Nice review! Got this camera few months ago and rigged it custom myself because of the same issue (battery/card access and protection), but this cage / kit could come in very handy in addition! Time to upgrade my rig yay
@@derekroberts5931 simple answer: I was in the market for a POCKET camera, and I wasn't looking for a "powerful" low-light camera. m50 is not considered a pocket camera. at least to me anyway. ZV-1 / RX line up are MUCH smaller and portable. pretty fast Internal lens too. I've always wanted a compact pocket camera that's still powerful in specs like 4K and 120p in 1080. Solid IBIS would be a big plus. Already owned a Sony RX100 IV for 4 years, so I know these cameras' pros and cons from 1st hand experience (and that's real). so I knew when ZV-1 came out, that Sony finally gave us some features that were somewhat overdue: proper audio jack and a flip-out screen and better IBIS/color/slight improvement in higher ISO. For under 1K. Right before ZV-1's release, there was another RX lineup that came out I think. But it was way too pricey. so ZV-1 just finally met that pain point, if that makes sense. If you can expose it correctly in camera (SS, F stop, ISO, picture profile, resolution), you can push the ISO up to 6400 in 4K and get away with it (with some denoising in post of course).
I think it would be difficult to get any of the other mini-top handles for the Smallrig cage for the ZV-1. It doesn't have an Arri connection, so you would probably need to put an adapter on for the Nato version.
I had the diety do duo and was not happy with it, too much wind noise, I went with the rode video mic go and yes it has 1 problem but its never noticeable lol
Hi! I also have a Detty Duo mic for my ZV1 but I couldn’t used it because in the wind will cut off my voice really bad. Does it do it to you as well? Thank you!
Hi! I haven't had too much trouble as long as I'm using the wind covers and manual audio control to make sure levels aren't too close to clipping. If you record around -6 to -12dB for your peaks, I wouldn't imagine you should have too much trouble.
@@ScottDumas hey! Thank you for your response. How do I put Manual Audio mode? I only see Audio level Rec, Audio Recording and audio level display. Thank you!
How do you feel about the security of the cage connection with the camera? pretty unique to have that friction based connection with the lens mount/hub thing rather than going through the camera's tripod mount, but I guess considering the terrible placement of the tripod mount they probably didn't have a choice this time.
I wasn't sure at first but it seems to be ok. I think the camera being so light and not typically overly rigged up helps to make it ok. I'll still want to be sure to double check it every so often to make sure it hasn't come loose, but I guess that's something that should be done with any cage anyway and for a while now it has not given me any problems.
Thanks for the detailed unboxing and reviews. I personally just can't find myself trusting that type of attachment and would prefer a more solid connection. The search continues.
Smallrig also has a cage for the ZV1 that connects to the tripod socket and has a wooden handgrip. I have one on mine and it's excellent. The number on their site is 2936.
Hi Scott. We have the new IDOLCAM VlogStar V2 shotgun/Lavalier microphone in one, small size, perfect for ZV1, can we send you one for the next mic review you are doing?
I've actually never seen that until just now, looks interesting! It seems to me that the lens should not be a problem that interferes with the cage as far as I can tell.
With the mic you have on the camera, can you hear the rattle noise when recording? Also, if I was to drop the camera would the cage take the fall damage or would it damage the camera? Thanks, great vid!
Thanks for watching! With the mic it's totally fine, as long as you tighten down the cold shoe as usual. the lock is just a secondary safety catch but nothing is loose and rattling. The cage COULD take the impact of the fall but it's very very dependent on how you drop it. there are parts of the camera body still fully exposed (around the hinge/corner of the LCD for example) so it's not 100% protective. But, it does do more than the body itself.
Great review. I am looking at it to record my band's 2hr+ live rehearsals and shows. Hit Record and forget, but worried it might overheat, any experience of 2hr+ continuous recording ?
I figuer a way to record 4k where it wont get to hot wont overheat ..what I did if is sunny outside ans tou using 4k lower ur brightness and lower your ISO and contrast.give it a try I just mess around several these 3 settings lowering and recording until I got a good video quality and not as dark just perfect..just mess with those 3 adjustment you will see result ..i have my brightness 2 lines under my ISO 80 and contrast like about 2 to 3 notch down looks little dark if you in a house hold adjusting ur settings but try adjust ur setting outside where theres enough light.now if you recording inside well just go back to your basic settings and adjust it again.
Hi! Unfortunately I haven't tried the tripod remote myself but I don't think I'd really strongly prefer it. There may be some nice points to it but for my style of use it wouldn't add too much real benefit. Depends on the user most likely :)
Hahaha... I actually googled it and unexpectedly a lot of things weigh exactly a gram. Including any US bill... so if you have $100 in 1's, it'll be 100g. Or a paper clip, or a piece of gum. Pretty random.
