Gadgets and Accessories to enhance the EOS M experience

This group seems to be getting quiet... we've kind of exhausted discussion about the M bodies and lenses available...

I'd like to share some useful third-party gadgets and accessories that have helped improve my 'M' experience. Some are inexpensive but all of them turned out to be really useful to me, helping me get shots and video I could not otherwise easily get.

I'm not officially endorsing any of these products, I have no stake in them, I'm just an average guy who found them quite useful.

I invite others to comment and also share their experiences with accessories they might be using with the M (and other) system(s).

From cheapest, they are the following, with product links:

Smallrig clamp with tiny ball head - $9

https://www.ebay.com/itm/124270613105

I initially got this for under $10 thinking I could use it as a ball head for astrophotography and didn't need the clamp. When I got it I found the ball head is so small and flimsy it's useless for an M camera --- however the clamp is very good and has 3/8" and 1/4" female threads, meaning you can mount a good-quality ball-head on it and clamp it to a tripod or monopod to get a second camera or accessory set up without the need to use a second tripod! And then it turns out the ball head is strong enough for use with a phone, so I am using the little head with my phone at times as a third head.

Smallrig cold shoe plate for the M6ii - $27

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1519039-REG/smallrig_buc2517_vlogging_cold_shoe_plate.html

This cool lightweight bottom plate lets you move your tripod socket/quick release plate to the left, so that you can open the battery/SD card door while your camera is on a tripod. It also can mount one or two cold-plate accessories like a microphone on the side or bottom of the camera.

I use this a lot, sometimes I shoot video with 2 M6ii's --- I have two of these things - and have microphones mounted on the side of both bodies. This lets me use the EVF at the same time as the mikes, and also I have my tripod quick-rele4ase plate on the bottom of them, and can quickly mount the assembly on a tripod, but can still open the battery door. Long sessions often need more than one battery and this is a nice time-saver.

It also provides good protection for the bottom of the camera if you have to set it down.

Smallrig mini tabletop tripod - $45

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1570356-REG/smallrig_but2664_tabletop_mini_tripod_with.html

High quality, sturdy little table-top tripod with a great ball head. I often use just the ball head attached to the clamp mentioned above, on another tripod or on a telescope mount. But sometimes I take the whole thing in my camera bag, and I do use it.

Smallrig tripod/monopod with large ball head - $68

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1740932-REG/smallrig_3474c_ct_20_aluminium_tripod.html

Absolutely love this tripod. Although not as stable or as smooth as my 20-year-old tried and true larger and heavy Bogen Manfrotto tripod with 3160 head, this one can go with me on the bicycle and is incredibly versatile and quickly folds down to a very small size for what it does.

Everything on it is modular --- the large ball head is a very good one and can mount with included 3/8" or 1/4" thread screws onto almost any tripod base. This tripod also converts and can be used as an sturdy 6-foot high monopod, and for the money is worth it for that alone. As a tripod it tends to be lightweight and can actually blow over --- but they included a hook under the center post and you can hang your camera bag there, giving it extra stability to make it more similar to a larger tripod!

Sennheiser MKE 200 microphone - $80

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1577554-REG/sennheiser_508897_mke_200_camera_mount_directional.html

I got this mike after reading many reviews, and my experience with the longer, more expensive Senn. MKE-400 mike. The MKE 200 and 400 I like because they are 'solid' external mikes --- the shock mount is internal, so you can place this in your camera bag without having to be super careful with the flimsy chock mount. This one does not need batteries, has good sound quality, and includes a baffle tube which offers some wind noise protection, plus a deadcat for when it is windier.

it is somewhat directional, being a short shotgun mike, and gives better sound quality than the on-camera mikes (but keep in mind it's mono vs the stereo onboard mikes on the M6ii).

Sennheiser MKE 400 microphone - $200

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1629642-REG/sennheiser_508898_mke_400_camera_mount_shotgun.html

Longer, more expensive, higher quality version of the MKE-200 microphone. This one needs batteries, but they last 300 hours, and it turns on and off automatically with the camera. This one also has a headphone jack which is GREAT as none of the Canon M cameras have one. Not the same as a jack on the camera, but better than nothing! Also has a 3-position level switch and a wind noise blocking attenuator setting. Audio quality noticeably better than the MKE 200. When shooting video I use this mike with a telephoto lens and the MKE 200 with a wide angle lens.

