GH4 Best Cage for the GH4 with locking device for it's HDMI connector.

@imaginate - well, at least you have buyer protection of sorts on ebay. Hope it all works out. I would still buy another of these cages, and have had only good experiences with gini gear.
 
True North said:
What I have found is that there are chinese knock off OF the chinese knock offs out there.

I bought the Aputure Magic Rig for my GH4. I decided to go with a seller who had a slightly cheaper price (couple of bucks). The guy kept delaying shipment and making excuses etc... He kept telling me that he had made an error with Chinese postal service and they were a pain in the a$$ to deal with once they screw up. He was basically waiting for the Chinese post service to return the item so he could reship it...I didn't believe him and gave him a deadline, long story short, he refunded me my money.

I decide to order off a guy with a better ebay rating. The product arrives without issue and as ordered. About a week after receiving the unit I ended up getting the shipment from the original seller I tried to buy it off of. I open up the package, first of all it's not even in the proper packaging. The whole build quality was a step down from the first unit I received and it was basically unusable. They had basically knocked off the Aputure Magic Rig only using even crappier parts. I was blown away.

Im not saying that this is the same as your experience but it may have been. Gini Rig has been around for a while and generally has favorable reviews.
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I'm aware of that and i've noticed that you can't trust the Tilta stuff off ebay, only from BH. The font for the Tilta logo on ebay is totally different than the one sold through a legit retailer.

I've bought a 5D cage direct from Gini(they don't have the GH4 on their website yet) and two follow focuses and a magic arm from this exact ebay seller in the past(this seller has been hawking Gini stuff for at least a year and a half, even goes by the name Gini) and the stuff I got from the eBay seller was high quality stuff.

I just looked at my shipping box and the box is labeled from Gini Rig and it's from Korea(where Gini is located). I've been buying Gini stuff for a while and this is first time I've been burned by them. I'm not trying to trash Gini I'm only saying don't buy this particular cage yet as the machining is off. Give it a month or so(this is the price of being an early adopter...ahem blackmagic!). I'm guessing it's just a QC issue, and some are good and some aren't. It's only about 4mm off, but it's enough to mess up the whole cage.
 
Bern Caughey said:
Contineo GH4 Cage.
http://www.viewfactor.net/contineo-gh4-cage.html

HDMI Clamp.
http://www.viewfactor.net/contineo-gh4-cableclamp.html

Baseplate with Rod Adapter.
http://www.viewfactor.net/contineo-gh4-riserkit.html
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Hey Bern, the Contineo looks solid and well made but have to say I wonder what the access to the top controls and buttons is like, looks very tight.

Been getting more and more frustrated with the Varavon cage, even to the point that I sent them an email with photos to illustrate my access problems. Guess what... No reply!! which is seriously disappointing. Yep, I have XL hands, but that should make no difference as manufacturers have to cater for everyone, and I am sure that there are a lot more shooter that don't have 'chinese hands' and not just me. The 'WB' button is total impossibility for me, so now I have to work out where to move on this, as nothing I am seeing as yet fulfills the critical areas of good access, solid and accurate mounting for wedge plates, plus quality cable security.

I mean.. what is it with manufacturers? It's not rocket science to come up with a quality product that ticks all the boxes!

20140706_163120.jpg20140706_163206.jpg
 
Looks like we got a new player... an email arrived when I got home and this looks to be a very well thought out system, and yes I mean system, looks to tick all the boxes, good access to the GH4 handle, cable clamps x 3!!... rods on riser, handle and aux battery?

Check it out: http://motionnine.com/portfolio/cube-cage-gh4gh3/

Others may have heard of the company, but for me it's a newby.

One thing is becoming very apparent, the Koreans are becoming significant players with accessories and their engineering, from every thing I have seen, is damn good
 
Oh yeah, CoolLcd are also working on a new cage, three point mounting and maybe the option to have either a half or full cage. I offered some suggestions and it looks like that are running with them
 
HughS said:
Looks like we got a new player... an email arrived when I got home and this looks to be a very well thought out system, and yes I mean system, looks to tick all the boxes, good access to the GH4 handle, cable clamps x 3!!... rods on riser, handle and aux battery?

