Hands-On Review Follow-Up: Tilta Lightweight Shoulder Rig

A few years ago, we reviewed Tilta's Lightweight Shoulder Rig, and found that it more than fit the bill for those in need of a nimble, compact, adjustable shoulder rig capable of handling a variety of small- and medium-sized cameras. We weren’t alone. Since our review, Tilta’s shoulder rig has remained a perennial favorite, finding its way into the shopping carts of many shooters. At the same time, I’ve found that the prevalence of shoulder rigs on small- and medium-sized productions has reduced drastically, with tripods, gimbals, and handheld footage taking the ceded ground. To be honest, my own shoulder rig has been gathering dust in the closet for at least two years now, so it was with great curiosity that I picked up the Tilta Lightweight Shoulder Rig to determine its place in the filmmaking world of 2025.

Always Adjustable

First, a quick recap of the basics. The core of the shoulder rig is a long VCT-like middle section that can be expanded or contracted (though it’s smaller than VCT plates and not compatible with them), a baseplate that screws on top of these longer plates, a Manfrotto and Arca compatible quick-release plate that slots into that baseplate, an adjustable back pad that can also work with weights or batteries plates, and a large front rod with rosettes at both ends for two handgrips that can also be extended or contracted. Apart from the back pad that has to be removed and separated into two pieces to fit into the included carry case, the rig breaks down quickly and easily.

As mentioned in our previous review, flexibility is key here, as the rig’s ready to be utilized in a variety of production scenarios. 1/4"-20 threads, 3/8"-16 threads, and NATO rails are plentiful, along with lots of ways to tweak the rig’s center of gravity depending on how weight is distributed with your camera and lens. You might need to add a few extra elements like a magic arm for your external monitor and a battery plate for your V-Mount, but what comes in the box is a great value for the money, and having it be so light makes it easy to bring to a shoot even if you’re not sure you’ll need it. If you’re shooting a lot of footage straight ahead from your natural height, this shoulder rig can undoubtedly relieve back and hand stress and keep your body in better shape during long productions.

Realistic Rig Requirements

But when are you shooting straight ahead from standing height, and with which cameras? The rise of small mirrorless and compact cinema cameras has unlocked a whole new level of creativity in video and film production. Suddenly people are throwing capable interchangeable lens cameras in ceilings, burying them in the dirt, strapping them to bikes, spinning them around on gimbals, and so much more, invigorated by their diminutive size and weight. I’ve certainly felt liberated by the form factor of cameras like the FX3, and it’s rare I’ll use them in shoulder mounted ENG-style setups. In shouldered rigs, their low weight can become a micro-jitter liability. If I’m on larger productions where more traditional angles and coverage are needed, I’m likely using a larger cinema camera that requires a tripod or over-the-head support like an EasyRig.

I think the ideal use case for this shoulder rig is a compact mirrorless or cinema camera that’s really accessorized out—matte box, top handle, external battery, external monitor, FIZ units, lavalier receivers, timecode box, etc. That kind of kitted out camera is going to be too heavy for extended handheld use, but not quite heavy enough to demand something like the aforementioned EasyRig. Many content creators and smaller production companies do work with that kind of kit, but they often don’t stay in the category for long, upgrading to larger cinema cameras or downgrading to more streamlined setups. It’s definitely a type of filmmaker worth catering toward, and I applaud Tilta’s extensive product lines aimed at them, but it’s not a setup I utilize often.

To Offset or Not to Offset

One major factor I have seen divide budget-friendly shoulder rigs is whether or not they offset the camera to the side to put it more in the operators line of sight. When you’re dealing with larger cinema cameras, EVFs and LCD screens typically extend far enough out to be useable by the operator when the camera’s on their shoulder. With smaller cinema and mirrorless cameras, the flip-out LCDs end up being too far to the right for the operator to comfortable view them, thus why many shoulder-mount systems aimed at these smaller cameras use rods or offset plates to move the camera left. Tilta’s Shoulder Rig does not do this, its promotional material instead pushing users toward external monitors with flexible positioning. External monitors are incredibly useful, but do demand more rigging, time, and money, as well as potential complications with touchscreen-based menus and autofocus systems.

Tilta’s trying to do a really difficult thing with their Lightweight Shoulder Rig: create a super modular system that can cater to countless contemporary camera shapes, sizes, and weights. For the prosumer or professionals in the early years of their career, I think it hits the mark. For seasoned pros, it probably won’t support all of your needs. For beginners, I’d suggest shooting mostly handheld or on a tripod before jumping into the shoulder rig game. Shoulder rigs and shoulder-mounting systems can really help with a certain type of shot, but when you’re just starting out, variety and creativity are essential, and a shoulder rig probably won’t be the most effective way to achieve that. Once you’re shooting hours of walk and talks, the Tilta Lightweight Shoulder Rig will be here for you.

What are your use cases for a shoulder rig? Do you have favorite features of Tilta’s or things you wish they’d change in future iterations? Drop us a line below, and we’ll do our best to answer all your comments and questions.