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A camera cage is usually the first accessory anyone buying into video work adds — it protects the body, adds mounting points for rails, monitors, and mics, and turns a mirrorless body into something you can actually rig up. SmallRig makes dedicated cages for most current mirrorless and cinema cameras, and picking the right one comes down to matching it to your specific camera model and how much you plan to rig on top of it.
Sony a7 IV / a7S III / a1 / a7R IV
Sony’s a7 IV and a7S III share a body shape with the a1 and a7R IV, so SmallRig covers all four with the same cage lines.
- Full Cage with HawkLock Quick-Release (3667B/3667C) — [AFFILIATE LINK: SmallRig Full Cage for Sony a7R V/a7 IV/a7S III/a1/a7R IV]. Full top and side protection plus a built-in NATO rail and SmallRig’s HawkLock quick-release system for snapping on handles and monitors without extra plates.
- Half Cage with Arca-Swiss quick release (3639 / ccs2629) — [AFFILIATE LINK: SmallRig Half Cage for Sony a7 IV/a7S III/a1/a7R IV]. Lighter, bottom-and-side-only protection with a built-in Arca-Swiss compatible baseplate — the better pick if you mostly shoot handheld or on a tripod and don’t need full top-rail protection.
Sony a7R V / a7 IV / a7S III (newer kits)
For the a7R V generation, SmallRig has three tiers depending on how much rig you want to carry:
- Basic Cage Kit (3668B) — [AFFILIATE LINK: SmallRig Basic Cage Kit for Sony a7R V/a7 IV/a7S III]. Just the cage, a top handle, and mounting points — good for a minimal run-and-gun setup.
- Advanced Cage Kit (3669C) — [AFFILIATE LINK: SmallRig Advanced Cage Kit for Sony a7R V/a7 IV/a7S III]. Adds NATO rails and extra accessory points, built for two-handed and low-angle shooting rigs.
- Rhinoceros Carbon Fiber Cage (3708) — [AFFILIATE LINK: SmallRig Rhinoceros Carbon Fiber Cage for Sony a7R V/a7 IV/a7S III]. A lighter carbon-fiber version of the full cage for shooters who feel the weight difference on long handheld days.
Canon EOS R5 Mark II / R6 Mark II
SmallRig maintains a dedicated cage line for Canon’s current R5 Mark II and R6 Mark II bodies, following the same full-cage-vs-half-cage choice as the Sony lineup: full protection with NATO rails for a heavier rig, or a lighter Arca-Swiss baseplate cage for handheld work. [AFFILIATE LINK: SmallRig cage for Canon EOS R5 Mark II/R6 Mark II].
Fujifilm X-T5 / X-H2 / X-H2S
Fuji’s X-T5 and X-H2/X-H2S share a similar chassis, and SmallRig’s cages for this line focus on preserving access to the X-T5’s dedicated dial controls while still adding cold shoe and 1/4″-20 mounting points around the body. [AFFILIATE LINK: SmallRig cage for Fujifilm X-T5/X-H2/X-H2S].
Panasonic Lumix S5 / S5 II
The S5 II’s active cooling vents mean a cage needs clearance built in around the sides — SmallRig’s S5/S5 II cage is designed around that rather than a generic fit. [AFFILIATE LINK: SmallRig cage for Panasonic Lumix S5/S5 II].
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro / 6K G2
The BMPCC 6K Pro’s built-in ND filter wheel and flip-out screen change where a cage can safely add hard points compared to a mirrorless stills body. SmallRig’s cage for the 6K Pro/6K G2 is built specifically around those features rather than adapted from a photo-camera cage. [AFFILIATE LINK: SmallRig cage for Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro/6K G2].
Full Cage or Half Cage: How to Choose
The honest answer is that it comes down to how much you’re actually rigging. A half cage with an Arca-Swiss baseplate covers the two things almost everyone needs — a quick tripod release and a couple of extra mounting points — without adding bulk to a body you might still want to hold like a stills camera sometimes. A full cage earns its extra weight and size once you’re consistently adding a top handle, monitor, and mic at the same time, or shooting in conditions where the extra protection around the ports and screen actually matters.
- Handheld run-and-gun, occasional rigging → half cage with Arca-Swiss baseplate.
- Multi-accessory rig (monitor + mic + handle + lights) → full cage with NATO rails.
- Weight-sensitive gimbal or long handheld days → look for a carbon fiber option if your camera has one.
- Always double-check port access — a cage that blocks your camera’s HDMI or headphone port on the wrong side is a common, avoidable mistake.
Bottom Line
There isn’t a single “best” SmallRig cage — there’s the right one for your specific camera and how much you actually plan to hang off it. Match the cage to your camera model first, then decide between half and full cage based on your real rigging habits rather than buying the biggest option “just in case.”