Hi Daniel, that hole on the side is for the vertical bracket which allows you to mount the camera on a tripod in portrait mode. This is an optional RRS part though and for some reason, it costs even more than the base plate. I didn’t know that the Sony A9 RRS plate does fit the A7r III so thanks a lot for the info and video.
Sorry should have been more clear. i know why the side hole is there but don't plan to use it so they could have provided a small plate to close it up...
I see you have taken of the black bit on the screw on the Sony grip. Was it easy to get off? And what are your thoughts on using a slingstrap such as a Blackrapid attached to the grip? Is it possible to change the screw on the Sony Grip?
Darren Fleming I actually asked the exact same question a while ago but couldn’t find any answers. I did purchase the Sony grip and was planning using it with a peakdesign strap with one end attached to the grip screw loop and the other end to one side of the camera. It works with a small lens like the 35mm f2.8 but I don’t feel comfortable when using a larger lens. I am still interested in knowing if the screw loop is designed to be used with a blackrapid strap.
Can you attach the RRS plate to the camera with the battery cover still on the camera? For me taking the plate off to change the battery is not really a problem.
Once the door is on the RRS plate...if you hold it up to the light you can see light through the door... and so the seal of the Sony Door to the RRS plate will not keep water out of the battery compartment. With it on, keep your camera dry.... I have two...one for my A7r3 and for my A9...both have the issues and so this is a design issue..
Silvestro Crino I’ve read something similar on a forum. Apparently the camera door is designed with foam to create a seal once pressed. Putting the door on the bracket kind of removes the seal, increasing the chance of getting dust and water inside the battery compartment. There was also a post from some mechanical engineer who measured both the battery door and the position of the battery cutout on the bracket. According to him, the two do not align exactly, creating a gap.
Hey I just got a smallrig for the A7riii which was on preorder it gives a perfect hold for the camera so you done need a baseplate or pinky grip. and my peak design clutch also fits perfectly. you can also grip the camera from the left too and with both hands. it does however make the camera feel more like a dslr which is good for me but may not be for some. I do like the base plate however but i would still prefer the feeling of this smallrig. I especially like resting my thumb on the top of the frame!
I think they never designed it with this aspect in mind, If you try the sony one you will know within seconds of what i mean. I am happy with the rrs one but a redesign with this in mind would make it a better product.
We remarkably are ordering the same items. My RRS plate should arrive in a few days. Can you do a video on how to remove and reattach the battery cover? I am quite concerned about breaking something. Thank you for your in-depth videos.
I had to remove mine to attach the a9 battery grip. Sony did a good job on the a7riii battery door, the hinge mech has a lever that engages or disengages the hinge points. Super easy, super fast, and you won't harm the door. It looks to be designed to be done thousands of times (versus early Sony camera doors that came off).
Hi Daniel, I’ve been watching your videos for a while and find them very helpful. You seem to be a pretty DIY (do it yourself) guy so I was wondering if you had found a solution to transform the Sony grip so the camera could be also mounted on a tripod. Sealing issues apart, the RRS plate would be perfect should it have 1 or 2 extra cm in height. I’ve actually sold it and bought the Sony grip at a reduced price (£80 which is still expensive for what it is). It makes the ergonomics great but I am tired to swap between the grip and a tripod plate when I need to use a tripod. If the Sony grip had an integrated arca suiss plate compatible with the peakdesign clip, it would be the perfect grip. Have you got any plans for the weekend?!?
I have been co-designing a new l-bracket with smallrig that does just that i guess i can post a small video about it if you want its solves many of the problems. You should always have plans for the weekend :)
Daniel Ockeloen Hi Daniel, I think you just made my day. I am really interested in hearing more about this new l-bracket so a video on it would be much appreciated. I’ll be around...
