SHAPE Sony a7S III Cage and Rigging Solutions Released

Camera Cage

by Jeff LochOctober 6^th, 2020

SHAPE has just released a couple of rigging solutions for the Sony a7S III, including a cage, a wooden Push-Button top handle compatible with Sony’s Audio Unit, and a lightweight 15mm rod baseplate. Let’s take a closer look at all these SHAPE Sony a7S III pieces of kit!

SHAPE Sony a7S III Cage

After Tilta and Smallrig, Canadian manufacturer SHAPE has released its Sony a7S III Cage and rigging solutions.

The SHAPE Sony a7S III Cage is made from CNC-machined aluminum. Your camera attaches to the cage via one 1/4″-20 screw at the bottom. Also, there’s a little tab at the bottom front of the cage that prevents your camera from twisting inside the cage.

Here is a quick list of all the mounting point the SHAPE Cage for the a7S III gives you:

• One cold shoe on the left side (when the camera is facing you).
• A dozen 1/4″-20 threaded holes all around the cage.
• Seven 3/8″-16 threaded holes with ARRI anti-rotation locating pins

The cage doesn’t get in the way of any of the control buttons, input/output ports, strap hooks, memory card slots, battery compartment, and, more importantly, the camera hot-shoe that allows you to connect Sony’s XLR-K3M Audio Unit.

The SHAPE Sony a7S III Cage comes with a removable cable lock system that allows you to secure your HDMI cable into place.

At the bottom of the cage, there are two 1/4″-20 mounting points to attach your tripod plate.

SHAPE Sony a7S III Cage with Top Handle

Another version of the SHAPE a7S III Cage is available with a removable top handle. This handle is just a “regular” handle made out of metal that attaches via a 1/4″-20 screw to the top of your cage.

There are four cold shoe mounting points on the handle, a couple of 1/4″-20 and 3/8″-20 mounting points, as well as the possibility to mount a 15mm rod in front of the handle.

This handle is well designed, but it doesn’t feature SHAPE’s push-button technology that allows you to turn and adjust your grip without any tools quickly.

SHAPE Sony a7S III Cage with 15mm LW Rod System

Another option is the SHAPE Cage for the a7S III with a 15mm LW Rod system. This bundle includes the cage, a removable wooden top handle with SHAPE’s push-button technology, and a 15mm LW rod baseplate.

The wooden top handle attaches to the cage via screws, and it doesn’t block the Sony XLR-K3M Audio Unit. On the handle itself, there are a couple of 1/4″-20 and 3/8″-16 mounting points, as well as some cold shoe mounts.

One nice thing about this handle is that you can rotate it 360° with just one push of the red button. Press it, turn the handle, release it, and boom, you’re ready to go.

This kit comes with a V-Mount wedge that attaches to the bottom of the cage. Then, your camera slides into the 15mm LW rod baseplate and locks into place.

There are two 3/8″-16 and three 1/4″-20 mounting points at the bottom of the baseplate so you can attach your tripod quick release plate to it.

Finally, this kit comes with a pair of 10” 15 mm rods, as well as an ARRI rosette that you can attach to the right side of the cage to mount extra accessories.

Pricing and Availability

All SHAPE’s accessories for the Sony a7S III are available now. The cage is $198.00/€221.00, the bundle with the top handle is $263.00/€294.00, and the cage with the wooden top handle plus 15mm LW rod system is $483.00/€540.00. If you need a follow focus, mattebox, or shoulder mount, other bundles are also available starting at $700/€730.00.

For more information, you can visit SHAPE’s website here. While we encourage you to use links to our affiliate sponsors B&H and CVP below to support CineD, it’s fair to add that you can save 25% in the SHAPE Store until October 12th, 2020 if you use the code FALL2020 at checkout.

What do you think about these new SHAPE rigging solutions for the a7S III? What are your favorite rigging options for the Sony a7S III? Did you already receive your camera? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!