Summer may be a relatively slow time for camera releases, but that doesn’t stop accessory makers from coming out with new products to fill new niches, round out their lineups, or even just put a spin on existing models. We’ve rounded up a few recent releases that caught our eye.
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| Image: SmallRig |
A colorful cage
Today’s first accessory is one that many video shooters will be familiar with: the SmallRig camera cage. By themselves, they’re nothing new, but later this week, the company will hold a “cage color customization event” to let people buy a cage that’s been treated with a colorful finish (hat tip to PetaPixel for the news). Orders will open up on Wednesday, August 15th, and the company’s website lets you register to get a notification when that happens.
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Whether or not you sign up, you’ll probably have to be very quick and lucky to get one: SmallRig says it’ll only sell 100 units on a first come, first served basis. And while the nine metallic finishes may be available in every color of the rainbow (and then some), you can only get them applied to 16 of the cages SmallRig makes.
The good news is that the colorful versions won’t cost anything extra over the regular ones if you happen to have one of the supported cameras. That does raise the question of what the business sense is for this program, especially given that SmallRig is only selling 100 of them, but at least a few people will have a fun piece to wrap their cameras in.
Manfrotto’s expanding its BeFree Advanced lineup
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The BeFree Advanced AS carbon fiber. Image: Manfrotto |
Manfrotto is adding a few new models and options to its lineup of BeFree Advanced tripods. The first is the BeFree Advanced AS, a tripod the company says is aimed at professional photographers using mirrorless systems. It supports a payload of up to 9 kg (19.84 lbs).
While the regular BeFree Advanced uses an Arca-compatible plate, you have to use a lever and a safety catch to remove the plate or mounted accessory. The AS’ head uses an adjustable friction mount instead, which lets you directly attach L-brackets, camera cages, and telephoto lens collar mounts to it (provided they have Arca attachment points).
The head also has a “panoramic knob” that Manfrotto says will let you keep the camera level while rotating it to help get a cleaner stitch when you’re creating wide images. There are three versions of the BeFree Advanced AS: you can get the aluminum version with either twist or lever locks for $199 or a carbon fiber one with twist locks for $289.
Manfrotto also announced the GT Pro 3-way tripod, which it says is aimed at “travel hybrid creators” who shoot photos and video. It can hold 6 kg (13.2 lbs) and has two handles, a fluid drag system for pan and tilt control, and a half-ball leveling system. The aluminum version costs $329, and the carbon fiber one is $429.
You can also now buy the BeFree GT Pro tripod legs separately if you want to attach your own ball head to them using a standard 3/8th-inch thread. They have a maximum payload of 12 kg (26.46 lbs) and cost $199 for the aluminum version and $299 for the carbon fiber one.
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BeFree Advanced AS Aluminum
BeFree Advanced AS Carbon
GT Pro 3-way Carbon
Tilta’s new travel tripods
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| Image: Tilta |
Tilta’s $299 VT05 is a four-section, lever-lock travel tripod with a fluid head. It’s made of carbon fiber and includes an Arca plate, an adjustable handle and rubberized feet that cover the metal spikes you’ll want if you’re shooting outdoors.
At 2 kg (4.41 lbs) for the head and carbon fiber legs, it’s certainly not the lightest tripod in the world (Peak Design’s substantially more expensive carbon fiber travel tripod only weighs around 1.27 kg / 2.81 lbs), but it’s also far from the heaviest set of sticks out there. You can also detach the center column and flip it upside-down if the thing you’re shooting is low to the ground.
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Speaking of being low to the ground, the company also announced a small tabletop tripod called the BT03. At $89, the carbon fiber and aluminum tripod has two-section legs with twist locks, a ball head with an Arca quick-release plate, and a maximum height of around 350mm (13.7″).
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| Image: Tilta |
There’s also the BT03E, which is the same tripod with a removable extender bar that adds around 200mm (8″) to the height and $9 to the price. Both models are available in grey, white, or green.
With a head payload rating of 3 kg (6.61 lbs), the BT03 is better suited to phones and smaller mirrorless setups than giant video rigs, though using the extender bar brings that up to 5 kg (11 lbs) according to Tilta’s spec sheet.
Tilta is offering a 10% discount for pre-ordering the tripods through its site until August 21st.
Our DPREVIEW Tribute:
After nearly 25 years of operation, DPReview closed on 10 April 2023. This difficult decision was part of the annual operating plan review that parent company, Amazon, shared earlier this year.
Over the course of 25 years, DP Review built up a reputation as being one of the most informative places to go for information about that new camera or lens you’re after. DP Review began as an independent reviews site based in the UK in 1998, the brainchild of Philip and Joanna Askey, but it was eventually purchased by Amazon in 2007 and relocated over to Seattle in the USA in 2010.
Cheers DPReview – thanks for the great work and content that guided photographers, videographers and techno junkies the world over!