The acquisition protects access to VMI’s equipment base, including ARRI Alexa 35s, Sony VENICE 2s and an extensive lens library

RD-Group

Nearly 50-year-old camera, lens and lighting rental house VMI has been acquired by RD Group.

The acquisition secures the future of a long-established independent supplier, protects access to an “exceptional” equipment base, and introduces new backing for the company.

“This is a business that has served British broadcasting for nearly half a century, and the idea of letting it disappear was simply unthinkable,” said Ryan Dean, CEO of RD Group. “VMI isn’t just a rental house, it’s a piece of our industry’s infrastructure. We’re proud to be the ones bringing it back, and we intend to do it properly.”

VMI’s inventory includes flagship digital cinema bodies and high-speed cinema cameras and a lens library that spans classic character glass and modern large-format favourites. 

It includes ARRI Alexa 35s, Sony VENICE 2s and Freefly Embers, paired with a lens library spanning Cooke Anamorphic/i, Tribe7 Blackwings, Kowa Anamorphics and Zeiss Supremes. 

VMI also offers documentary and wildlife packages, together with comprehensive grip and lighting kit.

RD Group is made up of the companies RD Content, RD Studios London and RD Rentals. Combined with the kit held by RD Rentals, the enlarged operation is capable of supporting up to seven primetime dramas simultaneously.

With RD Studios London inside the same group, productions can access stages, cameras, lenses, lighting, grip and creative services from a single operation, reducing duplication, transport movements and on-set emissions in the process, says RD Group.