GH3 Help with accessories

S

sharry

Well-known member
Hey all. I am buying a GH3 for my narrative and documentary work and I can't be happier with my decision. I am having problems with deciding the accessories and was looking for help. Here is what I have jot down.

Support System:
ikan ev2 camcorder baseplate
Manfrotto MVH502A Pro Fluid Video Head (75mm) w/MVT502AM Telescopic Twin Legs

Follow Focus:
Can't decide. But I am looking for a used redrock v1 follow focus. Is this better or the ikan follow focus?

Lenses:
Nikkor AI 20mm f2.8 (28mm Equivalent)
Nikkor AI 24mm f2.8 (35mm Equivalent)
Nikkor AI 35mm f2.8 (50mm Equivalent)

With lens I am comparing the FOV to Super35 as that is what I am used to and like over FF. The lenses will have focus gears either from fotodiox or from wideopencamera. They will have step-up rings to 77mm. Adapted with fotodiox nikon f to m4/3. I wanted to know if I get the adapter with iris ring on it and use that iris ring over the lens one, will I have de-clicked iris?

Storage:
Sandisk SDHC Class 10 16GB x3

I am mostly be shooting on 1080 24p 50MB IPB. Are these cards enough for my needs. I am shooting more narrative compared to documentary and will have a laptop on set for dumping and backing up.

Power:
I have no idea about batteries. Recommend me good battery for GH3. I was thinking of getting 2 extra ones. I have heard the Gh3 battery is the best battery ever. People have shot the whole day without changing it.

Filter:
Tiffen filter kit (0.6, 0.9, 1.2) 77mm circular ND filters.

Which are better: Tiffen, Hoya or any other keeping budget in mind.

Audio:
Tascam DR100 mk2 with a shotgun mic (either senhiesser or rode)

Please help me out. If I am missing out on anything please mention. Waiting eagerly for your replies and seeing what people recommend.
 
I'm still buying stuff for mine but I got the Lumix 12-35 2.8. I don't want to mess with adapters. I already had a Rode Video Pro mic and I've used it a couple of times plug into the camera and it sounds pretty good. I'll keep using it. I have a H4n as well. Lexar and Sandisk are both good cards. Just look in the back of the GH3 book and use what they recommend.

I just ordered a .9 Hoya. Haven't got it yet and a Panasonic battery.
 
Bruce, Im definitely going to consider the dr60. 50 bucks extra wouldn't hurt for its features.

What about follow focus? Which is best bang for buck when it comes to follow focus? Ill probably get a used one but even then im nit looking in spending too much on it.

What about the tripod? Is the one mentioned above good? Is there anything better that falls in that price range? Tripod can also ve bought used.
 
Keep in mind that you are assuming a 1.5 FOV modification as with APS-C. m43 (GH3, etc.) have a 2x modification so your 20mm becomes a 40mm, the 35mm becomes a 70mm, and so on.

I am waiting to receive the Fifty Dollar Follow Focus from Hondo Garage. Psyched about it. We'll see how it is in the wild.
 
Walter I am comparing the FOV to Super35 and not Full Frame. I like Super35 over FF and have been using the 7D more than the 5Dmk2. And I really like the FOV better on Super35. So I am matching that. If I am shooting with 28mm, 35mm, 50mm on Super35, I would need something like 20mm, 24mm, 35mm on micro 4/3. When I shoot with 5dmk2 I shoot with 35mm, 50mm, 85mm. You see how it all translates. All these focal lengths will be the same.
 
sharry said:
Storage:
Sandisk SDHC Class 10 16GB x3

I am mostly be shooting on 1080 24p 50MB IPB. Are these cards enough for my needs. I am shooting more narrative compared to documentary and will have a laptop on set for dumping and backing up.
Click to expand...

I met with Panasonic Reps the day the GH3 was released in the USA.

At that point they recommended cards with a USH-I rating, & since then I've exclusively used Sandisk's (64 & 32 GB 95 Mb/sec) versions.

Then again they recommended the All-I codec too, so perhaps USH-I is unnecessary.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure_Digital#UHS_Speed_Class
 
I'm not a fan of the Manfrotto fluid-heads ( I've owned 5 of them over the years, and hated all of them ), the MVH502A model has one counter-balance setting of 8.8 lbs, which might not be anything close to what your rig weighs, which means the head won't balance properly.

For a low-cost DSLR tripod, the Benro S6 head ( $160 ) or the Benro S6 head with aluminum sticks ( $300 ), is a much better buy. It has four counter-balance settings, and when properly balanced will hold everything in position without having to lock-down the head.

For a low-cost shot-gun mic I would go for the Sennheiser MKE600 at $400, which is a nice audio upgrade from the Rode NTG-2 mic. ( I own both, though I might get rid of the NTG-2 )
 
Thanks Bern and TheDingo.

Related to storage I was going with Lexar 16GB Class 10 x600 UHS-I cards. I think they are good. Is Lexar good. Which is cheaper and better: the Lexar or the Sandisk?

I watched the review of the Benro S6 and I liked it. Especially the fact that you can go really low with it and that it has good weight support. Also, it is cheaper compared to the Manfrotto that I was going for. I actually wanted to buy the Sachtler Ace M tripod kit but its not fitting my budget no matter what I do. How is the Benro S6 compared to the Ace M on just usabilty. Sachtler is dream, I know.
 
And I am not going with the ikan ev2 camcorder baseplate. It wont allow me to change the batteries while on the camera. So I am going for Lanparte. Looks solid. Heard great reviews.
 
sharry said:
How is the Benro S6 compared to the Ace M on just usabilty. Sachtler is dream, I know.
Click to expand...

I own both of these. The Sachtler has 3 panning drag settings, while the Benro only has one. Otherwise these tripods a pretty similar, though the Benro has slightly better head movement, as the Sachtler has a tiny bit of kick-back when you let go of the head. ( annoying, but not a big problem )
 
OHHHH! I was hearing rave reviews of the Ace. And if the difference between Berno S6 and Ace is that much for usability, I should look into getting that. Benro S6 it is.
 
sharry said:
And if the difference between Berno S6 and Ace is that much for usability, I should look into getting that. Benro S6 it is.
Click to expand...

I did write "slightly", which is not much at all. Between the two heads, the Sachtler is better for panning because you have more control over drag, but otherwise the Benro S6 has a tiny edge over the Sachtler ACE head. It's not a big difference at all, but it's still there.
 
Hey guys. I have a question regarding the media. Now, I am planning on shooting only on the 50Mbps IPB on my soon to be arriving GH3. The cards that I am planning on buying are the Lexar SDHC 16GB UHS-I x400(60MB). Also does anyone know how much IPB footage can be recorded on a 16GB card? Also, I am a narrative filmmaker for most part. I am planning on buying 4 of the mentioned cards. I am always going to have a laptop on set. Is it enough?
 
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