The Perfect FX3 Cinema Rig?

One of the biggest struggles with building out the perfect FX3 Cinema Rig has been finding a way to place the monitor in a way that wasn't annoying. And I finally figured out how to place a Atomos Ninja V on the FX3 top handle.

[@Federicoxserrano]

That right angle cable is sick! Love the rod idea!

[@V_B_C_G]

One of the smartest all around. Simple and efficient. Bravo. I would also like to get a vote in for some links to these components. You have several little parts that are crucial so I’d love to know the exact versions. Have a great day!

[@departmentofbrewology758]

I've watched countless fx3 rig videos. this is by far the BEST. thanks so VERY much for sharing. brilliant.

[@MichaelRicheson]

Appreciate that!

[@trill_is_bliss]

Great solution! I’ve been using a magic arm instead of the rod system you showed. But this is a lot better. I’ll have to try it.

[@KeeganBenn]

Great video! Fantastic setup - love your stuff, mate!

[@MichaelRicheson]

Thanks!

[@daranaseri]

Great rig! I have a very similar build, but instead I‘m using a 20cm rod and a 10cm rod. The 10cm I mount to the rod-rail of the half-cage and connect it to the 20cm rail with a „Rail Block V3“. This way i can then mount the monitor just below the handle at the front and it doesn‘t go up in hight so much. But I‘ll add all the other parts you showed, love it!!

[@MEBoisv]

Sir you are a hero. Thank you so much for sharing this tip. I just placed my order and I'm going to be in a great mood for the rest of the day.

[@MichaelRicheson]

Thanks! Glad it was helpful!

[@HighlyAkicktive]

Thanks for sharing this, really great idea! I already own this clamp so it'll be easy to try out. For my setup I'll probably go with a longer rod so I can also put a different mic mount on the other side. The Sony mic mount just produces waaaay too much rattling noise. I already kicked it off with the current solution I'm running

[@JayWeldy]

Pretty much same rig I have also, and you are right (Dead On!) with the initial frustrations of getting a monitor on this camera!

[@elmarscamera]

Hey man great build would you be able to provide us with a list of your items so we can purchase them directly? Thanks in advance and welcome to KZbin ❤

[@jeffelstone]

Great build man! And an excellent solve for the monitor. Cheers 👍🏻

[@MichaelRicheson]

Thanks! 👍

[@prOkrEAt]

Smallrig makes a top plate for monitor mounting over the mic box. MD3990. Have it on mine and is great when I use that handle.

[@shotmakermedia]

Good stuff! I have a very similar setup. I often change how I mount my monitor based on the type of shoot I have. Need to pull the trigger on the Matte Box as that's really the only thing I'm "missing".

[@george_velazquez_]

wow! great rig idea!

[@Superjeanmarc]

I personally attach my monitor to the Nato rail of the handle extension using the Nato monitor mount 2906B of smallrig... and it really works like a charm. The Nato mount makes it super fast to attacha and adjust.. it also allows to tilt and rotate the monitor with one hand and tool free. No problem to grab the handle, index finger in front of the monitor mount, rest of the fingers behind.. That being said, your solution is more versatile when it comes to the position of the handle, and the ability to tilt it almost horizontal without bouncing into the XLR unit.

[@JoelGabrielsen]

Great stuff! Super cool rig! I’m still trying to dial in my FX3 rig.

[@MichaelRicheson]

That's one of the things I love about the FX3. It can be tiny or super rigged out or anything in between. Always fun to play around with the different setups!

[@davidmorefield]

I play with my camera pieces like legos, as well. It’s a never ending cycle 😂 But it does feel good when you figure out a solution. Congrats on finding yours!!

[@MichaelRicheson]

Ha! Very true. It never ends!

[@enriqueapalacios]

This is a really clever way to solve it

[@Adamchapel_14]

thank you for this!! i’ve been thinking of the best monitor mount solution, i’ve been planning on trying to build an evf style monitor system and this is the closest i’ve seen to what i’m looking for

[@MichaelRicheson]

Glad it was helpful! The monitor thing was driving me crazy.

