Sony a6300 Custom Rig Setups

Solution to a6300 overheating - SmallRig a6300 Cage and Top Handle Review

New HDMI clamp might be help solidate your cables.

This new HDMI Cable Clamp 1822 can provide strain relief for HDMI cable where frequent tugging could cause damage to the camera. With only one screw to mount to the cage and lock the cable, it can save space for other accessories. It mainly use with SMALLRIG Sony A6300/A6000 ILCE-6000/ILCE-6300 Sony Nex-7 Cage 1661 and SMALLRIG DSLR Rig Cage for SONY a7/ a7S/ a7R 1815 etc.

Highlight
Applicable to different HDMI cable
For use with various cage
Lock just use a 1/4 "-20 screw

Compatible With
SONY a6000, SONY a6300, SONY a7, SONY a7R, SONY a7S etc.

http://www.coollcd.com/smallrig-hdmi-cable-clamp-1822/

SMALLRIG Camera Monitor Universal Cage 1758

SMALLRIG Universal director’s Monitor Cage 1758 is a prefect cage for any director’s monitor with attaching by top, bottom or rear 1/4”-20 screws. Adjusting the cage to fit monitor by moving up and down. There is also a standard Arca plate at the top and bottom, in order to mount directly to the Arca standard tripod. The wooden grips also is secure and comfortable for handling. Besides, the cage comes with a SMALLRIG 1530 battery mounting plate allows for a separately available V-mount or Gold-mount plate for battery power, and it also leaves plenty of room for wireless equipment. The front of the monitor cage have many 1/4”-20 and 3/8”-16 holes, so you can mount other accessories. Material 1.Aluminum Alloy ( Cage) 2.Rosewood (Plate) Net Weight: 671g Dimensions(L X W X D): 352x160x74mm Product Highlights Adjustable Height&Width Smooth wooden grip Auxiliary battery mounting plate Can be attached to the Arca tripod directly Almost universal cage for Video Assistant. For more information, please check http://www.smallrig.com/SMALLRIG-Camera-Monitor-Universal-Cage-1758.html

SmallRig Cage for Sony a6300 a6000 First Look-By Erik Naso

I’m still on the fence about keeping the Sony a6300 but I ordered a SmallRig cage for it and it arrived today. Some people think it helps prevent or prolong overheating in 4K but I don’t think it will. I did a little test this morning and it still overheated in 4K at 78 degrees in the house. Anyways……

 I love that it’s one pice and mounts with one screw. Just stick the camera in and lock it down. So  simple. I’ve had many cages that are in several pieces that need to be assembled with multiple allen screws and they’re a PITA to take off and on.

This SmallRig cage is very nice. It doesn’t cover any ports or doors and the hot show is also usable. Very important to me since I use my Sony UWP wireless system with SMAD-P3 Multi-Interface Shoe adapter that passes the audio directly into the camera via the hot shoe. SmallRig has a HDMI lock as well for the cage.

It’s very well made and super light weight yet rigid. Also works with the Sony a6000. Double bonus!


If you want to go all out rig crazy, well you can add rails and a handle or anything else you might need.

SmallRig BMMCC BMMSC Cage for Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera Launch This Month!

This is a cage for Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera/ Blackmagic Micro Studio Camera  The cage  is made from the high quality aluminum, so the cage is lightweight and it can matched to your camera perfectly. With two screws on the bottom to mount camera and make the camera stable when you're shooting. There is a NATO-style side rail and two cold shoe mounts which can mount more accessories. Besides.

There are some more info links to the specification of the cage:

Product Features:
● Made from one piece of aluminum
● Two cold shoe mounts
● NATO-style side rail
● Mount camera with two screws
● Combination with the 1693 which can protect the HDMI

Compatibility:
Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera
Blackmagic Micro Studio Camera 4K

Includes:
1x Cage
2x 1/4”-20 screw
1x Hex Spanner

Net Weight: 190g
Product Dimensions (L X W X H): 85.3x98x69mm
Material: Aluminum Alloy

Also this cage is  50% off durning pre-order status.

The price will sume to orginal price $79 and it will be delivered on July 31st.

Link:http://www.coollcd.com/smallrig-blackmagic-micro-cinema-camera-gage-1773/

CAME-TV Single Gimbal Dovetail Mount Created By SmallRig!

SmallRig, recently released a Dovetail Mount that works specifically with our CAME-TV Single gimbal!

The CAME-Single Dovetail Mount 1745 allows you to easily remove your camera from the Single (with the Single's dovetail still attached to your camera) and attach it to another accessory like a tripod. 

