Opteka CXS-500 X-Cage Pro with Handgrip and Rail System for all DSLR cameras

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Price: $109.00 $105.00   

Product Feature

• Designed to fit any size DSLR
• Anodized black hard aluminum
• Numerous 1/4"-20 and 3/8"-16 mounting holes for accessories
• Permits access to battery and memory doors as well as power and input/output connectors
• 15mm cinema standard rods

Product Description

The Opteka CXS-500 DSLR cage offers mounting space for a variety of camera accessories such as handgrips, preview monitors, microphones, sound recorders, lights, support rods, mixers, batteries, and other DSLR cages. It is compatible with most DSLR cameras. The Opteka detachable handgrip and 15mm rail system is included.

Opteka CXS-500 X-Cage Pro with Handgrip and Rail System for all DSLR cameras Review

There must be more designs for DSLR video rigs than there are fireflies on a summer evening in Texas. Many are more than the cost of the camera, and many are 'me-too' copies of those high-dollar, high-quality video rigs. The Opteka CXS-500 has a very down-to-earth price, and surprising quality and versatility. A DSLR cage is a building block, a scaffold on which to attach some (or most) of the 'add-ons' which transform a DSLR designed primarily for still photography into a system that can overcome many of the DSLRs short-comings, and enable the user to shoot video in a professional and productive manner.
A cage's primary role in life is to provide a solid, lightweight, adaptable anchor point for items like follow-focuses, video lights, video monitors, microphones, sound recorders, HDMI splitters, wireless receivers, and other small accessories that can be attached by either 1/4"-20 bolt, or cold shoe. There are thirty-four (!) 1/4"-20 holes spread out on all surfaces of this lightweight cage, and they are all threaded and the threads neatly chased.
The holes are both its greatest asset, and the only disappointment. The box proclaims "numerous 1/4"-20 and 3/8"-16 mounting holes." But the model I received had only 1/4"-20 holes. A few 3/8"-16 holes would be most helpful, specifically for mounting microphones which often have 3/8"-16 holes in their shock mounts. One tip for using the holes to their best advantage; if you have any extra screws of the kind that come on Manfrotto mounting plates, they can be threaded through one of the holes on the rig and then they can turn freely to make mounting an accessory easy to get tightened down snugly.
Overall, the build quality is very good for an item in this price range, the versatility excellent,and the possibilities in constructing your own customized video rig are extremely broad.
The included handle is a nice touch, though the choice of blue rubber on an otherwise all black rig is questionable. The handle can both be reversed and mounted on the front or the back of the cage, though the rear location is slightly off-center. The handle is very firmly mounted, and the rig seems to be balanced well from the front mounting.
Hex wrenches are included for the hex head bolts, a nice touch.
Remember when buying an item like this, that you need to also budget for the many other parts that you will need, or want, once you have the cage. A cage usually is incorporated into a bigger rig, perhaps with front handles, a shoulder brace or shoulder mount, or other means to stabilize the whole rig. You may find you need a follow focus, a matte box, video monitor - the list goes on and on. And don't get so caught up in the equipment that you forget why you got all this stuff - it's the stories, silly! Go use this wonderful piece of equipment to tell stories, to make us laugh or cry or ask why.
As other posters have noted, the short 15mm rods are a welcome addition for those just starting out, though for those of us adapting this cage into an existing rig, they may become useful extras or back-ups.
47th Street Camera has the best price on this cage, and it was both shipped quickly, trackable, and delivered on time. I am already a repeat customer because of their combination of price and good customer service, and will certainly buy from them again.

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