Choose DSLR Rig Accessories | Smallrig Reseller

Why You Invest in a Dependable Camera Cage The camera cage is a humble accessory that doesn't get enough attention. I bought one for my C200 after a week of being scared on set, when the camera fell off a table and could easily break on the floor.

Fortunately, this was saved by a locking SDI cable (another reason to upgrade from HDMI).

Many manufacturers make camera cages, ranging from highend to Chinese-made knock-offs.

Known brands usually get camera specs before new camera bodies are announced, so that they have the units ready by the time the cameras ship. Cheaper ones appear later and are often copies of more successful brands.

Remember, you get what you pay for in cages. Therefore, it makes sense to stick with a single manufacturer.

Mounting points and screw types vary across brands, so you can easily end up with a handle that doesn’t fit right or an arm that won’t screw down.

Here are a few reasons why a camera cage will make your life easier.

Protect Your Camera When most people buy a cage, this is what they’re going for. If the camera is dropped or scrapped, a cage should save the outside from getting damaged. A good cage will protect the camera from bearing the weight of being carried by a top handle — the cage absorbs the stress and not the camera body. This is all the more important with smaller DSLR Rig Accessories and mirrorless cameras made from lighter plastics.

Better Ergonomics Mirrorless cameras don’t come with handles, but even the digital cinema cameras that do have them — like the Canon Cinema range and Panasonic’s EVA1 — have them in a fixed position.

This is great for a stock lens, but if you start adding a large zoom at the front, or battery packs at the back of your camera, the built-in handle can be far from the center of gravity, and make carrying the camera awkwardly. A cage lets you reposition your handle for better ergonomics — a wooden handle — to compensate for your rig.

Added Mounting Points Most professional filmmakers rarely use their cameras as they come out of the box. They add wireless video and audio systems, follow focus controls, and external batteries. Without a cage, the single Cold Shoe Mounts that come with most cameras quickly get used up. A cage provides dozens of mounting points, which you can customize to your individual needs.

Resale Value The difference between the "good" and "very good" ratings of a used camera is about ten percent in value. For a secondhand cinema camera, this could be hundreds - if not thousands - of dollars. Using a camera cage means not getting small tool marks and every camera to blame when you replace the tripod plate or install and uninstall the handle. I recently removed the cage from my C200 to clean it, and found the top and bottom to be as clean as the first time I got it—two years and almost 500 hours before filming.

Perceived Professionalism Most professional filmmakers rarely use their cameras because they come out of the box. They add wireless video and audio systems, follow focus controls and an external battery. Without a cage, the single cold shoe mount that comes with most cameras gets used up quickly.

One Cage provides dozens of mounting points, which you can customize to your individual needs.

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