Empire Camera Rentals started in 2012 because Melbourne's screen industry needed a rental house that understood the pressure of a shoot day, and it's been run by filmmakers ever since. The showroom sits in a low-key studio space just off Albert Road in South Melbourne, close enough to the CBD that crews can swing by before a call time. Inside, the racks cover the full spread of a modern production: Blackmagic PYXIS and Pocket cameras, RED Komodo bodies, Sony's FX3, FX5 and FX6, an ARRI Alexa Mini LF, plus a deep bench of cine lenses ranging from modern Sigma and DZOFilm glass to cine-modded vintage Nikon and Contax optics for anyone chasing a particular look. Lighting, grip, wireless monitoring, audio and data gear round out the catalogue, and the team will build a custom package around a budget and a schedule rather than just pointing to a price list. Visits run by appointment on weekdays, which keeps the focus on getting your kit checked, packed and explained properly instead of rushing through a counter transaction. Pickups and drop-offs are free with a full day's hire, a small thing that matters when you're trying to squeeze another setup into daylight hours. It's billed as the only dedicated rental house in Melbourne's south, and for anyone based on this side of town it saves a trip across the river before or after a shoot. From testing a new camera system for a feature through to grabbing a gimbal and a lav mic for a corporate video, it's worth getting on their books before your next production date.