Tariffs Are Coming for Your Gear — What It Means for Video Producers

As if budgets and timelines weren’t tight enough… now professional cinema gear might be getting more expensive.

With new tariffs set to impact imported electronics — including many cinema cameras and components — video professionals across the U.S. could soon be paying more for the tools we rely on every day.

What’s at risk?

• High-end digital cinema cameras

• Lenses and accessories from global brands

• Production monitors, wireless systems, and even lighting rigs

• Components used in building custom rigs or post workflows

While major brands like ARRI, RED, Sony, and Canon haven’t all released pricing adjustments yet, industry insiders are already preparing for price hikes in Q2 and Q3. For rental houses and independent DPs, this could mean fewer upgrades… or tougher choices.

 As a production company, we’re reviewing:

• Whether to purchase key gear now before tariffs hit

• Which cameras can be rented cost-effectively to offset rising ownership costs

• How could this shift client expectations around pricing

This is a moment for all of us to think more strategically — not just about what gear we want, but about how we work smarter with the gear we have.

Are you adjusting your gear strategy in 2025?

Let’s share knowledge and support each other — because every frame we shoot is built on smart decisions.