How Camera Equipment Rental Works at CineRentals
Professional Cinema Gear, Delivered to Your Door — Simple, Fast, and Secure
We think renting professional cinema equipment online should be easy, fast, and transparent. That's why we built CineRentals — a camera and lens rental service run by filmmakers, for filmmakers. Whether you're a seasoned DP, a first-time director, or a content creator leveling up your production value, here's how it works from start to finish.
Browse & Select Your Gear
Explore our curated inventory of professional cinema cameras, lenses, lighting, audio, stabilization, and accessories from brands you trust — Canon, Sony, Blackmagic Design, RED, DJI, DZOFILM, Rode, Sennheiser, SmallHD, and more. Every piece of gear is production-tested and ready to perform.
Every product page includes:
- Detailed specifications and technical attributes
- High-resolution images
- Complete list of included accessories (cables, batteries, cases, etc.)
- Real-time availability calendar
- Transparent pricing with duration-based rates
Pro tip: Check the included accessories list carefully. Each rental includes the basic accessories a professional rental house would provide, but you may need additional batteries, cables, or media cards depending on your setup. Everything is available to add individually.
Choose Your Rental Dates
Select your rental period — from a single day to 90+ days for long-form productions. Our pricing uses a progressive rate structure: the longer you rent, the lower the effective daily rate.
How rental days work:
- Your gear ships the day before your first charged rental day
- Your first charged day is the first day you have the gear available to use
- Your last charged day is the last full day of use
- Return shipment must be dropped off the day after your last charged day
- Example: Book Monday–Friday (5 charged days). Gear arrives Sunday. Return shipment dropped off Saturday.
Minimum rental: 1 charged day.
| Duration | 1 day | 3 days | 7 days | 14 days | 30 days | 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Relative Cost | Full rate | ~60% daily savings | ~75% daily savings | ~80% daily savings | ~80% daily savings | ~85% daily savings |
Secure Checkout
We've made checkout as fast as possible. Most orders are approved instantly — you'll be done in under 60 seconds with no extra steps. Behind the scenes, our adaptive verification keeps high-value gear safe without slowing you down.
What happens at checkout:
- Enter your shipping and billing information
- Choose your payment method (credit card or ACH bank transfer)
- Our system instantly assesses your order using privacy-first technology
- Most orders are approved immediately with no additional steps
For higher-value rentals, our adaptive system may request:
- A quick photo ID verification (under 30 seconds)
- Bank account connection for instant approval (no deposit needed in most cases)
- A refundable security deposit (ACH deposits receive a 20% discount)
Privacy commitment: We never pull your credit report, never require your Social Security number, and never store raw biometric data. Our verification uses encrypted, tokenized signals — not invasive personal data collection.
Payment timing: Your card is authorized at checkout but not charged until your order ships. If your order is cancelled before shipping, no charge is processed.
Add CineShield Protection (Optional)
Accidents happen on set — that's why we built CineShield. Our optional damage protection covers accidental damage, theft (including from an unlocked vehicle), fire, vandalism, and electrical surges. Add it at checkout for peace of mind so you can focus on the work.
What CineShield covers:
- Accidental damage from drops, impacts, and liquid spills
- Theft — including theft from an unlocked vehicle (with police report)
- Fire, vandalism, and natural disasters
- Electrical damage from power surges
What CineShield does NOT cover:
- Intentional damage or gross negligence
- Normal wear and tear
- Cosmetic damage that doesn't affect function
- Loss without documentation
| Equipment Value | CineShield Price | Additional Days | Deductible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $2,500 | 5% of rental (min $5) | Included in % | 10% of equipment value |
| $2,500 – $5,000 | $59 base (days 1–5) | +$8/day after day 5 | $500 |
| $5,001 – $7,500 | $75 base (days 1–5) | +$10/day after day 5 | $500 |
| $7,501 – $10,000 | $95 base (days 1–5) | +$12/day after day 5 | $1,000 |
| $10,001 – $20,000 | $135 base (days 1–5) | +$15/day after day 5 | $1,000 |
| $20,001 – $30,000 | $169 base (days 1–5) | +$19/day after day 5 | $2,500 |
| Over $30,000 | Not available — contact us for insurance options | ||
CineShield covers theft from unlocked vehicles — most competitors exclude this entirely or charge significantly more. Our deductibles are competitive with or lower than industry standard.
CineShield is completely optional. Without it, you are responsible for the full replacement value of any damaged, lost, or stolen equipment. We strongly recommend CineShield for all rentals.
We Prepare & Ship Your Order
Once your order is confirmed, our team gets to work:
- Every item is thoroughly cleaned, inspected, and function-tested
- Firmware is updated to the latest stable version where applicable
- Batteries are fully charged
- Media cards are formatted and verified
- Items are securely packed in protective cases
Shipping details:
- Orders are shipped via FedEx to all 50 U.S. states
- Gear ships the day before your first charged rental day
- A prepaid return shipping label is included in every box and also emailed to you
- Adult signature is required for high-value shipments
| Tier | Standard | Overnight | Add'l Item (Std) | Add'l Item (Ovn) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | $19 | $29 | Free | Free |
| B | $24 | $37 | +$4 | +$6 |
| C | $29 | $52 | +$9 | +$21 |
| D | $34 | $62 | +$14 | +$31 |
| E | $39 | $87 | +$19 | +$56 |
| F | $49 | $117 | +$29 | +$86 |
Your shipping tier is displayed on each product page and in your cart. Multi-item orders pay the first-item rate plus a reduced per-additional-item rate.
Booking lead time: We recommend placing your order at least 12 business hours before your desired ship date. Orders placed Thursday evening ship Friday. Orders placed Friday evening ship Monday.
Receive & Inspect Your Gear
Your gear has arrived — time to get creative. Before you head to set:
- Check every item against the packing list
- Power on and test each piece of equipment
- If anything seems off, contact us right away — we'll make it right
- Report any pre-existing damage within 24 hours of receipt
Everything you need is in the box — your gear, all listed accessories, and a prepaid return shipping label. Go make something great.
Extend Your Rental (If Needed)
Shoots run long. Weather delays happen. If you need your gear a bit longer:
- Log in to your account and extend your rental dates online
- Extensions are recalculated at the new total duration — longer extensions benefit from lower effective daily rates
- Extension requests must be submitted by the end of your last charged rental day at the latest
- If you have trouble extending online, call or email us and we'll handle it
Late returns without an approved extension are charged at your daily rental rate for each additional day.
Pack & Return
Returning your gear is simple:
- Repackage all equipment in the original packaging and cases
- Include all accessories, cables, batteries, and media cards
- Affix the prepaid FedEx return shipping label (included in the box or emailed to you)
- Drop off at any FedEx location or schedule a FedEx pickup
- Return shipment must be dropped off the day after your last charged rental day
Quick heads-up: Missing accessories are charged at replacement value, so give your packing list one last look before you seal the box. It only takes a minute.
Local Pickup Option
In LA? Pick Up in Hollywood
If you're local, skip the wait — arrange curbside pickup from our Hollywood location:
- Contact us in advance to arrange your pickup time
- Same-day pickup requests must be received before 2:00 PM Pacific (subject to availability)
- A shipping refund may be offered on a case-by-case basis
- Equipment is provided as-is for pickup orders — no on-site equipment prep or demonstration