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What are the essential accessories for Panasonic S5II video shooters?

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So I finally jumped ship from my old GH5 to the S5II because I just couldnt deal with the pulsing autofocus anymore and man the phase detect is a game changer for my wedding gigs. I thought I had all my bases covered with my old L-mount glass but I'm realizing this body has its own little quirks that I didnt anticipate. Like the battery life is fine for photos but I'm burning through them way faster than I expected during long ceremony takes and I need a solid power solution that isnt gonna weigh me down too much since I'm mostly handheld.

Heres what I'm looking to pick up in the next few weeks (got about a thousand bucks left in the budget for this):

  • A cage that actually fits well without blocking the top buttons because I have big hands
  • Best way to mount an SSD for that ProRES workflow without it dangling everywhere
  • Some kind of v-mount plate or maybe just a beefy power bank setup?
  • A top handle that doesnt feel like cheap plastic

I'm based in the PNW so anything that can handle a bit of drizzle is a plus since I'm out in the woods for elopements half the time. Do you guys find the internal cooling fan gets in the way of any specific cages or accessories? I saw some people complaining about the cable management on the left side with the HDMI flap. Just trying to get this rig finished before my busy season starts in May...


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To add to the point above: after shooting weddings for about a decade, I've found that keeping things modular is the only way to stay sane. Going through a phase of over-rigging taught me to keep the S5II setup pretty lean. For the ceremony power issue, I stopped messing with bulky V-mount plates and just started using a high-output power bank. It stays cool and basically runs the camera all day.


5

Re: "I've been using the S5II for a few..."

  • Honestly i had a bit of a rough start with mine too. I moved over from the GH5 and really underestimated how much heavier this whole setup gets once you try to fix the battery issues. Tbh i spent way too much on gear that just didnt work for my wedding workflow at first.
  • The first cage i got was a total nightmare for the top dials. It was some generic one and even though it said it fit, it sat so flush that i couldnt actually turn the front dial without scraping my knuckle every time. If you have big hands like i do, stay away from the ultra-slim designs. I switched to the Tilta Full Camera Cage for Panasonic S5 II/S5 IIX because it feels way more substantial and actually leaves room to breathe.
  • For power, i tried a basic usb-c power bank setup at first but it was so clunky and the cable kept getting caught on that hdmi flap you mentioned. It was super annoying during a ceremony. I eventually gave up and went with a FXLION NANO ONE V-Mount Battery on a small plate. It adds weight but at least i dont have to worry about the camera dying during the vows.
  • I had issues with the ssd mount too... the clamp style ones always felt like they were gonna snap off. I ended up getting a Kondor Blue SSD Handle and it basically solved the dangling cable problem because the drive is tucked inside the grip itself.
  • About that cooling fan... it hasn't messed with my accessories much, but i did notice it can suck in a bit of mist if you're out in the PNW drizzle too long. Just something to keep an eye on when youre doing those elopements. Ngl the learning curve for rigging this thing was steeper than i expected. Dont hesitate to ask if you want to know more about the weight balance!


1

I've been using the S5II for a few months now and honestly, I'm super satisfied with how the rig turned out. Heres what works for me:


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