Shanghai Camera Rental

ARRI, Sony and RED camera kits with cine glass, wireless video and on‑set DIT—paired with permits and real logistics: elevated‑road filming approvals, ground‑road occupation, freight windows and rainy‑season alternates.

Bund / Nanjing RdLujiazuiJing'an / Suzhou CreekWest BundPudong

Choose Your Ecosystem — A Quick Decision Tree

Commercial / Brand Hero

Alexa Mini LF / Sony Venice with high‑end primes; larger crew, traffic plans, and controlled vantage points.

Documentary / Corporate

Sony FX9/FX6 with compact zooms + two primes; lean footprint for CBD/parks and faster permits.

Product / Social

RED V‑RAPTOR / KOMODO‑X for high‑fps and macros; gimbals for arcades and riverwalks; short turnarounds.

Need G&E too? See Shanghai Grip Rental and Shanghai Lighting Rental.

Logistics‑First Permits (Shanghai)

ActivityWhere to FileLead TimeNotes
Filming on elevated roads Shanghai PSB Traffic (One‑Stop item) ≥15 working days Strict safety; disallowances include peak hours and major events.
Occupying ground roads/sidewalks for filming Local district PSB Traffic File in advance Tripods/lighting/frames on public way need consent; submit to correct unit (Puxi elevated vs other roads differ).
Traffic safety review (road works / heavy setups) One‑Stop “涉路施工交通安全审查” Per guide Traffic organization plan, drawings and commitments often required.

Need a permit strategist? China Video Production Fixer · Shanghai Fixer

Vehicle Windows & Access

  • Non‑Shanghai plates face time‑of‑day limits on elevated/inner‑ring corridors on workdays (e.g., 7:00–20:00 rules widely posted—confirm the latest daily notice).
  • Freight trucks may apply for limited **city truck codes** with strict eligibility (e.g., specific goods/expo exhibit, ≤10t, up to 3‑day validity) to move during restricted hours.
  • We stage vans outside corridors, book freight elevators, and prefer night/off‑peak load‑ins for heavy kit.

Media & DIT — Frictionless Hand‑offs

  • Checksum backups with logs to RAID; LTO or encrypted cloud handoffs on request.
  • Color‑managed proxies (ACES/camera‑managed) for editorial; review links with timecoded notes.
  • On‑set monitoring tuned for overcast/typhoon periods to keep skin tones consistent.

Post options: Post‑Production Service.

Power & Footprint

  • LED‑first packages to minimize power draw and heat.
  • 220V/50Hz distro with certified electricians for tie‑ins; portable generators for exteriors when allowed.
  • Low‑profile rigs for elevators and heritage‑sensitive footprints.

Seasonal Risks — Plan Like a Local

WindowWeatherProduction Note
Jun–JulMeiyu (plum‑rain)Shanghai entered Meiyu on Jun 7, 2025 (earlier than average). Add canopies, alternates and moisture control.
Late Aug–Mid‑SepTyphoon‑pronePad contingency days; monitor riverfront closures.
Oct–NovCrisp, clearPrime exterior window; high demand around National Day (Oct 1–8).
Dec–FebCold, dampShort daylight; prioritize interiors and warm standby rooms.

UAV & Airspace

  • We align with CAAC’s UOM platform for real‑name registration and controlled‑airspace approvals.
  • Inner‑city corridors are restrictive; we route to legal boxes or licensed vantage points.
  • Pilots and VOs provided on request.

See Aerial / FPV Service.

Case Study — 3‑Day Camera‑Led Rollout (Jing'an → Bund → Lujiazui)

Brief & Outcomes

Global hospitality brand needed interviews, lifestyle plates and hero skyline shots. Goal: lean crews, fast permits, and weather resilience during an early Meiyu.

Schedule

  1. Day 1 — Jing'an: Interviews + B‑roll with compact LED; data to editorial via proxies.
  2. Day 2 — Bund: Tripod plates from public vantage points; road‑occupation consent filed; night reflections.
  3. Day 3 — Lujiazui: Gimbal arcs among towers; controlled corridor for aerials if approved; sunset into blue hour.

Compliance & Logistics

  • Elevated‑road filming item filed ≥15 working days when needed; otherwise ground‑road occupation per district unit.
  • Non‑Shanghai plates staged outside restricted corridors; night/off‑peak load‑ins.
  • Meiyu mitigation: canopies, rain covers, extra sandbags; alternate interiors held near river.

Deliverables

  • 1× hero film + 14 social cutdowns (EN/zh‑Hans)
  • Masters in ProRes; platform derivatives; subtitle packs