MBF Filmtechnik

What MBF Filmtechnik does

MBF Filmtechnik GmbH is a Frankfurt-based professional film equipment rental company founded in 1982, operating as a member of The Rental Group alongside Ludwig Kameraverleih following a 2018 merger. The company rents cameras, lenses, lighting, and grip/stage equipment to professional film, television, and advertising productions, stocking inventory from leading manufacturers including ARRI, RED, Cooke, Zeiss, Sony, Angenieux, and Leica. Its product portfolio spans four core categories: digital and analog camera rental (ARRI Alexa series, RED, Sony Venice, Phantom high-speed), cinema lens rental (Cooke S4/i and S5/i, ARRI Master Prime, anamorphic, large format), professional lighting (LED panels, HMI, specialty fixtures such as SUMOMAX and Creamsource Vortex), and grip/stage equipment (Panther dollies, GFM cranes, remote heads). The in-house workshop develops custom equipment solutions and performs maintenance across the inventory, representing a technical service layer that differentiates MBF from pure asset-rental competitors.

MBF serves production companies, public broadcasters, advertising agencies, and film schools across Germany and Central Europe from three German branches (Frankfurt HQ, Hamburg, Berlin) and a Polish operation via the Non-Stop Film Service (NSFS.PL) subsidiary. The business model is direct B2B equipment rental with quote-based pricing; new customers must complete an application and credit check before first rental, with payment via advance bank transfer or cash on pickup. Revenue is generated primarily through daily/weekly rental rates on equipment, supplemented historically by equipment sales (divested to Band Pro Munich GmbH in June 2021 as MBF refocused on rental). Marketing channels include the company website, social media, Berlinale festival participation, case-study publications, and the TechDays multi-city equipment showcase events. The company is led by managing shareholder Stefan Laucher and Managing Director Ernst Feiler, and operates with 70+ employees across the broader Rental Group.

Name

MBF Filmtechnik

Legal name

MBF Filmtechnik GmbH

Website

https://mbf.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MBF Filmtechnik rents professional film equipment — cameras, lenses, lighting, and grip — to production companies, broadcasters, and film schools in Germany and Poland, operating as part of The Rental Group alongside Ludwig Kameraverleih from Frankfurt, Hamburg, Berlin, and Warsaw.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Equipment Rental

NAICS

Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (334310), Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (3343)

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

Video Camera & Production Gear Retail (Camcorders, Cinema Cameras, Rigs) (CRACAHAB), Lighting & Studio Equipment Retail (Flash, Continuous, Modifiers, Backdrops) (CRACAHAF), Production Equipment & Technical Services (Camera/Lighting/Grip, Virtual Production) (MPAAAMAH), Gimbals, Stabilizers & Camera Rigs (Handheld, Wearable, Drone Gimbals) (CRACAPAE)

Keywords

• Film equipment rental
• Camera rental services
• Lighting rental solutions
• Lens rental inventory
• Stage and grip rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfurt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Rental: Rental of professional film equipment including cameras, lenses, lighting, and grip equipment. Revenue generated through daily/weekly rental rates for productions.
2. Equipment Sales: Sale of film equipment. Since June 2021, sales are handled by Band Pro Munich GmbH.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MBF Filmtechnik rents professional film and television production equipment including digital and analog cinema cameras (ARRI, RED, Sony Venice, Blackmagic), cinema lenses (Cooke, Zeiss, Leica, Anamorphic), professional lighting (LED, HMI, specialty), and grip/stage equipment (dollies, cranes, remote heads). The company serves feature films, TV series, commercials, and documentaries from three German branches (Frankfurt, Hamburg, Berlin) with an in-house workshop for custom solutions and maintenance.

