What Camalot does

Camalot (legal entity Cam-a-lot BV) is a privately held Dutch digital cinema equipment rental company headquartered in Amsterdam, with a secondary operation in Vilvoorde, Belgium. Founded in the late 1990s and under new co-ownership since January 2023 (Yke Erkens and Sebastiaan van Zuylen, succeeding founders Bernd Lesscher and Philippe Vié), the company rents high-end digital cinema cameras, lenses, lighting, grip, and monitoring equipment — primarily ARRI, Sony Venice, RED, Canon, and specialty optics from Leitz, Cooke, Zeiss, Angenieux, and rehoused vintage sets — to professional film, television, commercial, and documentary productions. The company differentiates through specialty services including Gates-branded underwater cinematography with certified technician operators, multicam production setups, DIT and data management, custom product design, and a Cineshop retail outlet for accessories and expendables.

The business operates on a B2B, sales-led, quote-based rental model: customers browse the online equipment catalogue (store.camalot.nl), assemble a quote basket, and submit rental requests that are priced and serviced by Camalot's sales team. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and there is no self-serve checkout for rentals. Revenue is generated through daily/weekly rental rates on hardware, bundled with on-set technical assistance and 24/7 standby service. In September 2024, Camalot formalized the Camalux Group partnership with three other Benelux rental houses (Lux & Co/Stroom & Co, Maloney, and Camalot Belgium), enabling multi-location equipment collection/return, cross-company loyalty discounts, and one-stop shop packaging for combined camera and lighting needs.

Named customers span global streaming platforms (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+), Dutch public broadcasters (KRO-NCRV/NTR), and independent production companies (Black Lotus, I Am Zlatan, When It Melts, Forever Rich, Sphinx). The company is also a sponsor of the NSC Stimulus Grant, an annual diversity-and-inclusion scholarship in Dutch/Belgian cinematography. Marketing is concentrated through the website, social channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Vimeo, WhatsApp), industry events (IBC, Sony Burano launch), and a technical blog authored by in-house staff. The company is privately held, has no disclosed funding rounds, and revenue figures are not publicly available.

Name

Camalot

Legal name

Cam-a-lot BV

Website

https://camalot.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Camalot is a privately held Amsterdam-based digital cinema equipment rental company serving film, television, commercial, and documentary productions across the Benelux with high-end cameras, specialty lenses, and on-set technical services including underwater, multicam, and DIT support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cinema Equipment Rental

NAICS

Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (5324)

SIC

Services-Equipment Rental & Leasing, Nec (7359), Photographic Equipment & Supplies (3861)

akta.pro primary industry

Camera, Grip & Lighting Equipment Rental (MPADAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Audio & Communications Equipment Rental (MPADAFAC)

Keywords

• Cinema equipment rental
• Camera rental services
• Underwater cinematography
• Lens rental
• Film production services

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Digital Cinema Equipment Rental: Rental of high-end digital cinema cameras, lenses, lighting, grip, monitoring, and accessory equipment to film and TV productions. Revenue is generated through daily or weekly rental rates. The company provides associated services (prep assistance, on-set support, 24/7 standby service) bundled with rentals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Camalot rents high-end digital cinema cameras, lenses, lighting, grip, and accessory equipment to professional film and television productions in the Benelux region. The company supplements equipment rental with specialist services including underwater cinematography via Gates housings, multicam setups, DIT and data management, custom product design, and a Cineshop retail outlet for expendables. All rentals are bundled with prep assistance, on-set technical support, and a 24/7 standby service.