Check it out: http://motionnine.com/portfolio/cube-cage-gh4gh3/

Others may have heard of the company, but for me it's a newby.

One thing is becoming very apparent, the Koreans are becoming significant players with accessories and their engineering, from every thing I have seen, is damn good
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I got the same email and I'm very intrigued. It doesn't block access to the buttons which is great. Even though it adds a little bulk I do like the design of the cable clamps.
 
I have the Varavon Armor GH4 cage and recently bought the following CoolLCD HDMI clamp that Bern kindly alerted me to;

http://www.coollcd.com/smallrig-hdmi-lock-1412_p1412.html


It works a treat with the Varavon cage, if not exactly how it is supposed to. These photos will explain;

clamp1.JPGclamp2.JPGclamp3.JPG

The mounting bracket fits flush with the edge of the cage and is held in place by a single screw (rock solid and more than strong enough).

This is a much better solution than Varavon's poor excuse for a clamp. I must say, even with what one of the above comments says about the on off switch (I just flick it with my little finger - no problem) I love this cage. I like it even better with this CoolLCD clamp! :) and you can also open the LCD fully when the clamp is fitted like this! :D

Adam
 
Received the Continea cage this morning, I'm pretty happy with it, lightweight, sturdy in the right places, good access to all of the side-ports, the cutout for the articulating screen allows maybe a little more than 45 degrees up or down. My hands aren't small and I don't have any problem reaching any of the top function buttons. Thinking about it now, this along with my Tiffen 4X4s and Kesser QR might be the only pieces in my entire kit made in the U.S.A..
 
Lyle
How about some pictures of the Contiineo rigged up? Are there optional add - ons and, if so, are you planning on purchasing them?
 
BerkeleyBob said:
Lyle
How about some pictures of the Contiineo rigged up? Are there optional add - ons and, if so, are you planning on purchasing them?
Click to expand...

Viewfactor are offering an HDMI lockdown solution but I'm not using it and I'm not sure I will, I'm inclined to wait for a 4K upgrade to the SD Pix240 (or alternatively an Odyssey) and go with the YAGH. In the meantime I'm merrily cranking out the UHD in-camera. The Viewfactor site is worth checking-out, or give them a call--they are very friendly.

I'm shooting all weekend and I will try to get a few stills of the rig.
 
There are very few cages that give me the room I need to access the camera controls so I've gone back to my Custom Brackets HDV cage. My 2 most important needs were:
1.ample access to the camera controls on the right, I need to be able to hold the hand grip and operate all the buttons on that side.
2. protection for the HDMI cable, audio cables & screen, I'm more worried about snapping them off than pulling them out.

P1020554.jpg
it holds mike & monitor and there's plenty of room to attach more.
P1020560.jpg
you can see the room on the right side that gives me easy access to all the controls

P1020562.jpg
P1020563.jpg
on the left side I've rigged up a dual hotshoe extender to secure the cable.
P1020561.jpg
there is a cable lock that comes with the cage but that doesn't offer any protection to the screen - this does both, I've simply used a velcro fastener to secure the HDMI cable.
P1020564.jpg

I'm sure there are improvements (I'll be getting a top handle) but for now it's working well - and cost me bugger all.
 
mr bill said:
@Imaginate512 - did you ever get a replacement cage, or did you just get a refund?
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I was offered a refund, but iMO it's very unfair to have to pay expensive shipping back for a product that doesn't work and is missing pieces. I'm glad I used a CC and I'll be doing chargeback.
 
Imaginate512 said:
I was offered a refund, but iMO it's very unfair to have to pay expensive shipping back for a product that doesn't work and is missing pieces. I'm glad I used a CC and I'll be doing chargeback.
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OK - I have the camerabase and rails for sale that came with my gini cage, but it sounds like you won't be needing them
 
Bern Caughey said:
-Will it be black anodized?