You can find more information on the SmallRig CAME-Single Dovetail Mount here! For more information on the CAME-Single gimbal click below! Make sure to also sign up for our newsletter to receive updates and information on any new products we release.

Link:http://www.coollcd.com/smallrig-came-tv-came-single-gimbal-dovetail-mount-1745/

Vinten tripod head replacement plate from SmallRig

Posted by Jean GERARD on 6th Jul 2016

Running a rental house, I'm often scared by little details that can make change the face of your shooting. Most of my clients bring their camera from overseas, but rent the tripod locally; and one of the most common mistake when they bring it back, is to forget the top plate on their camera. So, Losing my top plate is something very real and quite scary; without it, the full tripod is useless.
Of course, if you are using a Manfrotto one; it's quite easy to get replacement plate for cheap (and Smallrig also have plenty of options for you) but when you are moving to something a bit more professional a Vinten perfect Balance Series, it's start to be way more complicated as these are imported product. First, I think Vinten’s one are overpriced, but if you add importation taxes and time to get it delivered to China, it's an easy 4 weeks without any way to use your tripod head. Something no one can afford. I came by to test the Vinten replacement plate from smallrig 4 months ago and I feel no way relax to get my tripod out. Their version is a bit different in the design, especially on the bottom side, but it's very strong and can be use without any fear of getting loose. The screw are a bit different, so, be careful if you are mixing with the original one, but it can accept larger ones, where Vinten force you to use a smaller head diameter.

Side by side, the Original and the backup, I use the Vinten 3 and 5 AS with these.

On the SmallRig one, the screw can not travel all the way and there is a 3/8 thread if you need to screw an accessory on it, frankly, I’m not sure why I will do that as it only get in a very thin part of the metal.

Overall, for the price, this is a must have item as backup if you have a Vinten AS head, it can also help you to switch camera to tripod or slider for example. My only wish will be to get the bottom locking plate also with the Vinten size in order to get more coupling combinations.
To my knowledge, this is the only third part Vinten plate you can buy now!

Know The Cheese Handle From New Way!

1. Multiple 1/4"-20 and 3/8"-16 mounting holes for adding accessories, as well as a single 15mm rod port. 

2.The integrated shoe mount at both ends for attaching shoe mount style accessories such as LED lights, microphones, etc., 

3.The exquisitely grooved finish with an array of mounting points offers you a comfort grip. 

4.Except for sliding it forward and backward on the NATO rail to balance the camera's center of gravity and find the balance position of your rig.

Link:http://www.coollcd.com/smallrig-qr-cheese-handle-1688/

One More G7 Cage Is Coming...

Co-designer: Vojtěch Rademacher & Nam-An Dinh

A dedicated DSLR cage for the Panasonic G7. It wraps securely around the camera body, preventing unwanted rotation.
Two cold shoes placed on each side,  an external NATO on the left side, you can add a SmallRig EVF Mount or other small accessories on it.  add a HDMI cable clamp on the other side as long as you need.
A formfitting cage that adds 1/4"-20 and 3/8"-16 mounting threads on all sides of the camera for easy attachment of a tripod plate, accessories, or creative camera rigging.
The dedicated G7 cage is light and solid, it will fit your G7 camera perfectly.

Material: Aluminum Alloy
Net Weight: 225g
Package Weight: 285g
Size: 148x55x109mm
Package Size: 160x120x68mm

Pic as below for reference:

Also this design is collecting ideas,if interested you could share your thougt with them.


http://www.coollcd.com/smallrig-panasonic-g7-formfitting-cage-1779/

SmallRig C300 “Helmet” System: Assembly and Review

I've been looking for a way to replace the Canon C300 top handle without spending an arm and a leg, and the “helmet” system I was able to piece together is pretty solid.

 

Their new SmallRig line of products tailors to the higher end market; and just like with their DSLR products, they’re a great low-cost option versus Zacuto, RedRock Micro, and Wooden Camera.

What I love most about this line is that you can buy a NATO based, expand with any other brands'products. So, instead of buying the entire helmet system from Zacuto, you can buy the base from Jag and just the monitor relocation parts from Zacuto, and end up saving some money.

 

The SmallRig line is built strong and has really stood up on set. So, if you're in the market to expand your camera rigging kit, smallrig is a great option. You can find all the new products here. 

Everyone that's ever used a C300 knows how janky the supplied top handle is, and I've been looking for a way to replace it for a while. Zacuto and Wooden Camera have awesome solutions, but are a little on the pricey side.

