ChapmanandLeonard Studio Equipment

What ChapmanandLeonard Studio Equipment does

Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment, Inc. is a US-based manufacturer and lessor of professional motion picture camera support equipment, founded circa 1945-1950 and headquartered in North Hollywood, California. The company designs, builds, and rents camera dollies, telescoping cranes, remote camera heads, crane bases, and camera vehicles used on feature films, episodic television, commercials, and live productions. Its engineering is anchored in proprietary mechanical and electro-hydraulic systems, including a three-mode steering transmission (conventional, crab, round), waterproof hydraulic telescopic cranes (Hydrascope line) capable of underwater use, lithium-battery power systems with integrated heaters for cold-weather operation, and a 4-axis gyro-stabilized brushless direct-drive remote head (M7 Evo). The 5th-generation dolly family (Super PeeWee V, Hybrid V, Hustler V) and the Scorpio 45-foot programmable telescopic crane represent the current product frontier.

The company monetizes through three parallel streams: (1) direct equipment sales with accessory packages, (2) short-term usage-based rentals that bundle 24-hour technical support and on-site technicians, and (3) multi-year lease arrangements processed through a dedicated leasing department. Distribution is hybrid — direct enterprise sales in core US/UK markets complemented by a network of 100+ lease representatives spanning 25+ countries, with channel relationships including ARRI Rental (Europe), Panavision, Servicevision (Scorpio crane manufacturer), and MO-SYS. The customer base is dominated by major Hollywood studios and tier-one streaming productions (Marvel/Disney films, Avatar, Top Gun: Maverick, Dune Part 2, HBO's Euphoria, Disney+'s WandaVision), and the firm claims credit on the majority of recent tentpole releases requiring complex camera movement.

Operationally, Chapman/Leonard operates US service hubs in North Hollywood, Alpharetta, Orlando, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Hillsboro, and Weatherford, plus a UK facility in St Albans, and runs 101-250 employees. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors, and was materially impacted by the 2023 WGA/SAG-AFTRA strikes. In August 2025 it announced the strategic acquisition of Pro-Cam Rentals USA to expand North American capacity and global innovation.

Name

ChapmanandLeonard Studio Equipment

Legal name

Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment Inc.

Website

https://chapman-leonard.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment manufactures, leases, and rents professional motion picture camera support equipment — including dollies, telescoping cranes, remote heads, and camera vehicles — serving major film, television, and streaming productions globally through direct sales and a 100+ partner network across 25+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Motion Picture Camera Support Equipment

NAICS

Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (33431), Photographic Services (54192)

SIC

Photographic Equipment & Supplies (3861), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Camera, Grip & Lighting Equipment Rental (MPADAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Production Equipment & Technical Services (Camera/Lighting/Grip, Virtual Production) (MPAAAMAH), Tripods, Mounts & Supports (Tripods, Monopods, Clamps, Action Mounts) (CRACAPAI)

Keywords

• Camera dolly equipment
• Motion picture cranes
• Remote camera heads
• Film production support
• Camera vehicles

Headquarters

HQ city

North Hollywood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales: Direct sales of camera dollies, cranes, remote heads, bases, and camera vehicles to production companies and rental houses. Products sold with standard accessory packages and custom build options.
2. Equipment Leasing: Long-term lease arrangements for Chapman/Leonard equipment through a global network of lease representatives. Leasing department handles all lease inquiries and arrangements.
3. Equipment Rentals: Short-term rental of equipment for specific productions, with 24-hour support, on-site repairs, and replacement parts included. Qualified technicians dispatched with rental units.
4. Technical Support Services: 24-hour technical support, on-site repairs, and replacement parts provided as part of rental agreements and for owned equipment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment designs, manufactures, and rents professional camera support equipment for the motion picture and television industry. The product portfolio spans camera dollies, telescoping cranes, jibs, remote camera heads, crane bases, and camera vehicles, complemented by accessories and 24-hour technical support with on-site technicians.

