Whats the best Cage for Wedding DSLR Video?

[Travis Heberling]

Hello everyone!

I am trying to find a good cage for my a99. I tired a few brackets which i loved because the size was much more compact than a full rig, but both of them have broke on me.

I have been looking mostly at the gearbox cage and the ALZO. I have used both before and like the ALZO but I want something that can use a rail system and I am not sure that the ALZO can support one.


I primarily do weddings so I figured this would be a good place to post to see what other wedding videographers our using.


Thanks everyone!

[Peter Rush]

Travis I used the P&C Gearbox cage in the early days of using a DSLR (coming from a traditional video camera background) and I found that for 90% of the time I wanted my hands on the camera, negating the use of the cage handles - plus I wasn't using a loupe and found myself holding the cage out away from my body causing less stability and back ache!

I now use this shoulder pad rig (attached image) which is Ideal as I can have my hands where I need them - on the camera - but brace the rig against my body for a nice stable shot - I can also access the viewfinder with no issues - it's light and easy to handle in a variety of positions, making good use of the A7s flipout screen.

I built it using parts bought off Amazon for less than £100

Pete

[Travis Heberling]

Can you link me to the parts you used on Amazon?

I would greatly appreciate it.

[Max Palmer]

Originally Posted by Peter Rush

Travis I used the P&C Gearbox cage in the early days of using a DSLR (coming from a traditional video camera background) and I found that for 90% of the time I wanted my hands on the camera, negating the use of the cage handles - plus I wasn't using a loupe and found myself holding the cage out away from my body causing less stability and back ache!

I now use this shoulder pad rig (attached image) which is Ideal as I can have my hands where I need them - on the camera - but brace the rig against my body for a nice stable shot - I can also access the viewfinder with no issues - it's light and easy to handle in a variety of positions, making good use of the A7s flipout screen.

I built it using parts bought off Amazon for less than £100

Pete

Peter- What mic is that, and what sort of attachment are you using to mount it to your rail? I currently have a Rode dSLR mic and a SmallHD DP4 that I need to find a better mounting solution for, but I really need to get the Rode off the hotshoe on my 6D.

[Peter Rush]

This is pretty much it

Tripod mounting plate 2 w/ 2pcs 15mm railblock: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Z-shape-Rail...words=smallrig

http://www.amazon.co.uk/2pcs-Black-A...words=smallrig

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Camera-Grip-...lr+rig+handles

Photography and Cinema - Store · Shoulder / Chest Hybrid Pad

I got a better deal by buying 2 handles but that deal seems to have gone and the price of the P&C shoulder pad has increased a little.

The microphone is a Nikon ME-1 as my Rode videomic hung over the back of the camera and made it difficult to use the eyepiece - It's mounted using one of these

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cold-Clamp-R...llrig+hot+shoe

You might also want to think about an anti-slip plate for under your DSLR as holding it using the grip used to make mine revolve as DSLRs don't have a locating pin hole.

[Travis Heberling]

Thanks!

Not sure on the route I want to go yet but this is all great info!