If you’re thinking about this cage, you should consider a new camera rather than trying to turn it into something it is not. Money is better spent on thing other than this cage.
I agree to a point- but this cage doesn't add a lot of size or bulk and the camera is incredibly pocketable and convenient as a fairly strong video camera considering the sensor size. In that case, a better mic is often something people want, and a little protection for a less than top of the line body in terms of durability doesn't hurt either. Plus- it solves the issue of using a tripod underneath and blocking the battery/card door, which for vloggers (who this camera is aimed at and I think an appropriate audience), is a huge convenience factor.
@@ScottDumas okay I 100% eat my own words. Changing battery is So annoying without a cage if you are using a tripod. I did realise how annoying this would be and how much better this cage makes the camera. Obviously I was skeptics but I highly recommend this cage now I have used it.
@@JeffBourke nothin just funny how you said money better spend on other things than this cage and then go ahead and buys the cage🤣 but anyway how you enjoying it and do you still use and recommend it today? Looking for a cage for my zv-1 but can't decide on the smallrig or uurig. Also what colorway did you get the black or wood?
I was skeptic if I needed this cage but having used it, omg having access to the battery and sd card is amazing!!! Highly recommend!!!
Smallrig's products are very good! I use a smallrig gimbal handle. The video was very helpful! Thank you. With love from Japan :)
Nice review! Got this camera few months ago and rigged it custom myself because of the same issue (battery/card access and protection), but this cage / kit could come in very handy in addition! Time to upgrade my rig yay
Question...how come you didn't go cannon m50? Thinking between the 2. I need a good camera with low light/ dim and natural light.
@@derekroberts5931 simple answer: I was in the market for a POCKET camera, and I wasn't looking for a "powerful" low-light camera.
m50 is not considered a pocket camera. at least to me anyway. ZV-1 / RX line up are MUCH smaller and portable. pretty fast Internal lens too. I've always wanted a compact pocket camera that's still powerful in specs like 4K and 120p in 1080. Solid IBIS would be a big plus. Already owned a Sony RX100 IV for 4 years, so I know these cameras' pros and cons from 1st hand experience (and that's real). so I knew when ZV-1 came out, that Sony finally gave us some features that were somewhat overdue: proper audio jack and a flip-out screen and better IBIS/color/slight improvement in higher ISO. For under 1K. Right before ZV-1's release, there was another RX lineup that came out I think. But it was way too pricey. so ZV-1 just finally met that pain point, if that makes sense.
If you can expose it correctly in camera (SS, F stop, ISO, picture profile, resolution), you can push the ISO up to 6400 in 4K and get away with it (with some denoising in post of course).
I think it would be difficult to get any of the other mini-top handles for the Smallrig cage for the ZV-1. It doesn't have an Arri connection, so you would probably need to put an adapter on for the Nato version.
Do you know if you can put a nato rail on the Smallrig cage? If so, then you could get the nato version of the handle and not have to screw it in.
i love the smallrig but can you still use the ulanzi 52mm wide angle lens. the small rig tightens around where it looks like the ulanzi hooks up too
Thank you for the video!
That top handle is one for looks. I'm contemplating on getting that top handle versus the 2393. The one you have is cheaper by a few.
I had the diety do duo and was not happy with it, too much wind noise, I went with the rode video mic go and yes it has 1 problem but its never noticeable lol
You can't put side handles on this rig?
Good job. How about a review of the camera on a gimbal? Zhiyun Crane M2. Would the smallrig needs to be removed to fit the camera on the gimbal?
Good question- I think I actually have an M2 around somewhere I'll see if I can check that out.
Ive seen a A7C with the kit lens and the 28 f2 on a M2 - ua-cam.com/video/5epwemB9wbw/v-deo.html
Hi! I also have a Detty Duo mic for my ZV1 but I couldn’t used it because in the wind will cut off my voice really bad. Does it do it to you as well? Thank you!
Hi! I haven't had too much trouble as long as I'm using the wind covers and manual audio control to make sure levels aren't too close to clipping. If you record around -6 to -12dB for your peaks, I wouldn't imagine you should have too much trouble.
@@ScottDumas hey! Thank you for your response. How do I put Manual Audio mode? I only see Audio level Rec, Audio Recording and audio level display. Thank you!
How do you feel about the security of the cage connection with the camera? pretty unique to have that friction based connection with the lens mount/hub thing rather than going through the camera's tripod mount, but I guess considering the terrible placement of the tripod mount they probably didn't have a choice this time.
