When I launched my filmmaking career years ago there weren't many reviews and/or opinions on the sub $500 camera cages. There were so many cages, rigs, follow focus solutions, base plates, and etc. on the market. I had no idea what to choose and most camera shops were less than helpful with this very specific area of filmmaking accessories. After many months of observing what would make my life easier on the field while weighing the cost to weight ratio, I ended up with these 4 rigs. I like to shoot all-out with a camera, lens, follow focus, microphone, and an external recorder for most projects. So I needed a cage that could adapt all of this while maintaining the best cost to weight ratio. Below is a list of the camera cages I own and talk about in the video. I also included a link and price of the rigs and accessories attached. Tilta ES-T17-A $480 https://tilta.com/shop/tilta-for-sony-%CE%B17-series-cage-es-t17-a/ Kamerar Socom Video Shoulder Rig $229 https://kamerar.com/products/socom-video-shoulder-rig ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_DmyMMdNWc

I will tell you upfront that this is not my best work nor did I create this video to appeal to the public eye. I made this compilation video with lesser seen footage of my time in Europe strictly for my own mental wellbeing. This will make more sense if you wish to read my long story outlined below. After enlisting with the U.S. Air Force in 2015, my first assignment was at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. I remained there for 4 years working as a cyber systems technician for USAFE-AFAFRICA and NATO. Originally, I enlisted with the intention of using my G.I. Bill to attend film school after my enlistment. That goal is no longer and you'll see why. I took advantage of this assignment by traveling to as many European countries as I could while also investing as much time as I could into my YouTube channel. When I wasn't working, I was creating content. When I wasn't creating content, I was gaming or sleeping. Work work game sleep. That was me for 4 whole years. I spent every available dollar in my pocket and second on my watch to my so-called photography and filmmaking career. I spent a tremendous amount of time and money into what realistically was nothing more than an extreme hobby. I was trying to get my name out there as this unboxing, reviewing, filming dude that could do it all. I bought every G Master lens that SONY offered for my camera's. I had 3 of their latest top of the line Alpha cameras and a plethora of all sorts of crazy accessories. I just had to have the latest and greatest because there's this culture in the filmmaking community that you must have the best of the best to be recognized as one of the best. People will ask you what you shot an image with before they'll ask what settings you used, it's just the way people were. This isn't ideal when you also want to be a family man. I rarely gave my partner the time and attention that one needs to thrive in a relationship. After multiple, subtle warnings. I had to find out the hard way that I was abandoned for someone else. I beat myself up with all of these images in my mind that I could not get out of my head. I had some of the most vivid, terrifying dreams one could have. I drove myself to severe levels of depression and in a few instances, contemplated suicide. Almost like the flick of a switch, I no longer had any level of passion for photography, filmmaking, YouTube, gaming, any of it. Eventually I had to move on though. My tour on Ramstein was coming to an end within the next few months whether I wanted to leave or not and I had orders to Fort Meade, Maryland. I returned back to the states exactly one year from this very moment. I began healing by finding interest in other things such as working out, motorcycle riding, fishing, and more. One thing that never came back to me is photog ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEYQXwsyqKE