im seriously about to lose my mind with this current rig setup. i bought this cheap generic cage and a basic cold shoe top handle off amazon a few months back for my fx30 and its been nothing but a massive headache. the handle literally wobbles every single time i try to do a low-angle pan and i swear i can hear the metal creaking in the audio which is just embarrassing. plus i cant even get to the battery door or the media slots easily because the cage is so poorly designed and blocks half the side of the camera.

im shooting a huge 10-hour wedding here in chicago this coming saturday and i just cant deal with this anymore. i need something that actually works and feels solid in the hand. i have about $300 or maybe $400 if i push it to spend on a proper cage and handle setup but i need to order it like right now so it gets here by thursday at the latest.

i really need the xlr handle that came with the fx30 to stay functional because i need those inputs for the ceremony audio but every cage i look at seems to either block the mounting points or makes the whole thing feel super top-heavy and awkward. does anyone have a recommendation for a cage that actually fits the fx30 properly?

i need something that meets these specs:

• rock solid mounting that doesnt wobble during pans
• full access to battery and card slots without taking the cage off
• compatible with the original sony xlr top handle extension
• plenty of mounting points for a monitor and maybe a side handle later

i was looking at the smallrig ones but then i saw the tilta stuff and now im just confused. is there a specific top handle that integrates with the xlr unit or should i just ditch the sony handle and get something else entirely? honestly just fed up with gear that feels like a toy when im trying to do professional work. what are you guys using that doesnt drive you insane during a long shoot?...