J.L. Fisher
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1951
- HeadquartersBurbank, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
J.L. Fisher firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- J.L. Fisher
- Legal name
- J.L. Fisher Inc.
- Website
- https://jlfisher.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1951
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where J.L. Fisher is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Burbank
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
J.L. Fisher business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Equipment Rentals: Primary revenue stream from renting motion picture equipment including camera dollies, microphone booms, jib arms, and accessories to film and television productions. Equipment is available for rental only, not for purchase.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including apparel (hats, shirts, jackets, pullovers), drinkware (Yeti Rambler), and collectibles (sticker bundles). E-commerce sales through company website.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | J.L. Fisher Sticker Bundle |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | J.L. Fisher Kids T-Shirt |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | J.L. Fisher Dolly T-Shirt |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | J.L. Fisher Trucker Hat |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | J.L. Fisher Unstructured Dad Hat |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | J.L. Fisher Dolly Pullover |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | J.L. Fisher 20oz Yeti Rambler |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | J.L. Fisher Embroidered Jean Jacket |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
J.L. Fisher product offering
Product offeringCore offering
J.L. Fisher Inc. designs, develops, and manufactures professional motion picture and television equipment including camera dollies (Model 8, 9, 10, 11), microphone booms and bases (Model 2/3 and Model 7/6), jib arms, cross arms, and supporting accessories. The company provides direct equipment rentals from its Burbank, California facility and through a worldwide network of independent rental providers, plus a merchandise e-commerce store selling branded apparel and accessories.
Product overview
J.L. Fisher Inc. is a manufacturer and rental provider of motion picture and television equipment, producing a comprehensive portfolio of camera movement systems and accessories designed, developed, and manufactured in-house in Burbank, California. The core product line centers on four generations of camera dollies (Model 8, 9, 10, and 11) featuring pioneering round steering technology, complemented by microphone boom systems (Model 2/3 and Model 7/6). A wide range of accessories extends the platform including jib arms, cross arms, the ROU24 rotating offset, Heavy Duty Level Heads, the RHC hydraulic control system, Blue Guides track wheel system, and various wheeled platforms (skateboard wheels, scooter boards, Polly Dolly). The company also operates a merchandise line featuring branded apparel and drinkware. Equipment is available exclusively through rental programs supported by worldwide dealer networks, with direct rentals from the Burbank facility.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Model 10 Camera Dolly Industry-standard camera dolly introduced in 1978 featuring pioneering round steering technology, built with top-tier materials and components for the motion picture industry. Equipped with RHC hydraulic control system. Available for rental only.
- Model 11 Camera Dolly Compact yet versatile camera dolly introduced in 1994 with three-way steering and lighter weight, providing comparable features to Model 10 with increased mobility. Available for rental only.
- Model 8 Camera Dolly Legacy camera dolly model introduced in 1963, designed for motion picture production. Currently designated for prop use only.
- Model 9 Camera Dolly Camera dolly introduced in 1966 that became a staple in multi-camera film sitcoms, featuring three-way steering for versatile movement.
- Model 2 Microphone Boom with Model 3 Base 16-foot microphone boom and base introduced in 1951 that revolutionized motion picture work with lighter weight and enhanced functionality. Available for rental only.
- Model 7 Microphone Boom with Model 6 Base Microphone boom and base system developed in the late 1950s specifically for the television industry, still in production as a core product offering. Available for rental only.
- Jib Arms (Including Jib 23) Camera jib arms for professional film and television production, including the Jib 23 introduced by Jim Fisher. Available for rental only.
- Cross Arms Cross arm accessories for camera jib systems, enabling extended camera positioning and movement in production. Available for rental only.
- ROU24 Heavy Duty 24-Inch Rotating Offset Heavy duty rotating offset accessory for Model 10 and 11 dollies, engineered for remote heads and larger 65mm film cameras. Features 360-degree rotation with 84 lock positions, Mitchell mount, and 7075 Aircraft Grade Aluminum construction. Available for rental only.
- Heavy Duty Level Head (HLT/HLE) Robust level head for Model 10 (HLT) and Model 11 (HLE) dollies, providing better support for long lenses, sliders, extended offsets, remote heads, and jib arms. Becoming standard equipment on both models. Available for rental only.
- Refined Hydraulic Control (RHC) & Cue Box Upgraded hydraulic control system for Model 10 and 11 dollies with over 300 part changes. Features smoother operation, better acceleration, precise start points, faster speeds, and repeatable constant lift speed. Cue Box provides fixed speed control for repeated moves. Available for rental only.
- Blue Guides Track Guide Wheel System Re-engineered track guide wheel system with polyurethane wheels designed for round track. Reduces wheel pressure from 80 lbs to 2 lbs per wheel for effortless pushing and quiet operation. Rollout in progress on Model 10 dollies. Available for rental only.
- Track Wheels 3rd Generation (TTW3/ETW3) Redesigned track wheels for round straight track only. Quieter operation compatible with standard size round straight track (1.5" dia. x 24.5" or 62 cm). Not recommended for curved track. Available for rental only.