With the new products from Jag we now have a low-cost helmet option for the c300. The setup we're looking at is 4 units:

• Top handle with NATO rail block
• C300 Top Plate
• C300 Side Arms
• 1/4”-20 Cold Shoe Mount

Assembly of the helmet system is simple and only takes a few screws to assemble. The top plate screws into the shoe mount of the C300. Then after removing the sensor plane screws, attach the side arms with two ¼-20” screws and an M4 screw. The side arms have an M4 female connector for reattaching the sensor plane screws. The NATO rail attaches to the top plate with two more screws and the top handle slides onto the NATO rail. The cold shoe mount can screw onto any ¼-20” hole. I attached it to the top handle for use with the C300 monitor.

I want to start by saying that this setup is rock solid. Once the top plate with side arms is mounted, the Jag helmet system isn’t moving. And the same goes for the NATO handle.

The top plate has plenty of 1/4-20” mounting holes. But with the design of the side arms, the mounting options on the side of the top plate are cut off. So it becomes a question of, do you want more mounting options or more security? If the top plate and side arms we're combined into one piece we would have both.

Since the top plate is utilizing the camera's shoe mount, and the NATO handle doesn’t have one, you need to also attach a cold shoe mount to be able to use the c300's monitor. Ultimately it's not a big issue, but having some mounting options built into the handle, like Zacuto's recoil handle, would add a lot of utility to the rig.

Using the top plate in conjunction with NATO rails adds a ton of versatility to the c300 rig. You can run two rails on top, and one in the front and use any brands’ NATO based accessories to expand your kit.

I've been using the Jag35 SmallRig helmet system for my c300 for the last few months, and I've gotten to see how it handles on set. Aside from the side arms taking up the sides of the top handle, I'm in love with how it's been handling. The mounts are strong and make me feel comfortable holding a fully kitted out c300 by the top handle.

If you're looking for some solid mounting and rigging options for your cameras, definitely give smallrig a look. It will run you about half the price of other brands and will make your life on set worlds easier. You can find more info on the SmallRig line at smallrig.com. Thanks for checking out the review, leave questions and comments below, and check back soon for the next one.”

 

Link:http://www.coollcd.com/smallrig-eos-c100-c300-c500-mark-ii-hot-shoe-combination-1669/

Suggested Level: ★★★★

Smallrig VersaFrame camera cage-First Impression

Here's a quick look at SmallRig's new VersaFrame camera cage.

• Manufacturer: SmallRig
• Form-factor: Half/Full cage
• GH4-specific: No
• Mounting Options
  • 1/4″-20: Yes
  • 3/8″-16: Yes
  • Hole Spacing: ARRI Standard (9mm center-to-center)
• Weight: 372g (including mounting hardware)
• Price: $136

The VersaFrame cage is a modular cage for hybrid cameras. It is adjustable, allowing it to be used with compact mirrorless cameras like the Panasonic GH4 and Sony a7S, as well as full-size DSLRs like the Canon 5D MKIII.

Similar to Wooden Camera's Quick Cage, the VersaFrame cage uses vertical 15mm rods for adjusting the cage’s height to accommodate different cameras. You can use any standard 15mm rod for this, but the VersaFrame cage includes a pair of cheese rods— 15mm rods with threaded holes– allowing you to mount accessories to the rods as well.

                  

Additionally, the VersaFrame is unique in that the arms that hold the vertical rods can be moved forward and backward. This allows you to move the arms to optimize accessibility or even remove them altogether.         

 

Build-Quality: Pretty Solid

 

The VersaFrame cage feels solid. The cage's components are thick and appear to be milled out of solid blocks of aluminum. There is no discernible flex, so the cage creates a very rigid frame when mounted to the camera.

The VersaFrame's threaded holes are smooth and clean, making it easy to hand-thread bolts into the cage. It's nice to see this attention to detail, especially after having to to clean and deburr every single hole on Fhugen's Honu cage before it could even be used.

The threads look strong, but we'll be observing how well the threaded holes hold up to repeated use. If the metal is soft, the threads could strip after a while, which would not be good.

     Accessibility: No Issues

Interestingly, we've encountered more accessibility issues with custom-fit cages than with modular cages like the VersaFrame. As the VersaFrame needs to be compatibility with many different cameras, it provides a good amount of clearance for easy access to the camera's controls and ports.

 

 If there are any issues, the VersaFrame's adjustability should help. For example, holding the GH4's hand grip was a bit of a tight fit initially.

