Hey everyone! I finally upgraded to a Sony RX100 VII for my travel setup, and man, the photos are incredible for such a small device. However, I am having a really hard time actually holding onto the thing. The camera is basically a smooth metal soap bar, and every time I go to snap a quick photo one-handed, I feel like it is going to slip right out of my fingers. I am genuinely worried about dropping it during my next trip.
I have been looking at a few different options to improve the ergonomics without ruining the pocketability of the camera. I have seen the official Sony AG-R2 attachment which just sticks on the front with adhesive, but I have also come across those fancy wooden baseplate grips and even some metal L-brackets from SmallRig that look much more substantial.
I am mainly looking for something that meets these criteria:
Has anyone here tried multiple options? I am really torn between the cheap stick-on rubber grips and the more expensive screw-in metal ones. I would love to hear what you guys use to make your RX100 feel more secure. What do you think are the best hand grips available for this camera series?
Are you planning on using a wrist strap too? Honestly, the JJC HG-RX100 Metal Hand Grip is way better than those stickers and wont block the battery door or card access.
I stumbled upon this yesterday and wanted to chime in because I actually have to politely disagree with the bulky metal grip route. I tried one of those screw-on bases for a while and honestly found that it just made the camera feel too industrial and heavy for what is supposed to be a pocketable device. If you're looking for that solid one-handed hold without adding a bunch of weight, you should really look at the Lensmate Sony RX100 VII Folding Thumb Grip. Most people focus on the front finger ledge, but the soap bar feeling usually comes from your thumb having nowhere to rest on the back. This grip slides into the hot shoe and gives you a rock-solid place to tuck your thumb. It basically lets you pinch the camera body between your fingers and thumb, which makes it feel incredibly secure even if the front is smooth. It folds out of the way so you can still reach all your buttons, and it doesnt block the battery or SD card door at all since it sits on top. Its a bit more of a niche fix but way more practical for travel in my opinion.
I totally agree with Michaelsew about the weight. I checked the specs and adding a heavy metal cage can increase the total weight by almost 40 percent, which basically kills the pocketability. If you want reliability on a budget, I would look at the SmallRig L-Shape Grip for Sony RX100 VII 2467. It is super lightweight, only about 47g, and made from machined aluminum. Its much more secure than the adhesive options but keeps the profile slim enough for a jacket pocket. Honestly, I found mine on a deal for under $25, and it hasnt budged. Plus, it gives you a cold shoe on the bottom for a mic if you ever go that route. Just a technical tip: use a tiny bit of blue threadlocker on the mounting screw. It makes the whole setup way more reliable for long trips where you are moving around a lot and dont want things rattling loose.
Like someone mentioned, the slick surface is a nightmare. I actually broke out the calipers to see how much bulk I could add before it ruined the VII's profile. Tbh, most metal plates add too much height for my jacket. I went through a bit of a DIY phase to keep it slim because I wanted to maintain that 302g travel weight as much as possible. Here is what I found:
Pros: Technical performance is top-notch. It adds maybe 0.5mm of thickness. I cut custom strips for the front and the rear thumb rest. It basically turns the camera into a high-friction tool without changing the dimensions. It is the most logical choice for pocketability.
Cons: It doesnt look as fancy as a machined bracket and takes some patience to apply.
Pros: This is a 55g aluminum plate. I like the specs on this one because it has a built-in cold shoe on the side, which is huge if you ever want to mount a mic without a full cage. It provides a decent ledge for your pinky too.
Cons: Adds about 10mm to the bottom, which I found made it a bit too tall for my tighter pockets. TL;DR: Use GT-5000 Grip Tape for Cameras for a DIY stealth look with zero bulk, or the FOSOTO RX100 Series L-Bracket if you need a side mount for accessories.
Honestly, I went through the exact same thing when I first got mine. It really is like holding a slick bar of soap. I tried a few of the bulkier metal cages, but they just made the camera too thick for my jacket pocket, which kind of defeats the purpose of having a compact. I highly recommend just starting with the Sony AG-R2 Attachment Grip. It is super cheap, usually around fifteen bucks, and the adhesive is surprisingly solid. I have had mine on for two years of heavy travel and it hasnt budged at all. It gives you just enough of a rubber ledge for your fingers to catch without adding any real weight. If you want something more substantial that also protects the bottom, the SmallRig L-Shape Grip for Sony RX100 VII 2467 is the way to go. It screws into the tripod mount but still lets you get into the battery door easily. It is definitely more rugged than the stick-on rubber one.
Just catching up on the thread and honestly I totally agree with ctaletwflv about the weight. If it gets too bulky you just wont want to carry it around all day. Im always super cautious about my gear so I tend to stick with brands that have a solid reputation for build quality. Honestly you cant go wrong with anything from Gariz if you want that premium feel. Their leather grips are way more secure than the cheap plastic ones and actually look decent. If you're really worried about the fit tho just go with the official Sony gear. Its usually the safest bet since they designed the camera themselves and you know it wont fail on you in the middle of a trip... better safe than sorry imo.