The Perfect VERTICAL Sony FX3 / FX30 Rig in 2023

What's the best VERTICAL rig for the Sony FX3 or Sony FX30? Well... after much testing and deliberation, I think I've finally discovered the best rig for vertical shooting. This rig for the Sony FX3 or FX30 is awesome for social media and other vertical orientated shoots.
The Rig
Camera (Sony FX3): geni.us/Mesh-fx3
Cheaper Camera (Sony FX30): geni.us/Mesh-FX30
All Time Favorite Lens (24-70): geni.us/Mesh-2470GM
FX3/FX3 Cage: geni.us/FX3-Cage
V Mount Systemgeni.us/v-mount-system
V Mount50: geni.us/V-Mount-50
V Mount99: geni.us/V-Mount-99
Cheaper V Mount: amzn.to/3nzJk7s
Nato Top Handle: geni.us/Nato-Top
Nato Side Handle: geni.us/Nato-Side
Monitor Arm: geni.us/Friction-Arm
Ninja V Monitor: geni.us/Ninja-V-
Cheaper Monitor: geni.us/Andycine
Variable ND: geni.us/PMVND
Dummy Battery: geni.us/Dummy-B
HDMI: geni.us/Mesh-HDMI
USB-C: amzn.to/3ny7pvg
Tripod: geni.us/SmallRig-FreeBlazer
Level up your Photography: www.photographyforcreators.com
Presets, Templates & Free Stuff: beacons.ai/meshna
TOOLS TO MAKE BETTER VIDS:
Artlist - All my music and SFX: bit.ly/Artlist-Meshna
CAMERA GEAR
Main Camera for Photo (Sony A1): geni.us/Mesh-A1
The Camera I Film These Vids With (Sony FX3): geni.us/Mesh-fx3
All Time Favorite Lens (24-70): geni.us/Mesh-2470GM
Primary Landscape Lens (16-35): geni.us/Mesh-1635GM
Best Budget Sony Lens: geni.us/Mesh-2070
Favorite Prime Lens (35mm): geni.us/7H2j3
Astro Lens (20mm): geni.us/Mesh-20G
Telephoto Beast (100-400): geni.us/Mesh-100GM
Portrait / BRoll Lens (50mm): geni.us/Mesh-50-14
STUDIO SETUP
Main Key Light: geni.us/Mesh-300B
Cheaper Light Option: geni.us/Mesh-200x
My Studio Microphone (w/ cloud lifter): geni.us/Mesh-SM7B
Travel Tripod: geni.us/Mesh-PDTripod
BUDGET OPTIONS
Budget Sony Mirrorless: geni.us/Mesh-6400
Budget Canon Mirrorless: geni.us/g1SL1
Vlogger Camera: geni.us/Mesh-ZV1
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Note: I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases when you click the links above. This is a no cost to you, but helps me to keep the lights on and making great videos for your eye holes.

[@Jamarqusmalikii]

Thank you for this. I cannot stand the vertical format. I get it. But having all the social platforms compete and asking for all types of content formats is really frustrating. 😖

[@deltafilmmaker9071]

Thanks! is perfect!

[@socialmarketiq1844]

Nice video, thank you

[@kylemeshna]

Thanks a bunch!

[@mrblouer5]

Thanks to share your set up ! How do you get for a display vertical on your atomos ?

[@pkc8672]

what is the mic you use? I could not understand what you said. Thx

[@_adamdunbar]

If I'm filming in 4k 50fps, will the Andy Cine A6 Plus be compatible to view what I'm shooting?

[@cookiekelley3770]

Would this equipment be good for a Sonny A6500??

[@LivingLife972]

great video man. quick question. the FX3 manual says that they recommend 9V/3A, looks like your V-mount batter is 14.8V?

[@Moronicsmurf]

The adapters for dtap gives you a 8.8V ish regulated output something like it

[@BrendanEReed]

Thanks, looks great! have you tested the Active Stabilization when the action/camera is rotated 90 degrees? Also, what is your reasoning to charge camera via dtap/dummy vs USBC? Is there something else powering from USBC?

[@kylemeshna]

active stabilization still works great when vertical, yes. I don't us the USBC for this configuration because it gets in the way of where my hand goes on the handle. I could probably get an angled USBC cable to remedy this... I just haven't done so

[@liviohans9261]

Hey ! Interesting video :) What is the little deadcat you're using for built in mic ? :)

[@kylemeshna]

I think you’re asking about the one from the smaller camera! The Zv-E1. This comes with a little mini deadcat that clips into the cold shoe mount and there’s a built in mic on that camera.

[@liviohans9261]

@@kylemeshna The shot at 7:04 in your video :)

[@kylemeshna]

@@liviohans9261 yep! That’s the Sony ZV-E1. Here’s the link to that review video kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaK7oGyQrbWBqLM

[@zakkbeaty8352]

Curious if you have ran the monitor via DC8 and the Camera via USBC at the same time instead of the Dtap? Saw a demo where the Smallrig couldn't power DC8 and USBC at the same time which seems like a potential dealbreaker if true.

