LockCircle MetalJacket 2 – Cage for Leica SL2

Gear News

by Jakub HanNovember 18^th, 2019

LockCircle MetalJacket 2 is a new cage for Leica SL2 mirrorless camera. Made out of a single piece of billet aluminium, it offers 150 threads 1/4”-20 and 7 threads 3/8”-16 for multi accessories mounting. With CineBlock it offers PL mount and it is compatible with LockCircle top handles, 15mm rods baseplate, and LockPort port savers.

MetalJacket 2 – Cage for Leica SL2. Source: LockCircle

From Leica’s SL2 announcement at the beginning of November, we know that on top of being great stills camera, the Leica SL2 will be a fairly capable filmmaking device too. It will offer 10-bit video internally at up to 5K/30p and 4K/60p.

As with other mirrorless and DSLR cameras, in order to improve their ergonomics, they usually have to be used with a cage. Italian camera accessories manufacturer LockCircle is among the first companies to introduce a cage for Leica SL2 – they call it MetalJacket 2. Let’s take a short look at its features.

LockCircle MetalJacket 2

LockCircle already offers a cage for the original Leica SL, so the MetalJacket 2 is an evolution of the first model. It is designed to fit like a glove around the camera and offer a combination between ergonomic handheld feeling and heavy-duty rigging with camera protection.

MetalJacket 2 – Cage for Leica SL2. Source: LockCircle

The MetalJacket 2 is lightweight and wrapped tightly around the camera, so LockCircle claims it doesn’t need to be removed even for stills shooting. The cage offers 150 threads 1/4”-20 and 7 threads 3/8”-16 for multi accessories mounting. It is machined from billet aluminium.

With the CineBlock interface mount, The MetalJacket 2 cage for Leica SL2 integrates the original Leitz Cine or Leica SL-PL Mount for solid connection when shooting with PL-Mount optics. The NovoBlock integrates the Novoflex and P+S Technik mounts.

The cage integrates the MultiPort port savers for HDMI, USB 3.0, and Audio connectors. The LockPort offers a 90 degree rear output full-size HDMI adapter for port protection when using monitors or 4K outboard recorders.

MetalJacket 2 – Cage for Leica SL2. Source: LockCircle

The camera baseplate offers secure mounting (no twisting) with 1/4”-20 and 3/8”-16 threads (Titanium Grade 5 camera screws supplied). The baseplate has extra front and rear 1/4”-20 threads for other mounting applications. The MetalJacket 2 cage is available in black or Dura-T (Tactical grey) anodized finish.

It is very lightweight (245 gr / 8.6 o.z.), and it has several threads to mount the (AC) tape measurement (titanium pin) hook at the exact sensor focal plane. An ultra-lightweight MicroMega-M baseplate for 15mm rods is available with the modular (joinable) 15mm rods system, CNC machined from Titanium Grade 5. An Arri BP-8 Baseplate Adapter is engineered to interface the MetalJacket 2 with the universal Arri 19mm rods ecosystem of accessories.

MetalJacket 2 – Cage for Leica SL2. Source: LockCircle

Price and Availability

There is no information about the price or availability of the new MetalJacket 2 yet. We will update the article as soon as we find out.

What do you think of the new Leica SL2 and LockCircle MetalJacket 2 cage? Are you planning to use that camera on a shoot? Let us know in the comments underneath the article.