Product overview

Camalot is a high-end digital cinema rental company based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, with over 25 years of experience serving professional film and commercial productions. The company operates a comprehensive rental model offering professional equipment (cameras, lenses, grip, lighting, and specialized gear) alongside technical services. Core equipment rental includes ARRI, Sony, RED, and Canon cinema cameras alongside premium cinema lenses from manufacturers like Leitz, Cooke, Zeiss, Angenieux, and specialty vintage/rehoused optics. The service portfolio encompasses technical specialties including The Camalux Group (camera and lighting partnership with Lux & Co/Stroom & Co and Maloney), Underwater cinematography (Gates housings with certified technicians), Multicam production setups, DIT & Data Management, and the Cineshop retail outlet for accessories and expendables. The company provides 24/7 standby service and on-set assistance for all productions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Digital Cinema Equipment Rental Core rental service providing professional film and commercial productions with high-end digital cinema cameras, lenses, lighting, grip, and accessories from leading manufacturers. Includes quote-based pricing, prep assistance, on-set technical support, and 24/7 standby service.
• Underwater Equipment Rental Specialist underwater cinematography service providing Gates underwater housings for high-end cinema cameras with Universal Remote Cinema configuration for surface-to-diver FIZ control, operated exclusively by a certified technician who handles build, safety/vacuum tests, dive operations, and on-set technical support.
• Multicam Rental Multi-camera production setup rental and integration service including Blackmagic Design ATEM production switchers, broadcast panels, videohub controls, Cyanview RCP and RIO camera control systems, and Ereca racing heads for live and multicam shoots.
• DIT & Data Management Services Digital Imaging Technician service and data management rental providing on-set computers, media readers/writers, recording media, and professional data handling equipment to support production workflows from acquisition through offload.
• Product Design & Service Custom product design and engineering service for specialized production rigs and accessories that are not available as off-the-shelf solutions, leveraging in-house technical expertise.
• Cineshop On-site retail shop offering camera accessories, hard drives, SSDs, HDDs, and expendables such as tape, sprays, disks, air dusters, and lens wipes for active film productions.
• The Camalux Group Strategic partnership service combining Camalot, Camalot Belgium, Lux & Co / Stroom & Co, and Maloney to provide the broadest combined camera and lighting rental range across Amsterdam and Vilvoorde, with multi-location equipment collection/return and cross-company loyalty discounts.
• ARRI ALEXA 35 Camera High-end digital cinema camera rental item featuring a 4.6K Super 35 sensor with 17 stops of dynamic range, ARRICORE/ARRIRAW/ProRes codec support, and B-mount batteries, serving as a standard reference camera for high-end feature and series productions.
• Sony Venice 2 FF Camera Full-frame 8K digital cinema camera rental item with interchangeable 6K or 8K sensors, up to 90fps in 8K capture, wide color gamut, anamorphic support, modular design, and X-OCN/XAVC codec recording for high-end productions.
• ARRI ALEXA 35 Xtreme High-frame-rate digital cinema camera rental item built on the ALEXA 35 4.6K Super 35 sensor with new high-performance processor, enhanced cooling, up to 330 fps at full 4.6K resolution with 17 stops dynamic range, Sensor Overdrive mode up to 660 fps in 2K, and ARRICORE codec support.
• ARRI ALEXA 265 Camera Large-format 65mm digital cinema camera rental item featuring a redesigned 65mm sensor with 15 stops of dynamic range, LPL mount, ArriRAW internal recording, LogC4 workflow, strong low-light performance at ISO 6400, and a compact 3.3kg body.
• Second Reef Coral Anamorphic Lens Set Full-frame 1.5x anamorphic prime lens set rental item covering 35mm, 50mm, 75mm, and 90mm focal lengths, delivering a modern yet organic look with excellent sharpness, smooth bokeh, refined flares, and a compact lightweight design.
• Sigma Aizu Prime Lens Set Cinema prime lens set rental item from Sigma's renowned Cine Prime line, hand-assembled in Aizu, Japan, with consistent matched color tone, robust mechanics, full-frame sensor coverage, and optical performance suited to 6K and 8K capture workflows.
• Lensworks Lightbrush LED Filter System Camera-mounted LED filter system rental item that fits any 4×5.65 mattebox, enabling filmmakers to introduce color, gradients, and effects directly in the optical path, with wireless control via a TX box featuring tactile knobs, touchscreen interface, and built-in animation modes (Flicker, Fade, Pulse, Rotation).
• Leitz HEKTOR Lens Kit Six-lens prime lens kit rental item covering 18mm, 25mm, 35mm, 50mm, 73mm, and 100mm focal lengths, built in the style of 1980s/90s lenses using exclusively spherical elements, inspired by classic Leica M and Petzval designs, with T2.1 aperture, 80mm front diameter, full-frame image circle, and user-interchangeable mounts.
• Fuji EBC Prime TLS Rehouse Lens Kit Seven-lens vintage prime lens kit rental item (19mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 70mm, 100mm, 135mm) originally introduced in 1971 and professionally rehoused by True Lens Services with Electron Beam Coating technology producing distinctive 1970s optical character combined with modern cinema mechanics, PL mount, and TLS cam-driven focus system.
• Freelensing Cine Universal Tilt & Shift & Swing System Proprietary lens suspension system rental item that virtually suspends a lens in front of the camera sensor, providing fast and intuitive full tilt, shift, swing, rotation, and pan movement to control focal planes and depth of field, compatible with ARRI Alexa Mini LF, Sony Venice 1 & 2, and RED DSMC2 cameras.