[@kylemeshna]

Dc and USBc works at the same time yes

[@alexanderlarge-ds5tr]

Does anyone know if the USB-C cables are PD certified? Don’t want to fry my camera/FX3 with the USB-C to VB99.

[@kylemeshna]

USBC to VB99 won’t do anything to your camera. Only time you’ll potentially have an issue is if you’re using a dummy battery in the fx3

[@SNXMD]

Awesome stuff! You have no issues with the Ninja V running the dummy battery to DC? You have to use the DC 8 and not 12?

[@kylemeshna]

I haven’t had any issues no. I use the dc8 yes

[@SNXMD]

@@kylemeshna Thanks man. Was about to do the same but didn't want to blow anything up

[@kylemeshna]

Maybe double check just in case. Don’t hold me responsible if something blows up 😂😂

[@ILLFLIX]

😅🤣😂@@kylemeshna

[@ManoGrapher]

Can I use everything on Sony A7iv? If not what should i buy differently to fit into A7iv? Let me know

[@kylemeshna]

Mostly just the different cage and should work fine otherwise

[@gioalforte6575]

Link to the arca swiss plate please.

[@wilbertvb]

Yes please

[@sijilo]

😊

[@ekphotography]

I use to try and shoot vertical but I usually shoot people, usually models, and I found the distortion and loss of detail on lenses is pretty "bad" specially the wider the lens you are using, I just shoot Horizontally and crop in post and the quality with my Sony cameras Is plenty enough for social networks not to mention I have Horizontal material for my personal usage which I prefer.

[@kylemeshna]

Great call to be honest. On the fx3 you can also add a vertical guide box on the screen as well. I’m praying for the day that Sony gives us Open Gate recording. Would be an absolute game changer for reframing content

[@ekphotography]

@@kylemeshna Yes that would be great, I actually hate vertical video bc you lose so much information and it is not "cinematic" at all. Which is also why I prefer Horizontal and would rather have my material for the future horizontally. Depends what you are shooting I imagine. But I also hated the distortion I got with people and usually had to frame them even further away for less distortion and crop later which is not that much different then just shooting Horizontally in the first place and not having to crop or frame my subject to avoid the distortion or the edges of the Fram which have worse defects on any lens. Just my personal experience. Also almost 99% of my clients want or need the 3 formats, Horizontal, Square and Vertical formats for their adverts on Instagram, Facebook, their website and or KZbin.

[@BRollBenny]

No one is ever going to read this, but I think it's easier to just set the monitor to shoot vertical mode. My Atomos Ninja does this, yes you do lose some quality, but the consumption model for vertical is phone anyway so....

[@tragedyproductions4165]

Do you mean setting the atomos Ninja at a vertical ratio while filming horizontal?

[@BRollBenny]

Yes

[@tragedyproductions4165]

@@BRollBenny Gotcha. I just don't like sacrificing beautiful bokeh and nicer Rule of Thirds composition, all because I have to step back farther or zoom out farther to fit everything in that cropped ratio (filming events makes this a pain). Plus, everything just looks more squashed and "claustrophobic" when we crop in. If the client only requests vertical, it's easier to film vertical and get the shot you want w/o thinking twice.

[@scooby4186]

how would you put this setup on a gimbal (RS3)?

[@kylemeshna]

Wouldn’t recommend having any rig like this with a gimbal. Keep your gimbal setup as light as possible

[@scooby4186]

@@kylemeshna gotcha, thank you

[@adambartlett2780]

@@scooby4186it would be to heavy for the RS3

[@samhawkes6597]

will this setup work in the normal orientation

[@kylemeshna]

Yep

[@Ryanphotos1]

Anyone know if this would work for the 6700? Thanks

[@kylemeshna]

As long as you have the cage it should work fine yea

[@Ryanphotos1]

@@kylemeshna Thank you so much for the quick reply 👊🏻

[@doctorjays]

Can we confirm that the monitors recommended are able to switch to vertical orientation when viewing ?

[@BrendanEReed]

since he physically turned the monitor 90 degrees, the monitor does not need to internally switch (like a phone would if you are watching KZbin). It will display the output of the camera, which is still 16x9 video with the "world" rotated 90. Right?

[@kylemeshna]

this is correct

[@doctorjays]

Thank you

[@BrothaYoishie]

How to make my monitor vertical

[@VRKtaka]

no, vertical view is not possible on ninja V as it just flips horizontally .. Thats why he did not show that..

[@katemonakhova7489]

More camera and less talking head would be even better for this video

[@andrewlutes2048]

Portrait oriented video should be outlawed. It automatically reduces credibility and is irritating to watch.

[@Bradp7829]

Reduces credibility? Don’t project mate😂