Smartphone Video Kit

I rarely have two pieces of gear that function not only great on their own but also seamlessly interact, almost as if they were one thing. The MV-T1 Durable Mini Tripod and the PR-2-PM Smartphone Video Kit are one of those rare combos. Both work together in such a practical manner. Let’s first break each one down individually.

MV-T1
The MV-T1 is a mini tripod made of durable aluminum alloy, which means that it is solid. It can support up to 11 pounds, so it is excellent not only for smartphones but also for many cameras. Because it is pretty low to the ground, you can use it to capture some low angle shots down to a height of 3 inches or use the extension tube, allowing it to adjust up to 16 inches tall. I’ve used the MV-T1 several times on tabletops and counters and even with a microphone mounted to it on my desk since it uses 1/4 inch threads, which are pretty standard with a ton of video and audio equipment.

PR-2-PM
The PR-2-PM is a smartphone video kit that includes a grip with a strap as well as a compact shotgun microphone. The rig can be used with smartphones between 2.2 and 3.6 inches wide. The knob on the top twists to loosen or tighten the clamp down securely on your smartphone. Once tightened down, you can hold onto the padded grip, which will give you a more stable shot rather than holding the phone itself. There is also a wrist strap that comes included, which I use to provide myself with added security for when I have those clumsy moments. Both the grip and strap can be removed from the clamp piece by merely unscrewing the grip. The rig has three 1/4 inch threads that come in super handy. With one on the top, bottom, and on the back, I can attach tons of different accessories or even attach the PR-2-PM to a larger rig.

The top of the rig also features a shoe mount, allowing me to mount even more accessories to the PR-2-PM, such as the VXR10 Shotgun Microphone that comes included with this kit. The VXR10 is a cardioid microphone that focuses on audio primarily in front of it while reducing background noise. The included shock mount will also help to minimize handling noise. This microphone will take your smartphone videos to the next level with higher quality audio as compared to your phone’s onboard mic.

When it comes to using these two together, there is the pretty straight forward approach of attaching the smartphone grip to the tripod, which is super practical and useful. You can use this on a table top or the ground and use the PR-2-PM’s level to get the level shot that you’re aiming
for. You can use it with or without the extension tube, depending on the height that you are trying to achieve.

Here is where I start to have fun. By collapsing the tripod legs and making sure everything is tightened down, I can use the tripod legs as a grip and extend out the extension tube to use the set-up as a super strong selfie stick of sorts or to give my two hands a place to hold onto and stabilize my shot more. You can also remove the tripod base and attach the padded grip of the PR-2-PM to the bottom of the extension tube and the ball head from the MV-T1 to the top of the extension tube. Then, with the clamp from the PR-2-PM mounted to the ball head, you can get just the right angle with this extended rig.

There are so many different ways to combine these two pieces of gear, and I could probably write an entire book on it. Add in a couple of other small pieces from my gear bag, and we’d have even more. What it comes down to, is figuring out what type of shot you are trying to achieve and just experimenting with your gear. With the versatility of both the PR-2-PM and the MV-T1, you are sure to find some new and fun ways to use your equipment. You already have a powerful tool with your smartphone, and this combo will let you use it to its full potential to capture more professional looking video and higher quality audio.