Zhiyun Crane M3 gimbal - $330

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1672457-REG/zhiyun_tech_crane_m3_3_axis_handheld_gimbal.html

If you shoot a lot of video, this is a cool and really well-made gimbal, perfectly sized for the M6ii with 18-150 or Siggy 16mm f1.4 lens or anything smaller. I got it on amazon super sale at $100 off around Black friday.

I have been using this more and more, and it is way more versatile, with more options for stabilization and getting different angle shots than having IBIS. Because I own and use this I have absolutely no desire and feel no need to move to Canon R bodies just to get IBIS.

Basically you get tripod-stability shots but are able to stand, walk, run, move in a vehicle, swoop down to ground level, or raise the camera high above your head while shooting with this and get amazingly smooth video. it has many options such as the ability to only pan, pan and tilt (up and down), lock onto a subject direction with no motion at all, and several other cool options. It also includes a built-in bright light which can change color temperature, giving you a lot more options for night and low light shooting.

Creative examples of gadget usage

Here are some videos I have shot using these 'gadgets':

Shot with Canon M6ii with Siggy 16mm f1.4 lens on the Zhiyun Crane M3 gimbal, chasing a train 1/4 mile on a bicycle:

https://youtu.be/xF5SCA8Up8M

Much of this was shot with the Smallrig $68 tripod/monopod, with the $9 clamp and 2nd ball head from the mini tripod - M6ii with heavy Rokinon 135mm f2 lens & Viltrox 0.71x TC on the monopod, a second m6ii with either the Canon 32mm f1.4 or Siggy 16mm f1.4 clamped a foot lower on the monopod, with both cameras recording video at the same time as I move the rig about:

https://youtu.be/Uk-SIqsLOfY

Larry Rexley wrote:

This group seems to be getting quiet... we've kind of exhausted discussion about the M bodies and lenses available...

I'd like to share some useful third-party gadgets and accessories that have helped improve my 'M' experience. Some are inexpensive but all of them turned out to be really useful to me, helping me get shots and video I could not otherwise easily get.

I'm not officially endorsing any of these products, I have no stake in them, I'm just an average guy who found them quite useful.

I invite others to comment and also share their experiences with accessories they might be using with the M (and other) system(s).

From cheapest, they are the following, with product links:

Smallrig clamp with tiny ball head - $9

https://www.ebay.com/itm/124270613105

I initially got this for under $10 thinking I could use it as a ball head for astrophotography and didn't need the clamp. When I got it I found the ball head is so small and flimsy it's useless for an M camera --- however the clamp is very good and has 3/8" and 1/4" female threads, meaning you can mount a good-quality ball-head on it and clamp it to a tripod or monopod to get a second camera or accessory set up without the need to use a second tripod! And then it turns out the ball head is strong enough for use with a phone, so I am using the little head with my phone at times as a third head.

Smallrig cold shoe plate for the M6ii - $27

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1519039-REG/smallrig_buc2517_vlogging_cold_shoe_plate.html

This cool lightweight bottom plate lets you move your tripod socket/quick release plate to the left, so that you can open the battery/SD card door while your camera is on a tripod. It also can mount one or two cold-plate accessories like a microphone on the side or bottom of the camera.

I use this a lot, sometimes I shoot video with 2 M6ii's --- I have two of these things - and have microphones mounted on the side of both bodies. This lets me use the EVF at the same time as the mikes, and also I have my tripod quick-rele4ase plate on the bottom of them, and can quickly mount the assembly on a tripod, but can still open the battery door. Long sessions often need more than one battery and this is a nice time-saver.

It also provides good protection for the bottom of the camera if you have to set it down.

Smallrig mini tabletop tripod - $45

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1570356-REG/smallrig_but2664_tabletop_mini_tripod_with.html

High quality, sturdy little table-top tripod with a great ball head. I often use just the ball head attached to the clamp mentioned above, on another tripod or on a telescope mount. But sometimes I take the whole thing in my camera bag, and I do use it.

Smallrig tripod/monopod with large ball head - $68

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1740932-REG/smallrig_3474c_ct_20_aluminium_tripod.html

Absolutely love this tripod. Although not as stable or as smooth as my 20-year-old tried and true larger and heavy Bogen Manfrotto tripod with 3160 head, this one can go with me on the bicycle and is incredibly versatile and quickly folds down to a very small size for what it does.

