Feat. Fujifilm X-H2S TILTA camera cage
Working with mirrorless cameras has become widely popular pretty quickly. Every photographer now has a very capable video tool in their hands. The only issue with DSLRs and DSLMs for video is that you need to rig them up a bit and add accessories to make them easier to handle for video. And this long journey of finding the right tools for you usually starts off with a cage.
If you don’t need sound, film very short sequences, and don’t need RAW then using a photography camera for video might make sense these days. But things can quickly become a bit more complicated if you want to push things a bit further. Because they are relatively light and compact you need a good grip and steady hands to prevent too much camera shake. If you need more recording options, more codecs, and some video assists tools, you will need to add accessories to your camera.
I just go the Fujifilm XH2s and it took me a long time to decide which accessories to use for this particular camera. Finding the right balance is not easy. You have to build a rig without going too far because if you do, you might as well invest in a proper video camera.
So I started with the foundation and looked out for my perfect cage for the X-H2s.
I’ve had different cages in my hands and finding the right one for me took some time.
I had a universal cage for years, but it has its flaws. It is universal, but because you can put any camera in it, the camera is sometimes not firmly tucked inside, and you lose several mounting points and options. Plus this one has an open side, which deformed the cage with time.
Then I went over to this other brand, that makes customized cages. I got one for the R5 and since it was built for it, all ports, the screen, and the battery compartment were accessible. My only issue with it is personal. All the accessories I wanted to add, (different handles, microphone, monitor, video transmitter...) needed too many additional accessories to mount them tightly where I wanted, and I wanted to avoid adding too many elements to the cage.
Once I received the Fujifilm X-H2s a few months ago, I knew exactly what I needed on my cage. Two center screws at the bottom of the cage, to prevent my rig from rotating on a tripod. The possibility to attach any type of handles on both sides and on top. I wanted access to all the buttons and compartments of the X-H2s. And ideally, all of this, from a well-established brand that can offer a coherent ecosystem for further customizations.
So I had to start with a simple basic rig, just in case. And this is what I currently use with the X-H2s. In case you wonder, I use this rig now for my BTS and YouTube videos. The left wooden handle is beautifully made and feels great in the hand. I wish I had the same one on the other side. It allows me to have a firm grip and shoot confidently handheld. The base lets me have rails to support a follow focus, Mattebox, and more.
Some of the footage shown in the video are taken from ongoing projects. Don't worry, I will tell you more about them when the time is right.
Tilta’s catalog is really impressive and continues to grow, of course, it is compatible with other brands, I used different magic arms, rails, and cold shoe mounts on it. I should dive a little deeper into their offering and maybe complete this rig. What do you think? Have you ever considered Tilta and its tools for filmmakers? Let us know in the comments below. If you haven’t found the perfect cage for your camera yet, then you should take a look at their website. Of course, if this goes any further, I will let you know.
All my Tilta gear: