The PERFECT Sony FX3/FX30 Run & Gun Minimal Rig

The Sony FX3 and FX30 are still some of the top choices for many filmmakers and creators. Today we're looking at how to rig the FX3 and FX30 for a Minimalist Run and Gun Setup
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RIG BUILD
Sony FX3: geni.us/Mesh-fx3
Sony FX30: geni.us/Mesh-FX30
FX3 Cage: geni.us/FX3-Cage
V Mount Base Plate: amzn.to/47t6nll
V Mount Battery: geni.us/v99pr
Cheaper V Mount Options:
→ geni.us/V-Moun...
→ geni.us/V-Moun...
Monitor Mount: geni.us/monito...
Monitor Mount (Alternative): amzn.to/41P9ti6
Hollyland Monitor: geni.us/hollyl...
Alternate Monitors:
→ Portkeys: geni.us/Portkeys
→ Atamos: amzn.to/3vttL4P
HDMI Cable: geni.us/hdmi-r...
Monitor Power: geni.us/monito...
USBC Right Angle Adapter: amzn.to/3UVDV7n
Level up your Photography: www.photograph...
Presets, Templates & Free Stuff: bio.meshna.com
Where I get my Music & SFX (2 FREE Months): bit.ly/Artlist...
CAMERA GEAR
Main Camera for Photo (Sony A1): geni.us/Mesh-A1
→ Budget Version (Sony a7IV): geni.us/MESH-A7IV
The Camera I Film These Vids With (Sony FX3): geni.us/Mesh-fx3
→ Budget Version (Sony FX30): geni.us/Mesh-FX30
All Time Favorite Lens (24-70): geni.us/2470GMII
→ Older Version: geni.us/Mesh-2...
Favorite Wide Angle Lens (16-35): geni.us/1635GMII
→ Older Version: geni.us/Mesh-1...
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-1...
Portrait / BRoll Lens (50mm): geni.us/Mesh-5...
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-P...
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.

[@zikarnfelt5795]

I bought a bummy battery with d tap from Amazon and that works great for me

[@josephfriedman614]

I had already put together my FX3 rig but it had gotten a bit heavy and was difficult to take apart. I really liked your suggestion of the SmallRig battery plate that folds down. I think I am going to purchase your suggested components and re-do the whole thing.

[@JonnyRoams]

Cleanest rig out there

[@kylemeshna]

I know… that grey truck in the background is 🥵

[@prOkrEAt]

Pretty close to my super base setup. Except atomos ninja ultra for recording, and use the smallrig nato to hawklock gor monitor. Can do with or w/o smallrig v mount. Of course love fact one can fully load this out. If i dont use AF sony lenses, ill add a smallrig mini follow focus for manual vintage lenses. Or go all way up with dji focus pro system. I do wish they put 9jt a flat Mi extension cable that fit under the top nato rail for the dji mic 2 in a extention hit Mi shoe on 1/4" bolt on location.

[@ty-k6708]

I wish Smallrig had a Gold Mount option for their batterries.

[@VMLBH1935]

Just got an FX3 recently and I really appreciate your videos, man. Thank you and keep it up!

[@kylemeshna]

Always here to help! Enjoy the FX3!!

[@yarnswithbarn]

Very helpful thanks man. Is the smallrig battery mount thingo compatible with the FX30 XLR handle? Say if I wanted to put an XLR mic on the rig and maybe the monitor on the top-handle nato rail?

[@Votjko]

I recently got the Hollyland monitor and it’s WB is off compared to Z8 screen and final recorded video (it’s more warm/yellow), also it’s so painfully slow when switching from video/photo/camera menu (compared to Ninja V), but integrated Wi-Fi to share what you’re seeing/recording with the client/producer is a great option. Not sure if it’s possible to calibrate it, but also haven’t seen any other monitor with built in WiFi? Are there any other options?

[@LeyliFilms]

Thank you very much for the video! The best rig I've seen so far, I would definitely try it. An only question I have, can I use it on a gimbal? Mine is Ronin S. Thanks a lot.

[@kylemeshna]

You wouldn’t want to put the whole thing on a gimbal Since the battery and screen would get in the way. But you can quickly remove those and sway it onto a gimbal

[@rolis.j]

small rig vb50 how long camera can film ont that battery?

[@kylemeshna]

Lots of factors involved in how long it’ll last tbh. But it can power the camera and monitor for most of a day of shooting depending on how intense you are going

[@mtmccornack]

"Do you even gaff bra?" (I jokes)

[@kylemeshna]

😂😂

[@worldchangeryee]

will the smallrigg battery last all day shooting?

[@kylemeshna]

Definitely

[@worldchangeryee]

@@kylemeshna thank you!

