Best Chinese Camera Accessory Brands for Videographers and Photographers
Camera & Photo Gear
If you have watched a YouTube video shoot in the last five years, you have almost certainly seen SmallRig cages, Ulanzi mounts, or PGYTech plates on the camera rig. Chinese accessory makers went from “the cheap option” to “the default option” in roughly a decade.
The short list
- SmallRig — the industry standard for camera cages, top handles, side grips, NATO rails, and mounting plates. Almost every camera body has a SmallRig cage within weeks of launch.
- PGYTech — the strongest brand for filters, L-brackets, and quick release plates. Picked up by travel photographers for the Mavic and mirrorless ecosystems.
- Ulanzi — fast-moving accessories for content creators. Phone cages, LED lights, clamps, and MagSafe-compatible mounts.
- Zhiyun — the dominant Chinese gimbal brand for both phones and mirrorless cameras.
Where to start
If you own a mirrorless camera and want one accessory line that covers almost every mounting situation, SmallRig is the answer. If you shoot with a drone or do a lot of landscape work, PGYTech is the better starting point. Content creators on phones should look at Ulanzi first.