REVIEW - Manfrotto Pro Light Cineloader Small - Big Things come in Small Packages!
I have previously reviewed the Pro Light Cineloader Medium and it’s fair to say that I absolutely loved it! So when Manfrotto reached out to me and asked if I would like to try the Small version, it was an instant yes! I would highly recommend reading my review of the medium as the small is almost exactly the same, just smaller… It boasts the same excellent build quality, thoughtful design and offers a great level of protection for your gear - but let’s take a closer look, I’ll keep it brief.
I have previously reviewed the Pro Light Cineloader Medium and it’s fair to say that I absolutely loved it! So when Manfrotto reached out to me and asked if I would like to try the Small version, it was an instant yes! I would highly recommend reading my review of the medium as the small is almost exactly the same, just smaller… It boasts the same excellent build quality, thoughtful design and offers a great level of protection for your gear - but let’s take a closer look, I’ll keep it brief.
PLEASE NOTE: I WAS SENT THIS ITEM FOR REVIEW BUT NO OTHER PAYMENT OR CONTROL WAS EXCHANGED FOR PUBLISHING THIS UNBIASED REVIEW
As mentioned, I’ll try not to repeat myself too much from the review of the medium version of the Cineloader but it’s fair to say it’s smaller sibling is no less of a quality product. In many respects, I’ve actually found the small version more useful as commonly, I just want to transport a rigged out camera and don’t need all of the additional space that the medium offers. More so, it fits on top of a Pelicase perfectly with the additional loop and that has become my go too setup - Cineloader for the camera, Pelicase for all of the additional items.
Build and Features
The build quality is excellent with a good, solid structure to the bag which gives you extra confidence that your precious gear will be protected. This is something that I have tested out the ‘hard’ way when I dropped my bags down a set of stairs! The Cineloader did a wonderful job of protecting the camera and apart from wiping a bit of dust from the water repellent exterior, everything was fine - apart from my embarrassment levels which were distinctly peaked!
There is a single larger compartment in the interior with ‘M-Guard’ dividers that feature heavily in the medium bag also present here. The dividers help the versatility of the bag but personally I have been using the bag without them, preferring to just have the main compartment for the built out camera rig. The straps, zips and padding are all equally as well constructed as on the medium version and Manfrotto have certainly not skimped in any way on the smaller version.
Source: ProAV TV via YouTube
Usability and Versatility
What the small version lacks in terms of size compared to the larger options, I think it makes up for its portability and usability. The small is the perfect size for small and medium cinema rigs and it makes it the perfect option for just throwing a camera in the bag and running out of the door. Not having to break a camera down to transport it really is the biggest feature of the Cineloader bags once you’ve used one, it’s pretty difficult to go back to the ‘old’ way of doing things.
Apart from the trolley loop setup which has become my preferred way of transporting the bag, the included shoulder strap is more than comfortable enough and makes carrying the bag for long periods of time easy. External pockets also add to the versatility of the bag and on many occasions, if it’s just capturing b-roll or a simple setup, I just take the small with a few batteries in the pockets and a tripod strapped to the top with the included tripod loops - good job Manfrotto.
Final Thoughts
It’s very difficult not to just repeat everything that I have said in my review of the Pro Light Cineloader Medium as it really is only the size that is different. However, I do find that having both sizes offers a lot of benefits for different styles of working. The medium certainly has its benefits for larger jobs when you might be carrying multiple cameras and all of the additional items that are needed such as audio, lighting etc.
However, the small bag is a joy to use when you simply need to travel light and I love combining it with a Pelicase and having my perfect ‘solo shooter’ setup. You will probably have noticed that I haven’t mentioned any negatives and that is because I really can’t find any. Even the price, usually around £150-£170 is a good price for a product of this quality. The bigger question is does this fit your needs? If you regularly carry a rigged out camera, or even cameras with longer lenses - it’s difficult to see how this wouldn’t be a great addition!
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About the Author - Ross Jukes is a professional Photographer and Videographer with over a decade of experience. Working in both Digital and Analogue formats, Ross has worked with international clients, had his worked published numerous times and exhibited his work extensively. With a passion for all things photographic, Ross combines his experience, enthusiasm and dedication to his art form to create engaging and educational content for the photographic community.
Disclaimer: All links to Amazon UK/US are affiliated links - you will still pay the same price but I will receive a small commission. All information provided in this blog is intended either for educational or entertainment purposes and is accurate to the best knowledge of the author. However, further research/professional advice should be sort before making purchases/implementing any advice given and no responsibility is taken by the author or parties mentioned here within.