[@SquareDealProd]

Powering the camera from the brick battery and no cable lock on the flimsy connection to USB camera port? Bad idea and a disaster waiting to happen. Do you put an internal battery in which will cover in case the USB power is disconnected? A much safer solution is to run a dummy battery cable out from the camera to the DTAP on the brick battery. The dummy battery from IndiePro that I bought gave me no such message. If you pull the precarious USB cord out getting it snagged on something shooting, you are looking at a costly repair. Also the brick battery adds unnecessary weight to a “lightweight” rig. Sony or third party Amazon batteries are great and power the camera 90min-2hrs. Plenty! So the battery plate is not needed either and again adds unnecessary weight as well. Really importantly, the brick battery blocks the LCD screen making touch focus/tracking impossible to access. If you pull it out to the side the delicate LCD is another accident ready to happen. Best to keep it protected behind the camera. And awkwardly stretching your head and neck to the side of the camera to see the LCD makes no sense (forcing your eyes away from the subject). And then pressing the LCD pulled out to the side is a pain as it can turn from the pressure, forcing you to re-adjust it, wasting time and making things fiddly. Shape’s FX3 cage with the wooden handle and strap gives a far more solid stabilizing contact than the SmallRig side strap alone. If you used a inexpensive and full featured Leye viewfinder with a Zacuto Z Finder mod (far FAR better eliminating glare sunlight on the monitor), it would provide a third stabilizing point of contact again. Here is my ultralight FX3 rig with a lightweight motorized bluetooth VarioND matte box from Tilta. 7.25 lbs including the lens! facebook.com/share/p/hscJZ2UaJz5KNYjH/

[@geumedia5532]

Thumps up for the tip with the tape for the DJI MIC2. This changed my life! :D

[@arthurchinonyerem3740]

So my question is assuming I want to use a handle, how do I attach it to this rig?

[@Lambinoyt]

Great video! Except for the music, that shit is asssssssssssss

[@andyhuang5987]

this setup seems just right for independent documentary films! thx a lot, much appreciated！

[@MikeAnthonyPhotography]

why not leave the screen tucked inside vs having it sideways outside ....cuz if you use a bigger monitor anyway whats the point you can control it from the bigger monitor and not worry about screen hitting things as you work

[@kylemeshna]

Access to touch focus

[@meyerdigitalfilm]

Now change the monitor to a smartphone instead of the monitor and you have the perfect rig with all controls and can close the sony display complete inside and you you can A / B focus manually inside the sony APP

[@MEDIA-101]

+1, I don’t use my Atomos monitor anymore.

[@arthurchinonyerem3740]

Like if I understand what you mean. I can actually use a smartphone in place of the monitor? I'm thrilled, please how do I achieve that?

[@felixsimardt]

dont you want a top handle on this?

[@kylemeshna]

I don’t particularly like the top handle. It’s kinda bulky and the odd shape makes it difficult to put in any pack. When on the fx3, there’s no good way to put a monitor on.

[@felixsimardt]

@@kylemeshna yeah I know, the Sony top handle sucks I dont use it either. I was saying any top handle for that matter. I have a similar rig as yours and a nato top handle really helps for carying, balancing on a tripod, monitor placement and just easier shooting in general. You should give it a try!

[@kylemeshna]

@@felixsimardt ah! Duh, I'm not sure why I misunderstood your question originally. Yes, a top handle certainly would be great and I've used a few different ones in previous rig builds. Sometimes I'll bring it, but the purpose of this particular build was to keep it as minimal and simple as possible.

[@maryamk.hedayat3414]

@@kylemeshna Can you explain how the DJI mii works for audio? Is it ok to get dialogue? Do you have a video where you show working with it? thanks! ( looking for a easy and light way to get dialogue audio )

[@theIronmerchant]

I ended up building this for my fx30 and I like it a lot for when I’m just behind the camera at shows. I did add a side handle on the left side

[@islandboyandy242]

Really appreciate this bro

[@fnshirokov]

Батарейки дорогие

[@BlackapinoTheTechGuy]

*One Question and One only. How Are you able to Run BOTH your Monitor AND Camera off that V Mounted Battery? Those Look Like Kondor Blue Cables to D Tap but Wanted too know am Looking to stream line mine like this in a way*

[@kylemeshna]

You can power both, yes. Kondor Blue DTap to DC → goes to the monitor USBc cable → goes from the “USBc out” on the Battery to the “USBc in” on the left side of the camera

[@anotherbwoodsproduction]

📽️🔥🫡

[@lilyloud7777]

how many batteries do you recommend for a 12 hour day?

[@lilyloud7777]

for my fx3, what battery do I get?

[@sijilo]

😊

[@AlexValboiha]

Dope setup!! 🔥

[@LargeCinematic]

WHAT USB-C Cable should we use?? FX3 to VB99 PD Certified

[@kylemeshna]

USBc isn’t going to cause issues with your FX3

[@lilyloud7777]

you suggest the holly land monitor > ninja?

[@kylemeshna]

I prefer it if you’re just using it for a monitor. If you need the recorder the ninja is better

[@lilyloud7777]

@@kylemeshna what’s the difference between monitor and recorder??

[@alansarpy]

what shot gun mic do you recommend that is small and compact with great sound quality and is durable for lots of outdoor use to use for this minimal Rig? thanks ! love the channel !

[@kylemeshna]

What are you trying to record with it? On camera shotgun mic is mostly going to get the environment

[@alansarpy]

@@kylemeshna I do a lot of run n gun fishing videos, I have the Rode pro plus and it captures dialogue fine for what I'm doing, but the mic itself is huge and I can't pack it in my waist pack .... I'm just looking for smaller alternative

[@kylemeshna]

gotcha! I think the Rode Micro (or Micro II) will do the trick! surprisingly great sound for a little guy

[@alansarpy]

@@kylemeshna thank you! I'd like to see a video from you on what features you would like in the fx3mii