Daniel Ockeloen Is this what you’ve been working on? www.smallrig.com/smallrig-l-bracket-for-sony-a7riii-a9-2122.html Will that add the same height as the Sony grip? And, I was surprised to see that the vertical L part doesn’t go all the way around. Can it still be used to mount the camera vertically? Regards
Hehe i tried you kinda can but the screw doesn't align correctly you also kind of kill the arca plate again but i DO think RRS or someone else with a 3d printer can add a small part to the RSS baseplate to add the sony bump since there are 2 holes (one screw and one to align) for this... I am really considering making a second video and talk about this idea :)
Well in the last month a company started talking to me and i gave input on their upcoming baseplate design and it will take these features (and many more) into their design. Lets see what happens in 1 or 2 months.
The fact that you need to remove the battery door from the camera body and put it on the RRS base plate is very bad. Not only you are making a unauthorized modification that may damage your camera, but you're also losing a great part of the already poor weather sealing that this camera has. I would rather have to remove the base plate every time I had to change batteries. It is more cumbersome, but it's much safer.
Well you can do that you don't have to move the door, and i might agree that with the good battery life and quicker charge over usb-c thats a option. But the smallrig baseplate in development keeps the door in its place so that will become a option.
A link to the l base plate would had been nice.
Hi Daniel, that hole on the side is for the vertical bracket which allows you to mount the camera on a tripod in portrait mode. This is an optional RRS part though and for some reason, it costs even more than the base plate.
I didn’t know that the Sony A9 RRS plate does fit the A7r III so thanks a lot for the info and video.
Sorry should have been more clear. i know why the side hole is there but don't plan to use it so they could have provided a small plate to close it up...
I see you have taken of the black bit on the screw on the Sony grip. Was it easy to get off? And what are your thoughts on using a slingstrap such as a Blackrapid attached to the grip? Is it possible to change the screw on the Sony Grip?
Darren Fleming I actually asked the exact same question a while ago but couldn’t find any answers. I did purchase the Sony grip and was planning using it with a peakdesign strap with one end attached to the grip screw loop and the other end to one side of the camera. It works with a small lens like the 35mm f2.8 but I don’t feel comfortable when using a larger lens. I am still interested in knowing if the screw loop is designed to be used with a blackrapid strap.
Can you attach the RRS plate to the camera with the battery cover still on the camera?
For me taking the plate off to change the battery is not really a problem.
Does the Really Right Stuff Bracket also include an L bracket attachment for mounting the camera for portrait shots.
so when i look at b and h i dont see the battery gasket in there photos like i see in your video. is the gasket on all of the baseplate BA9 ?
Very good video, thanks. I've been looking at both options for my camera too
Both are options but i am now waiting to see what smallrig comes up with might be even better if they fix the issues in the first draft.
Once the door is on the RRS plate...if you hold it up to the light you can see light through the door... and so the seal of the Sony Door to the RRS plate will not keep water out of the battery compartment. With it on, keep your camera dry.... I have two...one for my A7r3 and for my A9...both have the issues and so this is a design issue..
Silvestro Crino I’ve read something similar on a forum. Apparently the camera door is designed with foam to create a seal once pressed. Putting the door on the bracket kind of removes the seal, increasing the chance of getting dust and water inside the battery compartment. There was also a post from some mechanical engineer who measured both the battery door and the position of the battery cutout on the bracket. According to him, the two do not align exactly, creating a gap.
Thank you very useful. Enjoying your videos
Can be use the techart pro?
Hey I just got a smallrig for the A7riii which was on preorder it gives a perfect hold for the camera so you done need a baseplate or pinky grip. and my peak design clutch also fits perfectly. you can also grip the camera from the left too and with both hands. it does however make the camera feel more like a dslr which is good for me but may not be for some. I do like the base plate however but i would still prefer the feeling of this smallrig. I especially like resting my thumb on the top of the frame!
I lokesmallrig and use many of their parts but adding a cage to my a7r3 doesn't make it better photo camera.
true but for me it makes the handling so much better. but i also do movies so get best of both worlds
RRS could very well make a thicker bottom plate so that it fits European hand size...
