DadCam Rentals
How It Works

How Vintage Camcorder Rental Works

01

Pick Your Package

Browse our collection of vintage camcorders and find the look you want. Then choose one of our footage delivery options.

02

We Ship You Film

Every kit ships with multiple batteries, an SD card, a lens filter, and any cord you might need. Ready to go all day long, just press record.

03

You Ship We Edit

Seal it up with the included tape and prepaid label. We transfer your footage from camera to digital and deliver it straight to your inbox.

Pick a Camera

Recommended

Sony HDR-CX130 vintage camcorder for rent 2011

Sony HDR-CX130

Sharp, punchy Sony colors with that early-2010s Handycam feel. Great autofocus, reliable in any light.

from $199
JVC HD7U vintage camcorder for rent 2007

JVC HD7U

Warm 1080i with mid-2000s texture. Slight highlight bloom, beautiful skin tones. The original dad cam look.

from $259

View all cameras

After You Shoot

Pick Your Footage Plan

Every rental includes Raw Footage. Edit plans are priced by the number of cameras in your order.

Free

Raw Footage

We handle the transfer and the transcode so the files play anywhere. Clips are named and numbered per camera in recording order. Perfect for posting to social, building your own edit, or saving for later.

  • Clips ready to post, edit, or archive
  • Clean MP4 files, plays on any phone or editor
  • 30 Day Digital Download
  • Included free with every rental
1-2 weeks turnaround
from $150

VHS Edit

Every camera you rented comes back as its own film, unfiltered from start to finish, in the order it happened. The same tape our parents came home with, minus the tape.

  • Raw Footage
  • One edited film per camera
  • Ready to watch on any TV, phone, or laptop
  • 30 Day Digital Download
1-2 weeks turnaround
from $250

Documentary Edit

Everything the VHS Edit gives you, one film per camera, tightened. A title card on every film, short clips cleaned up, locked-off tripod shots trimmed, anything that doesn't belong quietly taken out. What's left still runs in the order it happened.

  • Cleaned up VHS Edit
  • Raw Footage
  • Title Card
  • 30 Day Digital Download
2-4 weeks turnaround
from $350

Anniversary Edit

We pull the best of your footage into one 15 to 20 minute cut, and if you rented more than one camera, every angle gets blended into the same film. You still get the VHS Edit and all your raw clips, so nothing gets missed.

  • 15 to 20 minute highlight film
  • VHS Edit
  • Raw Footage
  • 30 Day Digital Download
2-4 weeks turnaround
Protection

DadGuard

Accidents happen. DadGuard caps your liability so you can focus on shooting.

DadGuard

Covers accidental damage during normal use.

  • Accidental drops and impacts
  • Lens damage
  • Liability capped at 10% of replacement value

DadGuard+

Broader coverage for worst-case scenarios.

  • Everything in DadGuard
  • Theft (with police report)
  • Fire, lightning, windstorm
  • Total loss
  • Mechanical failure refund

Neither plan covers water damage. Full details on our DadGuard page.

FAQ

Common Questions

What's included in the rental?
Camcorder, batteries, charger, tape/memory card, HDMI cable, shipped in a protective hard case with a prepaid return shipping label.
What if something breaks?
Accidental damage? DadGuard caps your liability at the lesser of actual repair cost and 10% of replacement value; DadGuard+ also covers theft and total loss. If a camera malfunctions through no fault of your own, the Rental Agreement provides troubleshooting, a possible replacement, or a pro-rated refund for unused days. DadGuard+ may provide a refund of the rental price, excluding shipping and DadGuard+ fees, after our inspection confirms a covered mechanical failure.
What's DadGuard?
DadGuard is our damage protection plan. It's a contractual liability cap, not insurance. Standard DadGuard covers accidental damage. DadGuard+ adds theft, total loss, and mechanical peace of mind. Either way, your liability drops to 10% of the camera's replacement value.
What if I want to keep it?
Keep to own? We love the enthusiasm, but our cameras aren't for sale. A few extra days? No problem. Let us know before your return date and we'll extend at a prorated rate with a 10% on-time discount.
Can I import my own footage?
If you're tech like us then absolutely, we even try to include the right cords. Otherwise we recommend leaving it to the pros. We've got a curated process for each camera, and some even require period-correct computers to retrieve the footage.
How does pricing work for multiple cameras?
Your price is set by the look you pick and how many cameras you rent, up to four per order. DadGuard is one choice for the whole order and its price is on the page before you buy. Editing is priced by how many cameras you rented, and the price you see is the total for your order.
Can I request a specific camera model?
You book the look, and we pick the body that ships. If you have your heart set on a specific model, shoot us a message and we will see what we can do.
Do you ship across the continental US?
Yes. Free 2-way shipping is included on every rental across the continental US, via USPS Ground Advantage. The prepaid return label is right in the box: just seal it up and drop it at any USPS location.

Step 1 of 4

Pick your rental dates

Choose an arrival and return date.

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