Zacuto Cage for Blackmagic 4K Pocket Cinema Camera

2019-07-08T20:00:00

Had to wait a long time to get my hands on this beautiful piece of engineering. Not as long as the camera itself though. The cage is lightweight with outstanding build quality and feels great in the hand. I honestly didn't think the hand-strap would make much difference but it made holding the camera so much easier. Unfortunately it took so long to receive the camera that I had to send it back as I could not justify the cost on top of the camera I bought in the meantime. So this meant that I did not have enough time to get a true feel for how this would be on a day to day basis. The one issue I did discover with this product was when I tried to remove the camera the screw plate at the bottom would not come out at all. Overall I think this would be a great starting point for anyone building a BMPCC4K rig.

jasonberge

Originally posted at

2019-03-18T20:00:00

This was my first Zacuto buy. It's good enough that after using it for a while I bought some more of their kit. I've had my little GH5 in the cage for over a year and am very happy with it. A couple of negative points to mention. Others have spoken of the obstructed assignable button on the front near the lens mount. That was a little disappointing for a person used to working with broadcast cameras. I'll take every assignable button on offer with these little stills cameras. Not a deal breaker though. Also the cage is not a perfect fit. Once nestled in with the bottom 1/4" screw, you have to force it to meet up with the neck-strap eyelets. Don't tighten the base screw till you completed that task. And a HUGE caveat emptor for ALL Zacuto products. You will need to go out and buy a new set of hex wrenches. I found out too late after ruining one of the teeny-weeny allen screws for the eyelets with my metric allen key. Great product though. I like the Z-rail handle. I can use that on the side as an aid for hand-holding or on the top as just a carry handle. The handle has a cold shoe and I can mount my VF on that if I'm not mounting it on the magic arm. Thc cage fits well with the rod support base.

cameraperson

Originally posted at

2019-01-22T19:00:00

We used the GH5 Cage for the first time while filming on location and found it to be versatile and well-designed. The cage is solid yet surprisingly light and easy to maneuver. It's great for situations where you need to move around and is flexible when it comes to adding additional pieces of equipment to the setup (like monitors and mics). Together with Zacuto's shoulder rig, the mirrorless camera becomes a professional setup that made filming run smoothly through all scenes. It's an excellent piece and a sound investment for a great setup. Plus, it's fun to use and feels good in your hands!

comewecreate

Originally posted at

2018-08-01T20:00:00

Recently I had the opportunity to use a GH5 with a Zacuto custom cage and loved it! The cage is super light and rugged, yet very modular. The Zacuto cage had both a side handle and padded hand grip. It was super easy to use for hand held shots. Building the cage was super easy, adding a top handle to mount a small HD monitor, Rode video mic pro and a small light. It a little more expensive than other cages but well worth the money!

maxjet

Originally posted at

2018-06-03T20:00:00

Love love love it. I must admit though, it is my first and only cage that I own. I researched extensively before diving into the Zactuo line of gear. I was a mili-second away for getting the Tilta cage for GH5 but it fell short after thinking about it for a a day. No side handle, too boxy, etc...However, when I saw this I was ecstatic because it has the soft-leather/strong adjustable hand grip on the right side. It was key for me, as that's how I was used to shooting in the past. It has room for all accessories. Small HD monitor, audio rig, mic, etc. I've dropped my camera a few time sin the field and never a scratch, the metal is machined very well and it's sturdy. I was lucky enough to go to Zacuto HQ and they installed the camera for me, but it took less than two minutes. With all my accessories removed it is stil quite small and I'm able to use it comfortably as a stand alone camera/cage for stills, shooting incognito, etc. It does remove easiy from the cage itself, as there are two side screws that are a li bit sketchy to easily remove for a quick switchover but as i said, leaving in the cage is small and compact and not impossible to use as 'just a camera' for walking around and shooting urban stills, street photography, etc. It looks great, feels great, works even better. The ONE gripe I do have is the Fn6 button, it is unavailable with the cage on the camera. This cage is part of my daily rig and I love it.

DavoTheDirector

Originally posted at

2018-01-23T19:00:00

This is the ultimate cage for this camera! I have seen a lot of people trying different companies because of the price or availability, but honestly it's nothing compared to this one. My only problem so far was the installation, most of the screws were not perfectly aligned with the strap rings so I had to force it and at the same time scratch the top of the camera. Altough once it's fixed it doesn't move at all!

albodoin

Originally posted at

2017-11-12T19:00:00

Well built, well thought out. It fits perfectly into the professional "cinema" workflow for this camera. Great adjustable handle, all metal HDMI cable clamp and more. For me the ergonomics are perfect! What carlosman said about the negative points is true, but thats all pretty minor stuff. Other then flying the camera with a gimbal, as a video shooter, there is no reason to take your GH5 out of the cage.

cmoore

Originally posted at

2017-10-04T20:00:00

Positive points: It is a snug fit on the GH5. It is the lightest I have used, given the feature set. The engineering and craftsmanship are evident. It is the only cage for the GH5, that I have seen and touched, which fits like a glove on that camera, while letting you use the XLR adapter and keeping the battery door free. It also allows access to the false battery cable door in front. The anchor points make it a rock-solid attachment and it adds very little to the camera footprint and weight. The HDMI clamp is SOLID. Negative points - All things considered, these are very minor disadvantages, but here: It blocks the remote port window and the function button on the side of the lens mount (Fn6). Conclusion: Given the rich rigging ecosystem afforded by this cage to the GH5, I would recommend this one well above all others I have looked at and over those I have evaluated by specifications only.

carlosman

Originally posted at

2017-09-05T04:56:09

Love this cage. It's the best GH5 cage money can buy. Don't get any other cage. I waited for this for so long but it was worth the wait. Now I just need the base plate and the piece to mount my atomos ninja to the cage.

ADEOLA M.

2017-09-04T20:00:00

Wow this cage is rock solid, built very well this is the only cage that I know of that you can use the xlr module and the Ninja Inferno at the same time. Nice job Zacuto.

rmassoud

Originally posted at