Hey it’s Andre, if you’re looking something that not only protects your Sony ZV-E10 but also gives
this camera added customisation features then why not try this camera cage from Smallrig.
Smallrig do offer this cage for other camera models,
but this one in particular is built specifically for the Sony ZV-E10.
Straight out of the box, you get the cage made out of a strong and sturdy aluminium
alloy which is certainly going to give your ZV-E10 that added drop protection.
Weight wise, it’s not that heavy at 150g grams and personally I don’t think it adds
a considerable difference to the overall feel and weight of the camera in hand.
It has a silicone grip handle, with the same dotted texture as the ZV-E10 grip which conforms
around the handle on the camera to give you a more pronounced and better gripping experience,
so if you’ve got a ZV-E10 and wish it had more of a gripping handle then this cage is ideal.
The feel that you get just holding the silicon grip on the cage is a
lot better than the grip on the camera itself.
But, if you’re like me and are not too concerned about the grip of the
native camera then there is the option on the cage of removing the silicone grip,
by removing the two screws behind the grip at the bottom with the supplied Allen key.
On the cage itself, you’ve got multiple accessory mounting points. At the top, two slots to attach
a camera strap, a cold shoe mount, two 1/4” threads holes and an Arri 3/8” locating holes.
On each of side, you’ve got 3 more of those 1/4” thread holes and on the bottom,
you’ve got another cold shoe mount, some more 1/4” thread holes, the screw to secure the
camera to the cage and the base itself, which is an arca-Swiss type plate compatible with
certain mounts, adapters, handheld accessories and gimbals allowing the connection between the cage
and the accessory your mounting the camera to, to become a quick release system.
All of these accessory mounting points will support numerous accessories like,
microphones, lights, monitors and on the top points even Smallrig’s own top handles,
which can give you a different shooting angle when you’re in that creative flow
but what you attach to the cage is personal to what you need for your
own setup, what works for me might not work for you and vice versa.
I’ll let you into a secret, I actually purchased the wrong top handle for this cage,
because it was cheaper. As you can see the holes don’t line up with the holes on the cage,
but I still use this handle as I feel that even with one screw fitted securely there is
enough support between the handle itself and the cage not to make me think that
it is going to come off and I do prefer the comfort of the bigger rubber handle anyway,
because I can do more creatively with this compared to the mini handle.
But I’d recommend getting the proper one if you do want the actual Smallrig recommended top handle,
I’ll link to that in the description below.
Despite there being no instructions in the box, installation is simple, as the ZV-E10
slots straight into place and is secured via screwing in the screw at the bottom. And one
of those in genius features of the cage is that, magnetically stored and slotted next to the screw
is a mini screwdriver that gives you easy and convinient access to tightening and
loosening the screw for easy installation and removal of the ZV-E10 from the cage.
Definitely saving time from having to annoyingly find that screwdriver every time.
Although for most people using the ZV-E10 with the cage, this one lock provides more than enough
to secure the camera firmly. There is a minimal amount of twisting of the camera within the cage,
and you can see what I’ve got to do to make it rock within it, so it’s definitely minimal,
but to prevent any rotation, Smallrig provide, in the box, a side lock, screw and the compatible
allen key. This is easily installed by placing the lock between the underneath of the strap mount
on the camera and the cage itself and putting in the screw. Now that minimal rotation has stopped.
You won’t need to worry about the cage scratching the ZV-E10, as there are
strategically placed rubber pads on the top and bottom connecting surfaces of the cage.
With the cage on, you can see that there are no obstructions to the camera from the cage.
The writing that is on the camera itself, like off/on and C1,
which are now covered by the cage, are replicated on the cage itself. You’re
not prevented from pressing any of the buttons and you’re still able to attach the windshield.
Although, and this seems to be a bit of a design flaw, if you have accessories like the Sony
wireless microphone or certain external flash’s then because of cage and its proximity to the hot
shoe mount, you are unable to fully attach these to the camera, as accessories like these like to
protrude forward when attached and obviously there just isn’t the room there to do so.
So if you’ve got one of those accessories that rely on the hot shoe mount of the ZV-E10 then,
I probably wouldn’t get this if I were you, but if you’ve got an accessory that needs to
be mounted on the top but doesn’t rely on power or the connectivity from the multi
interface shoe of the ZV-E10, then you can always use the cold shoe mount just above it.
On the side opposite to the grip side, you have full access
to opening both panels for connecting an external microphone as well as the USB-C,
HDMI and headphone jack ports. Within the cage, the ZV-E10’s flip screen is fully operational
and can be put in any position you’d want it in, even if it wasn’t in the cage,
when in it’s fully extended position, can be rotated fully both clockwise and anticlockwise.
At the bottom, you’ve got unobstructed access to the battery compartment,
so you’re able to remove and insert both the battery and the memory card to the camera
at anytime without having to remove the cage.
Sometimes it those small things that make you smile when you look at products like this,
the little cutout on the bottom of the cage for the trailing wire if you are using a dummy battery
which will ensure that the camera stays level on a surface, something you can’t do with the
camera on its own unless you’ve got another mount or accessory like this attached to it.
Those 1/4” threaded holes on the grip side of the cage allow you to do something that can’t
do easily with the camera itself, and that is to mount it in landscape orientation, yes,
you’re able to do this with certain tripods and mount adapters but there will be other
accessories like mini tripods or with a handheld setup where just having this one attachment is
perfect for the job and don’t forget you’ll still be able to add further accessories to the setup.
Let’s go and see a few instances, with the accessories I currently have,
in use with the Smallrig cage attached to the Sony ZV-E10.
As mentioned earlier, the Smallrig cage is also available for different camera models
as well as in different versions. For the ZV-E10 you can also get versions,
without the grip, with the base plate only and with the base plate and grip only.
Not only does the cage provide your ZV-E10 with protection and an enhanced gripping experience,
but it opens the endless possibility of adding accessories to your setup on different parts
of the cage that you would not be able to have with just the camera on it’s own
where you would usually be confined to one or two added accessories,
and it does this so simply, by just being there, made to almost perfection,
unfortunately let down by that hot shoe issue, but apart from that, everything else just works and
the way it integrates with the camera, most of it isn’t hindered by frame, you’ve still got exactly
the same access to all the buttons, card slots, the battery compartment and the flip screen.
Imagine being able to have the complete vlogging setup, light, external battery, microphone all on
a handheld mount and not limited by space, well you’ll be able to do so with this Smallrig cage.
If you enjoyed this video and want to see more ZV-E10 related content, please like
and subscribe to the channel, and press the bell icon to get notified every time
I release a new video, that’s all from me today, I’ll see you on the next one. Bye!!