💡 GEAR & RENTAL MEGA-LIST

💡 THE ULTIMATE GEAR & RENTAL MEGA-LIST

Why ship from LA when you can rent local? Save on logistics, minimize breakage risks, and support the SD production ecosystem.

🎥 Cinema & Motion Picture Cameras

  • Motion Rental (The Industry Standard): Specializing in ARRI (Alexa 35, Mini LF), RED (V-Raptor), and Sony Venice 2.
  • San Diego Film Equipment: Excellent for owner-operator packages and mid-tier cinema setups (Sony FX6/FX9).
  • Digital Post Inc: Offers specialized camera packages tailored for high-end digital commercial content.

📸 Still Photography & High-End Glass

  • Nelson Photo & Video: The gold standard for still photographers. Huge selection of Canon RF, Nikon Z, and Sony G-Master glass.
  • George’s Camera: A local legend. Great for Profoto lighting rentals and medium format systems (Phase One/Hasselblad).
  • Lensrentals (San Diego Pickup): Though national, they have a streamlined shipping/pickup system for ultra-rare vintage or anamorphic glass.

⚡ Grip & Electric (G&E) / Lighting Trucks

🚁 Specialized Gear: Drones, Robotics & Under Water

  • San Diego Drone Ops: FAA-certified heavy-lift drones for cinema cameras (DJI Inspire 3 / Alta X).
  • Drone Fly: Specialized in FPV (First Person View) racing drones for high-speed “chase” shots.
  • San Diego Underwater: Hydroflex housings and underwater lighting for pool or ocean sequences.
  • CineRobot SD: (Affiliated with Motion Rental) Bolt High-Speed Cinebots for precision product “liquid” shots or fashion movements.

🎪 Production Supplies & Logistics (The “Non-Camera” Gear)

🔊 Audio & Communications

  • Location Sound SD: Specialized rentals for Zaxcom/Sound Devices mixers and Lectrosonics wireless kits.
  • Radicom: High-range Motorola walkie-talkie rentals for large-scale crew coordination (crucial for Desert/Mountain shoots).

💡 Pro-Tip for the Gear List

“In San Diego, many rental houses are closed on weekends. However, San Diego Model Management maintains ‘After-Hours’ relationships with several key G&E houses. If a light goes out on a Sunday sunset shoot, we can often facilitate a ‘save’ that out-of-town producers wouldn’t be able to manage alone.”