REVIEW – By now, everyone who reads my reviews should know about my quest to create more content for social media. One of the key requirements for doing so, is flexibility, Being able to capture footage anywhere and at any time means having a self-powered portable rig that provides, lighting, audio, power, and stability along with flexible mounting options. Enter the Zeniko smartphone video rig “MR11” kit with an RGB LED light and a Stereo On-camera Microphone.
What is it?
The Zeniko smartphone video rig MR11 kit is designed as a rigid rectangular structure with a built-in battery, a removable remote control, and an expandable mobile phone mount suitable for smartphones ranging from 57 to 95mm in width. It also has multiple 1/4-2omm mounting points and 2 cold shoe mounts.
The Zeniko OC-DC1 stereo On-Camera microphone features two 180° horizontally rotatable mics that allow you to adjust sound pickup angles and channel mode in various scenarios.
The Zeniko VS5 R is an RGB LED light that can be easily adjusted using the smartphone app. You can control the light from a distance of up to 12 meters. Its design features a built-in kickstand, an 1800mAh battery, and a magnetic back. It can produce 13 lighting effects.
What’s included?
- 1 x Smartphone Video Rig
- 1 x Bluetooth Remote Control
- 1 x USB-C Charging Cable
- 1 x Instruction Manual
- 1 x Zeniko OC-D1 Microphone
- 1 x TRS to TRS Audio Cable
- 1 x TRS to TRRS Audio Cable
- 1 x USB-C Charging Cable
- 2 x Windscreen
- 1 x Storage Case
- 1 x Instruction Manual
- 1 x Zeniko VS5 R
- 1 x Collapsible Diffusion Dome
- 1 x Cold Shoe Mount
- 1 x USB-C Charging Cable
- 1 x Instruction Manual
Tech specs
Zeniko MR11
Zeniko OC-D1
Zeniko VS5 R
Design and features
Zeniko MR11
The Zeniko MR11 featured an LED light on the front in the middle of 2 handles. On the back in the center, is a phone clamp with control buttons below it. On the back of the right handle, there is a removable Bluetooth remote control that allows you to start/stop recordings as well as take photos. On the top of the frame, there are mounts and cold shoes. On the bottom of the frame, there are also mounts, and on the bottom of the left handle, there is the USB-C charging port and a USB-A accessory charging port.
Zeniko OC-D1
The Zeniko OC-D1 is a relatively small mic with a built-in shoe mount with a shock absorber. On three of the sides, some controls include power on/off, gain adjustment, low cut filter, and the USB-C port for charging the built-in battery. On the top, there are 2 rotatable mics.
Zeniko VS5 R
The Zeniko VS5 R is a small and compact LED RGB light that offers 15 lighting effects that can be controlled using the built-in button or via the companion app. There is a built-in battery that can be charged via the USB-C port and a kickstand that allows you to use it as a stand-alone light. On the bottom, there is a /14-20mm mount, and on the top the control buttons and the LED display. A slip-on diffuser is included.
Performance
The Zeniko smartphone video rig “MR11” kit with an RGB LED light and a Stereo On-camera Microphone is a nice combination of gear that works well together. The VS5 R light has a kickstand that allows you to use it separately from the rig or mounted onto the MR11 frame. The included diffuser works well, and the light adjustments are good for setting scenes. The microphone is a nice device. It offers great flexibility with the 180-degree rotating mics and shock mount. The built-in adjustments allow you to set the necessary gain and to choose between mono and stereo recording. The MR11 frame is the glue that offers cold shoe mounting, a built-in light that works well as a main light or a fill light and can be adjusted for each need. The built-in battery lasts a long time and the ability to charge your phone using the rig is a real compliment to the entire effectiveness of the rig. I also like the Bluetooth remote control that allows me to start and stop recording from a distance.
The VS5 R light also has a companion app that allows you to easily access the special effects and adjust the settings. Here are some screenshots from the app:
The following are a few sample videos that I recorded using the rig. The only issue I encountered was that I could not get the mic to work with my phone’s default video recording app. I have not ruled out user error :-). It works with other apps like Marco Polo, etc.:
Unboxing the Defender Sentinel 4K Ultra HD Security System 8 Channel PoE NVR 4 Cameras
“Chill & Thrill: AOBOSI 12V Portable Car Fridge Overview with a Built-in Bass Speaker!
What I like about the Zeniko smartphone video rig “MR11” kit
- It is lightweight and can be used handheld or mounted
- The included Bluetooth remote works well
- It offers multiple mounting options
- Nice and practical included accessories
- The built-in phone mount and controls
- The built-in battery and light
- The ability to charge accessories via the USB-A port
- The microphone’s built-in angle adjustment
- The ability to use the light as a stand-alone with the kickstand
- The microphone’s built-in performance adjustment
What needs to be improved?
- The phone mount blocks the controls once the phone is installed
Final thoughts
The Zeniko smartphone video rig “MR11” kit with an RGB LED light and a Stereo On-camera Microphone has been a great help as I work on my social media content. It is completely mobile and fully self-contained. In addition to the included light, microphone, and built-in light, it offers the ability to use the cold shoes to mount to switch up the accessories needed for a specific scenario. While I could not get the microphone to work with my phone’s video recording app, it did work with other apps. Well done!!
Price: $79 – MR11; $39 – VS5 R; $44.90 – OC-D1
Where to buy: Adorama – MR11; Adorama – VS5 R; Adorama – OC-D1 and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by Zeniko. Zeniko did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
