VMI

VMI is a quality Drama and Documentary camera rental company based in London and Bristol, supplying cameras and lenses for such programmes as Good Karma Hospital and Midsomer Murders for ITV, Tiger Aspect, Hat Trick, Bentley, BBC, Big Talk and many others.  Established in 1979, VMI is one of the success stories of the new generation of Digital Facilities Companies in the UK specialising in quality HD Camcorder hire for Drama, Hi Definition Camera hire for Feature and HiDef camera rental for Documentary Productions including specialist cameras such as the Canon ME20 super low light camera camera and Phantom VEO4k ultra slow motion camera (high speed camera hire)..

VMI’s reputation is built on the level of specification of equipment that we provide and our exemplary customer service. We recognise that every production is different and as such, has specific requirements, so each is afforded individual attention. This even goes as far as building custom foam packs for peli-cases for travel documentaries and the design and manufacture of custom brackets and accessories when required. This is very much part of our regular service, whether you hire from our London or now our Bristol Branch.

We support every HD format for rental including ARRI AMIRA hire, ARRI Alexa hire, Alexa Mini, ARRI Alexa Plus, RED EPIC-W, PMW-F55, PMW-500, FS7, FS7 Mk II, PMW-200, C300 Mk II, Canon C500, Canon C300PL, C300 Hire London, high speed cameras including Sony F55 large sensor cameras, DSLR Cameras including Canon 5D MkIV & Sony A7S Mk II and documentary cameras of all formats including  XDCAM EX, P2, AVC Intra and AVC Ultra .

VMI’s London hire base also includes Solid-State off-board recorder hire such as Convergent Odyssey 4K, PIX 240, Atomos Shogun , AXS R7 4K recorder and ARRIraw recorders to support location productions and post production requirements.

VMI’s Bristol Camera Hire base caters for the Natural History and other documentary productions.

VMI hire Cooke lenses, hire Zeiss lenses and hire Angenieux lenses including Zeiss MasterPrimes, Zeiss UltraPrimes, Cooke S4i, Cooke MiniS4, Cooke MiniS4 uncoated, Zeiss SuperSpeed, Zeiss Compact Prime CP.2, Cooke S4, Canon K35 and KOWA anamorphic prime lenses in PL mount.

VMI stock the full range of  Angenieux Optimo PL zooms including Optimo 15-40, Optimo 28-76, Optimo 19.4-94, Optimo 24-290, Optimo 45-120 etc. We also stock the ARRI Alura range of zooms including Alura 15.5-45,  Alura 18-80, Alura 45-250.

VMI also stocks a full range of DSLR lens hire including  Zeiss ZF DSLR Primes and Canon EOS DSLR Primes.

A complete range of HD lenses for 2/3″ cameras is also available from stock including Zeiss DigiPrimes.

VMI Camera Training include Alexa and Epic/Scarlet Experience Days, Large Sensor Courses, DIT Training Courses for Camera Assistants (Focus Puller/Clapper Loaders), camera workshops.  Note that not all of these are available all of the time.

VMI also hires out some unusual equipment such as Prompter, autocue and interrotron Eye Direct from our London hire base.

To ensure that clients are equipped to cope with the rapid advance of technological progress and make the right decisions regarding workflow and formats for their production VMI runs a number of regular free events and workshops covering the latest High Definition formats on subjects such as solid state off-board recorders and new cameras plus VMI hosts an annual new products day to showcase all new equipment, which is held annually in February at VMI’s HQ in West London.

Camera Hire/Shooting Kits

VMI’s RED Epic, RED Epic Dragon, RED Scarlet ARRI Alexa, PMW F5, PMW F55 and C300  Rental kits are built to outstanding specification with a good choice of PL film lenses. The latest formats including P2 AVC Intra and XDCAM Hire now also includes HPX-250 Hire, PMW-F3, PDW 700 Hire, PDW-800 Hire, EX3 Hire and EX1 Hire as well.

VMI specialise in supplying quality HD Camera, Lenses, Grip, Lights and Audio hire equipment for drama, feature and broadcast documentary productions.

VMI Headquarters is based in West London. It has a large equipment preparation area and 2 x camera test rooms, equipped with cool LED light panels. VMI also runs Training Facilities out of West London as well.

VMI has been recognised for excellence winning many awards including Hire Company of the year, Broadcast Camera Hire Company of the year and also the Natwest Business award for good business practice. As a recognised Investors in People Company VMI strongly believes in ongoing training and development for all staff. See what VMI clients think about VMI in our annual client survey report.

Since 2003, VMI has actively been involved in the production of more than 90 Features. VMI has a wealth of experience to assist you on your next feature film in planning and takes an active role in ensuring the agreed production budgets are utilised to their maximum potential taking all factors into account.

With such vast HD experience, VMI has made the conversion to HD both painless and enjoyable. We encourage face to face meetings with clients to discuss the choice of HD equipment and project-manage the programme migration, oversee post-production route and advise on such technical issues such as format, codec, post production and delivery.

All VMI staff are trained in HD and this ensures that we can advise clients well. VMI offer free camera testing facilities for the crew and viewing facilities for the production company which explains why VMI is number 1 for HD Camcorder hire.