Blackmagic Forum

Hey everyone,

I am just curious to see what cage will you guys use with the Pyxis, if any?

Mid49 has different options but quite pricey.
Shape is cheaper but less "complete" and doesn't all the way around.
Kondor is again different and priced between the two.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts .

Cheers,
Flo

I’m not doing a cage with the Pyxis. It seems rugged enough.
I am cobbling together parts to make several rigs viable. I really want the lightest weight for the camera as I can build.
Mid49 is super solid. I’d recommend them.

Adam Langdon wrote:I’m not doing a cage with the Pyxis. It seems rugged enough.
I am cobbling together parts to make several rigs viable. I really want the lightest weight for the camera as I can build.
Mid49 is super solid. I’d recommend them.

I am still unsure about having a cage either as I didn't have one with the Ursa. The Pyxis seems rugged enough indeed and the side plate will really help too. I always prefer a lighter rig too but I do like having the choice of mounting accessories on both sides and having a nato handle on top that I can take on and off quickly for example. Just considering all options at the moment .

For my own reasons I priced out a PYXIS package and didn’t bother with a cage.

Baseplate I did the Blackmagic Tripod Mount for Studio 4K Camera (15mm LWS): https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1708638-REG
Then URSA Cine Top Handle: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1833225-REG

Those together with the Blackmagic selection of side plates and it seems like it’s rigged well enough. Then it’s just cards, batteries, and etc.

Now I’m doing this under the assumption that later down the road a PL version with Internal ND comes out. Since I’d just use my PL lenses. The other hope is a future version has a slightly better 6K VistaVision sensor that at least can do 6K 16:9 at 60 FPS. That would at least provide an improvement to rolling shutter and cover max frame rate most clients seem to expect.

But I like to plan things out. I even added an extra thousand on to the camera body for my price estimate so I know what I could plan for. I don’t use a cage with my UMP, and wouldn’t use one with the UCine. So I like when I don’t have to add a cage to the build.


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I also wouldn’t plan on a full cage; a partial cage could be added but only if your accessories require it. I like the idea of using the default setup where the right side plate securely holds an external SSD.

I think I might make a video of "the cheapest Pyxis Rig Possible" but honesty, since the announced the monitor...

My setups going forward would be:

"Light and Easy"
- Body
- USB-C Monitor
- L Mount Lens
- BP-U Battery
- Side handle

"Fully Rigged"
- Body
- SDI 7" Monitor
- PL to L Mount Adapter
- PL Lenses
- Matte Box
- Rails w/ support
- DJI Focus Pro setup
- Top handle
- V Mount Plate/Battery
- Wireless TX

I think, and it may sound funny, but I'm looking forward to leaving my 6k FF as a B Cam with minimal setup. I know I keep going back and forth on rigging the pocket-style body, but man, getting away from that cable mess...

timbutt2 wrote:For my own reasons I priced out a PYXIS package and didn’t bother with a cage.

Baseplate I did the Blackmagic Tripod Mount for Studio 4K Camera (15mm LWS): https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1708638-REG
Then URSA Cine Top Handle: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1833225-REG

Those together with the Blackmagic selection of side plates and it seems like it’s rigged well enough. Then it’s just cards, batteries, and etc.

Now I’m doing this under the assumption that later down the road a PL version with Internal ND comes out. Since I’d just use my PL lenses. The other hope is a future version has a slightly better 6K VistaVision sensor that at least can do 6K 16:9 at 60 FPS. That would at least provide an improvement to rolling shutter and cover max frame rate most clients seem to expect.

But I like to plan things out. I even added an extra thousand on to the camera body for my price estimate so I know what I could plan for. I don’t use a cage with my UMP, and wouldn’t use one with the UCine. So I like when I don’t have to add a cage to the build.


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That's a great / neat idea . Pretty much how I had my UMP.
The Pyxis kinds sits between the two lineups so I feel it can be 'naked' or fully rigged.
And yes a Pyxis Pro with ND and an updated sensor would make sense

rick.lang wrote:I also wouldn’t plan on a full cage; a partial cage could be added but only if your accessories require it. I like the idea of using the default setup where the right side plate securely holds an external SSD.

My thoughts originally. At the moment I am thinking of putting my DJI Focus Pro on the side plate.

Adam Langdon wrote:I think I might make a video of "the cheapest Pyxis Rig Possible" but honesty, since the announced the monitor...

My setups going forward would be:

"Light and Easy"
- Body
- USB-C Monitor
- L Mount Lens
- BP-U Battery
- Side handle

"Fully Rigged"
- Body
- SDI 7" Monitor
- PL to L Mount Adapter
- PL Lenses
- Matte Box
- Rails w/ support
- DJI Focus Pro setup
- Top handle
- V Mount Plate/Battery
- Wireless TX

I think, and it may sound funny, but I'm looking forward to leaving my 6k FF as a B Cam with minimal setup. I know I keep going back and forth on rigging the pocket-style body, but man, getting away from that cable mess...

Yep, pretty much my two versions as well I think. Expect I will stay in L or L-EF.
I already run my 6K both bare bones but also fully rigged up so leaving it minimal as B cam / travel / personal cam is appealing for me too .

Florent Piovesan wrote:… At the moment I am thinking of putting my DJI Focus Pro on the side plate.

That’s a great idea. I was thinking of using the external SSD for fallback, but having two CFexpress slots should provide enough recording redundancy and the Focus Pro would make a valuable addition to the Pyxis without adding a cage. Thanks.

Florent Piovesan wrote:Hey everyone,

I am just curious to see what cage will you guys use with the Pyxis, if any?

