Camera, Lighting & Grip Rentals
Cinema cameras, glass, Aputure lighting, and a full grip package, all stored on site in Hanover Park and on the floor before call time.
Rent It Where You Shoot It.
Less time loading trucks. More time on the wall.
Forge keeps its own camera, lens, lighting, and grip inventory at the studio. Book the gear with your stage and it’s on the floor before call time, with no pickup downtown and no return run at wrap. Because this equipment lives on our LED volumes, we also know what holds up in front of the wall: which lenses stay clean at a given camera distance, which fixtures can match the content, and what support keeps a tracked move steady.
When your list runs past what we keep on the shelf, Camera Ambassador is our preferred equipment partner: a women-owned and operated rental house on West 14th Street in Chicago, and one of only three in the country. Every production booked on Studio A or B gets 30% off their equipment rental rates. Just mention Forge. Between the two inventories, most productions can be fully kitted without a third call.
Why Rent Through Forge
Three reasons producers book their gear with us instead of adding another vendor to the call sheet.
In-House Inventory
Convenience
For simpler shoot days
The gear is already here. Add it to your stage booking and it’s prepped and waiting when you walk in.
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Stored at the studio and staged before call
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One quote for stage and gear
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No cross-town pickup or return
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Add items as the shot list changes
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Same crew supporting the stage and the package
Built for the Volume
Compatibility
For clean images on the wall
LED walls can show up differently on camera based on lighting and focal distance. Additionally, 3d environments require calibrated lenses to mirror optics in Unreal Engine. Our in house inventory is built with this in mind to ensure you're getting a clean image.
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Lens and camera-distance guidance for each stage
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Fixtures that match wall color and output
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Support gear for tracked and dolly moves
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Less risk of moiré and reflection surprises
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Our VP team on standby during the shoot
Camera Ambassador
Depth
For everything we don’t stock
Camera Ambassador is our preferred equipment partner. Every production booked here gets 30% off their equipment rental rates. Just mention Forge.
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ARRI, RED, Sony, and Canon bodies
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Cooke, Zeiss, Angénieux, and Atlas glass
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Lighting, grip, and 2- and 3-ton grip trucks
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Every lens projected and tested before it ships
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Women-owned and Chicago-based since 2014
In-House Inventory
The gear is already here. Add it to your stage booking and it’s prepped and waiting when you walk in.
Built for the Volume
LED walls are particular about lenses, distance, and light. Our crew will help you pick a package that reads clean on camera.
Camera Ambassador
Camera, lens, lighting, and grip from one Chicago shop, prepped and tested before it ships. Every production booked at Forge gets 30% off their equipment rental rates.
What’s on the Shelf
A snapshot of Forge’s in-house inventory. Quantities change, so ask for the current list when you request a quote.
| Category | In-House at Forge | Through Camera Ambassador |
|---|---|---|
| Cameras | RED V-Raptor [X] 8K VV (x2), RED Raptor, RED Komodo | ARRI, RED, Sony, and Canon bodies |
| Lenses | ARRI Ensō primes (LPL), Atlas Mercury anamorphics, Angénieux EZ-1 and EZ-2 zooms, Sigma and Zeiss CP.3 prime sets, Canon EF primes and zooms | Cooke, Zeiss, Angénieux, and Atlas primes, zooms, and anamorphics |
| Camera support | DJI Ronin 2 and RS2 Pro, EasyRig Queen, Tilta Float, ARRI LMB matteboxes, Teradek Bolt 6 LT wireless, Teradek RT FIZ, Bright Tangerine follow focus | Additional stabilization, wireless, and lens control |
| Monitors & prompters | SmallHD Cine 24" 4K monitors, SmallHD Ultra 7 Bolt 6 RX, Prompter People 24" teleprompters, Blackmagic Web Presenter 4K | Extra monitoring and media |
| Lighting | Aputure 1200d Pro, 1200X, 600d Pro, 300d II, Storm 1000c, Nova P300c, Infinimat, and Astera Titan tubes, with softboxes, Fresnels, Spotlight Max, and grids | Expanded lighting packages |
| Grip | Dana Dolly and doorway dolly, Speed-Rail track, OConnor, Sachtler, and Manfrotto tripods, 80+ Matthews and Modern stands, 6x6, 8x8, and 12x12 overheads, flags, scrims, apple boxes, and carts | Full grip inventory plus 2- and 3-ton grip trucks |
| Power | Anton Bauer V-mount and Gold Mount batteries, Core SWX 300Wh packs, distro and stingers. | Additional power and distro |
Beyond Our Inventory: Camera Ambassador
Camera Ambassador is Forge’s preferred equipment partner. Founded in 2014 by Erica Duffy and based at CineCity Studios in Chicago, it’s one of the few women-owned rental houses in the country, with more than 9,000 pieces of gear and a prep floor that tests every package before it goes out the door.
