MUTINY has released the Nikon Ultimate ZR Cage, a modular cage system for Nikon ZR-series cameras built to address what the company describes as common shortcomings in competing cage designs. The system is available in three build tiers: a standard black version, a limited-edition color option as a full kit, and a solid brass version available for pre-order.
The Modular Tier System
The black cage is structured into three purchasable tiers, allowing you to buy into the system at the level needed and add components later. All pricing and purchasing is at mutiny.store.
Tier 1, $160: Cage base, side grip, and side NATO rail with insert. This is the entry configuration for operators who primarily need the baseplate and grip without a top rail.
Tier 2. $220: Adds the NATO top rail to the Tier 1 package. See mutiny.store for current pricing.
Tier 3. $280: The full kit, adding the utility mounting block and lens release lever to Tier 2. See mutiny.store for current pricing.
Component Breakdown
Cage Base: The foundation of the system includes a built-in horizontal Arca-compatible dovetail plate with a safety stop screw and locating pin, a battery dummy cable passthrough, mounting provisions for a lens support, and a sensor center index mark for precise alignment.
Side Grip: The ergonomic grip features numerous 1/4-20 and 3/8-16 tapped holes with locating pin slots throughout, a center index mark for vertical mounting, and a strap lug indexing point to prevent camera twist. It also has a 3/8-16 rod mounting point for an upcoming 15mm LWS focus motor rod accessory.
NATO Side Rail: A full-length NATO rail with spring-loaded safety release and a hard stop on the bottom to prevent accessories from sliding off. The rail includes 1/4-20 and 3/8-16 tapped holes with locating pin slots, a cutaway for full-angle LCD viewing, and a removable insert for operators who prefer a full NATO surface rather than just top-and-bottom sections. A strap lug insert lock prevents camera twist under load. The rail includes a dedicated mount for the optional TC-A timecode/audio box that sits separately from the NATO track, and a mounting point for the lens release lever. Mutiny notes it does not block lens adapter filter slots and leaves full access to side camera ports.
NATO Top Rail (Tier 2 and above): Designed to leave the hot shoe accessible and accommodate audio modules. Spring-loaded NATO safety releases are built in throughout, with 1/4-20 and 3/8-16 tapped holes with locating pin holes and tapped holes for optional lens supports.
Utility Mounting Block (Tier 3): A removable block that continues the NATO profile flush across the top of the top rail, adding more 1/4-20 and 3/8-16 mounting points with locating pin holes and slots. It also includes a built-in Apple AirTag slot with a cover plate for discreet on-set camera tracking.
Lens Release Lever (Tier 3): Designed specifically to address the difficulty of removing lens mounts, adapters, and lenses that is a known friction point with several camera bodies. It includes clearance for lens mount filter changes and is removable for operators who don’t need it.
Limited Edition Color, $320
The Limited Edition Color cage is offered as a full kit equivalent to Tier 3, at $320. The grip, side NATO rail, and top rail are machined in the selected color, while the base, utility block, NATO insert, lens release lever, and strap lug lock remain black. Available in three colors: Hot Pink, Orange, and Green. These are described as extremely limited runs.
Brass Version, $400 (Pre-Order)
The Brass cage is a pre-order currently shipping in June. The cage base, side grip, side NATO rail, and top NATO rail are machined from solid brass rather than anodized aluminum. The utility mounting block, lens release lever, NATO insert, and strap lug lock are black aluminum. MUTINY notes this cage is significantly heavier than the aluminum versions. All features are otherwise identical to the full kit. Priced at $400.
Compatible Accessories
MUTINY offers several accessories designed specifically for this system and compatible Nikon ZR bodies:
- TC-A Timecode + Audio Breakout, $140, mounts directly to the side NATO rail’s dedicated accessory spot
- Bolt-On V2 for Nikon ZR, from $30
- NATO Clamp Mounting Block, $16
- Nikon ZR / Z50 II / Z5 II Fischer 3 R/S Input Cable, from $85
The full Nikon ZR lineup from MUTINY is at mutiny.store/collections/nikon.
