The rise of streaming platforms - not just Netflix, Amazon and Disney+, but TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and short-form apps - has reshaped the way content is shot, delivered and consumed. One of the biggest shifts is the move towards vertical shooting (9:16) and mixed-aspect content, which has changed the equipment creators and production teams rely on.

At Kit Cabin, we support shoots across commercial content, branded films, social campaigns and documentary projects. Here’s how streaming trends are influencing the production kit people now hire and the equipment that will matter most on your next shoot.

Smartphones popularised vertical 9:16 video, but professional productions now use cinema cameras for vertical-first content to get:

• better low-light performance
• cleaner colour
• higher dynamic range
• interchangeable lenses
• professional audio
• greater flexibility in post

This shift means crews increasingly hire camera bodies that can be rigged vertically with minimal complication.

• Sony FX3Sony ILME FX3The FX3 is the baby brother to the popular PXW-FX6 – sitting nicely in the range between the FX6 and the A7S iii, and still with a Full Frame sensor. More lightweight than the FX6, but with more options (including full audio box with 2x XLR inputs) than the A7S. Records to CFExpress cards (1x 160gb and 1x 80gb ‘Type...  / FX6Sony ILME FX6The Sony FX6 is in the middle of their FX range, also comprising the ILME-FX3 (FX3) and PXW-FX9 (FX9). This sits very nicely in the middle slot of the range, to make it a very useful camera for a wide range of projects. It’s lightweight, but records outstanding 4K full frame quality at up to 120p. The FX6 has recently...  - compact, lightweight, ideal for 9:16 mounting
• Sony Alpha A7S Mk IIISony Alpha A7S Mk IIIThe Sony A7S III mirrorless DSLR continues to set the standard for full-frame video and hybrid film work. Designed for creators who demand extraordinary sensitivity, flexibility and image quality from low-light documentary shoots to cinematic narrative productions the A7S III packs an impressive feature set into a comp...  / Mirrorless series - perfect for handheld vertical content
• Canon R5  / Mirrorless series - adaptable for social and streaming deliverables
• Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera  - light enough to rotate on a cage or gimbal
• GoPro systems  - native vertical capture for dynamic shots

Many of these bodies can be mounted in vertical cages, paired with compact gimbals or balanced to support 9:16 framing without major rig changes.

With social content shot on the move, lens choices are leaning towards:

• lighter primes
• fast apertures for available-light shooting
• compact wide-angle options for close-up framing
• lenses with character to stand out in crowded feeds

• Zeiss Distagon/Planar EF setZeiss Distagon Vintage EF Lens KitOriginally made for Nikon photography, these Zeiss ZF have been re-mounted to fit Canon EF and de-clicked for use with video, creating a smooth iris ring, alongside smooth focus for fully manual Cine style lenses. These lenses offer incredible image capture and a vintage feel with the classic Zeiss look – slightl...  - ideal for giving vertical content character
• Sony G-Master primes  - reliable autofocus and clarity for hybrid shoots
• Canon EF L-series - versatile, robust options for interviews and lifestyle content
• Sigma Art lenses  - tack sharp, great for high-resolution vertical edits

Vertical content is often viewed on small screens, which means lenses with strong micro-contrast and good close-focus ability become even more important.

Streaming-driven shoots often work under tight deadlines, mobile setups and multiple aspect ratios in the same day. Lighting needs to be:

• portable
• quick to rig
• battery-capable
• LED-based for cool, efficient use

• 300W  LED fixtures — punchy, bi-colour and portable
• Nanlite LEDs — lightweight panel and tube options
• Portable power stations for off-grid LED lighting
• Compact softboxes and diffusers for mobile creatives

Even commercial teams producing content for TikTok, YouTube Shorts or Reels will now carry a tighter, more flexible lighting kit than a traditional 16:9 shoot.

With more handheld and run-and-gun content, productions need lightweight audio setups that can move fast.

• Sennheiser G4 wireless kitsSennheiser G4 Radio MicIndustry standard tie-clip microphone setup with minimal background noise, gets clear audio from close to the mic whilst hugely reducing other sounds. Runs on standard AA batteries  for single or multiple speakers
• Sennheiser 416 shotgunSennheiser MKH-416 Boom Microphone With Pistol GripSennheiser's directional MKH 416 microphone has become the industry standard for television production, particularly for interviews and vox pops. Fluffy cover protects from wind noise, and the pistol grip allows easy holding for vox pops.  mics for clean, directional audio
• Compact recorders for mobile crews
• Boom kits that allow fast repositioning on multi-speaker shoots

High-quality sound matters just as much on social and streaming content as it does on traditional broadcast - sometimes even more, given how much content is consumed on headphones.

With shoots happening anywhere - stairwells, rooftops, city centres, moving cars, event spaces - crews rely on portable power stations to run:

• LED lighting
• battery chargers
• monitors
• wireless systems
• laptops and DIT kit

Kit Cabin supplies fullycharged portable power stations, delivered nationwide, allowing small teams to shoot freely without mains access - especially important for social-focused productions.

Streaming platforms expect content in:

• 9:16 vertical
• 1:1 square
• 16:9 horizontal
• 4:5 and 2:1 variants
• clean plates
• caption-safe versions
• localised audio variants

This means:

• more emphasis on framing flexibility
• more reliance on cameras with high-resolution sensors for cropping
• more need for stabilisation systems that can handle different orientations
• more focus on efficient, lightweight rigs

Kit Cabin supports this by offering adaptable rigs, lightweight cages, and lens sets that perform consistently across formats.

• Vertical-first cameras and cages
• Lightweight primes and compact zooms
• Fast LED lighting
• Portable power
• Simple, reliable audio
• Multi-format DIT needs
• Gimbals that support vertical mounting
• Cameras that excel in low-light conditions
• Lenses with character that stand out on feeds

Modern productions don’t just shoot for one screen anymore - they shoot for all of them.

Whether you're producing vertical social content, YouTube documentaries, Netflix-style interviews or mixed-format branded campaigns, Kit Cabin can supply the kit you need. We offer:

• Camera hire (Sony, Canon, Blackmagic, GoPro)
• Lens hire (Zeiss vintage, G-Master, L-series, Sigma Art)
• Microphone hire (Sennheiser G4, 416)
• Lighting + portable power hire
• Accessories for vertical and multi-format shooting

All delivered anywhere in the UK - ready to roll straight out of the case.