Product overview

Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment is a motion picture equipment manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of camera support and movement solutions. The product line centers on camera dollies (PeeWee, Hybrid, Hustler, Cobra, Pedolly, Lencin series), telescoping cranes (Scorpio, Hydrascope, MiniScope lines), jibs and Lenny Arms, remote camera heads (M7 Evo, G3, CL Head, Amphibian, ARRI 360 Evo), crane bases (Ultra CS, ECS, Hydrabase, mobile bases), and camera vehicles (Super Nova, Titan II, Olympian series). Equipment is complemented by accessories including tracks, sliders, and vibration isolators. The company, with facilities in Hollywood CA, Alpharetta GA, and St Albans UK, provides 24-hour support, on-site repairs, and lease-to-purchase options through a global network of representatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Camera Dollies Professional camera dollies including PeeWee, Hybrid, Hustler, Cobra, Pedolly, and Lencin series designed for various shooting requirements from compact spaces to heavy payloads; trusted as the gold standard of the motion picture industry.
• Telescoping Cranes Industry-leading telescopic cranes including Scorpio (17, 23, 38, 45), Hydrascope (15, 20, 32, 40, 50, 70), and MiniScope (5, 7) models providing versatile camera movement from compact to extreme heights including underwater use.
• Jibs and Lenny Arms Crane arms including Stinger, Stinger Plus, Lenny Mini, Lenny Arm II Plus, and Lenny Arm III for achieving smooth camera movements and elevated shots.
• Remote Camera Heads Remote camera heads including M7 Evo (4-axis gimbal), G3 (gyro stabilized), CL Head, CL Mini, Amphibian (underwater), Mini Scorpio Stabilized V Head, ARRI 360 Evo, and Mo-Sys L40 for stabilized filming in any orientation.
• Crane Bases Bases supporting crane arms including Ultra CS, Ultra Hy Hy, Super CS, Hy Hy, ECS (electric assist), Hydrabase, Ultra ATB, and mobile bases (Ultra Maverick, Mini Mav, Atlas, Raptor, Hydracar, E-Scorpion).
• Camera Vehicles Camera vehicles including mobile cranes (Super Nova, Titan II), stage cranes (Electra II/Nike, ATB II, Sidewinder, Zeus), camera cars (F550), electric powered sideline vehicles (Olympian, Olympian II, Olympian III), and off-road vehicles.
• Equipment Accessories Accessories including dolly accessories, track, camera sliders, vibration isolators, and accessory packages to customize equipment.
• Super PeeWee V Fifth-generation compact camera dolly featuring three-mode steering (conventional, crab, round), lithium battery power with USB/XLR ports, integrated heater, and hydraulic improvements.
• Hydrascope 70 70-foot waterproof telescoping crane operated hydraulically, suitable for land and underwater use, with 360-degree rotation and heavy camera payload capacity.
• M7 Evo 4-axis gyro stabilized wireless gimbal with brushless direct drive motors, cable-free operation on all axes, 100lb max payload, and programmable repeatable movements.
• Equipment Rental Service Short-term equipment rental for film and TV productions, with 24-hour support, on-site repairs, replacement parts, and qualified technicians dispatched with rental units.
• Equipment Leasing Service Long-term lease arrangements for Chapman/Leonard equipment through a global network of lease representatives. Dedicated leasing department handles all lease inquiries and arrangements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Equipment operates reliably in extreme conditions including underwater and temperatures as low as -40°C (built-in heater system)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• ARRI Rental (Europe)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorARRI Rental serves as a major channel partner for Chapman/Leonard across Europe, with locations in Vienna, Berlin, Leipzig, Cologne, Munich, Budapest, Prague, and Luxembourg. They distribute Chapman/Leonard equipment including Hydrascopes, Scorpio cranes, and remote camera heads to European film productions.
• PanavisioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPanavision operates as a lease representative for Chapman/Leonard equipment at locations in London (UK) and Aubervilliers (France). Panavision distributes Chapman equipment to their customer base of film and TV productions.
• Pro-Cam Rentals USAflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn August 2025, Chapman/Leonard announced the strategic acquisition of Pro-Cam Rentals USA, representing a significant expansion of their North American presence. This acquisition includes facility expansion and global innovation initiatives to strengthen the company's legacy and future-forward production support capabilities.
• ServicevisioncoreTechnology or IntegrationServicevision designs and manufactures Scorpio cranes (Scorpio 17, 23, 38, 45) which are distributed through Chapman/Leonard. The Scorpio cranes are designed for compatibility with Chapman/Leonard bases and remote heads, featuring electronic systems and telescopic arm technology.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Panavision: Panavision is the dominant motion picture camera and equipment rental company, offering a full ecosystem of cameras, lenses, and support equipment to Hollywood productions. It is a direct peer in equipment rental and also acts as a Chapman/Leonard lease representative, making it both a partner and a competitor in the camera support category.
• Servicevision: Servicevision designs and manufactures the Scorpio line of telescopic cranes (17/23/38/45), which are designed for compatibility with Chapman/Leonard bases and remote heads and are co-distributed through Chapman's network. The two companies are tightly integrated commercial partners and direct competitors in the telescopic crane segment.
• Otto Nemenz International: Otto Nemenz is a major Los Angeles-based camera and equipment rental house serving Hollywood feature films, commercials, and television. It directly competes with Chapman/Leonard for rental revenue on Hollywood productions, particularly for high-end cinema camera packages and support equipment.
• Keslow Camera: Keslow Camera is a premier motion picture camera and equipment rental company in Los Angeles, offering cameras, lenses, and support gear to major studio productions. It is a direct competitor in the equipment rental space, particularly for high-end feature and episodic work.
• Shotover Camera Systems: Shotover designs and manufactures high-performance gyro-stabilized camera gimbal systems used in helicopter, vehicle, and aerial cinematography. It competes directly with Chapman's M7 Evo and G3 remote heads in the high-end stabilized remote head category.
• The Tiffen Company (Steadicam): Tiffen manufactures Steadicam stabilizer systems, the most iconic handheld camera stabilization platform in motion picture production. Steadicam is a direct substitute for dolly-based and remote-head camera movement in many shooting scenarios, making Tiffen a category peer in stabilized camera support.