Product overview

MBF Filmtechnik is a professional film technology rental company offering a comprehensive equipment portfolio across four main categories: camera rental (digital, analog, high-speed), lens rental (cinema primes, zooms, anamorphic), lighting rental (LED, HMI, specialty), and stage/grip equipment rental (dollies, cranes, remote heads). The company maintains inventory from leading manufacturers including ARRI, RED, Cooke, Zeiss, Leica, Sony, and many others. As part of the Rental Group alongside Ludwig Kameraverleih, MBF serves productions ranging from commercials to feature films, operating from locations in Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Berlin.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Camera Rental Rental of professional digital and analog film cameras including ARRI Alexa series, RED cameras, Sony Venice, Blackmagic, Canon cinema cameras, and high-speed cameras like Phantom Flex 4K. Service is targeted at professional film, TV, and commercial production companies.
• Lens Rental Rental of cinematic lenses including Cooke S4/i and S5/i, ARRI Master Prime and Ultra Prime, Angenieux zooms, Zeiss primes, Leica Summilux-C and Summicron-C, anamorphic lenses (Cooke Anamorphic, ARRI Master Anamorphic, Kowa, Lomo), and large format lenses (ARRI Signature, Cooke S7/i, Leica Thalia). Targeted at cinematographers and production companies.
• Lighting Equipment Rental Rental of professional lighting equipment including LED panels (ARRI Skypanel, Aladdin BiFlex, DMG Lumiere, LiteMat), LED Fresnels (Aputure, Nanlux, Astera), HMI lights (ARRI, Dedolight), and specialty lighting (SUMOMAX, Creamsource Vortex, Carpetlight). Targeted at film productions, TV studios, and commercial shoots.
• Stage and Grip Equipment Rental Rental of grip and stage equipment including dollies (Panther S-Type, Fisher 11, MovieTech Magnum), sliders, cranes (GFM GF8 Xten, Jibarm systems), and remote heads (ABC Alex, ABC P10, Thoma TR3). Targeted at film and TV production crews requiring camera movement and stabilization.

Quantifiable outcome

• First company in Europe with Cooke S8/i FF lenses in rental portfolio

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PHAROS - The Post GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 August 2023Joint initiative to promote 'PHAROS Production Award' for HFF Munich graduation films. Ludwig Kameraverleih provides camera, lighting and grip equipment; PHAROS provides post-production services; THE PLAYMAKER MUNICH handles world distribution.
• Non-Stop Film Service (NSFS.PL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 March 2022Part of Rental Group. Located in Warsaw, Poland, NSFS.PL expanded the group's presence into the rapidly growing Polish market following acquisition.
• Band Pro Munich GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2021Band Pro Munich GmbH handles the sales of MBF equipment since June 2021, as MBF focuses on rental operations.
• Ludwig Kameraverleih GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018MBF Filmtechnik and Ludwig Kameraverleih merged in 2018 under the motto 'Ludwig Kameraverleih und MBF Filmtechnik werden eins. Zwei Unternehmen. Ein starker Partner.' to form a leading film technology rental group in Germany. Stefan Laucher remains as managing shareholder.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• ARRI Rental: ARRI's dedicated global rental arm, leveraging direct manufacturer ties to provide ARRI cameras and lighting to productions worldwide. MBF's ARRI-heavy inventory means it competes head-to-head with ARRI Rental, particularly for ARRI Alexa 35 and Signature Prime business.
• Panavision: Global leader in film and television camera, lens, and lighting equipment rental with the broadest geographic footprint. MBF competes for the same high-end feature film and TV production clients but lacks Panavision's scale and international reach.
• Cinelease Studios: US-based film equipment rental and studio services provider, serving independent films, TV, and streaming productions. Comparable product offering (camera, lighting, grip) at a larger consolidated scale.

Others

• Cooke Optics: UK-based manufacturer of premium cinematic lenses (S4/i, S5/i, S7/i, S8/i). MBF is a key European rental channel partner and was first in Europe to offer the new S8/i FF - making Cooke a critical supplier and ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.

Regional players

• Keslow Camera: Major US-based camera and lens rental house serving Hollywood features, TV, and commercials. Comparable in product mix and customer base (high-end productions) but geographically focused on the US market.
• Cinequipt: Minneapolis-based camera, lens, and lighting rental house serving the upper Midwest US production market. Smaller, independent operator with a similar product mix and customer base to MBF.
• OpTex Films & Spare Ltd. UK-based camera, lens, and accessories rental house serving feature films, TV series, and commercials. Direct comparable in business model and product categories, with similar mid-sized independent operator profile.

Direct peers

• Transvideo Cinematography: European specialist in on-set monitoring solutions and accessories for film production. Adjacent product category serving the same film crew customers with complementary equipment.
• Band Pro Film & Digital Inc. US-headquartered dealer and rental house for high-end film equipment. Its Munich subsidiary (Band Pro Munich GmbH) took over MBF's sales operations in 2021, making it both a partner and an indirect competitor in the European market.
• Ludwig Kameraverleih: Sister company within the Rental Group, offering nearly identical camera, lens, and lighting rental services in Germany. The two entities merged under common ownership in 2018 and operate from a combined brand.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/mbfsales
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rental-group
• Xx.com/MBF_Filmtechnik

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about MBF Filmtechnik