Here at DTC, we offer a wide range of photo-related equipment for rent, including Profoto packs; light modification such as umbrellas/softboxes/octas/scrim jim kits; a few lenses; and more.  Whether you’re a professional photographer looking to try out new equipment or an amateur photographer wanting to take your skills to the next level, renting can be a cost-effective and convenient solution.

For any rental questions on how to get your first order started, please feel free to reach out to our rentals team at (510) 595-0770, or you can email your questions to Rentals@dtcgrip.com.

Here is a quick overview of the photography equipment we currently have in our rental inventory:

Packs:

• Profoto Pro 11 2400w Packs
• Profoto Pro 10 2400w Packs
• Profoto 8A 2400w Packs
• Profoto 7A 2400w Packs
• Profoto B4 1000w Battery Operated Pack
• Profoto B3 1200w Battery Operated Pack

Profoto Heads and Reflectors:

• Profoto Pro 7 Head – (to work with the 7A’s and 8A’s)
• Profoto Pro Head Plus – (to work with the Pro 10’s and 11’s)
• Profoto Pro-7 Twin Head
• Profoto Standard Zoom Reflector
• Profoto Magnum Reflector
• Profoto WideZoom Reflector

Battery Operated Mono Heads:

• Profoto B1
• Profoto B1X
• Profoto B10

Accessories:

• Profoto 16′ Head Extension Cable
• Profoto Barndoor for Zoom Reflector
• Profoto ProFresnel Spotlight w/barndoors
• Profoto Softbox 3′ Octa
• Profoto Softbox 5′ Octa
• Small Photoflex Umbrella 30″
• Elinchrom 39″ Rotalux Deep Octa
• Elinchrom 74″ Octa Lightbox
• Medium Photek Umbrella – 46″ w/sock and silver/gold insert
• Large Photek Umbrella – 60″ w/sock and silver/gold inserts
• 45″ Standard White Umbrella
• Photek Sun Buster – Uncle Sam Umbrella
• Westcott 4’x6′ Scrim Jim Kit w/ Clamp
• Westcott 6’x6′ Scrim Jim  Kit w/ Clamp
• Westcott Large Softbox
• Westcott Medium Stripbox
• Profoto Beauty Dish White or Silver
• Profoto Beauty Dish Diffuser (sock)
• Profoto Honeycomb Grid 25° for Beauty Dish
• Profoto Honeycomb Grid 10° for Magnum Reflector
• Profoto Grid Set 5°, 10°, 20°
• Profoto Speed Ring
• V Flat

Tripods and Heads:

• Gitzo GS5311 Geared Center Column (Long) for Series 5 tripods
• Gitzo GT2531 Medium Duty Carbon Fiber Series 2 Tripod
• Gitzo GT5542LS Heavy Duty Carbon Fiber Series 5 Tripod – 5ft
• Gitzo GT5562 – Extra Tall Series 5 Tripod – 9ft
• Gitzo Side Arm
• Manfrotto 229 – 3-Way Pan/Tilt Tripod Head
• Manfrotto 405 Geared Tripod Head
• Manfrotto 410 Jr. Geared Tripod Head
• Manfrotto Video Tripod w/Sachtler FSB8 Fluid Head

Photo-Friendly Grip Items:

• J-Hook
• Jr Mathboom
• Manfrotto Mega Boom
• Manfrotto Super Boom
• Mini Mathboom
• Savage Backdrop Kit

Lenses:

• Nikon Zoom 14-24 2.8 Lens
• Nikon Zoom 17-35 2.8 Lens
• Nikon Zoom 24-70 2.8 Lens
• Nikon Zoom 70-200 2.8 Lens
• Zeiss Prime 100mm Macro 2.0 w/Nikon Mount – lens
• Zeiss Prime 21mm 2.8 w/Nikon Mount – lens
• Zeiss Prime 25mm 2.0 w/Nikon Mount – lens
• Zeiss Prime 35mm 1.4 w/Nikon Mount – lens
• Zeiss Prime 50mm Macro 2.0 w/Nikon Mount – lens
• Zeiss Prime 85mm 1.4 w/Nikon Mount – lens
• Canon Zoom 70-200 2.8 IS
• Canon Zoom 24-70 2.8

Remotes and Pocket Wizards:

• Pocket Wizard Plus II and Plus III Transceivers
• Profoto Air Remote
• Canon Profoto Air Remote

Specialty Items:

• Reel FX2 Fan
• 27″ Apple Cinema Monitor

The post <strong>Where to rent photography equipment in the San Francisco Bay Area?</strong> appeared first on DTC Lighting & Grip.