Broad incumbents

• ARRI: ARRI is a global leader in professional cinema cameras, lighting, and camera support systems (e.g., TRINITY, SAMCAM, MAXIMA stabilized heads). It competes with Chapman/Leonard in remote heads and stabilized rigs while simultaneously serving as a major European lease representative for Chapman's cranes and dollies.

Emerging players

• Mo-Sys Engineering: Mo-Sys specializes in virtual production technology, camera tracking, and remote heads, including the L40 remote head which Chapman/Leonard distributes. Mo-Sys competes at the intersection of stabilized camera heads and LED-volume virtual production workflows that could substitute for traditional dolly/crane work.
• DJI: DJI is the dominant global manufacturer of consumer and prosumer gimbals, drones, and stabilized camera systems (Ronin series). It is an emerging disruptive competitor in stabilized camera movement, particularly at lower price points and for drone-based shots that may displace traditional dolly/crane work on lower-budget productions.
• Freefly Systems: Freefly Systems designs and manufactures high-end camera movement and stabilization products including the Movi gimbal and Alta drones. It competes with Chapman/Leonard's remote heads and stabilized rigs in the premium handheld/stabilized cinematography segment, with increasing adoption on commercial and high-end episodic productions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CHAPMAN-LEONARD
• Facebookfacebook.com/chapmanleonard
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chapman-leonard-studio-equipment-inc-
• Instagraminstagram.com/chapman_leonard
• Xx.com/ChapmanLeonard1

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ChapmanandLeonard Studio Equipment