GH3 Finally... A Worthy GH3 Cage?

Gabriel Berube said:
I just received Fhugen's GH3 cage yesterday and overall, I simply love it, worth every penny!

I tried fitting it with most parts from a Cinevate Simplis duo rig and a SmallHD DP4 EVF monitor. I just love Cinevate's handles for the cage : they can be screwed into any of the 1/4 20 holes, so you can either put one handle on the top of the cage, or two to the sides like in the pictures below (fig-rig style). The whole rig's well-balanced and really stable, plus the gunstock-style support really helps stabilizing shots further if the lens isn't stabilized.

I have a gini rig that I like, but this whole thing's much lighter and versatile, I really like it.
Here are some pics :
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LOVE the look of this! How are you liking it? The Simplis seems to be what I'm leaning towards with the cage for a rig I'm putting together for moving to Cambodia. I've been using the Pocket Rig, but with the DP4 it's wobbly.
 
About to order one of these as well. I read a lot of people say the vf-4 doesn't fit but in what way doesn't it fit? Could a shim or modification help make it fit. Does anybody have a loupe they have had luck mounting on the GH3 with this cage?
 
Thomas - The VF-4 inserts into a mounting plate that attaches to the bottom of the GH3. There isn't enough room between the bottom of the GH3 and the inside bottom of the GH3 cage to accommodate the VF-4's mounting plate. It might be possible to install the mounting plate below the cage, and then attach the VF-4 with the optional "long" extension bracket that was designed for use with the GH3 battery grip. However, I can't confirm this as I don't have that mounting bracket. Maybe someone else has tried the long mounting bracket, or found another way to mount the VF-4 onto the GH3 with the cage.

Thomas Smet said:
About to order one of these as well. I read a lot of people say the vf-4 doesn't fit but in what way doesn't it fit? Could a shim or modification help make it fit. Does anybody have a loupe they have had luck mounting on the GH3 with this cage?
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I tend to think some camera gear is simply overpriced for what it is. I realize a lot of gear is highly specialized with a limited market, but I see many identical items sold under different brand names at dramatically different prices. The Cameleon cage looks slightly more complex to manufacture, but it certainly wouldn't cost 3 times as much to produce as the $100 Fhugen Honu cage. If it meets someone's needs better than the Honu cage, it might be worth paying more for...but 3 times as much doesn't make sense to me.

BTW, the Honu cage is now available as a "kit" that includes the top handle and a hdmi cable strain relief for $136.11.
http://www.photographyandcinema.com/collections/camera-cage/products/honu-gh3-video-cage-kit

Imagine the cost of the Cameleon cage with a top handle and cable strain relief...

Perplex said:
i know camera gear is expensive. And I get that....but geez...when you just stand back and look at it, its just a piece of metal that's $325...lol WUT
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any word on a rails solution for this.. i've got a cheapo mix and match rails setup made from bits and bobs but would be keen to know of a really lightweight rails, and universal baseplate solution which matched the simplicity and shape of the Phugen cage..
 
nobby:

Your answer may be the GearBox GB2 or GB3, check out the demo video in the link below. I have the Honu cage for the GH3 and keeping things simple I use it mainly to support the Rode VideoMic in one of the cold shoe mounts. I may also mount a Zoom H1 or H2 as necessary, and will be checking into the Cinevate handles mentioned above.

But the GB series may also have a lot of potential for you especially the two versions that come with rail adapter and 15mm rods at a VERY attractive price.

I ordered the GB1 (without rail adapter) for $95, I had picked up an Olympus OMD E-M5 mainly for handheld use (it's 5 axis IS is amazing) and for when I have to have the camera in motion. I took out the 1.5 inch extensions and added a Manfrotto 577 quick release adapter (uses 501PL plates). The built in handles on the sides are spaced just right to allow a very stable 2 handed grip, coupled with the OMD's 5 axis IS this gives me MUCH MORE STABLE handheld results.

I also have the option of putting the riser extensions back in if I need to use the GB1 with the GH3's.

Here's the link: http://www.photographyandcinema.com/products/gearbox-video-camera-accessory-cage

Be sure to watch both videos. I have Both the GB1 and the Honu cages, I like the Honu and plan to keep it but the GB1 may actually be the more flexible solution, I've used both and like the way they perform. I like the compact feel of the GH3 in the Honu, but I also like and have to appreciate that the GearBox setup will accommodate more cameras.


 
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I added the handle and hdmi clamp to my Fhugen GH3 cage. They're OK, but the handle wobbles no matter how hard I tighten it. I returned it for a replacement and the replacement also wobbles. With use, the handle will come off, so I can't recommend it. The hdmi clamp works as expected, but requires an Allen wrench, which is one more tool to keep track of.
 
Sure, this cage is designed specifically for the GH3, but all the "universal" cages I've seen cost substantially more. The GH3 cage currently sells for $100, or $137 with the handle and hdmi clamp, at the pnc website. I scored mine on ebay for $60.

http://www.photographyandcinema.com/collections/camera-cage/products/fhugen-gh3-video-cage
http://www.photographyandcinema.com/collections/camera-cage/products/honu-gh3-video-cage-kit

OldCorpse said:
I can understand the appeal, and if funds were unlimited I'd buy it. But. The problem I have is that bodies these days last a very short time. If you have a cage/rig that's very specifically geared to your GH1, it becomes obsolete the moment you get a GH2 and want to use the same cage/rig, or GH3, or GH5 etc.. Now, again, if money is not an issue, why not - it's nicer to have something that fits perfectly. But to me it's more practical to get a cage that's slightly larger or slightly less form-fitting, but that can be used with a whole bunch of camera bodies.

But for $150-$200, if you have the funds, this doesn't look too bad. I already have a cage that fits my GH3, though it's not been specifically designed for the GH3, so I'll pass on this one.
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