The
camera cage is a simple accessory that doesn't get sufficient notice. I bought
one for my C200 the week after I had a scare onset if the Wooden Camera fell from a table and could have broken on the floor.
When buying a camera cage, stick with a single manufacturer and do not go
cheap. I instantly found my new cage indispensable and bought them for my other
cameras. A lot of different manufacturers make camera cages ranging from high end
to other Chinese-made knock-offs. The known brands usually get camera specs
before new camera bodies are announced to have units ready by the time the
cameras ship. Cheaper ones appear later, and often copies of more successful
brands.
Protect
Your Camera
When
several people purchase a Fujifilm Camera Cage, this is
what they're going for. If the camera is dropped, a cage should safeguard the
outside area from getting damaged. A proper cage will defend the camera from wear
and tear or bearing the weight of a top handle — the cage keeps the pressure
and not the camera body. This is all the further crucial with smaller DSLRs and
mirrorless cameras made from lighter plastics.
Better
Ergonomics
Mirror
Few cameras don't come with handles, but also the digital cinema cameras that
do have them — like the Canon Cinema series and Panasonic's EVA1 — have them in
a fixed attached position. This is great for a stock lens, but if you begin
adding a large zoom at the front, or battery packs at the back of your camera,
the in-built handle can be far from the middle of gravity and make carrying the
camera awkwardly. A cage lets you reposition your grip for better ergonomics —
or even telescope it like Shapes wooden handle — to compensate for your rig.
Professionalism
Their
dozens of Red Camera Accessories, mostly used to make a
camera look more professional and impress the clients rather than add
functionality (I'm looking at you, matte box). I always use a Canon 5DM3
(shooting Magic Lantern RAW) as a B camera for my C200. Sometimes, I'd get
asked it by customers who wondered what a DSLR was doing on a film set. So, I
added a camera cage and side handle, which now saves me from having that
conversation.
Added
Mounting Points
Most
professional cameraman rarely uses their cameras as they come out of the box. They
combine wireless video and audio systems, follow center controls, and outer
batteries. Without a cage, the single cold shoe mounts that come with the most
cameras quickly get used up. A cage provides dozens of mounting points that you
can customize to your individual's requirements.
Final Words
A camera cage adds value and saves your money
when it’s time to sell your gear. In the end, it's worth finding a cage that
fits your camera and your budget.
