From Pocket Light to Cinema Rig: SmallRig Covers Both Ends of Your Setup

If you’ve been anywhere near lighting TikTok or filmmaking Instagram lately, chances are you’ve already seen SmallRig’s pocket-sized spotlight doing the rounds. The original RF10C had a bit of a moment thanks to its “flashlight but make it cinematic” vibe.

Now, SmallRig is back with a more powerful follow-up, and alongside it, a shoulder rig that’s clearly aimed at shooters who’ve graduated from lightweight setups to full-on cinema builds. DIYP caught up with Smallrig’s Manny Moreno at NAB 2026 to find out more.

The RF 20C Portable Focusable LED Video Light

The new RF 20C Portable Focusable LED Video Light takes everything that made the original popular and pushes it further. It’s still compact, still metal, and still something you can toss in your bag without thinking, but now it outputs a full 20W, which is a noticeable jump in usable brightness.

In practical terms, this isn’t just a “nice accent light” anymore. With up to 5250 lux at 1 meter (5600K), it’s edging into territory where it can genuinely shape a scene rather than just decorate it.

Extra Colour Options

Colour is another area that’s been expanded. You’re getting five LED options (daylight white, red, cyan, orange, and now purple), which feels like a small addition until you start using it. That extra colour opens up a lot of creative options for background lighting, especially if you’re into stylised interviews or product work.

Focusable Beam

What still makes this light stand out, though, is the focusable beam. The push-pull plano-convex lens lets you dial the beam from 24° to 60°, which is genuinely useful when you’re trying to avoid light spill. Combined with gobos (20 are included), you can project patterns, fake window light, or just add some texture to an otherwise flat background.

And then there’s the new optical modifier system. This is where things get more precise. Instead of just shaping light broadly, you can now cut and control it with shutters and swap in magnetic gobos for sharper projections. It’s the kind of feature that feels overkill until you need it—and then suddenly you don’t want to work without it.

Battery Life

Battery life is respectable, too. You’re looking at around 1.5 hours at full power, or closer to 3 hours in typical use. USB-C charging (with passthrough) means you can keep it running off a power bank if needed, which makes it much more practical for longer shoots.

All of this comes in at just over 500 grams, housed in anodised aluminium. It feels solid without being heavy, and crucially, it doesn’t feel like a compromise product.

Price and Availability

The RF 20C Portable Focusable LED Video Light is ready to preorder now for $67.99.

The SmallRig SR009 HawkLock VCT-14 Type Shoulder Rig

At the other end of the spectrum, SmallRig’s HawkLock VCT-14 Type Shoulder Rig (SR009) is about as far from “compact” as you can get, but that’s actually the point.

Built for big payloads

This is a modular, cinema-ready rig designed to handle serious setups. We’re talking payloads up to 20kg, which means it’s perfectly happy carrying something like a Sony FX6 paired with a hefty zoom lens. What stands out here isn’t just the capacity, though; it’s the flexibility.

Quick-release system

The rig is built around a VCT quick-release system, which allows you to move from shoulder to tripod in seconds. If you’ve ever had to dismantle half your setup just to switch supports, you’ll appreciate how big a deal that is.

Balance is another key focus. Dual quick-release plates give you up to 185mm of front-to-back adjustment, which helps you find that sweet spot where the rig actually sits comfortably on your shoulder instead of fighting you. And if you’ve done long handheld shoots, you’ll know that good balance matters more than almost anything else.

Adjustable handles

The handles are now fully adjustable without tools, which sounds like a small thing until you’re mid-shoot and need to tweak your setup quickly. Being able to reposition everything yourself without calling in an assistant is a real quality-of-life improvement.

Multiple mounting points

There’s also no shortage of mounting points. Between 1/4″-20 threads, ARRI locating holes, and 15mm rod support, you can build this out however you like, from monitors and follow focus systems, to V-mount batteries.

Perhaps more importantly, it’s designed to evolve. You can strip it down for a more minimal setup, convert it for handheld chest use, or build it out into a full cinema rig. It’s the kind of gear that sticks with you as your setups get more complex.

Price and Availability

The SmallRig SR009 HawkLock VCT-14 Type Shoulder Rig is available to buy now for $499.99.

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