Named customers9 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Camalux Group (Lux & Co / Stroom & Co, Maloney, Camalot Belgium)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024The Camalux Group is a brand-new strategic partnership (announced September 2024, featured in FD Times) between Camalot Amsterdam, Lux & Co / Stroom & Co (leading light and power rental company founded in 1989), and Maloney Amsterdam (camera and lighting rental founded in 2012), along with Camalot Belgium in Vilvoorde. The four companies each maintain their own specialty while complementing each other, allowing smarter joint investment, broader equipment range, multi-location collection/return, cross-company loyalty discounts, and one-stop shop package deals. Future plans include green energy transformation, electric transportation, wider equipment range, and operational efficiency improvements.
• Netherlands Society of Cinematographers (NSC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2021In May 2021, NSC established a special committee aimed at stimulating diversity within the cinematography field. With Camalot as the sponsor, the committee launched the annual Stimulus Grant to support underrepresented talent in Dutch and Belgian film. Camalot provides ongoing financial sponsorship for the grant, which covers one year's tuition fee for a cinematography program. The partnership addresses diversity, inclusion, and socio-economic barriers in the film industry.
• Gates (Underwater Housing Manufacturer)supportingTechnology or IntegrationCamalot selected Gates as its underwater housing provider, describing Gates as the 'bulletproof standard' in the industry. Camalot uses Gates housings for underwater productions, configuring them with a Universal Remote Cinema system for surface-to-diver communication. The partnership involves specialized technician training and certification for operating the Gates systems.
• ReadySet StudiossupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerReadySet Studios in Amsterdam hosted the Dutch Sony Burano launch event in collaboration with rental houses Camalot Amsterdam, Camera Rentals Amsterdam, HetRaam Amsterdam, and Maloney Amsterdam, organized by Vocas Sales & Services and Sony Professional Europe.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• PRG (Production Resource Group): Global entertainment production services company with substantial lighting, grip, and camera equipment rental operations. Larger and more diversified than Camalot, but overlaps on lighting/grip rental for film and commercial productions.
• Panavision: Global cinema equipment and services provider offering cameras, lenses, and post-production support to feature, episodic, and commercial productions. Significantly larger scale and geographic reach than Camalot, but overlapping on tier-1 production customers.
• ARRI Rental: Global high-end cinema rental arm of ARRI, offering camera packages, lenses, and full production services across Europe and internationally. Larger and broader portfolio than Camalot, but competes directly on premium feature and series productions.

Direct peers

• Cine Video Techniek (CVT): Dutch cinema and broadcast equipment rental house with deep roots in the Benelux production market. Directly comparable customer base (Dutch film, TV, commercials) and rental-led B2B model.
• Lux & Co / Stroom & Co: Amsterdam lighting and power rental company founded in 1989 and co-member of the Camalux Group. Comparable B2B equipment rental model serving Benelux productions, with overlapping customers and complementary product category (lighting/power vs camera).
• Birns & Sawyer: Long-established US cinema equipment rental house offering cameras, lenses, lighting, and grip to professional film and commercial productions. Comparable specialty B2B rental model with curated high-end inventory and on-set service orientation.
• Keslow Camera: US-based high-end cinema camera and lens rental company serving feature films, episodic, and commercial productions. Closely comparable specialty B2B rental model, technician-led service approach, and inventory breadth in premium digital cinema gear.
• Camera Rentals Amsterdam: Amsterdam-based high-end digital cinema equipment rental house serving the same Benelux film and commercial production market as Camalot. Most direct head-to-head peer on camera, lens, and grip rental in the region.
• Maloney Amsterdam: Amsterdam cinema and lighting rental company founded in 2012; co-member of the Camalux Group alongside Camalot. Overlapping camera and lighting rental offerings to the same Dutch/Belgian film and commercial customer base.

Others

• Vocas Sales & Services: Dutch manufacturer of professional camera accessories, matteboxes, and support gear. While not a direct rental competitor, Vocas is a Benelux ecosystem partner (co-organized the Sony Burano launch with Camalot) and a comparable Dutch-headquartered player in the cinema production supply chain.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CamalotNL
• YouTubevimeo.com/camalot
• Facebookfacebook.com/CamalotNL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cam-a-lot-bv
• Instagraminstagram.com/camalotamsterdam

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Camalot