1. Specialty cameras and glass.
ARRI, RED, Sony, and Canon bodies, with Cooke, Zeiss, Angénieux, and Atlas lenses, for anything we don’t keep on hand.
2. Grip trucks.
2- and 3-ton trucks for bigger builds, company moves, and location days.
3. 30% off. Just mention Forge.
Request a quote directly from Camera Ambassador and mention your Forge booking. The 30% comes off their equipment rental rates automatically. No code, nothing to apply for.
rentals@cameraambassador.com · 773-791-6522
The Stages in Action:
Three quick clips that show how 2D plates keep production agile and creative.
Lighting Sync & Control: See how motorized, color-capable lighting matches wall content in real time for faster looks.
Loop Playback & Scene Swaps: Watch a producer instantly load new 2D plates and swap
Compact Crew, Big Output: Small team, big efficiency. 2D plates let lean crews capture
Gear Rental FAQs
Common questions about renting gear at Forge and working with Camera Ambassador.
See All FAQsWhat gear does Forge rent?
Our in-house inventory covers RED cinema cameras, cinema and anamorphic lenses, Aputure lighting, camera support, wireless video, monitors and prompters, grip, and power. The table above is a snapshot. Ask for the current list when you request a quote.
What if Forge doesn’t have what I need?
Camera Ambassador, our preferred equipment partner in Chicago, carries cameras, lenses, lighting, grip, grip trucks, and expendables. Send your gear list straight to them for a quote and mention your Forge booking. Every production booked on Studio A or B gets 30% off their equipment rental rates. We’re happy to tell you what we stock in-house.
How does the Camera Ambassador discount work?
Mention Forge when you request a quote from Camera Ambassador. The 30% comes off their equipment rental rates on cameras, lenses, lighting, grip, and 2- and 3-ton grip trucks used on your Forge production. No code, nothing to apply for. It doesn’t cover labor, transport, expendables, or insurance, and it doesn’t apply to Forge stage rates. You can book a free prep day at their shop, pick up the day before, or have the package delivered to Forge for a fee they’ll quote.
Do I have to use Camera Ambassador?
No. They’re our first recommendation, not a requirement, and it has no bearing on your booking with Forge.
Will my camera package work on the LED wall?
Most cinema packages do, but lens choice, camera distance, and lighting all affect how the wall reads on camera. Our team will go through your package before the shoot and flag anything likely to cause moiré or reflection problems on Studio A or Studio B. Camera Ambassador packages are built with this in mind too: genlock-capable bodies, tracking-friendly builds, and every lens projected in their shop before it ships.
Can I see the gear before I book?
Yes. Come tour the studio, walk both stages, and look through the gear room. Our team is happy to show you around!
Gear, Stage, Crew
Let’s Build Your Package.
Send us your shot list, or just a rough idea of the shoot. We’ll put together a gear quote, flag anything that should come from Camera Ambassador, and set up a tour if you want to see the inventory in person.