A few months ago, Tilta announced a new Filter & Camera Tags Kit that includes a variety of tags that can be added to your camera, matte box, or slate via Hook & Loop style Dual Lock Re-closeable Fasteners.
It is arguably not as versatile as just writing on some tape as you need to attach the tags to a mounting plate or velcro, but nonetheless, I was keen to have a look at it in some more detail.
While they may not be as versatile as the old marker and tape combo, they do offer a very clear and concise way of displaying which camera is which and what parameters are being used.
Above you can see the dimensions of the various tags that come in the kit.
The larger letter tags can be used to mark camera positions when using multiple cameras while the filter tags can be used to clearly mark what filter is currently being used.
It’s nice that the tags come in a small case so that they don;t get lost and you can keep them organized.
In case the tags don’t cover everything you need, Tilta does give you a few blank dry-erase tags which can be used to make your own custom tags for specialty filters or other settings.
Mounting
In the kit, there is a large plate that you can mount to your camera via a 1/4″-20 screw. It also has a retractable locating pin which is handy.
It is relatively easy to mount this plate, although cause of its size it does take up quite a lot of real estate.
The kit includes several Dual Lock Fasteners that can be used for mounting tags. These work in a similar way to velcro.
In the same way as velcro, you can mount them anywhere on a variety of surfaces depending on your needs.
They also work if you want to place them directly on velcro which is also handy.
Real World Use
The Tilta Filter & Camera Tags Kit is relatively straightforward and easy to use.
The only real issue I encountered is that when you write on the plates with the marker pen, it is pretty easy for that writing to get smudged. If you have your camera in a bag or are transporting it the marking can get rubbed off or smudged. You just need to be aware of this. I would almost be tempted to just write on a bit of tape and place it on the plates to avoid this from happening.
The plates attach securely and they won’t move around or come loose.
The colored tiles make everything visually easy to see and identify.
You can also use the larger plate to mount certain accessories such as a timecode box. I found that this worked pretty well. All I did was put one of the fasteners in the kit on the back of the Tentacle Sync.
Price & Availability
The Tilta Filter & Camera Tags Kit is now available for $49 USD.
Conclusion
The Tilta Filter & Camera Tags Kit is a decent solution and an alternative to using a marker and tape. It does make things easy to see and identify which is nice, but using a marker pen can result in the writing getting smudged if you are not careful.
I like how you can use the larger plate to mount other accessories which certainly increases its versatility.
While it may not be for everyone, especially those who are used to the old tape and marker routine, it’s always nice to have alternative solutions for doing things.