 

You could still hold the camera, but the cage's right-side assembly was moved forward a notch to provide a bit more breathing room.

                                         Size: A Bit Wide

The VersaFrame is designed to fit a variety of cameras, including full-size DSLRs like the Canon 5D MKIII. As a result, the cage is somewhat wider than a compact camera like the Panasonic GH4.

 

You may need to reconfigure your camera bag to accommodate the larger form-factor when using the VersaFrame.

The GH4's compact size is one of it's key benefits for many shooters. The VersaFrame isn't so large as to be unwieldy, but if you're looking for the smallest footprint possible, a cage specifically designed for your camera is probably your best bet.

Weight: Nice & Light

The VersaFrame weighs in at 372g, which puts it somewhere between View Factor's svelte Contineo GH4 cage, and Wooden Camera's heavy-duty Quick Cage.

It’s no feather, but it's not a bowling ball either.

The nice thing about the VersaFrame though is that you have the option to remove one of the arm assemblies if you want to shed some weight for a lighter rig. Each arm assembly weighs a little over 100g, so switching to a half-cage setup quickly brings you within range of View Factor's Contineo cage (the lightest GH4 cage we've found).

You'll give up some protection when you remove an arm assembly, but the half-cage configuration doesn't feel any less rigid than the full cage, so this is a good option if

a lightweight rig is your priority.

               Modular Design: Interesting Potential

 The VersaFrame's modular design is one of the most interesting aspects of its design and I'm looking forward to exploring the potential this has for different shooting situations.

Essentially, each of the cage's components can be removed cleanly without leaving anything behind to get in the way.

For example, a half-cage is sometimes more practical, and you can even choose which side of the VersaFrame cage you want to remove.

Alternatively, you could strip things down dramatically by mounting just the VersaFrame's cheese plate to the camera's hot shoe.

Of course, you won't get any protection or rigidity from this light-duty setup, but if all you need are some additional mounting points for a top handle and a microphone, this could be a good option. Just make sure not to overload the camera's hot shoe by mounting too many accessories on the top plate.

Compatibility: Baseplate Mounts Flush

Happy days! The VersaFrame's baseplate can be mounted flush with the camera's rear screen, which means you should be able to use an LCD loupe along with this cage. Unfortunately, many cages have a lip that makes it impossible to use a loupe like Zacuto's Z-Finder when the camera is in the cage, so it's nice to see that the VersaFrame doesn't make you choose.

SmallRig is even working on an adapter for attaching the Z-Finder's mounting frames directly to the VersaFrame's baseplate.

Mounting Options: Plentiful, But Also Limited 

 The VersaFrame's top cheese plate is covered with 1/4-20 and 3/8-16 threaded holes on the top, front, left, and right surfaces. This should provide more than enough mounting points for most rigs.

The VersaFrame's side arm assemblies also have threaded holes, giving you even more mounting options.

However, the baseplate is somewhat limited in terms of mounting options. Specifically, it only has two threaded holes along the baseplate's center axis– one 1/4-20 in the rear, and a 3/8-16 in the front.

I would have preferred to see a 1/4-20 hole in the front of the baseplate. This may present some balance issues when using certain quick-release plates (for tripods, etc.) with the cage.

Anti-Twist Support: None

Top to bottom (e.g. tripod to lens) anti-twist support is very important, especially when using a follow focus. If the camera rotates on its base, then the follow focus' gears can slip from the lens, causing inconsistent focus pulls.

As such, a cage with anti-twist support can help keep your camera rig completely rigid and properly aligned. Unfortunately, the VersaFrame cage does not have anti-twist features like registration pins on the baseplate that could keep the camera from rotating left or right.

That said, the baseplate's non-skid pads do a good job of keeping the camera from in place. The cage's top cheese plate also does a good job of locking the camera down by clamping down on its hot shoe.

While the camera does not twist easily in the VersaFrame cage, this will be something we'll be watching for in the field, as even a tightly-fitted cage can allow the camera to twist little by little throughout the day.

Heading into the Field

SmallRig's VersaFrame cage feels strong and solid, so I'm hopeful that it will be a good cage for shooters, especially considering how affordable it is.

However, many things are revealed only under the stress of actual production, so the VersaFrame cage is now prepped for shooting and I’m looking forward to see how it holds up.

  

The in-depth review is coming, so sign up for updates below to be notified automatically when it is posted. 

Link:http://www.coollcd.com/smallrig-versaframe-cage-small-1630/
Suggestion Level：★★★★