces in San Francisco, CA on Peerspace