I think they never designed it with this aspect in mind, If you try the sony one you will know within seconds of what i mean. I am happy with the rrs one but a redesign with this in mind would make it a better product.
What is an "European hand size"?
I like my pinky on the bottom of the camera, it feels better to me. The big bulky DSLR cameras never felt right in my hand. I'm a bigger dude too
I combine the RRD L-plate with the leather handstrap for the Canon 1Ds3. For me most comfortable and stable I could find.
We remarkably are ordering the same items. My RRS plate should arrive in a few days. Can you do a video on how to remove and reattach the battery cover? I am quite concerned about breaking something. Thank you for your in-depth videos.
Its on their website its just a button on the door a 2sec job
Daniel Ockeloen Great. Thanks again.
I had to remove mine to attach the a9 battery grip. Sony did a good job on the a7riii battery door, the hinge mech has a lever that engages or disengages the hinge points. Super easy, super fast, and you won't harm the door. It looks to be designed to be done thousands of times (versus early Sony camera doors that came off).
Fantastic. Much appreciated. Thank you.
Nice review👍
Skip to 2:51 and 8:35.
I know right... jesus
Hi Daniel, I’ve been watching your videos for a while and find them very helpful. You seem to be a pretty DIY (do it yourself) guy so I was wondering if you had found a solution to transform the Sony grip so the camera could be also mounted on a tripod. Sealing issues apart, the RRS plate would be perfect should it have 1 or 2 extra cm in height. I’ve actually sold it and bought the Sony grip at a reduced price (£80 which is still expensive for what it is). It makes the ergonomics great but I am tired to swap between the grip and a tripod plate when I need to use a tripod.
If the Sony grip had an integrated arca suiss plate compatible with the peakdesign clip, it would be the perfect grip. Have you got any plans for the weekend?!?
I have been co-designing a new l-bracket with smallrig that does just that i guess i can post a small video about it if you want its solves many of the problems. You should always have plans for the weekend :)
Daniel Ockeloen Hi Daniel, I think you just made my day. I am really interested in hearing more about this new l-bracket so a video on it would be much appreciated. I’ll be around...
Daniel Ockeloen Is this what you’ve been working on? www.smallrig.com/smallrig-l-bracket-for-sony-a7riii-a9-2122.html
Will that add the same height as the Sony grip? And, I was surprised to see that the vertical L part doesn’t go all the way around. Can it still be used to mount the camera vertically? Regards
that was design 1.0, i am uploading a video on the 'real' prototype version to as we speak you can see it in about 30min if youtube agrees :)
Daniel Ockeloen exciting times!!!
Thank you again, great info
Thanks Daniel
Can you put the Sony pinky plate on under the RRS plate ?
Hehe i tried you kinda can but the screw doesn't align correctly you also kind of kill the arca plate again but i DO think RRS or someone else with a 3d printer can add a small part to the RSS baseplate to add the sony bump since there are 2 holes (one screw and one to align) for this... I am really considering making a second video and talk about this idea :)
please do! :)
Well in the last month a company started talking to me and i gave input on their upcoming baseplate design and it will take these features (and many more) into their design. Lets see what happens in 1 or 2 months.
Nice to hear that! Please keep us updated about this!
Oke first draft is done, many things still need to be changed but its a start : www.smallrig.com/smallrig-l-bracket-for-sony-a7riii-a9-2122.html
Good video. Next time add the link!
Great Videos Daniel, sub!
thanks we are all learning the new beast.
ok really pink grip? lol
The fact that you need to remove the battery door from the camera body and put it on the RRS base plate is very bad. Not only you are making a unauthorized modification that may damage your camera, but you're also losing a great part of the already poor weather sealing that this camera has.
I would rather have to remove the base plate every time I had to change batteries. It is more cumbersome, but it's much safer.
Well you can do that you don't have to move the door, and i might agree that with the good battery life and quicker charge over usb-c thats a option. But the smallrig baseplate in development keeps the door in its place so that will become a option.
I didn't even catch that one, you are correct...