
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.