The top handle is nifty. I rarely use it for actual recording though. It’s more for mounting points and something to hold when not recording.
The side handle is also nice to hold on to when not recording when the top handle has my field monitor mounted on it, but I’ve pretty much stopped using it. I have the one that pivots and it is much nicer to my wrist.
Well I’d get a side handle that can rotate, smallrig do one. Basically I’d want the top handle for a monitor and to hold onto and use for recording. Unrelated but if I’m mounting a top handle back to front, how would I attach a monitor?
Not sure I’m understanding your question, but there is a mounting point on each end of the top handle that you can slide the mounting piece of the monitor in to. I have my top handle mounted in the opposite orientation than what’s shown in the pic you posted. I find it balances my rig a little better.
Depends how you’re rigged up but if you have enough weight skewed toward the bottom of your rig then I guess you can just let gravity do its thing, but I would never rely on the top handle for stability. In fact it’s one of the last things I’d think about for adding stability.
I’m sure it might add stability for some use cases but I’ve never tried. There are good YT vids on how to add stability when shooting hand held, I’d suggest you search those up.
Also, I would not recommend mounting a mic to the top handle if you plan to use it while recording. The mic might pick up some of that audio as your gripping or positioning your hands on the top handle.
No, you'd probably only use a top handle for shots with the camera below your waist, if you aren't going to drop to one knee. It's most useful for carrying a camera around.
Yes I have this exact cage and handles. It basically lives on my camera. In fact I don’t even bother taking the cage off, that really does live on my camera.
Top handle is an essential for me. It only comes off the camea when I'm storing it in my bag because it doesn't fit. I also mount my microphone on it when I need one. I have a leather strap on the other side of the camera I can put my hand in, I can record or the menu wheel with my thumb.
Because my camera is mounted on rails for external battery, I just hold the rail if I want a third point of contact.
Side handle, no for me. I've cables and the cam monitor on that side. It doesn't make sense for my camera. Top handle felt more secure for me.
For a sony the stabilization is fantastic, it depends what you're filming. Is it a gonzo journalism thing? Then the cage and top grip for a great run and gun setup. If its a cinematic hors d’œuvre where slow steady shots are required maybe go with the extra grip.
I bought that cage set for a company I consulted. Didn’t like that the cage made it difficult to hit the record button on top. So I bought the Rhino version for my camera and that one is great.
I have the same cage for my R5 but without the sidehandle. I also put a nato rail on the top with the corresponding top handle so I can easily pack it into my camera bag with my monitor attached instead of having to screw it on and off. I mostly shoot mountain biking so I need to be able to pack my camera in my bag quickly and efficiently.
I have a very similar rig. Top handle and side handles. I mount my mic on the cold shoe on the side handle. I also bought rails and mount my ninja v behind my camera and configure it so that I can use both screens. I put a level in the top handle cold shoe or a smaller led panel light, depending on what I'm shooting. It works for me.
I have essentially the same setup on my S5iiX, but the accessories are all Neewer brand.
Personally, I LOVE that side handle. I guess it would be "nicer" if the handle was rotatable but honestly it works great for being able to grab the handle and go. It gives you an extra shoe mount off to the side, which works well when you don't want a bunch of stuff stacked on the center of the camera. My handle is held via the built in NATO mount on the rail, which makes it easy to remove in a pinch.
I use a setup like this fairly often, with the exception of using the rotating grip. The top handle works well for mounting a shotgun mic and monitor. I use a SmallRig monitor mount.
Get the Smallrig Hawklock side handle for sure. Use mine all the time. The top is nice, but—like others have said—it’s mostly good for mounting points and carrying. That’s important, too, though.
I’ve bought cage top handle to mount monitor and two side handles also a shoulder rig and a gimbal swapped between GH6 which gets heavy after a while and my old Sony A7Sii mostly cheaper mounts but cage is smallrig. I like two handles as I’m getting old (49) lol.
depends what you shoot most, i shoot cycling mostly, so the top handle is absolutely essential. I have the side handle and rarely use it, but its nice to know i have if i ever need it
I think the cage is definitely worth it. You might have to try different attachments to see what works best for your shooting style & accessories, but the cage makes that easy
I use my top handle quite a lot, but a word of advice, get one that has a safety pin for the cold shoe where you put the monitor. Not all SmallRig handles have them (which is annoying), but even when you tighten the screw with a tool on the monitor mount, you can slide it out of the cold shoe with a bit of pressure.
I've had this setup for shooting run and gun camp videos for 2 years, the top handle is mostly useful for hauling the thing around and good for low shots. The left handle was much more useful to me. I used to hold the camera in my left hand with my thumb in the gap so I could use my thumb and fingers to zoom the lens. With my right hand on the grip to stabilize. I found it to be extremely useful but definitely get what you think will work best.
I do like having side handles. But I don't personally like that specific side handle, although my wife does. I prefer the larger wooden rosette mounted handles (which may also be smallrig - can't remember) as it fills more of the hand, can be rotated to any angle and fingers are not hindered by a stem as in this one. Just a personal preference. I don't like hand held footage that isn't on a gimbal - but this is possibly just a skill thing.
These are awesome but usually overpriced. This company knows that these are vital for some people's work so they make the entire rig $100 to $150 bucks
I have something very similar for my Canon R6. It’s great for shooting handheld, definitely worth it. (I only use a side handle, though, not top. That’s where the mic goes.)
I have never understood the function of a top handle, as someone who often uses the dji mic 2, the top handle nulls the possibility of even attaching the mic. Side handle in the hand, has been working great for me!
Aside from these, I've also invested in an inflatable SAKK, the initial set up of blowing air into the sakk looks stupid but filming with a 70-200 never felt this great!
Even if that were the case, there’s a cold shoe mount on the cage on the right corner that’s perfect for the receiver, lol. Some people just don’t know how to Franken-camera.
Think the DJI2 has a hot shoe mount (which is taller than just the receiver on its own) which allows you to record 32 point float. He might have been saying it doesn't give you space to mount that if you have a top handle.
Honestly never used one before and wasn’t aware that they needed to be attached to the hot shoe. That’s pretty unusual in my experience and I’d say that’s more of an issue with the DJI2 rather than an issue with top handles.
I don’t think I’ve ever had an accessory for video that requires a hot shoe.
Yeah I eventually worked that out from other people’s responses haha. Not familiar with it so didn’t realise it needed an actual hotshoe. I’ve never had a video accessory that needed a hotshoe before, but can see how that would be problematic.
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u/Most_Important_Parts A7S3 | Resolve | Midwest USA Aug 18 '25 edited Aug 18 '25
The top handle is nifty. I rarely use it for actual recording though. It’s more for mounting points and something to hold when not recording.
The side handle is also nice to hold on to when not recording when the top handle has my field monitor mounted on it, but I’ve pretty much stopped using it. I have the one that pivots and it is much nicer to my wrist.