4 Signs You Need a Camera Cage
- How To Transmit Video Wirelessly
- Types of Microphones for Vlogging
- Beginner Videography Terms You Need to Know
photo by demaerre via iStock
As a photographer, shooting for video adds opportunities for extra income and extra fun. It also means we may need to learn some new ways of doing things and learn how to use some equipment specially made for video production.
An essential accessory for shooting serious video is a camera cage. A camera cage for photography and videography adds several benefits.
Let’s have a look at some of the reasons you probably have for using a camera cage, as well as some thoughts on how to choose the best camera cage for your camera and shooting style.
More Mounting Points
photo by Rowan Jordan via iStock
One of the first things I noticed as I made a rapid transition into professional videography is that my super sophisticated, extremely high quality digital camera was lacking something very essential for high end, paid, or serious videography. Namely, it didn't have nearly enough mounting points for essential gear and the mounting points I could use made me nervous.
Here’s the thing - unlike still photography, videography requires us to add on extra equipment to our rig in order to capture the best audio and video, and also to make capturing excellent video footage easier and more productively.
The first thing I noticed is that I definitely needed a better microphone. Regardless of the outstanding audio and video recording capabilities of our cameras, the tiny built-in mics simply aren’t capable of recording superior audio. Think of it in the same way as the built-in flash. Good enough for some things, but pretty much a compromise.
So, I added a high quality shotgun mic that fits in the camera flash hot shoe. Problem solved! But then, I noticed I really needed a good light on camera to provide a good catchlight or as a primary light when on location for filming vlogs or events.
The camera shoe already has my microphone. Where do I put the LED light? I looked at shoe accessory brackets to multiply my mounting points, but I soon noticed something about that, as well.
Stronger Mounting Points
Putting a double or triple extension in my hot shoe gave me more places to add accessories such as lights and shotgun mics or wireless lavalier mic receivers.
Then I realized something that made me nervous. This added a lot of weight to that small fitting. Any movement of the camera rig also seemed to add stress because of the position of the accessoires adding possible leverage for twisting, pulling, or even breaking the either the camera hot shoe itself or the camera top plate. Yikes!
I couldn’t imagine adding more things to that poor, tiny hotshoe, such as a larger video monitor for better workflow, wireless video options, or other useful accessories. And where do I add my follow focus system or matte box?
A camera cage takes care of that and more. Plus, you take away all possible stress from the camera hot shoe. A camera cage mounts to the camera tripod mount and everything else fits on the cage.
The tripod mount is one of the strongest mounting points of any camera, besides, it’s not actually adding stress and weight to that mounting point either. Consider it as the camera fits into the camera cage, and not as attaching the cage to the camera.
Once it’s in the cage, the camera cage pretty much provides our grabbing spots, too. Let’s take a look at an excellent example at a mirrorless camera cage so you see these things we just discussed.
Learn More:
Ikan Cage for Sony a6500 Mirrorless
Sony mirrorless cameras are awesome machines, capable of professional results for still photography and video productions. Being mirrorless, they have a relatively compact form and you can use them with all sorts of lenses.
Sony E-mount has scores of lenses made by Sony and third parties plus you add virtually any lens from any maker by means of optional lens mounts adapters.
So, a Sony APS-C mirrorless camera is an awesome tool for video or still photography. Adding the important accessory items, such as an external monitor, microphone system, lights, or anything else is made better and safer with the Stratus STR-a6 Mirrorless Camera Cage from Ikan.
It fits closely around the camera and includes a top handle (with its own mounting points), cut outs for accessing battery, memory cards, and A/V connections, has numerous strong mounting points, includes rails for lens accessories, and can fit on any tripod.
Though strong and secure, it is still relatively compact and lightweight. Since it is lightweight, you can also mount it onto a slider or a shoulder mount, nullifying any concerns of choosing a camera cage vs shoulder rigs. You can also expand the camera cage with other accessory handles and mounts, customizing your rig to exactly what you need.
The Stratus STR-a6 camera cage is very reasonably priced, too, so it should fit into a modest and realistic budget for videography gear making it a good candidate for the best camera cage for most needs. Let’s continue with the reasons for using a camera cage.
Adds Protection
In addition to the protection from over-stressing our camera hot shoe, a camera cage also adds a layer of protection to our camera by essentially being an extra outer layer of our camera. A lot of video is shot with action in mind, meaning our cameras may need to be in motion (controlled and steady motion) as well.
A camera cage isn’t a force field, we should still treat our equipment with due care, but it’s nice to be protected from bumps, bangs, scrapes, and maybe even a short fall or two.
Looks Cool
photo by coffeekai via iStock
I’m being a little factious with the wording, but being perceived well by clients and others is an important part of our branding as a videographer. An air of professionalism is provided by how certain gear is expected to look.
You can provide exceptional video with most of the newer DSLR and mirrorless cameras, but for a certain group of people, let’s call them lay people, looking the part makes an impression that allows us to do our job. It may be silly, but it’s a fact of life for smaller video protection teams or individuals.
So you could label this reason as a protection also. Protection from misconceptions of possible clientele.
These 4 signs you need a camera cage are good reasons to look at what’s available for your own camera. Check out camera cages for other camera brands and models at Ikan Corp.
Learn More:
