Quick take: The SmallRig 3913 is an Arca-Swiss plate with small built-in legs, so you can set your camera down without the camera or lens touching the ground. It has rubber pads, two mounting screws for cages, a hidden hex key and a Manfrotto-plate version. It's a little pricey for a plate, but it solves a real problem.
Why I Wanted One
Being able to set a camera down and leave it alone without the camera or lens touching the ground is something I really value. At World's Strongest Man, a big part of my sports rig was an iFootage mini tripod base attached to every camera, and a lot of the other camera operators ordered their own after seeing it. For smaller setups, like my X-T5 and the X-H2S I use for pro and personal work, I wanted something more compact, and this popped up in my suggestions.
Design
Arca-Swiss or Manfrotto versions. The Manfrotto version makes sense if you travel with a video head tripod. I went Arca-Swiss because I use my Peak Design tripod for locked-off shots.
Built-in hex key. SmallRig somehow fit one in, and it's the smallest one I've seen them make.
Anti-skid rubber pads on top, which will probably wear over time.
Two screws, so it's clearly designed mainly for cages. It also worked fine on my Ricoh GR using the standard 1/4-inch thread, turned sideways.
Slightly repositionable legs. They don't seem designed to adjust, but you can move them a bit, which helps when balancing the camera on a backpack for a low-angle shot.
Things to Know
Not every cage has its mounting point centered. On a light camera like the X-T5 it balances very well, but an offset mount or a heavy lens could make it tip. It also doesn't tilt up or down, which would make it a lot bigger, though you can combine it with other gear to get the angle you want in a pinch.
Final Thoughts
I don't usually make videos about things like this, but when a company makes something just different enough to solve a problem I have, it's worth talking about. It's a little pricey for an Arca-Swiss plate, but it's the first of its kind. I love convenience, and this is about as close as you can get to a phone-style mini tripod for a camera while staying secure.
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