Tilta has updated their Sony a7 range cage to fit the new Sony a7 III and Sony a9 mirrorless cameras. Is it as good as their former a7S II cage?   The updated Tilta cage can house the new Sony a7 III and a9 cameras Cages have become an integral part of camera setups over the last few years as they expand the usability and functionality of DSLR’s and mirrorless cameras. Tilta’s camera cages are renowned for their durable construction and many compatible accessories. In fact, Titla previously won the cinema5D ‘Best Sony a7S II Cage‘ back in 2015. The guys will do an update of that review series for newer cages like the Chrosziel cage and this new Tilta cage in the near future. The cage is compatible with all existing accessories What’s New? The cage range has been updated to house the new Sony a7 III and Sony a9 mirrorless cameras, but is fully compatible with the existing Sony a7 range. Included in the cage package is the detachable top handle with a cold shoe mount, both Micro HDMI and standard HDMI plug protectors and an ARRI rosette mount for the optional wooden hand grip. The cage is nearly tool-less too, which is very handy for adjusting the camera cage rig on the go. With 15mm rods, the cage can be fully rigged The cage is constructed out of milled aluminum with plenty of 1/4″ and 3/8″ mounting points, as well as the 15mm LWS baseplate for 15mm rods where follow focuses and matte boxes can be attached. The versatility of the cage means you can rig pretty much anything to it, from monitors to audio interfaces. When using adapters like the Metabones EF-E mount adapter, the cage also includes a lens support bracket too. Different Cage Packages There are two cage packages available, one with and one without the ergonomic wooden handle, with run and stop control built in. It weighs 4.4lbs (2kg) which is on the heavy side for a cage, but is a great level of protection for the camera housed inside. For the full list of what is included, check out the Tilta product page here. Out of the box, the new Tilta cage can be rigged right away with any of the Sony a7 cameras. It’s also compatible with existing accessories so if you’re looking to update your cage for a new Sony a7 III or Sony a9 you can rest assured that it’ll all work together.   Do you think the updated Tilta cage will fit your needs for your camera setup? Let us know in the comments.

This premium cage for the Leica SL camera (full review here) caught our attention. Not only is it functional and ergonomic, but also lightweight, machined out of titanium and equipped with a PL mount for cinema applications. The Lockcircle Full Metal Jacket is designed with cinematographers and “video photographers” in mind. It has a premium price tag of up to $3000 for the PL mount version, but also offers premium functionality, a well though through design and an ultra lightweight body construction. If only all camera accessories were made with this much attention to detail… We also reported about the new Lockcircle RodRocket 15mm rods just recently. These beautiful, lightweight titanium rods don’t come bundled with the Metal Jacket cage, but are available as an optional add-on. It is clear that this cage and the accessories are boutique products. But so is the Leica SL camera itself. The Lockcircle Metal Jacket and Full Metal Jacket cages for the Leica SL camera are available now at lockcircle.com  

Seeing Double? Seeing Double Barrel. Planet 5D is reporting a new sponsor and new gear from Letus. It seems like they are charging into the HDSLR gear game now that DOF adapters are going the way of the horse and buggy. I can’t help but say that when I saw the post it felt like I had seen all this gear somewhere before. It looks like the manufactures are staring to catch a grove with some of this stuff. Check out this rip from the Letus Direct web site. “A full line of DSLR accessories are now available from Letus. Our Letus Hawk carbon fiber viewfinder with our Talon micro rod support systems are available for pre-order. The view finder can be left attached to the camera plate or the main support rod base. A great quick release solution from going from video to stills. We will be providing the highest quality possible without the insane price tag. Prices start at only $385 USD.” They also have a cage that looks very familiar.  Letus also released a cool line of carbon fiber view finders with quick release base plates. This stuff looks familiar too. Choice is always a good thing. Thanks to Planet 5D for posting this. Letus View Finders Zacuto View Finders Letus Cage Viewfactor Cage