- Skateboard Wheels (SBWS) Wheel system recommended for use on curved dolly track. Alternative to Blue Guides for curved track applications. Available for rental only.
- Dolly Track Camera dolly track system for smooth rolling movement in film and television production. Available for rental only.
- Weaver/Steadman Three-Axis Stabilization Head Three-axis camera stabilization head for professional film and television production. Available for rental only.
- Vinten Quattro Pedestal Professional camera pedestal with Vector head integration. Available for rental only.
- Spyder Dolly (Elemack) Specialized dolly system for multi-camera and Spider configuration productions. Available for rental only.
- Hudson Spider Slider (HS36) Camera slider in 2'-4' (HS36) length. Featured product offered through J.L. Fisher distribution. Available for rental only.
- J.L. Fisher Branded Merchandise Branded merchandise including apparel (hats, shirts, pullovers, jackets, onesies), drinkware (Yeti Rambler), and collectibles (sticker bundles) sold through company e-commerce storefront.
Companies that use J.L. Fisher
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
J.L. Fisher technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
J.L. Fisher partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
J.L. Fisher competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Panavision: Manufacturer and rental provider of cinema cameras, lenses, and high-end production equipment with its own global rental network serving film and TV productions. Comparable business model (manufacture + rent proprietary equipment to productions) and overlapping customer base, although broader in cameras/lenses than dollies/booms.
- Cartoni: Italian manufacturer of professional camera support products including pedestals, fluid heads, and tripods used in film and broadcast. Directly comparable in professional camera-support category to J.L. Fisher's pedestals (e.g., Vinten Quattro Pedestal via J.L. Fisher) and level heads.
- Panther GmbH: German manufacturer of professional camera dolly systems, tracking vehicles, and camera transportation equipment for film and broadcast production. Comparable in offering (camera dollies and accessories), target customer (cinematographers and productions), and rental/peer-to-peer sales model.
- Elemack: Italian maker of camera dollies (including the Spyder Dolly, which J.L. Fisher already resells through its accessories catalog) and pedestals for film, TV, and live productions. Directly comparable in core dolly category and shared customer base.
- Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment: US manufacturer and rental provider of camera dollies, camera cranes, and remote camera systems for film and television production. Closest direct competitor to J.L. Fisher in the professional motion-picture dolly/crane category with overlapping customers and channel (rental houses, productions, IATSE-adjacent crews).
Broad incumbents
- Matthews Studio Equipment: Long-established US manufacturer of grip equipment, lighting stands, mounts, and general studio support hardware for film/TV production. Overlaps with J.L. Fisher on set-support accessories and dolly-adjacent grip hardware, but serves a wider grip-and-lighting portfolio rather than specializing in dollies.
- Vitec Group: Public parent of Vinten, Sachtler, Manfrotto, Litepanels, and other professional camera support and lighting brands. J.L. Fisher already lists Vinten Quattro Pedestal in its accessories, evidencing channel overlap. Competitor at the broad camera-support level rather than as a dolly specialist.
- ARRI Group: German manufacturer of cinema cameras (ALEXA), lighting, and related production systems used across film and television. Serves the same productions that rent J.L. Fisher dollies but operates a much broader portfolio of cameras and lighting rather than specializing in movement support.
Others
- RED Digital Cinema: US manufacturer of high-end digital cinema cameras (V-RAPTOR, KOMODO) used on film and TV productions that also rent J.L. Fisher dollies. Complementary rather than competitive: RED's cameras are mounted on J.L. Fisher dollies in the same production workflow.
- Blackmagic Design: Manufacturer of digital cinema cameras (URSA, PYXIS), switchers, and production gear used widely in film, episodic TV, and live production. Adjacent to J.L. Fisher's ecosystem: Blackmagic cameras are commonly used on Fisher dollies, but the companies do not directly compete.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
J.L. Fisher social profiles
Digital presenceJ.L. Fisher compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
J.L. Fisher financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
J.L. Fisher leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
J.L. Fisher funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
J.L. Fisher M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about J.L. Fisher
What does J.L. Fisher do?
J.L. Fisher Inc. designs, develops, and manufactures professional motion picture and television equipment including camera dollies (Model 8, 9, 10, 11), microphone booms and bases (Model 2/3 and Model 7/6), jib arms, cross arms, and supporting accessories. The company provides direct equipment rentals from its Burbank, California facility and through a worldwide network of independent rental providers, plus a merchandise e-commerce store selling branded apparel and accessories.
Is J.L. Fisher a public or private company?
J.L. Fisher is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was J.L. Fisher founded?
J.L. Fisher was founded in 1951. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is J.L. Fisher based?
J.L. Fisher is headquartered in Burbank, United States, in the North America region.
How does J.L. Fisher make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Equipment Rentals are the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales.
Who are J.L. Fisher's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Panavision, Cartoni, Panther GmbH, Elemack and Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment. Broad incumbents are Matthews Studio Equipment, Vitec Group and ARRI Group. Others are RED Digital Cinema and Blackmagic Design.
Does J.L. Fisher have an API?
No public API is recorded for J.L. Fisher.