8 Best Places to Find Camera Equipment Rentals in San Antonio

San Antonio may not be as big of a filming location as other parts of Texas, but it does have a few famous features to its name, including Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure and Miss Congeniality. It’s also home to the San Antonio Film Fest, QFest, and CineFestival, the oldest Latino film festival in the country. If you’re planning a photoshoot or video production, then you have a wide variety of resources to choose from when it comes to camera equipment rentals in San Antonio.

We’ve compiled a list of the top eight vendors for cameras, grip and lighting gear, A/V equipment, studios, and more. This way, you can get all of the equipment you need with just one or two easy reservations. You may even be able to get your gear at your production venue if you book a shooting location through Peerspace, which we’ll detail ahead. After all, Peerspace is the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals and makes it easy to uncover and book amazing production spaces in San Antonio, many with equipment available for use on the premises.

But for now, let’s get back to the topic at hand. Here are 8 of our favorite places for camera equipment rentals in San Antonio.

1. Rent from the experienced mainstay: The Camera Exchange

6635 San Pedro Ave, San Antonio, TX 78216

The Camera Exchange is a camera store that offers classes, repairs, and rentals out of its San Antonio location. Unlike many rental houses, it’s open on Saturdays, and Sundays are included for free with a weekend rental. You’ll find all of the latest gear, including the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera and the Zhiyun-Tech CRANE 3 Handheld Stabilizer.

Easily check gear availability and prices on their rental site, or visit their store to see the equipment in person. You can also attend classes on a multitude of topics, including night and macro photography, to expand your skill set. Whether you need photo, video, or audio equipment, Camera Exchange is a one-stop-shop for camera equipment rentals in San Antonio.

2. Get all the professional gear you need at MP&E Cameras and Lighting

4822 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

MP&E Cameras and Lighting is a modern rental house in nearby Austin that specializes in full-service motion picture and broadcast television production equipment rentals. You’ll find ARRI hand units, monitors, Canon primes, camera rigs, and audio and lighting equipment. MP&E Cameras and Lighting’s lighting gear is primarily aimed at motion and still productions, so you’ll find Kino Flo interview kits, Apurture LEDs, modifiers, softboxes, umbrellas, and green screens. They also have jibs, dolly tracks, and handheld stabilizers. Check out their entire catalog here.

MP&E Cameras and Lighting has a simple four-step rental process and can help you procure an insurance policy. With locations in Denver, Dallas, and Phoenix too, you can count on the pros at this company to provide you with the gear you need at fair prices.

Looking for the best local spots for your next photography project? Then you need to check out these gorgeous indoor photoshoot locations in San Antonio next!

3. Cover your next event with equipment from SASL Audio Video Lighting

207 Braniff Dr, San Antonio, TX 78216

SASL Audio Video Lighting offers a range of A/V equipment intended for live events, conferences, events, and broadcast video. Although they have a smaller variety of camera gear than some of the other rental houses, they’re a solid option for camera equipment rentals in San Antonio if you want to record or livestream a conference or seminar.

In addition to camera gear, they offer projectors, LED video walls, wireless microphones, sound systems, stage lighting, and more. They even have an LED dance floor! Contact the professionals at SASL for corporate events instead of photo or video shoots.

4. Get all of the production gear and assistance you need from Media Bar Productions

8610 N New Braunfels, Suite 704 San Antonio, Texas 78217

Media Bar Productions is a full-service production house that offers standalone equipment rentals. They have a range of Canon, Nikon, RED, and Blackmagic cameras that are perfect for shooting in 4K or HD. They also have a drone for capturing outdoor aerial shots!

Check out their gear list to pick and choose the equipment you need, or rent their fully stocked two-ton grip and lighting truck to make sure you have everything covered. In addition, they offer production services if you need additional support on set or in the editing room. Their post-production team can provide assistance with audio and video editing, motion graphics, web design, and more.

5. Create your own custom rental package through Armada Grip & Lighting

521 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78215

Armada Grip & Lighting is a rental house run by a professional gaffer and cinematographer based out of San Antonio. They have a range of digital cameras available, including the RED Dragon, which shoots in 6K. They also have tungsten, daylight, and fluorescent lighting options so you can shoot indoors or outside. Rent their two-ton grip truck for an affordable price, or design your own custom package. Cinematographer Daniel Maldonado is also available for hire if your shoot needs a DP anywhere in the San Antonio area.

6. All-terrain shoots are a breeze with gear from ATX Grip

9201 Brown Ln  Suite 290, Austin, TX 78754

ATX Grip serves the Austin and San Antonio region, as well as features some equipment that you won’t find anywhere else, including the electric “Ranger” vehicle for all-terrain shoots. With a range of camera cars and grip trucks available for rent, ATX Grip is your go-to company for shooting on location (and off-road) in Hill Country.

Choose from the ATX Insert Car, which can reach speeds of up to 55 mph, or the ATX Precision Tracking Camera Car with a rooftop mount. The Ranger is the only all-electric off-road camera car in the area, capable of reaching speeds of up to 25 mph. Shoot your next car chase or action sequence with the help of ATX!

Hoping to shoot your next scene poolside? Peerspace has you covered with our guide on how and where to rent a pool near San Antonio.

7. Borrow gear from other professionals care of KitSplit

KitSplit is a great option for camera equipment rentals in San Antonio, especially if you’d rather rent from another photographer than a traditional rental house. This peer-to-peer site lets gear owners list their own equipment for daily and weekly rates. You may also be able to find gear or hands-on tutorials here that are unavailable at commercial rental houses.

Photographers are a supportive bunch who love to share equipment with fellow creatives, so long as the gear gets returned in one piece. KitSplit takes out the hassle — and the risk of theft or damage — with an easy-to-use booking system and built-in insurance options. You can list your own gear, too, and earn extra money by renting equipment out to other photographers.

8. Get amazing equipment and locations courtesy of Peerspace

Peerspace is a great resource for booking unconventional venues and locations from local hosts in San Antonio. As the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals, creatives primarily turn to Peerspace to find and book unique production spaces. The bonus of using Peerspace, however, is that you can often also rent top-notch gear directly from the host of your venue, giving you an awesome setting with professional equipment all in one place.

So what types of production spaces can you rent in San Antonio through Peerspace? Here are just a few of our favorites:

• This state-of-the-art photo/video studio in Dripping Springs that comprises two studios and includes lighting equipment.
• This minimalist photo studio (pictured above) in the heart of the city with tons of natural light and backdrops.
• This 800-square-foot cyclorama stage on the Northwest Side with backdrops and tons of rave reviews.
• This cyclorama-equipped film and video production studio with lighting equipment, sound equipment, backdrops, and more.

You get the idea! Peerspace makes it easy to get everything you need all in one place, without having to visit multiple rental houses and locations on the day of your shoot. Enjoy a nearly effortless production day!

Camera equipment rentals in San Antonio: conclusion

These rental houses and production services should serve your team well, whether you’re shooting a corporate event indoors or an action film in the countryside. Browse their gear and find the ones that best suit your budgetary and production needs. All of these rental companies have operated in San Antonio for years. They’re owned and operated by gear heads who get what you’re about. And best of all, you’ll learn you won’t have to travel far to get all of the equipment you need in the San Antonio area!

Find a production location in San Antonio on Peerspace