Manfrotto Pro Light Cineloader - The Perfect Solo Shooters Bag!
When talking about photography and videography gear, there are plenty of things to get excited about. Latest cameras and lenses always seem to steal the limelight. Talking about camera bags on the other hand, well it’s not something that exactly gets the pulse racing. That was until Manfrotto reached out to me and invited me to try one of their Cineloader line of bags. I wouldn’t normally get all hot under the collar at the thought of a camera bag, but the Cineloader solves one big problem…
When talking about photography and videography gear, there are plenty of things to get excited about. Latest cameras and lenses always seem to steal the limelight. Talking about camera bags on the other hand, well it’s not something that exactly gets the pulse racing. That was until Manfrotto reached out to me and invited me to try one of their Cineloader line of bags. I wouldn’t normally get all hot under the collar at the thought of a camera bag, but the Cineloader solves one big problem…
PLEASE NOTE: I WAS SENT THIS ITEM FOR REVIEW BUT NO OTHER PAYMENT OR CONTROL WAS EXCHANGED FOR PUBLISHING THIS UNBIASED REVIEW
Carrying camera gear seems like a pretty easy problem to solve. I’ve genuinely carried camera gear around in a plastic carrier bag in the past and it still got the gear to the desired destination. But there are a raft of other issues to think about. How big is the bag? Can I fit everything I need in it? Will it be safe? Will it stay dry? Most bags will tick some of these boxes, many will tick all but there was always one other issue that invaded me, no matter how big or padded the bag was. The simple problem was that I would always need to disassemble my gear every time it went in the bag.
To my photography friends, these might not seem too much of a problem. After all, we’re now very use to taking lenses on and off in a matter of seconds, no issues. However, my videography counterparts will understand the pain of having to completely disassemble your ‘cinema rig’ and cramming all of the parts into, well, wherever they’ll fit. Even when using fantastic bags like the Lowepro 400 AW or hard cases like the Peli 1535 Air - they all require some degree of having to break your gear down. Well, the Cineloader solves all of that and pretty much every other issue a bag can solve.
Video Source - Marcos Rocha via YouTube
Build Quality
Let’s start with the easy one, build quality. It’s excellent. This might be quite a short section as if you’ve ever used a Manfrotto product, I’m sure you will understand that they are built to last. The Cineloader is exactly the same. It’s robust yet lightweight, weighing in at 3.14kg which for a bag of this volume, 28 litres (all specs here are for the medium size bag!) is excellent. The moment you pick the bag up, you know your gear will be safe inside, it has a reassuringly sturdy feel. It can carry a 15kg payload but something tells me that’s on the conservative side.
The build quality doesn’t just stop at the use of components though, all throughout the bag there are signs that this has been well throughout and material chosen to do the job! The exterior has water repellent coating and a cool grey finish with red accents that looks great! The RipStop Nylon on the bottom will protect the bag and your gear whilst on damp surfaces. The thermoformed EVA lid feels like it could take a substantial impact and offer a decent degree of protection. The stitching throughout and the handles, two at either end, two traditional top handles and a very useful shoulder strap all feel premium quality and are built to last. Build quality really doesn’t feel like a concern.
Features and Versatility
Once again, it’s slightly concerning that I would get excited about a camera bag but there is so much to talk about, so I will try to be brief. There are three sizes in the range and I am using the medium, so features will vary but all share the same high quality finish. However, the three sizes are designed to be stackable which is an incredibly big selling point. If you’re like me and you have camera gear piled up all over the place, having a system that is actually designed to keep things more organised is a godsend.
Obviously, the main selling point is the size and capacity of the bag. The medium absolutely swallowed up my Canon R5C rig with a gimbal, multiple batteries, a light and a Canon R6 Mkii with 70-200mm lens and still had room to spare. I really want to dwell on this point for a second, these are all difficult things to pack down. If you’ve ever tried to pack a gimbal into a traditional camera bag, you’ll understand they just never seem to fit. That’s before you mention all the smaller accessories that you can fit into the lid organiser or exterior pockets.
However, the most brilliant part of this bag is how it swallows up all of this gear but offers the convenience of doing it without having to take it all apart. People use the phrase ‘game changer’ a lot but as a solo operator who has to assemble and disassemble all of my own gear, every single time I go on a shoot, well my game certainly just got changed! The only thing I needed to do to my R5C rig to make it all fit was to remove the cables out and that’s not the bags fault, that’s just common sense. In essences, it’s the height of the bags that allows this to work so well but they’ve managed it beautifully.