Everything on it is modular --- the large ball head is a very good one and can mount with included 3/8" or 1/4" thread screws onto almost any tripod base. This tripod also converts and can be used as an sturdy 6-foot high monopod, and for the money is worth it for that alone. As a tripod it tends to be lightweight and can actually blow over --- but they included a hook under the center post and you can hang your camera bag there, giving it extra stability to make it more similar to a larger tripod!

Sennheiser MKE 200 microphone - $80

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1577554-REG/sennheiser_508897_mke_200_camera_mount_directional.html

I got this mike after reading many reviews, and my experience with the longer, more expensive Senn. MKE-400 mike. The MKE 200 and 400 I like because they are 'solid' external mikes --- the shock mount is internal, so you can place this in your camera bag without having to be super careful with the flimsy chock mount. This one does not need batteries, has good sound quality, and includes a baffle tube which offers some wind noise protection, plus a deadcat for when it is windier.

it is somewhat directional, being a short shotgun mike, and gives better sound quality than the on-camera mikes (but keep in mind it's mono vs the stereo onboard mikes on the M6ii).

Sennheiser MKE 400 microphone - $200

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1629642-REG/sennheiser_508898_mke_400_camera_mount_shotgun.html

Longer, more expensive, higher quality version of the MKE-200 microphone. This one needs batteries, but they last 300 hours, and it turns on and off automatically with the camera. This one also has a headphone jack which is GREAT as none of the Canon M cameras have one. Not the same as a jack on the camera, but better than nothing! Also has a 3-position level switch and a wind noise blocking attenuator setting. Audio quality noticeably better than the MKE 200. When shooting video I use this mike with a telephoto lens and the MKE 200 with a wide angle lens.

Zhiyun Crane M3 gimbal - $330

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1672457-REG/zhiyun_tech_crane_m3_3_axis_handheld_gimbal.html

If you shoot a lot of video, this is a cool and really well-made gimbal, perfectly sized for the M6ii with 18-150 or Siggy 16mm f1.4 lens or anything smaller. I got it on amazon super sale at $100 off around Black friday.

I have been using this more and more, and it is way more versatile, with more options for stabilization and getting different angle shots than having IBIS. Because I own and use this I have absolutely no desire and feel no need to move to Canon R bodies just to get IBIS.

Basically you get tripod-stability shots but are able to stand, walk, run, move in a vehicle, swoop down to ground level, or raise the camera high above your head while shooting with this and get amazingly smooth video. it has many options such as the ability to only pan, pan and tilt (up and down), lock onto a subject direction with no motion at all, and several other cool options. It also includes a built-in bright light which can change color temperature, giving you a lot more options for night and low light shooting.

Creative examples of gadget usage

Here are some videos I have shot using these 'gadgets':

Shot with Canon M6ii with Siggy 16mm f1.4 lens on the Zhiyun Crane M3 gimbal, chasing a train 1/4 mile on a bicycle:

https://youtu.be/xF5SCA8Up8M

Much of this was shot with the Smallrig $68 tripod/monopod, with the $9 clamp and 2nd ball head from the mini tripod - M6ii with heavy Rokinon 135mm f2 lens & Viltrox 0.71x TC on the monopod, a second m6ii with either the Canon 32mm f1.4 or Siggy 16mm f1.4 clamped a foot lower on the monopod, with both cameras recording video at the same time as I move the rig about:

https://youtu.be/Uk-SIqsLOfY

Thanks ... some really nice suggestions.  I enjoyed the video of chasing the train & realized that I would have really enjoyed a video of you chasing/filming the train.  That must have been quite a sight.

I like my M cameras a lot because of their handy size, but … sometimes that makes them hard to grip and hold on to.

So I got a Smallrig cage  for my M6 II.

It doesn’t add (too) much weight, but it does provide a much bigger grip, and it also adds a degree of protection to the body. It does make the on/off switch a little harder to activate, but not too much, and it does not block the battery door or any of the other doors.

Because I usually carry my camera in my right hand most of the time while out and about with it, I also added a Peak Design CL-3 wrist strap to it. I have found that this combination keeps the camera comfortably attached to my hand, while being easily releasable.

While using my camera at home, I sometimes also attach a Smallrig mini side handle

Here is the whole set-up:

Smallrig also makes a cage for the M5 & M50, which I also got for my M5, but I don’t use that body much anymore since I got my 2nd M6 II body.

Carl LaFong wrote:

I like my M cameras a lot because of their handy size, but … sometimes that makes them hard to grip and hold on to.

So I got a Smallrig cage for my M6 II.