I wasn't sure at first but it seems to be ok. I think the camera being so light and not typically overly rigged up helps to make it ok. I'll still want to be sure to double check it every so often to make sure it hasn't come loose, but I guess that's something that should be done with any cage anyway and for a while now it has not given me any problems.
Thanks for the detailed unboxing and reviews. I personally just can't find myself trusting that type of attachment and would prefer a more solid connection. The search continues.
Smallrig also has a cage for the ZV1 that connects to the tripod socket and has a wooden handgrip. I have one on mine and it's excellent. The number on their site is 2936.
My work has bought a ZV1 - Its been a challenge using it being used to Nikons ergonomics.
It’s definitely a big change, and even fairly different from other Sony cameras but I’ve gotten used to it for the most part :)
Hi Scott. We have the new IDOLCAM VlogStar V2 shotgun/Lavalier microphone in one, small size, perfect for ZV1, can we send you one for the next mic review you are doing?
What microphone is that?
I believe that was the Deity D4 Duo :)
Will it fit the ZV 10?
It should have its own cage.
Great Video, thank you
Glad you liked it! :) Thanks for watching!
Hi I just ordered my camera and I also ordered the wide angle lens for Ulanzi. Just wondering if the cage will work with that lens?
I've actually never seen that until just now, looks interesting! It seems to me that the lens should not be a problem that interferes with the cage as far as I can tell.
With the mic you have on the camera, can you hear the rattle noise when recording? Also, if I was to drop the camera would the cage take the fall damage or would it damage the camera? Thanks, great vid!
Thanks for watching! With the mic it's totally fine, as long as you tighten down the cold shoe as usual. the lock is just a secondary safety catch but nothing is loose and rattling. The cage COULD take the impact of the fall but it's very very dependent on how you drop it. there are parts of the camera body still fully exposed (around the hinge/corner of the LCD for example) so it's not 100% protective. But, it does do more than the body itself.
@@ScottDumas Thanks for the reply!
Great review. I am looking at it to record my band's 2hr+ live rehearsals and shows. Hit Record and forget, but worried it might overheat, any experience of 2hr+ continuous recording ?
I figuer a way to record 4k where it wont get to hot wont overheat ..what I did if is sunny outside ans tou using 4k lower ur brightness and lower your ISO and contrast.give it a try I just mess around several these 3 settings lowering and recording until I got a good video quality and not as dark just perfect..just mess with those 3 adjustment you will see result ..i have my brightness 2 lines under my ISO 80 and contrast like about 2 to 3 notch down looks little dark if you in a house hold adjusting ur settings but try adjust ur setting outside where theres enough light.now if you recording inside well just go back to your basic settings and adjust it again.
Hey Scott, I just got this camera last month, do you like the tripod in this review OVER the Sony ZV1 tripod remote??
Hi! Unfortunately I haven't tried the tripod remote myself but I don't think I'd really strongly prefer it. There may be some nice points to it but for my style of use it wouldn't add too much real benefit. Depends on the user most likely :)
I like this cam with the L gip
Haven't tried that one myself but a simple L grip could be very nice indeed. Does it solve the battery door/screw thread problem as well?
@@ScottDumas yes i can switch the batery with no problemes if the cam is on a tripod
BUT.... The all things you have for ZV1 can be replaced by GP-VPT2BT. More practical and easier to control the camera.
I’m American what is grams? Lol
Hahaha... I actually googled it and unexpectedly a lot of things weigh exactly a gram. Including any US bill... so if you have $100 in 1's, it'll be 100g. Or a paper clip, or a piece of gum. Pretty random.
If you’re thinking about this cage, you should consider a new camera rather than trying to turn it into something it is not. Money is better spent on thing other than this cage.
I agree to a point- but this cage doesn't add a lot of size or bulk and the camera is incredibly pocketable and convenient as a fairly strong video camera considering the sensor size. In that case, a better mic is often something people want, and a little protection for a less than top of the line body in terms of durability doesn't hurt either. Plus- it solves the issue of using a tripod underneath and blocking the battery/card door, which for vloggers (who this camera is aimed at and I think an appropriate audience), is a huge convenience factor.
@@ScottDumas okay I 100% eat my own words. Changing battery is So annoying without a cage if you are using a tripod. I did realise how annoying this would be and how much better this cage makes the camera. Obviously I was skeptics but I highly recommend this cage now I have used it.
@@JeffBourke bruh 💀
@@cloudy9862 lol. What???
@@JeffBourke nothin just funny how you said money better spend on other things than this cage and then go ahead and buys the cage🤣 but anyway how you enjoying it and do you still use and recommend it today? Looking for a cage for my zv-1 but can't decide on the smallrig or uurig. Also what colorway did you get the black or wood?