Fotodiox Compact Rig - Video Rig, Stabilizer and Shoulder Support - Compact and Lightweight DSLR Rig, Includes 15mm Industry Standard Rods

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Price: $139.95    

Product Feature

• No bigger than most battery grips, compatible with almost all DLSRs
• Compatible with all 15mm ROD accessories (follow focus, matte box, handles, etc)
• 100% CNC Machined Aluminum and Stainless Steel
• Compatible to almost all tripods with 1/4-20 threads
• 24 Month Manufacture Warranty

Product Description

The Fotodiox Compact Rig is small and quick, perfect for the photographer on the go! The small size, no bigger than most battery grips, will allow for Professional results without causing a distraction. Despite the compact size the Fotodiox Compact Rig has a pair of 15mm industry standard rods hidden inside which can be folded out and ready to use in seconds. The stabilization stick can be folded out and extended by about 12 inches to give shoulder support for added stability; it can also be used as a belt attachment when your arms get tired. The Fotodiox Compact Rig can also be attached to almost all tripod mounts with the -20 threaded mount underneath. A fantastic and versatile solution for on location shooting!

Fotodiox Compact Rig - Video Rig, Stabilizer and Shoulder Support - Compact and Lightweight DSLR Rig, Includes 15mm Industry Standard Rods Review

It's 90% of the quality for less than 40% of the price.

I bought the Edelkrone looking for a product that would give me great shoulder rig-like stability in a much smaller, more portable package. The purchase was sort of impulsive, but based on necessity. I enjoyed it for the first few days until I decided to do a little Google search to see what people thought of it and if there was any competition. Well, I should have done this search before I bought the Edelkrone because I could have saved over $170 in international shipping fees alone.

I found the Fotodiox compact rig and couldn't believe that it was offering the same features as the Edelkrone for under half the price. A little skeptical, based on the price and the fact that there weren't any reviews, I went ahead and purchased the Fotodiox rig to compare it to my Edelkrone.

It arrived a day early and right off the bat I was happy to see that it came with a nice, high-quality, lightly-padded case that has a nice carrying handle. The rig itself functions exactly the same as the Edelkrone. Both have the same dimensions. In use, just like the Edelkrone, you can either position the support arm on your shoulder or swivel it to the outside and down to attach it to your belt loop which, is surprisingly comfortable. I found myself doing that more than I though I would. Usability is the exact same. Both can be folded up and left attached to the camera and stored, like a battery grip.

Cosmetically, compared to the Edelkrone, here are a few things I noticed with the Fotodiox:
- It feels slightly less refined than the Edelkrone.
- The paint finish isn't as good. It's slightly rougher. When I received it, there were a few extremely small, but visible chips in the paint (not a huge deal).
- The edges are a little bit sharper.
- The base plate for the tripod mount is mounted slightly crooked.
- Fotodiox logo sticker is mounted 1/4" out of the indent that was made for it. (I fixed)
- The joints are ever-so-slightly noisier when loose.
- To adjust the joints it requires 3 allen keys (included) as opposed to 1 of the Edelkrone.

I'd say the only cosmetic advantage the Fotodiox rig has over the Edelkrone is that the rails are black. This provides a more subdued appearance which I personally like. The rougher, black painted surface of the rails seem to resist scratches much more than the smooth silver aluminum of the Edelkrone. Within a day or so I was already getting small scratches on the Edelkrone whereas the rails of the Fotodiox are still clean after a months use.

My biggest problem with the Fotodiox is that in use, the screws adjusting the tension of the joints seem to loosen up over time. The Edelkrone doesn't seem to have this problem. I may end up finding the tension I like and the add some Loctite to glue the screws in place.

To me, these are all minor annoyances but not enough to warrant keeping the Edelkrone over the Fotodiox. For this reason, I have returned the Edelkrone. About this return: I purchased their protection plan which allowed me to return it within 90 days vs 9 days without. However, this plan does not cover the cost of return shipping nor does it cover the astronomical customs fees. To get it shipped to me, I paid $36. To ship it back, I paid $38 which doesn't include tracking. That's not the craziest part. The fee for customs was a ridiculous $105!!!

In conclusion, I personally would recommend the Fotodiox ove the Edelkrone, especially if you are in the United States. The extra cost of the product for a slightly better cosmetics and international shipping is not worth it. In fact, you could buy 2 Fotodiox rigs and have money left over. If you aren't sure whether or not you need it, so you buy it based on a good return policy, DEFINITELY do not buy the Edelkrone. You will be wasting money on shipping and customs.

TL;DR
Pros:
- Comes with a CASE!!
- The rails are black
- Much less expensive than the Edelkrone
- Does the exact same thing as the Edelkrone
- Similar build quality

Cons:
- slightly rougher feeling
- 3 different allen key sizes
- have to occasionally keep tightening the joints

Conclusion: Buy the Fotodiox.

I have attached images comparing the Fotodiox Compact Rig to the Edelkrone Pocket Rig.

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