[@directedbystal]

awesome rig, great video ! i think i became your 100th subscriber congrats !

[@MichaelRicheson]

Thanks!

[@markIRL]

Looks like I'm going to be buying this attachment. I have a minimalistic rig but that monitor issue gets too me! I have the handle extension but that rail attachment is fire

[@pranadhembram6386]

Can you please add the Product Link on Discription ❣️

[@cammackey]

Great setup

[@MichaelRicheson]

Thanks, man. Big fan of your channel!

[@KanpaiCarl]

OMG this video solved all my problems!

[@housebengt]

Thanx for the great video btw!

[@dennisdengale1482]

Hi Michael, Great video, and great setup. I am struggling with the same problem and it turned me to madness, a brain close to total meltdown. :-D I had considered the option with the XLR top plate 3990 from SmallRig, but find the monitor comes up little too high unless the monitor is put down at low shot. BUT I find your solution muts better than mine, and maybe also more stable and secure due to the lack of a lock in the Cold Shoe on the SmallRig Top plate. But that's just my theory, I have no practical experience with it yet. ;-) I will go with your solution, so thank you very muts. ;-) You just saved my brain, if there's anything left to save.. :-D :-D :-D The Cable management, that was a good idea. Thank you for the tip ;-) I have never seen that before. Another detail I saw in your video is the charger cable for the camera, which I find handy with the light. I want that cable in my rig for sure... What is the name? I have read so many examples and warnings about using dummy batteries that can eventually burn the camera if you are unlucky. Personally, I don't think it's a big problem if you stick to well-known brands of good quality, but with the cable you have eliminated that risk... Or I hope so... ;-)

[@MichaelRicheson]

I’ve used the Kondor Blue dummy battery a bunch of times with no issues. So that could be a good choice. Here’s the link to the usb cable: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08LB89T83/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[@yanicmb]

Sweet setup I wish u put your parts list in the description with links 😢

[@LadyFairChildVideo]

am i supposed to be using the follow focus wheel thing? i have one , never installed it and see absolutely no need for it. am i missing something>?

[@nyambe]

what is the part number or name that goes from the nato rail with rod hole to the monitor. I cant find it

[@housebengt]

Hi! What brand is the part that holds the monitor? I can´t find any from Small rig with the "hole" beneath it.

[@user-xv3jz2qw6w]

Can you tell me the name of the spiral? I mean that charging line of usb 2-USB3

[@onimar]

Isn't the bottom of the Smallrig FX3 cage an integrated Arca plate? (I believe most of their cages are designed like this) So if you just rotate the quick release receiver 90°, you can mount the camera + cage straight to it and allowing you to eliminate that tripod plate?

[@AaronKibaMusicTv]

can you please put the list of parts you use in the description.

[@matt_pang]

I gotta get that nitze monitor clamp. I’ve spent hours trying to figure out the best set up of having it properly balanced with the center if gravity.

[@MichaelRicheson]

Yeah, figuring out the monitor set up is the biggest struggle with this camera.

[@JAXTWIN]

Very very good video.

[@MichaelRicheson]

Thanks!

[@NewYorkerPEACE]

Nice ninja mount move, I'd had a leather strap and grip.

[@pizzomedia7261]

You are a genius my friend, thank you! I just tried it, works great! I've been trying for a while to get something that works and nothing except this has worked well. I have a kondor blue handle so it does not fit as well as with a small rig handle, but good enough. Where did you get that monitor mount? Thanks again!

[@TelevisionCrews]

Links to those accessories?

[@thomaswindfeld728]

ThaT was brilliant

[@kampackk]

Hey i love the video. Can you please link the products down in the description? it would mean the world to me!

[@jonathanadediji9438]

Where did you find the dual right angle usb-c cable? I've been struggling to find one of those. A link would be great. Thanks

[@MichaelRicheson]

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08LB89T83/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[@filmbenjamin]

great setup man! i probably have the least popular question, but what USB cable is that specifically? I'm looking for that exact style and that one looks great

[@MichaelRicheson]

It's this one: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08LB89T83/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[@marvinlovenfeldt]

Looks heavy. What is the total weight of this rig?

