Cage-free top handle

[QuickHitRecord]

I think that this is a neat offering and worthy of its own thread:

http://smallrig.com/handle-kit-1527.html​

Disclaimer: I had a small hand in its design (i.e. they took one of my suggestions) so they are sending me one for the cost of shipping. After that, I don't get any percentage of the proceeds, nor am I affiliated with SmallRig in any way.

This is what appears to be a solid aluminum top-handle that transfers the force of being picked up to the rods, bypassing the camera body (just like a cage). It doesn't block access to the focus/aperture/zoom rings like the Skier O-Rings do. Attach one of their quick release plates (SmallRig #1280) to the rods via two screws (to prevent twisting), and then you're a baseplate away from a minimalistic, camera-agnostic cage with a solid top handle. It seems like a good fit for DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, and maybe even the FS100.

I can't properly review it until mine has arrived, but I have been waiting for something like this for a while. Hopefully it will be as useful as it looks.

 

[keithlango]

I dig it. Been looking for something like that, and there have been variants, but nothing quite that minimalistic. Small Rig are doing good work in the overpriced world of camera support accessories.

 

[goodgoings]

I dig smallrigs but this looks overpriced at $164. The Lanparte handle is lighter and height adjustable. Might be a better option considering the price.

 

[QuickHitRecord]

I dig smallrigs but this looks overpriced at $164. The Lanparte handle is lighter and height adjustable. Might be a better option considering the price.

I've looked at the Lanparte, but what I like about this one is that it is made from a single piece of metal and the handle is bolted on in four places. The Lanparte's handle relies on multiple pieces held together by the tension of a single screw.

 

[QuickHitRecord]

Got mine in the mail today. My first impression of it is that it is a really nicely-made (and solid!) piece of kit. It's actually quite a bit lighter than my Skier O-Ring. The screws are ratcheting, which is a nice touch.

There are a few downsides though. The big one is that this really won't work with larger DSLR cameras like the 5D that I have. There just isn't enough clearance between the top of the handle and the camera hot shoe. I don't even think that it was designed for this; I think it was designed for use with long lenses, in which case it would work great. But if you want the handle over the camera body, you'd better have a much smaller camera (perhaps even smaller than a GH4) and a very low-profile 15mm baseplate.

Also, they don't include the 1/4-20 screws (half inch?) that you'll need to attach the QR plate to the cage at two points, just the standard 1/4-20 that rides in the channel at the center of the plate. So I had to order some on eBay. And if you end up doing that, make sure to get the socket cap screws so that the screw heads can hunker down in the recessed screw holes and not interfere with your quick release.