Quick take: The Canon PowerShot V1 is my main video camera when I'm out of the house, and five accessories make it even better: the SmallRig cage, a JJC stick-on filter adapter with a 58mm variable ND, USB-C rechargeable batteries, a Godox IT32 flash on Canon's AD-E1 adapter, and a Tilta Hydra suction mount. Stop after the first two if you want to keep it simple.
My Everyday Video Camera
I've been using the PowerShot V1 for about a year, and I think it's the best point-and-shoot anyone has released in the past decade. People are only now catching on, mostly because they're realizing the G7X Mark III isn't worth buying. The aftermarket took a while to catch up, but these are the accessories that stay with me every day.
1. SmallRig Cage
I expected a SmallRig cage on release day. It took about a year, but it was worth the wait, and it's the best of all the V1 cages I've tried:
A 3/8-inch hole with a quarter-inch adapter and ARRI locating pins, so it won't twist when you hang the camera off a mount
Mounting points on both sides, including the grip side, which most other cages skip
A half cheese plate and Arca-Swiss plate on the bottom
It anchors into the strap lugs as well as the tripod thread, so it's rock solid
It hasn't come off since I put it on. If you shoot video on the V1, which I'd guess most owners do, this is the single most useful accessory.
2. JJC Filter Adapter and a Variable ND
The V1 has a built-in 3-stop ND, which is great until it's really bright and you want to shoot wide open. That's when I add a variable ND using a JJC stick-on 58mm filter adapter. Install it carefully, as I show in the video, not just slapped on, and it holds up even with weight on it. Mine hasn't moved.
I use a Freewell VND, but any 58mm variable ND works. NiSi True Color VNDs are great too. For most people, the cage and this ND setup are all you need.
3. USB-C Rechargeable Batteries
Battery life is good, but the V1 will chew through batteries on hot days or shooting 10-bit C-Log 3 with view assist on. These aftermarket batteries have a USB-C port built in, so you can charge them directly from any cable or power bank without carrying a charger. If they have less capacity than Canon's, I haven't noticed. You can get about four for the price of one factory battery, and they're also sold with a little USB-C charging case.
4. Godox IT32 Flash With Canon's AD-E1
The V1 is a very capable photo camera. It's what I shoot all my thumbnails on now. The Godox IT32 system is small and wireless with no pairing needed, works on or off camera, and can trigger other flashes.
The catch is that the V1 has Canon's multi-function shoe, not a standard hot shoe, so you need Canon's chunky AD-E1 adapter to mount a flash. The upside is that it raises the flash high enough that the lens and cage never cast a shadow, whatever the zoom.
What bothers me is that Godox made a trigger that plugs straight into the multi-function shoe, but Canon reportedly threatened legal action, so you can't buy it outside mainland China. Canon's own multi-function shoe flashes are about the size of the camera. Also, the AD-E1 seems to get scarce every fall, so grab one early.
5. Tilta Hydra Electronic Suction Mount
I use suction mounts on cars for establishing and transition shots, for my videos and for clients. The V1's small footprint makes it a great match, and since I shoot client work on Canon, its 10-bit C-Log footage is easy to match.
It has four-point ARRI locating pins with 3/8- and quarter-inch mounts, plus an ARRI rosette.
I pair it with a small SmallRig articulating arm that screws into the cage, with a built-in tool so I don't have to carry a screwdriver.
Press the button once and it pulls a vacuum. If the seal starts to loosen, it automatically pumps again, unlike cheap manual suction cups that just fall off. If it re-pumps often, reposition it.
For quick hop-in, hop-out shots, a magnetic mount on the car roof is a cheaper alternative.
Final Thoughts
These are the accessories that live in my backpack or car at all times. If you want a full PowerShot V1 review or user guide, let me know in the comments.
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