The Telelens-Cage

The intention was to replicate as many features as possible of available Kondor Blue camera cages. Special attention was paid to the Nikon Z6III Hatch™ Cage, simply because I'm also a Nikon user.

For this I attentively studied the product pictures and videos at https://kondorblue.com/ to identify features an common design principles.

For designing, a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VRII was 3D-scanned, providing basic dimensions.

This model was created for the Printables contest Prototype to Product: Camera Accessories only.

Why I think the Telelens-Cage makes sense

Using a camera in combination with a large telelens makes a big difference in usage, compared to standard or wide-angle or lenses. The center of mass is somewhere inside the lens and therefore distant to the camera and its mounting points.

Attaching for example a handle too far away from CoM requires significant force to keep it in a horizontal position. It is much easier when the handle is close to the CoM

In a configuration with a cage on the camera and a large telelens, whether the whole setup is mounted at the camera cage or at the mounting point of the telelens, may lead to dangerously high force on the lensmount of the camera and the lens, since these parts ar not designed to carry significant weight.

The idea behind the Telelens-Cage is to use the telelens mouting point, available at almost every large telelens, which is supporting the system much closer to the CoM.

Featurelist

• 16 ARRI Pin-lock interfaces 1/4" or 3/8" all around

• 12 additional 1/4" threaded holes

• 3 NATO-Rails at right, left and top side

• 2 ARRI style 60-thooth rosettes left and right

• Cold shoe

• Accepts 1/4", 3/8" and ARCA plates as lensmount

• Quick removal option separating the cage in two parts

• Intrgrated ARCA-plate (when separated)

• Two mounting options for Komponente5

• Maximum compatibility: Only one lense specific part

Detailed description

Sixteen ARRI Pin-lock interfaces as 1/4" or 3/8" version and twelve additional 1/4" threaded holes all around, together with three NATO-Rails at right, left and top side and two ARRI style 60-thooth rosettes left and right maximize rigging combinations. Topside provides a cold shoe for standard photo accessories.

Some manufacturers provide an integrated ARCA plate at their lenses, that is why this tool supports not only 1/4" and 3/8", but also ARCA plates to connect to the lens.

The cage replicates the Nikon Z6III Hatch™ Cage quick removal option, with one part remaining at the lens. In split configuration an integrated ARCA plate is available for mountig to a tripod. One NATO rail and one ARRI rosette remains at the lens section to hold e.g. a Wing Side Handle.

Komponente5 on the left side can be mounted in two positions. Dependig on the location of any controlls at the side of the lens, you can choose the orientation which gives best access to these.

The design is for a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VRII but it should work with many other lenses having approximately the same dimensions at the mounting position. The only specific part is Komponente3A, which is providing a second point of contact between cage and lens. To adopt to even larger lenses, Komponente4 and Komponente5 may be redesigned.

Work to be done

At the time the mockup was designed, not all specifications were kown, unkown dimensions were designed as best guess.

For some features I found at other Kondor Blue products, I did not know how they are intended to work or what they are good for. These I could not replicate, but some may be usefull with this design too.

General design rules for Kondor Blue products are unkown (min. dimensions, roundings, bevels, prefered screws, ...)

Cold shoe safety stop is missing.

The locking mechanism for connecting the two parts is still fake. I coould not figure out, how this works at Nikon Z6III Hatch™ Cage, but that is what should be used.

No tests or calculations on stability were done. Parts may be to fragile or unnecessary big. The design is intended to be manufactured with high-end metal 3d-printing or milled from the solid in aluminium.

I have only one telelens, a minor redesign may be required to guarantee compatibility with other lenses.

Treads are not modeled, it is no use, printing it with a 0.4 nozzle.

Disclaimer

The author is not responsible for any loss or damage related to the use of this design. It represents a mockup which is not intended for actual usage!