I Expected to Hate this $99 Shoulder Rig — I Was Wrong
I’ll be honest.
When I first saw that SmallRig had a shoulder rig kit for only $99, I did not have high expectations.
Most shoulder rigs I find online are either pretty expensive, way too bulky, or both. And this one looked so minimal that I kind of assumed it was going to feel cheap.
So when SmallRig asked me to review their most basic shoulder rig kit, I went into it expecting to be disappointed.
But after using it with my Canon C50 on a few shoots and personal projects, I can honestly say I was surprised. Not only did it feel better than I expected, but it reminded me that sometimes a simple, minimal design can actually be the most useful option depending on what kind of filmmaker you are.
So in this blog, I want to walk you through what comes in the kit, how it feels to actually use, where it falls short, and whether I think this $99 SmallRig shoulder rig is worth picking up for yourself.
Why Use a Shoulder Rig in the First Place?
Before we talk about this specific SmallRig shoulder rig, I think it helps to talk about why you might want a shoulder rig at all.
A lot of filmmakers today rely on gimbals, lens stabilization, in-body image stabilization, or just good old-fashioned handheld shooting to get stable footage.
And honestly, all of those are great options depending on what you’re trying to create.
But a shoulder rig gives you a different kind of look.
It adds weight, multiple contact points, and a greater sense of control that you’re not really going to get from the other options. It helps your handheld footage feel more intentional and significantly less shaky.
A gimbal can sometimes look a little too floaty. Handheld can sometimes look a little too shaky. A shoulder rig sits somewhere right in the middle.
Not too smooth. Not too shaky.
And I hate using this word, but it gives your footage a more organic feel. It doesn’t feel as artificial as a gimbal, but it also doesn’t have that distracting shakiness that can come from shooting completely handheld.
Another big reason I like shoulder rigs is comfort.
If you’re shooting all day handheld or on a gimbal, your arms are probably going to tire out pretty quickly. With a shoulder rig, the weight is supported more by your shoulder and back, which can make longer shooting days more manageable.
This is not something that’s going to replace your gimbal, tripod, or other stabilization tools. I see it more as another tool in your filmmaking kit.
What Comes in the SmallRig Shoulder Rig Kit?
This is SmallRig’s most affordable shoulder rig option, and it costs only $99.
They do have more expensive premium options, like their Hawk Lock shoulder rig kit, which looks awesome, but that’s more in the $400 to $500 range if I remember correctly.
This basic kit comes with everything you need to assemble the shoulder rig, including:
The rods
The handles
The shoulder pad
The Arca Swiss mount for your camera
Everything is customizable, so you can adjust the setup to fit your specific needs.
But with filmmaking gear, the real test is not just what comes in the box.
The real test is how it actually feels when you’re using it.
My First Impressions
This is where I expected to be disappointed.
Usually, when something is this affordable, especially in filmmaking gear, there’s going to be some kind of sacrifice.
But my first impression genuinely surprised me.
The materials that make up the body of the shoulder rig are made of a high-quality aluminum metal that feels very sturdy. The shoulder pads are fairly comfortable, and there aren’t any weird protruding parts that dig into your shoulder.
The handles are also rubber, which makes them more comfortable on your hands.
Mounting the camera into the Arca Swiss plate felt really secure, especially if you already have a SmallRig cage. The camera slides right in, locks into place, and feels solid.
That being said, if you use the Swiss plate, I have noticed that the screw can loosen. But that’s not super unusual with mounts that use a screw system like that.
Overall, it does feel like an entry-level rig, mainly because there are no extra bells and whistles.
For example, if you want to adjust the handles, you need to loosen the knob, move the handles into position, and then lock them back in. You are definitely not going to be making quick adjustments while filming. You’ll want to put the rig down, adjust it, and then keep shooting.
But if all you need is a way to mount your camera onto your shoulder, this thing is more than enough to get the job done.
How It Feels When You’re Actually Shooting
When you first put this thing on your shoulder, you immediately feel how much steadier your footage becomes.
Personally, I like to push on the handles so that the shoulder pad is braced against my shoulder. That gives me three contact points, which helps create really stable footage even when doing movements like pans, tilts, and slower camera moves.
For slower walking shots, documentary-style tracking, push-ins, pull-outs, and following your subject, the footage has a more grounded and natural feeling than simply shooting handheld.
It places the camera, and therefore your audience, a little more inside the action. It feels like the viewer is someone in the room rather than floating through the scene.
That’s one of the biggest reasons I think a shoulder rig can be such a useful tool. It gives you movement and energy, but still keeps the footage controlled and intentional.
The Drawbacks I Noticed
As much as I like this rig, I did find a few problems with it.
The biggest issue is how basic it is.
Because you don’t get any extra accessories, it can become a little limiting to operate.
For example, when I’m holding the rig and I want to adjust the zoom on my lens or change another setting on my camera, I noticed that if I let go with my left hand, the rig naturally wants to tilt over to one side.
That can make it a little jarring to operate while also trying to adjust settings.
I found that if I keep my left hand gripped and let go with my right hand instead, it feels a little smoother. The shoulder rig sits and balances more toward me that way.
But that is one of those quality-of-life things where I wish I had a little more control.
From what I’ve seen in reviews of the Hawk Lock shoulder rig, it seems like adjusting the handles and camera is much smoother on that more premium model.
Another thing I’m slightly concerned about is the screws loosening over time.
Even though I appreciate that you assemble the rig yourself and everything feels fairly secure, I do worry about screws backing out after repeated use.
In fact, on one of my handles, I already noticed that the screw was starting to loosen because the washer did not seem to hit quite as snug as the other one.
So now I just tighten it at the beginning of every shoot to make sure nothing falls apart while I’m filming.
That said, in the rig’s defense, you do have a ton of ways to customize it.
All over the body, there are different ARRI mounting points, quarter-inch threads, and eighth-inch threads that allow you to add accessories and build it out to match your workflow.
So even though the basic kit is simple, it does give you room to grow.
Who This Shoulder Rig Is For
I would recommend this to beginner filmmakers, YouTubers, and content creators who want more intentional-looking handheld footage without breaking the bank.
This also makes a lot of sense for event shooters, documentary shooters, music video creators, and anyone working in fast-paced environments where you do not always have the luxury of setting up a tripod or gimbal.
If you’re filming in situations where you need to move quickly but still want your footage to feel more stable, controlled, and grounded, this shoulder rig can be a great tool.
It is simple, affordable, and useful.
Who This Shoulder Rig Is Not For
I do not think this is the right choice for high-level video productions where you’re mounting a very large cinema camera.
Personally, I would be very hesitant to put a big cinema camera on this rig.
But at that point, you are probably already looking at higher-end options anyway, so I don’t imagine this model would even be on your radar.
This rig is not trying to be a premium shoulder rig. It is not trying to replace a much more expensive production setup.
It is a basic, affordable shoulder rig that gets the job done.
Is the SmallRig Shoulder Rig Kit Worth It?
So, is the SmallRig shoulder rig kit worth it?
For $99, I think yes.
But only if you understand what you’re getting.
This is not a perfect shoulder rig. It is not great for high-end cinema productions, and it is not going to replace your other more stable options.
But it does give you a simple and affordable way to improve your handheld footage and make it feel more intentional.
For filmmakers and content creators who are still building out their kit, I think this is a great option.
I went into this review expecting to dislike it. I thought it was going to feel cheap, limited, and maybe not very useful.
But after actually using it, I was reminded that sometimes the most basic tools can still be the right tool for the job.
And for $99, this shoulder rig surprised me. Buy one here.