We’ve put together a list of 12 filming equipment pieces that will get you started on your first film productions.

This list is pared down to the film equipment we consider the essentials of a starter filming kit. We also include links to items you can purchase or rent directly from the DTC website.

Camera Equipment

1. Video camera. Most filmmakers want to start with at budget-friendly but high-quality mirrorless, DSLR, or camcorder camera. Whatever your budget, opt for the highest quality audio and video features you can afford, and don’t shy away from older models that you can buy used. Buying a used camera is a great way to get a highly-rated camera at a reasonable price.
2. Add-on lenses. Ideally, you’ll find a camera that comes with a set of lenses for varying your shots (used purchases are great for getting a complete set). If that’s not the case, you can purchase individual lenses that match best with your specific filming plans. 
3. Tripod. A sturdy tripod will guarantee you get steady shots, so get the best one you can afford. Look for fluid head and drag system tripods, as these will give you the smoothest shots. You can always opt to rent a tripod and take time to discover what works best for you.
4. Film storage. You’ll want plenty of memory cards or videotape for your camera footage.
5. Extra batteries. These will ensure you don’t run out of battery life in the middle of your incredible shoot. A very worthwhile investment.

Lighting Equipment

6. Main light source. We think a great starter light is the Chauvet DJ Cast Panel Pack.
7. Accent light. We’re partial to the palm-sized Aputure MC RGBWW Mini LED Light, which gives you the ability to reproduce any color.
8. ColorChecker. Check your light for color control! We recommend the original: the Calibrite ColorChecker Classic.
9. Light reflector. A simple, but tried and true, way to add beautiful light to your shots.

Audio Equipment

10. Audio field recorder. With starter cameras, you’ll want to skip the urge to plug the microphone directly into the camera and instead upgrade to a better-quality audio choice. This is where a field recorder comes in.
11. Shotgun microphone. You can either mount this on your camera or on a boom pole.
12. Headphones. These will help you closely monitor the audio quality of your shots.

The Filming Equipment Upgrades

The 12 items above are the pieces of film equipment we recommend you get started with. When you’re comfortable working with all of them and ready to make your first upgrades, here’s an excellent list of options:

• Shoulder mount rig. You’ll want to upgrade to this when you find you need more flexibility than a tripod can provide. 
• C-stand. A Century stand, called a C-stand, is a versatile stand that can be used to position lighting, audio, and backdrops.
• Gimbal. Once you’re ready for advanced movement shots, you’ll want to move from a tripod to a gimbal.

There you have it: 12 essentials for a starter filming equipment set. As your filmmaking career takes off, we look forward to working with you on all of your production grip needs. Feel free to contact us when you’re ready to rent and test different production equipment. We’re here to help. 

The post The Basics: A Filming Equipment Checklist  appeared first on DTC Lighting & Grip.

In this post, we’re sharing the key advantages of a grip truck, and how you can estimate the best size for your next project.

The Key Advantages of a Grip Truck

Grip trucks conveniently store all the necessary equipment for a production team, and every grip truck is built with special transport features like crates, carts, and racks.

This systematic storage of equipment has a second and important advantage beyond equipment protection. It provides the ability to quickly spot and retrieve items as needed. On a busy film set, this is a huge perk.

But what size grip truck is most appropriate for your particular production needs? Let’s take a look at how you can best estimate this before placing your rental order.

Selecting Your Grip Truck Size

In general, you want to look for a grip truck with a good layout where you can easily locate the equipment you need. You also want to consider the quantity of carts and crates included with the truck, and the amount of additional equipment you’ll be renting and adding to the truck.

In terms of how many tons you need for your grip truck selection, here is some general guidance we use.

1-ton to 3-ton grip trucks are best for handling small to medium film production jobs like music videos, short commercials and films, and photo shoots.

We carry a few great options for rent at the 1-ton size. We have both a sprinter van and a sprinter box truck. Both come with liftgates for ease of equipment removal.

We also carry a larger 2-ton 16 foot box truck that’s low profile and has the capacity to tow a generator. It includes a basic and expendables package, and is also available in a 3.5-ton package.

Larger 4-ton to 10-ton trucks are better for large film production jobs like feature films.

At this size, we carry several options. (Please note that a Class A driver’s license is required for all of them except the 4-ton truck.) The options are:

• A 4-ton 20-foot box truck with the capacity to tow a generator.
• A 5-ton 28-foot box truck with a large inventory of gear that has the capability to tow generators.
• A 5-ton electric truck that’s empty and built with shelving you can fill to meet your custom lighting equipment needs.
• A 10-ton 34-foot box truck with the capability to transport a large equipment package and tow generators.
• A 10-ton electric truck that’s empty, built out with shelving, and can handle any size job. It has the ability to tow a generator to your location.

We then have a few other vehicles available for specific needs:

• Our 4-wheel drive pickup truck with a lumber rack can tow generators to your location.
• Our 16-foot cube truck includes a liftgate.
• A 17-foot cube truck includes both a liftgate and an additional 3-foot storage space over the cab.

These guidelines should help you determine the best grip truck size for your next film production. If you happen to be working in the San Francisco Bay Area, or have plans to shoot in the area, we welcome you to contact us for your grip truck rental needs.

The post Which Size Grip Truck Do You Need? appeared first on DTC Lighting & Grip.

So when work takes your team to a distant location (like our beautiful home, the San Francisco Bay Area), renting film trucks means this critical equipment package is out of your hands until you pick it up (cue: a bit of a trepidation). And if you’re anything like us, you’ll want to know every last detail of your film trucks in advance of that pick-up day.

To make sure you get everything you need, we recommend these 3 simple but key questions you should never forget to ask when reserving film trucks.

1. Will you send me a detailed equipment list?

You want to know exactly what you can expect that film truck to be stocked with! Like most grip pros, you’re working off an extensive checklist of equipment that you need to ensure will be on site.

With a detailed list from the film truck rental company, you’ll know how many stands, clamps, ladders, overheads, cards, frames, etc. you can count on. Will they provide expendables? If so, those should be listed out too, with sizes and quantities marked for every single piece.

Curious what that detailed list might look like? We have excellent examples to share. If you rent film trucks from us, you can download and print a detailed equipment list for each of our film truck rental packages.

2. Is there a liftgate and/or towing potential?

Your timelines are tight, and you need to move fast, so it’s best to know the complete capabilities of your film trucks upfront. A liftgate is an added plus, as it will allow you to unload equipment more quickly and safely. And if you think a power generator is going to be needed on set, you’ll want to ask specifically about the towing capabilities of the film truck you have your eye on.

3. What specific insurance and auto coverage do I need?

There is nothing worse than an unexpected setback when you’re working on a time-sensitive production schedule. That’s why you’ll want to ask about insurance and auto coverage in advance of your reservation, so you’re not met with any surprises at pickup.

For example, in the case of film truck rentals from us, we require both standard production insurance and additional auto coverage.

And in the case of renting a 5 or 10 ton truck, the driver will also need to present a Class A Driver’s License.

You’re All Set

So, there you have it: 3 simple but important questions that will uncover any major surprises before you’re handed the keys to the future film trucks you rent.

We know you live and breathe all the logistics of production set-up, so covering these questions upfront will keep you on track for your best production work yet.

If you’re planning a film production in the San Francisco Bay Area, we’re here to help get you everything you need.

The post 3 Key Questions to Ask Before Renting Film Trucks appeared first on DTC Lighting & Grip.