Which camera cages are recommended for Sony A7S III video work?

Question

So I finally pulled the trigger on the A7S III for this indie doc Im filming in Seattle next month but now Im stuck on the rigging. I looked at the basic SmallRig one since everyone has it but saw some reviews saying it twists a bit with heavier lenses. Then there is the Tilta gray one which looks sick but I dont get if I need all their specific accessories or if my old stuff works.

Needs to be:

under $150

solid enough for a Ninja V monitor

got a cold shoe for my mic

works with Manfrotto plates

Should I just stick with the basic stuff or is there a better middle ground I missed?

BitPhantom · Accepted Answer

Honestly, I've used many but the SmallRig 3667B Full Cage for Sony A7S III is the sweet spot. It has dual-point locking so it wont twist, and it handles heavy rigging easily.

Backlitnax · Answer

Re: "Honestly, I've used many but the SmallRig 3667B..." - that cage is decent, but for maximum rigidity with a Atomos Ninja V 5-inch Monitor, the Tilta Full Camera Cage for Sony a7S III TA-T18-FCC is excellent.

Ensure you use the side-locking screw to prevent the twisting you mentioned.

It includes two cold shoes for accessories. Which specific Manfrotto plate model are you using? Some 501PL clones have clearance issues with the cage base.

MidnightVector · Answer

i'd be cautious about the manfrotto plates since some cages have baseplate tolerances that dont always lock securely on every fluid head model. make sure to check the mounting hole offset too. quick questions... are you planning to use the Sony XLR-K3M Digital XLR Adapter for audio? also, do you need an integrated arca-swiss rail for switching to a gimbal quickly?