Horizontal to Vertical Mounting Solution - SmallRig vs. Atoll

As photographers, we are always looking to get the best shot, sometimes that requires us to rotate our camera's orientation on a tripod, so what is the best way to do that? In this video I review two similar products to see which one actually works best for me.
Unaffiliated links
SmallRig (hint, get this one): smallrig.com/S...
Atoll (hint, maybe stay away from this one): silencecorner....
Follow me on Instagram @spencerlee808
Mahalo for the non-paid actors (IG)
@koloheboy
@la_filipina_en_hawaii
@norrislwphotography

[@hmg7871]

We laughed so hard at the intro....laid us flat. Applause, Spencer, to the concept, cast and execution. Oh, yea, SmallRig, da bomb for landscape L/P turns on my GFX boxes. Warmed me to see the valley in your backdrop, Makaha Valley for may decades, mainlander now to shoot seasons. Mahalo.

[@spencerlee808]

🤣thanks alot! Im glad that you enjoyed my little skit

[@OrdLee]

Nearly bought the atoll and this is really helpful. Thank you for the cons when only a few, arguably only you, mentioning this con. You just save me a lot of money. Thanks a lot

[@RahiemThompson]

Bro just casually filming in front of a screen saver 😂 cool video man

[@shihhaochiu7018]

Thank you for sharing. It is obvious that smallrig is more stable. Can you share the purchase link or product model at 10:20 in the video? Thanks.

[@jenslingspaint3523]

Definitely helpful. Also, as silly as it is, the background sounds of all the ring neck doves and chickens was a great nostalgia tick for me. Lived in Pearl City for 10 years and just moved back to the mainland last fall, so I've been missing the sounds of the island.

[@gamilcastro9593]

I forget why I didn’t choose the Atoll, and I am very satisfied shooting with the SmallRig rotating collar mount. It is indeed sturdy and less expensive! No complaints on my long exposures. Note: the Atoll is to be considered the choice for macro photography or in general taking low angle shots on an inverted tripod as the rotation is a full 360; SmallRig’s version only rotates by 90 degrees and only in one direction. Having 360 degrees of motion means the camera is right-side-up while shooting inverted.

[@ArruAravind]

Hi sigma 50mm lens compatible to This Smallrig ?or not because i do no that’s y am asking u if its compatible means i will buy

[@troymclean9301]

Interesting. I just received my Atoll. I looked at the SmallRig but it’s not compatible with my lens, Tamron 35-150. I use a Sony 14mm GM for Milkyway so I’ll definitely be testing the stability of the Atoll.

[@StefanKamer]

Did you manage to try this out? What were your results? Because to me this issue sounds like a manufacturing tolerance question more than anything and usually that's the kind of thing that either varies in unit variance or just over time with better manufacturing scaling

[@alrgordon]

Good points of comparison! I also use the PD capture clip!

[@Julian-Patent]

Thank you I subscribed

[@frank-lewis8945]

Question - How many lock positions does each collar have? My understanding is that the small rig rotates at 0° and 90°. Where as Atoll has rotation positions at 0°, 90° and 180°. Can you please confirm if this information is correct? For shooting low, it would be nice to invert the tripod with the camera at ground level. Rotating the collar to 180° would place the flip screen upward. At the moment I prefer for ATOLL for this reason.

[@lightexplorer]

Excellent video. I had some suspicions about the stability of photos with ATOLL and glad I decided to stick with an L-Bracket

[@spencerlee808]

Good choice!

[@user-jp9js9th8o]

thx a lot for the comparison... but I would have liked it a) more compact (short) b) more systematically (you mention the Nisi shortly, and at the end it becomes not really clear, whether you prefer the small rig or much more expensive Atoll... only in the least sequences.. one has to skip many parts before to hit your messages;-)

[@backroadsphoto_by_fish]

Great video, glad to find your page, keep it up!

[@markcamm5330]

Terrific video Spencer. Loved the corny intro. Did they really throw real cameras over their shoulders? Anyway, for me SmallRig as a brand is a terrific cross between budget and, say, Manfrotto. I have a couple of SmallRig tripods as well as a Manfrotto and a Peak Design clip. Now that I know SmallRig also makes rotating collars, guess who I've bought from for my Nikon? I may not use the collar a lot, but I'm sure I'll be so glad I have it when I need to.

[@pathfinderjan]

HAHAHAHAHA that was fun!!! 😂🙌🏼

[@spencerlee808]

🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@badawiq]

Can you use it with a camera cage already installed on camera body?

[@spencerlee808]

Dont think a camera cage will work since the position of the “lens collar” portion will be lower than the lens

[@MannyG32968]

Is it possible to use the SmallRig mount for a telephoto lens (Sony 200-600mm)? Thanks.

[@spencerlee808]

should be! just can't use any of these guys with those tamron lenses with the usb port

[@GroupIII]

Great comparison. Thank you.

[@spencerlee808]

Glad it was helpful!

[@klayf_]

thanks for letting us know

[@jonglaser4468]

The only other solution is the Velbon PHD-66Q..Its heavy but allows for horizontal to vertical.

[@eastwest1827]

Too bad my Small Rig broke after only a few months. Love the function. But I am not convinced about the construction and longevity.

[@spencerlee808]

Ahh thats too bad, sorry to hear… im tryna find something else thats a little less bulky on the camera, but no luck yet

[@eastwest1827]

@@spencerlee808 I think it will be covered by the warranty and hopefully I just had bad luck. Let me know if you find something better 🙂

[@lianalehua7424]

Can Ed, Norris and Ida be in more of your intros? 😂 Excellent review. Thank you. Anything similar and reliable (doesn’t “shake like a stripper” 😂) you’ve found for the A1? Mahalo!

[@jessiepalanca1022]

Does this smallrig work with the a7III?

[@ourlinkzrelaxingmusic1219]

Anyone used the Ulanzi Rotatable Horizontal-to-Vertical Mount?

[@spencerlee808]

id like to test that one out too... ill look into it

[@bamhamer]

Why small rig didn't make it 180° turnable is beyond me Also i would appreciate a version with a build in plate for the capture clip so you don't have to deal with loosening bolts or sliding plates anymore Last but not least I would love if they would come up with a solution that supports bigger lenses

[@rogalaphotography]

You must of got a bad Atoll unit because mine is ROCK SOLID!!! I'd rather support the CREATOR of such an original & useful product than a copycat company like Smallrig!!!

[@valdemarjrgensen8128]

To be fair, it seems that Silence Corner started by ripping off peak design.

[@rogalaphotography]

@@valdemarjrgensen8128 How? Peak Design DOESNT have this type of mount. Atoll put the Peak Design mount on their WITH PEAK DESIGNS PERMISSION!

[@valdemarjrgensen8128]

@@rogalaphotography I'm not talking about the atoll, I'm referencing their "Squid" straps. They are very obviously using the Anchor Links idea that peak design popularized.

[@gabs0r]

Such disrespect for expensive gear.

[@akkarparkiamopas3401]

Atoll is the innovator of this thing by the way. The rest stole the idea and make their own. Just simply accept it.

[@bass4512]

He said that in the video…

[@asacrj50]

Atoll didn't invent anything. Telephoto lenses have had lens collar rings that attach to a tripod for decades. This is nothing more than a universal collar ring.

[@valdemarjrgensen8128]

@@asacrj50 I mean, that isn't an insignificant innovation.

[@Auhana50]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@onlykts]

Are that rich give to someone who need it😢