[@sebastianFZE]

Is there a specific reason why you chose the 35 GM as opposed to the 35 1.8? I'm looking at both but even with focus breathing compensation, the crop it gives is far from ideal

[@MichaelRicheson]

Aperture ring, much better manual focusing feel, 1.4.

[@sebastianFZE]

@@MichaelRicheson thanks

[@alanartme1]

What's that red HDMI cable thing that's hooked up to your monitor and camera?....And why don't you have links for the stuff? Otherwise, nice setup...!

[@MichaelRicheson]

It's a ZILR hdmi cable

[@itsaptv]

Hey Michael, where can I find the usb to usb c sony fx3 cable?

[@MichaelRicheson]

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08LB89T83/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

[@WellsCreativeServices]

Very Nice! May I ask what matte box that is? Im in the market for one!

[@MichaelRicheson]

PolarPro Basecamp

[@wessagooo]

i havent seen how you handle audio.

[@laurencesnashall]

For me, I'd use a Titon Base if I was fixated on needing a vlock/AB battery on a camera of this size, you loose so much functionality of the monitor like the touch to focus etc. Or have just gone with an Fx6 which has a better form factor. After all your using glass which is focus by wire.

[@MichaelRicheson]

I don't lose any of that functionality

[@natecarrollfilms]

Well done. Don't forget your affiliate links!

[@MichaelRicheson]

Thanks! I don't have any affiliate links, though.

[@i.amreis]

@@MichaelRicheson easy to do! purchasing the cables you mentioned

[@tonyamartin1425]

great monitor hack best i have seen so far

[@smryt9728]

I know someone selling a used fx3 for $2750, would you say thats a good deal?

[@MichaelRicheson]

If it’s in good working order then yes, that’s a good deal.

[@nonsomega_official]

Which mattebox are you using??

[@MichaelRicheson]

PolarPro Basecamp

[@MrGygygygy]

It became a c200 awsome !

[@VanZellerYT]

Can you leave all the stuff in the description? Good stuff but im a beginner eheh

[@thisisbat]

Similar Setup. Im on week 2 with my FX3

[@earnieboy54]

That’s one reason I’ve avoided Sony. Their product layout is confusing and it seems like they cripple their cameras a bit and I just don’t want to deal with any of it. Unless it’s the Venice. But then again that’s an 80k camera so…

[@ucgoswami2621]

You much talked about rig but didn't explain how and from where one could buy these components of camera rig with price and availability.

[@HalfBaked]

The best way to turn FX3 into a cinema rig is to buy FX6. If you need to rig an FX3 like that, you bought the wrong camera... Never understood why people buy a small mirrorless only to rig it to the size of an actual video camera. It's literally the size of an FX6 and then you add a matte box which is 99% only for the looks. Backwards logic.

[@MichaelRicheson]

Because I can also make it tiny when I need to, which the FX6 can’t do nearly as well. Cameras are tools, and people set them up for different reasons and needs. Never understood why that concept is so difficult to grasp.

[@Federicoxserrano]

All the outside components of a rig generally stay the same size, so it makes the most sense to reduce the weight of the heaviest part: the camera. Also you haven’t even considered the additional cost of an fx6?

[@kakarotuchiha8662]

This is an unbelievably ignorant and clearly uneducated statement. Like you just told everyone that you clearly know nothing, or lack the brain capacity and common sense to identify why one is more efficient and useful than the other.

[@prOkrEAt]

​@@MichaelRichesonThis is most definitely why. Can go from super small and compact to all day battery rigged with all the fixings. I have have a different top handle with no audio inputs from small rig if I want to keep top handle usability. Also have side handles for both sides. Follow focus/zoom. Love all the different combinations I can run with it.

[@NewYorkerPEACE]

what Nitze monitor rail mount is that? you have a amazon link?

[@tonyamartin1425]

the fx3 build is such a headache I'm buying an fx6 lol

[@MichaelRicheson]

That's actually what I did. The FX3 kind of sucks rigged out.