-Is the HDMI clamp reversible so it can be stored onboard when not in use & not block the LCD's rotation? The CAD rendering made it look like the clamp could be rotated 180* so it pointed the same direction as the lens.

-Will any of the parts used on the BMPCC riser/rod attachments be reusable on the GH4 cage?

I'll call HRC again to see if I can get on the waiting list but hope you post availablility here too.

Thanks,
Bern
Click to expand...

Hi Bern,

Sorry I missed this last post. To answer your questions:

-Will it be black anodized?

I think it's "View Factor Grey", but I only saw it unannodized. I should know in the next day or so.

-Is the HDMI clamp reversible

I haven't seen a finished HDMI clamp yet, but I think it's very similar to the BMCC version which is quite low profile. I don't think it will block access, but I will also confirm when I see the finished pieces.

-Will any of the parts used on the BMPCC riser/rod attachments be reusable on the GH4 cage?

Yes. The small rod bracket is the same. Although the GH4 has a different lens height, so he riser block itself will need to be changed out. Unless you can't live with what is probably a 1-2mm difference in height.

Hot Rod Cameras will have a non-cage modular/expandable baseplate product shortly for the GH4, it works both with and without our PL mount. We also start shipping today our new GH4/YAGH 15mm lightweight rod support which also provides proper support to our PL mount. Making it the only professional supported and shimmable PL mount for the GH4 w/YAGH, in the world. The 15mm lightweight rods and PL support bracket is $129 (see pic below.)

We have spent the last 4-months pioneering battery/cable power options for use with the GH4/YAGH with and without the AJA Ki Pro Quad and will shortly bundle several accessories together, including a View Factor hindged battery plate, to make the process much easier for anyone trying to figure out how to crack that particular nut.

And finally, I think today we have some GH4/YAGH bundle deals going live on our site, to my knowledge it's the only thing resembling a "sale" on a GH4 anywhere and just might encourage a few people uncertain if the YAGH is worth the investment. I can't say that the YAGH is for everyone, but it should be for anyone who can see the need for real HDSDI and full size HDMI, or is planning on using the GH4 for anything resembling broadcast or higher-end production. We have been supplying equipment to a new TV series that started off with a much more expensive camera as the "A" camera, and the GH4 as "B" camera. "A" camera has since been replaced with a GH4/YAGH combo.
GH4YAGH.jpg
I am not a fan of the physical appearance of the YAGH, but I can not argue with it's integration and capabilities- which are brilliant. It can do so much inside the footprint of a Canon 1DC it's astounding. Uncompressed 10-bit (real DCI 1:85 4K is bonkers for the price, even if someone doesn't plan on using that feature today.)

Here my small soapbox as I hear more often than I'd like- "I'll skip buying a YAGH and just record 4K with HDMI when the Shogun is released." Yes, while this can be done I believe everyone wanting 4K-uncompressed out will be better off sending 4K via the YAGH base full size HDMI cable or HDSDI connections, and those will save your butt on the day of any real production. The pro audio features of XLRs, V.U.s and Timecode in, are a bonus- but if you use them for your work, no 3rd party has a product comes close to the promise of real TC sync without losing a channel of audio and all the other included features- highly recommended.
 
Anyone have a production ViewFactor Contineo cage? I have a pre-prod version they gave me and I was wondering if the 2 main problems I had with it is solved? When using the cage a Rode Video Mic can not be used without an adapter as the 90degree miniplug is not long / thin enough to fit through the hole in the cage? Also the ISO button is quite hard to get to.

I'm hoping that these issues were solved. I sent an email - still waiting to hear. hoping someone on the boards knows.
 
I'm still waiting on mine. It was supposed to have shipped out already. Other than the ISO button and Mic mounting issue, what are your thoughts on it?
 
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