C100: Small Rig C100/300/500 Top Plate

Tim Nitsch

Tim Nitsch

Well-known member
Thought you guys might be interest to know that Small Rig (aka CoolLCD) is working on a C100/300/500 Top Plate.

At $29 it's very inexpensive. It looks to be pretty well thought out.

http://www.coollcd.com/top-plate-c100-c300-c500_p1468.html

c100 plate.jpgSmallRig-Top-Plate-C100-C300-C500_01.jpgSmallRig-Top-Plate-C100-C300-C500.jpg

They are also designing a new cold shoe mount so we can re-attach the C100/300 handles on top.

They are going to send me one as soon as it's ready, so once it gets here I'll post back with some real pictures.
 
wgtwo said:
Sucks that they didn't incorporate a shoe mount.
Click to expand...

I thought that too, but if they built it into the top plate then you would permanently lose that 1/4-20 & 3/8 real estate. Where as the way they did it, you have options.

Bubble said:
just like WC, they want to sell it as additional cost. :)
Click to expand...

The difference is, Small Rig's cold shoe adapter will be probably around $10 (at least that's what their other cold shoe mount costs), where as WC's adapter is $45.


Update: They just sent me the picture of the new Cold shoe adapter:

cold shoe with center hole.jpg
 
Last edited:
Not sure I'm a fan of the single screw on that. Open bit at the back for extra screws to hold it down doesn't look very elegant.
 
wgtwo said:
Not sure I'm a fan of the single screw on that. Open bit at the back for extra screws to hold it down doesn't look very elegant.
Click to expand...

Pretty sure every top plate for the C100/300/500 are held on by one screw because that's all they have to work with.

Look at WC's Top Plate:
http://woodencamera.com/Canon/Camera-Support-Canon/Top-Plate-C100-C300-C500.html
It's held on by a single screw

And WC's Cold shoe adapter doesn't look great either:
http://woodencamera.corecommerce.com/Canon/Handles-Canon/Shoe-Handle-Mount.html

It's more function than form.
 
alternative always better than none right? :) If i don't already have the WC set up, i would give this a try.
 
I've been using WC's top plate for a C300 for about a month. It's rock solid even with the one screw/mounting point.

WC's handle mount screws down at two points but is no more secure than Canon's cold-shoe handle mount built into the camera. IOW, the handle when on it has a bit of play. Oddly, WC's handle mount will not hold a C300/C500 monitor directly as is. They offered to machine one down for me when I realized this but I decided to go another route instead of their handle mount.

I have tried some of the Small Rig pieces. Some are fine, some are definitely much cheaper feeling than the WC bits & pieces. e.g. Small Rig clamps have plastic ratchet levers which are not captive, they could crack or fall out if unscrewed too much. Some of the aluminum feels to be cheaper, lighter weight. The WC ratchets are all metal and I think they are captive so you won't loose them accidentally. I'd have to double-check that last point...

Even on cold shoes, WC's standard cold shoe is beefier than Small Rig's $10 cold shoe. WC's has a large screw with an Allen wrench/hex type head, Small Rig's has a very cheap flathead screw which will bend the metal and strip the flathead slot if you overdue it. Design wise the Small Rig one fits the foot of a C300/C500 monitor better. While not as beefy it's a bit longer.

In testing things out recently prior to a long shoot - I settled on WC top plates, WC Nato Handles (really like these), and Small Rig $10 cold shoes mounted vertically to the front of the WC top plate. This gives me the option to mount the C300 monitor in the cold shoe built into the Nato Handle or in the vertical cold shoe on the top plate. The latter works well in keeping the center of gravity low.

Options will be different for C100 as you'll probably want to use Canon's handle to retain XLR's.
 
I meant the shoe mount, not the top plate itself. WCs uses two screws. Looks like this 1-screw Smallrig design may not be 100% stable.
 
wgtwo said:
I meant the shoe mount, not the top plate itself. WCs uses two screws. Looks like this 1-screw Smallrig design may not be 100% stable.
Click to expand...

That single hole in the middle is for the c100/300 top handle to screw into. The wide hole is for mounting the cold shoe to the top plate via 2x screws.
 
Last edited:
Did they mention when that cold shoe mount is going to be available? I'm ready to buy that top plate now! I like the WC top plate but it's just so dang expensive for what it is.
 
akivisuals said:
Did they mention when that cold shoe mount is going to be available? I'm ready to buy that top plate now! I like the WC top plate but it's just so dang expensive for what it is.
Click to expand...

No, they didn't give any specifics on a shipping date. They just said soon. But it looks like you can order the top plate now so I would imagine it can't be too long before they start shipping them.
 
The plate came in today!

I'm pretty impressed with it. It mounts nice and securely, no twisting or movement of any kind. It feels like an extension of the internal frame of the C100, very solid.

The only thing I don't have yet is their new coldshoe mount, I'll be picking up that once its available.

Here's a few pictures of it mounted up:

photo 1-1.jpgphoto 2.jpgphoto 3.jpg

For $30, I think this is a no brainer.
 
wgtwo said:
How does it compare to the Genustech in practice?

Ordered mine.
Click to expand...

Not sure, I've never used the Genus's top plate.
The thing I didn't like about Genustech's plate is that it stuck out too far on the sides, I wanted something a little lower profile, something I could attach once and not really need to remove it just to put it in my bag.

The WC top plate fit that bill but it was $205 (including the $45 cold shoe adapter), and although it's a really great product, I couldn't justify that much for a simple top plate. Time will tell if the Small Rig top plate will last.


Edit: Also I just saw that CoolLCD.com (Small Rig's other site) has the new cold shoe adapter. Can't hardly beat $12.
http://www.coollcd.com/smallrig-cold-shoe-1482_p1482.html
 
Last edited:
Tim Nitsch said:
Not sure, I've never used the Genus's top plate.
The thing I didn't like about Genustech's plate is that I stuck out too far on the sides, I wanted something a little lower profile, something I could attach once and not really need to remove it just to put it in my bag.
Click to expand...
Right. For some reason I thought you had one. It's not actually so big that you have to have it off for transport, but yes, it is unnecessarily large. You can attach things with thumbscrews to the top, though.
 
UH OH! Got mine today, and the C100 handle does not fit into the cold shoe. Bits to the side are too wide. Will contact SmallRig.
 
nice to finally see a lower cost option! i have and am happy with the genustech, but this one surely is the new low price champ
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top