Mid49 has different options but quite pricey.
Shape is cheaper but less "complete" and doesn't all the way around.
Kondor is again different and priced between the two.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts .

Cheers,
Flo

XLCS Designs is coming out with some pretty great cage options. Cheaper than Kondor (lighter, too) with a lot more options to build off of.


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willvontagen wrote:

Florent Piovesan wrote:Hey everyone,

I am just curious to see what cage will you guys use with the Pyxis, if any?

Mid49 has different options but quite pricey.
Shape is cheaper but less "complete" and doesn't all the way around.
Kondor is again different and priced between the two.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts .

Cheers,
Flo

XLCS Designs is coming out with some pretty great cage options. Cheaper than Kondor (lighter, too) with a lot more options to build off of.


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Thanks for this, I will definitely check them out!

Hey Flo,

I've used both the Mid49 and Kondor cages with my Pyxis, and I agree they offer different features at varying price points. The Mid49 is definitely on the pricier side but has great options, while the Kondor falls somewhere in between in terms of price and features. Personally, I found the Shape cage to be a budget-friendly option, although it may lack some of the bells and whistles of the other two. Depending on your needs and budget, any of these cages could be a good fit. It ultimately comes down to what features are most important to you and how much you're willing to invest. Cheers!

I'm kind of surprised by the limited brands making cages at the moment. I would be sure there are more coming from Shape, SmallRig, Tilta, and Wooden Camera. Usually those brands make cages for all kinds of cameras. I know I use Tilta for my Pocket 6K Pro.

Perhaps there are several in development that will be announced as the camera ships. I use Shape with a handle on my BMPCC4K.

Florent, I bought an M49 cage for our BMCC6KFF and it's a lovely piece of gear. It's the best cage I've ever bought, and I've bought a lot—including from SmallRig, Tilta, WC.

Ryan co-founded Wooden Camera and now MID49, and I think they learned a lot from the last 10 years. I know it seems expensive, but the quality and industrial design feels comparable to ARRI accessories.

Fabián

I'm liking the idea of just the Mid49 side plate and xlr adapter for any work that needs it. And maybe rigging something up for a top handle from parts I already have. I also have the Tilta lightweight handheld rig for any shoulder stuff.

joeyciccoline wrote:I'm liking the idea of just the Mid49 side plate and xlr adapter for any work that needs it. And maybe rigging something up for a top handle from parts I already have. I also have the Tilta lightweight handheld rig for any shoulder stuff.

Oh, yeah, that Side Plate reminds me that I hate the placement of the Mini-XLR Port on the PYXIS. I'd rather a lens motor port be there and the Mini-XLR on the back of the camera.

Fabián Aguirre wrote:Florent, I bought an M49 cage for our BMCC6KFF and it's a lovely piece of gear. It's the best cage I've ever bought, and I've bought a lot—including from SmallRig, Tilta, WC.

Ryan co-founded Wooden Camera and now MID49, and I think they learned a lot from the last 10 years. I know it seems expensive, but the quality and industrial design feels comparable to ARRI accessories.

Fabián

I'm another Mid49 fan. I preordered the Smallrig cage, but it was delayed and I wanted a cage for a job so, after reading about it here, I ordered the Mid49 and thought the design was different and useful in ways I wouldn't have thought about if I hadn't used it. Good people and very responsive when I had questions.

I love mid49, got the mid kit for my vraptor with the rainbow handle that has come in clutch so many times... their pieces don't have that slight wiggle like smallrig, less pricey than wooden camera. I used WC for so long and probably wont go back after trying out mid49

I got the Shape cage but have 2 problems with it.
First of the NATO side rails can either be both put at the back end or the front of the top plate because they have a fixed orientation. I got 2 of the Mid49 rails today and they are way nicer because you can change the angle with the rosette.
But the problem that is much worse with the Shape Nato rails ist that they don't fit any of my NATO accesories. They are simply to high. I asked a couple of colleagues if they ever experienced something like this because NATO should be standardized. Allready wrote to support twice, but haven't heard back from them.

Ok, just got my answer from SHAPE. It seems to be a production error indeed. And I was the very first customer to tell them about it
So if anybody got the Shape cage, don't be shy and write to them about getting a replacement for the rails. Sadly it will take them about a month to get the new ones out.

As for cage I'm waiting for the perfect one (I posted multiple times on facebook groups already the features that I'd like), or a more affordable one.

Keep in mind that :
A Tilta cage for Komodo-X with baseplate and top handle is 400euros wo/tax on CVP right now.

MID49 / Kondor you're looking at 1000-1400$.

Shape is 579 without top handle.

No way I'm paying 1400$ for a cage that doesn't do 100% of what I'd like.
I'll wait.

Nathan_H wrote:As for cage I'm waiting for the perfect one (I posted multiple times on facebook groups already the features that I'd like), or a more affordable one.

Keep in mind that :
A Tilta cage for Komodo-X with baseplate and top handle is 400euros wo/tax on CVP right now.

MID49 / Kondor you're looking at 1000-1400$.

Shape is 579 without top handle.

No way I'm paying 1400$ for a cage that doesn't do 100% of what I'd like.
I'll wait.

The XLCS cages are shipping soon and start at $300. they’re also lighter than the Kondor and Mid cages (600g and 655g). CineD just posted an article about them.


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Hey Willvontagen,
I do know about your brand and your cage system since the Blackmagic Pocket OG times.
Cool product but it's too bulky of a design for me.

As for weight, let's put in perspective that the Mid49 cage include a base plate with quickrelease and a top handle.