Digital cameras have evolved a lot over the past few years. Nowadays, it’s possible to have cinema-like cameras at our fingertips with a pretty modest investment. It means there are no more excuses for shooting a so-so video. However, we’re not talking only about tripods or video heads. You can improve your recording quality by investing in the right gadgets. Here are some of the coolest ones you can have during that killing recording session.
Atomos Shinobi 5in Monitor
Atomos’ new gadget is a 4K monitor, rivalling the Ninja V in every aspect, although for a more affordable price. The HDMI monitor supports pictures with high brightness, and it’s a perfect tool for photographers, vloggers, and pretty much everyone in the creative industry. The 5-inch monitor is also perfect for displaying royalty stock footage with shockingly high definition.
Shinobi’s battery goes all day long, powering its 1000nit high brightness screen. It also has a Mirror Mode and a luxurious Analyst View packed with loads of tools. It’s possible to record using video scopes, waveforms, and histograms. It comes with an SD card that supports firmware updates and has additional storage space.
Additionally, this gadget is ultra-lightweight (200g only), making it even more useful for filmmakers and photographers. Not by chance, this gadget is becoming very popular in the audio-visual industry. Its average price makes it all the more competitive than other brands now dominating this market.
Giotto’s Rocket Air Blower
Here’s a pretty inexpensive way of keeping your sensors dust-free. Giotto’s Rocket Air Blower is an essential tool for photographers working on landscape photographs or light colours, such as a blue sky. Sensors are very delicate by definition, and cleaning them with air blows is always safer and better than wiping their surfaces with any cloth.
The device is hand-pumped, and it’s very simple to use. Although it feels a bit low-tech, Giotto’s Rocket Air Blower does the job just fine and has a clever design. There are two air valves, one on the top and the other on the bottom. The top one blows the air, and the bottom one refills the blower. This design prevents dust from re-entering the blower.
It costs about USD 20, it’s lightweight, and it goes miles in preserving your sensors and lenses. Its rocket-shaped design makes it easy to use and carry. The air-blowing chamber balloon is made of silica gel, which makes it flexible, and also makes it refill more quickly. This design is patented and exclusive to Giotto, and the nozzle can be removed.
SmallRig Cage
SmallRig is a well-known brand for professional photographers and filmmakers. It makes top-quality cages for pretty much every kind of camera, including mobile cameras. Some of its best models are designed to support Sony cameras, such as Sony A7III and A7RIII. They support mirrorless cameras, and it’s compatible with several extensions.
SmallRig cages are sturdy, and there’s very little rubber except for cables and grips. All the rest is made of metal anodised coating, giving it a sleek touch. However, customisation is still one of the best features of SmallRig cages. It’s possible to attach a top handle and a Twist Adjustable Monitor. So, users can make much more out of their cameras with it.
SmallRig competes with top brands in the field and comes in cheaper than most of them too. SmallRig cages won’t go above the USD 100 on the shelves, while Arca gadgets can cost about USD 200. The Sony models cost about USD 90, while the screen swivel is around USD 80. Besides, it’s much more customisable than comparable models and helps get top-quality shots.
DJI RSC 2
Gimbals are incredibly handy in any shooting session, and DJI did an excellent job on this one. Its USB battery goes on for 14 hours, and its folding design makes it portable. It follows the same high-quality standards as DJI’s well-known drones. It can turn 360 degrees and automatically stabilise video footage.
It’s strong enough to deal with full-frame cameras. The tripod is made of carbon fibre, and it’s a very resistant one. However, the battery isn’t removable or replaceable, which is a shame. Gimbal rookies and vets can expect a learning curve until finding the perfect balance. Still, the effort is worthwhile. The main secret here is to unfold it correctly. The USB port should be facing forward, and the monitor grip should be on the grip side.
DJI RSC 2 is lighter than most of its competitors and delivers comparable results in terms of technology. The installation is very straightforward and requires no tools, although a small screwdriver might come in handy. It’s also quite competitive price-wise: this model can be found for about USD 500, compared with flagship models like Zhiyun Crane 2S, which is about USD 600.