It doesn’t add (too) much weight, but it does provide a much bigger grip, and it also adds a degree of protection to the body. It does make the on/off switch a little harder to activate, but not too much, and it does not block the battery door or any of the other doors.

Because I usually carry my camera in my right hand most of the time while out and about with it, I also added aPeak Design CL-3 wrist strap to it. I have found that this combination keeps the camera comfortably attached to my hand, while being easily releasable.

While using my camera at home, I sometimes also attach aSmallrig mini side handle

Here is the whole set-up:

Smallrig also makes a cage for the M5 & M50, which I also got for my M5, but I don’t use that body much anymore since I got my 2nd M6 II body.

Thanks -- that looks great!

I've read nothing but good things about that cage, and was also considering it.  That one has the Swiss-arca mount on the bottom, and for the life of me, I don't understand why they didn't do that also on the cold plate mount I got. I have a Swiss-arca plate usually on both my cameras, and that would have saved weight and a lot of fiddling.

I really like the Smallrig cage too. I have another cheap cage, Feichao brand, that I purchased on Amazon. I use it because it allows me to mount a flash a little further in front of the hot shoe so I can use an accessory flash for macro shots and keep the EVF attached. The flash is set in manual S1 mode and is triggered optically by the pop up flash of the M6ii. The flash is attached to the cage using a Wimberley cold shoe mount. I use this with a Laowa 65 macro and a Pope Shield diffuser. Focus bracketing with flash is then possible with the EVF.

https://bkslater.smugmug.com/M6ii/i-gRhND8M

Thanks Larry.  Absolutely love SmallRig equipment.  Extremely well made.

R2

I find one of these quite useful at times. A pocket "tripod" that weighs 68g (and it just about fits in a jean's money pocket, never mind a normal pocket);

https://www.manfrotto.com/global/pocket-support-large-black-mp3-bk/

They seem to have been discontinued, but there are still some around.

Jack Calypso wrote:

While the cage I have is not from SmallRig, I do have a SmallRig L-bracket for my M6 mkII, but that's no longer available, either.

There is a Mark II version of the L bracket available, but I do like the Mk 1 version with the wooden handle - great if you're hand-holding the camera with a sizeable EF lens.

Larry Rexley wrote:

This group seems to be getting quiet... we've kind of exhausted discussion about the M bodies and lenses available...

I'd like to share some useful third-party gadgets and accessories that have helped improve my 'M' experience. Some are inexpensive but all of them turned out to be really useful to me, helping me get shots and video I could not otherwise easily get.

I'm not officially endorsing any of these products, I have no stake in them, I'm just an average guy who found them quite useful.

I invite others to comment and also share their experiences with accessories they might be using with the M (and other) system(s).

From cheapest, they are the following, with product links:

Smallrig clamp with tiny ball head - $9

https://www.ebay.com/itm/124270613105

I initially got this for under $10 thinking I could use it as a ball head for astrophotography and didn't need the clamp. When I got it I found the ball head is so small and flimsy it's useless for an M camera --- however the clamp is very good and has 3/8" and 1/4" female threads, meaning you can mount a good-quality ball-head on it and clamp it to a tripod or monopod to get a second camera or accessory set up without the need to use a second tripod! And then it turns out the ball head is strong enough for use with a phone, so I am using the little head with my phone at times as a third head.

Smallrig cold shoe plate for the M6ii - $27

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1519039-REG/smallrig_buc2517_vlogging_cold_shoe_plate.html

This cool lightweight bottom plate lets you move your tripod socket/quick release plate to the left, so that you can open the battery/SD card door while your camera is on a tripod. It also can mount one or two cold-plate accessories like a microphone on the side or bottom of the camera.

I use this a lot, sometimes I shoot video with 2 M6ii's --- I have two of these things - and have microphones mounted on the side of both bodies. This lets me use the EVF at the same time as the mikes, and also I have my tripod quick-rele4ase plate on the bottom of them, and can quickly mount the assembly on a tripod, but can still open the battery door. Long sessions often need more than one battery and this is a nice time-saver.

It also provides good protection for the bottom of the camera if you have to set it down.

Smallrig mini tabletop tripod - $45

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1570356-REG/smallrig_but2664_tabletop_mini_tripod_with.html

High quality, sturdy little table-top tripod with a great ball head. I often use just the ball head attached to the clamp mentioned above, on another tripod or on a telescope mount. But sometimes I take the whole thing in my camera bag, and I do use it.

