Quick take: My lightweight behind-the-scenes rig for photo shoots: an Insta360 ONE X2 on its selfie stick, mounted to a SmallRig cage with a sturdy magic arm. Use the heavy-duty arm, not the cheap common one, so a $150 camera doesn't become a paperweight. Add an external recorder for screen footage if you want more angles.
Why This Setup
If you want BTS footage from your photo shoots, this is my rig. It's lightweight, and you can combine it with other recording methods, like a screen recorder or a GoPro for an extra angle, if you're making tutorials or want more cuts and technical references. For this demo I put it on my Canon R5 C with the 85mm.
Use the Right Magic Arm
Don't use the small, cheap magic arm everyone's used to seeing. The one I use costs about six times more, and there's a reason: the cheap one isn't sturdy. I record on an Insta360 ONE X2, which you can find used for about $150, and I don't want to end up with a $150 paperweight when it eventually falls. There's a newer, cheaper model with recessed locating pins that I haven't tested, so if you try it, you'll have to test it yourself. It could save you $20 or $30, but it may not be worth the risk.
How to Build It
Tighten the magic arm so it doesn't move around.
Mount it to your camera cage (I use SmallRig). Use the side mounting point, or the top one if you'll shoot vertical. Use the hole with the locating pins. It's a 3/8-inch screw, which makes a sturdy connection.
Screw the Insta360 selfie stick onto the arm's 1/4-inch end. I use the one that came with the camera.
Get it at a workable angle and tighten everything up.
Attach the camera.
The heavy-duty arm really locks down. I have clips with the stick fully extended for almost drone-like footage, and a weaker arm lets the camera swing down. Collapsed, the whole thing is small enough to walk around with comfortably.
Tips
Watch the stitch line. Check where you fall in the 360 camera's stitch line and adjust the angle so you're not in it.
Skip the cage for the 360 camera. I've stopped caging it and just sync audio in post. It's just as easy, and there's less risk of the cage peeking into the shot.
Add a recorder. I often add an external recorder to capture the camera's screen, like my old Atomos Ninja Star or the Accsoon SeeMo, which uses your phone and records 60fps. The Ninja V works with almost everything but is big and bulky. Unfortunately there's no consistent small recorder that works well with all cameras.
Final Thoughts
This footage lets you show the environment, tell the story of a shoot, show how far you are from your subject in a lens test or how far a zoom reaches. For an even simpler option, see the VRIG MG-03 phone mount.
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Gear in this video
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