The good news doesn’t end there though. One of the key things that makes this entire system work is Manfrottos ‘M-guard technology’ and splittable dividers. Yes, yes I can hear you muttering ‘my bag has removable dividers’ and I’m not going to tell you that these are groundbreaking technology handed to us from the gods. What I will say is they are some of the best dividers that I have seen in a bag and are versatile and offer great levels of protection. They can be configured to your own desire and the long, central divider conveniently splits in two, for even more versatility. What more can you ask for from a bag divider?
The bag is littered with little touches that just ooze quality and practicality. The lid has supportive cables to stop it flipping open so you can access the excellent lid organiser better. The exterior of the bag has a large pocket at the front, two very useful pockets at either end (one including an identification window) and the rear has a document pocket. The rear also has a loop for attaching to a wheeled case handle and YKK zippers secure everything. You really get the feeling that ‘camera’ people made this bag and it shows, it solves all of the problems.
Oh, I almost forgot, it has detachable straps on the lid so you can carry a tripod or light stands! This is another issue that I have had with almost all of my other bags and Manfrotto has even covered that off, it's a solo shooter's dream! At the time of writing, it even falls within carry-on limits for air travel. It has strapping on the base so you can tie it down and a pocket for an Apple AirTag to locate your bag if the worst happens. Oh and did I mention that it will even make a start editing your videos for you when you’re done shooting! OK, that one isn’t true but it does so much other stuff, nothing would surprise me.
Video Source - ProAV TV via YouTube
What are the downsides?
So it’s pretty clear that I am somewhat of a fan of this bag, but there must be some downsides, right? Well in all honesty, I’m struggling to find any. That’s not a satisfying answer to any review so let me dig deep. Firstly, there is the thorny issue of the cost, it’s currently £219.00 and Manfrotto does run regular price drops, so it’s worth checking. That’s not cheap but again, as I sit here looking at my ten year old Gitzo tripod legs, my trusty Canon 5D Mkiii or even the aforementioned Lowepro 450 AW - all of which felt like a bit outlay and all have lasted for years and never faltered - the Cineloader feels like it will fall into the camera. So honestly, £219.00 feels like a comparable bargain for the years of service you will get from it.
Continuing the theme of scratching around for things I don’t like though… Adding the straps for the tripod to the lid is a little fiddly and I’m sure there could have been a simpler solution. The internal dividers come in two sizes, it might have been nice to have a couple more of each size, but that said the ones provided are plenty to get the job done. I’d maybe of liked to have seen a rain cover and possibly the material from the base stretched round onto the sides but let’s face it, most people won’t be using this in the harshest of environments.
I think the only thing I can honestly say is that I would have liked a slightly more substantial shoulder strap. That’s not even to say the one that is provided is bad in any way, it’s really not - I just personally like things slightly over-engineered and would have added a touch more padding. I’m pretty sure you can tell I’m at a real stretch to find many problems with this bag. Oh! I don’t like the Manfrotto branding on the front - it looks great, but it kind of advertises what's inside. OK, I really have nothing else negative to say.
Conclusion
The Cineloader line are excellent bags that solve a very real problem in the video world. However, the versatility and features on offer make this a bag that everyone should consider. The ability to carry larger video cameras and the time it saves in building rigs alone make this a great investment. If you are a solo shooter like me, it’s almost impossible to see a downside. Manfrotto has thought of everything that we might need to make solo-shooting easier in terms of transporting and protecting our gear.
Even for larger production companies and those with more varied gear, the multiple size options and the unique features that each of the Cineloader bags brings make them an excellent choice. I started this review by saying that it feels a bit weird getting excited about a bag. However, it’s not the bag that I’m excited about, it’s the thought, care, consideration that has gone into making a product that genuinely has the customer in mind. I think Manfrotto has done that and in a world of disposable, short life cycle products, it’s great to see a company that still believes in what they do!
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About the Author - Ross Jukes is a professional Photographer and Videographer with over a decade of experience. Working in both Digital and Analogue formats, Ross has worked with international clients, had his worked published numerous times and exhibited his work extensively. With a passion for all things photographic, Ross combines his experience, enthusiasm and dedication to his art form to create engaging and educational content for the photographic community.
Disclaimer: All links to Amazon UK/US are affiliated links - you will still pay the same price but I will receive a small commission. All information provided in this blog is intended either for educational or entertainment purposes and is accurate to the best knowledge of the author. However, further research/professional advice should be sort before making purchases/implementing any advice given and no responsibility is taken by the author or parties mentioned here within.