Smallrig tripod/monopod with large ball head - $68

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1740932-REG/smallrig_3474c_ct_20_aluminium_tripod.html

Absolutely love this tripod. Although not as stable or as smooth as my 20-year-old tried and true larger and heavy Bogen Manfrotto tripod with 3160 head, this one can go with me on the bicycle and is incredibly versatile and quickly folds down to a very small size for what it does.

Everything on it is modular --- the large ball head is a very good one and can mount with included 3/8" or 1/4" thread screws onto almost any tripod base. This tripod also converts and can be used as an sturdy 6-foot high monopod, and for the money is worth it for that alone. As a tripod it tends to be lightweight and can actually blow over --- but they included a hook under the center post and you can hang your camera bag there, giving it extra stability to make it more similar to a larger tripod!

Sennheiser MKE 200 microphone - $80

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1577554-REG/sennheiser_508897_mke_200_camera_mount_directional.html

I got this mike after reading many reviews, and my experience with the longer, more expensive Senn. MKE-400 mike. The MKE 200 and 400 I like because they are 'solid' external mikes --- the shock mount is internal, so you can place this in your camera bag without having to be super careful with the flimsy chock mount. This one does not need batteries, has good sound quality, and includes a baffle tube which offers some wind noise protection, plus a deadcat for when it is windier.

it is somewhat directional, being a short shotgun mike, and gives better sound quality than the on-camera mikes (but keep in mind it's mono vs the stereo onboard mikes on the M6ii).

Sennheiser MKE 400 microphone - $200

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1629642-REG/sennheiser_508898_mke_400_camera_mount_shotgun.html

Longer, more expensive, higher quality version of the MKE-200 microphone. This one needs batteries, but they last 300 hours, and it turns on and off automatically with the camera. This one also has a headphone jack which is GREAT as none of the Canon M cameras have one. Not the same as a jack on the camera, but better than nothing! Also has a 3-position level switch and a wind noise blocking attenuator setting. Audio quality noticeably better than the MKE 200. When shooting video I use this mike with a telephoto lens and the MKE 200 with a wide angle lens.

Zhiyun Crane M3 gimbal - $330

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1672457-REG/zhiyun_tech_crane_m3_3_axis_handheld_gimbal.html

If you shoot a lot of video, this is a cool and really well-made gimbal, perfectly sized for the M6ii with 18-150 or Siggy 16mm f1.4 lens or anything smaller. I got it on amazon super sale at $100 off around Black friday.

I have been using this more and more, and it is way more versatile, with more options for stabilization and getting different angle shots than having IBIS. Because I own and use this I have absolutely no desire and feel no need to move to Canon R bodies just to get IBIS.

Basically you get tripod-stability shots but are able to stand, walk, run, move in a vehicle, swoop down to ground level, or raise the camera high above your head while shooting with this and get amazingly smooth video. it has many options such as the ability to only pan, pan and tilt (up and down), lock onto a subject direction with no motion at all, and several other cool options. It also includes a built-in bright light which can change color temperature, giving you a lot more options for night and low light shooting.

Creative examples of gadget usage

Here are some videos I have shot using these 'gadgets':

Shot with Canon M6ii with Siggy 16mm f1.4 lens on the Zhiyun Crane M3 gimbal, chasing a train 1/4 mile on a bicycle:

https://youtu.be/xF5SCA8Up8M

Much of this was shot with the Smallrig $68 tripod/monopod, with the $9 clamp and 2nd ball head from the mini tripod - M6ii with heavy Rokinon 135mm f2 lens & Viltrox 0.71x TC on the monopod, a second m6ii with either the Canon 32mm f1.4 or Siggy 16mm f1.4 clamped a foot lower on the monopod, with both cameras recording video at the same time as I move the rig about:

https://youtu.be/Uk-SIqsLOfY

Thanks for posting the video with the gimbal. I too enjoy chasing trains and am planning to do some with my new M50 MKII. I just got the SIgma 16mm lens, and will see about getting  a gimbal. I can’t believe how smooth this is — and that you were chasing it on a bicycle!

Brilliant. Just what I didn't know I wanted.  And found one going cheap from a reputable UK s/h dealer, so ordered. Thanks. I think.

I learned somewhere in this forum about the 3D-printed adhesive grip for these cameras. It’s easy to correctly fit; looks like part of the camera; and improves the ergonomic feel.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/622615845/custom-grip-for-canon-eos-m100-and-m200?ref=yr_purchases