What are the must-have accessories for a new Micro Four Thirds system?

I went through this last year. Honestly, I was sooo worried about damaging my new gear while keeping it light... I actually spent way too much time researching how to keep things 'safe' without adding a ton of weight lol. Basically, I realized that 'portable' also means 'easy to drop' if you arent careful! Sooo, here is what actually worked for me over the years: * The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 17mm f/1.8 lens. In my experience, the autofocus is way faster than the 20mm mentioned earlier. It stays on my body 90% of the time.
* A SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I Card. I am kinda cautious about cheap storage, and these have never let me down. Highkey worth the extra few bucks for peace of mind.
* A B+W 46mm XS-Pro Clear MRC-nano 010M Filter. I know people argue about filters, but honestly, I am way too nervous about scratches on the glass while traveling... It is a learning curve for sure, but you will get the hang of it! What kind of stuff are u planning to shoot mostly?

Sooo, welcome to the MFT club! I've been shooting with these tiny sensors for like 8 years now, and honestly, it's a bit of a love-hate thing. I love the size, but man, the battery life on those smaller bodies is lowkey depressing. You're definitely right that power is priority number one. Before you buy anything else, you gotta understand that the biggest trap with MFT is 'gear creep.' Basically, you start buying 'pro' stuff and suddenly your kit is as heavy as a DSLR, which is just... sad. I learned that the hard way after lugging around huge pro zooms that I eventually sold because I hated carrying them. Here is what I recommend to keep things light: 1. Get a true pancake lens. It's the MFT superpower. The Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 II ASPH. Lens is the one I always go back to. It makes the camera pocketable, which is the whole point, right?? Unfortunately, the autofocus is a bit slow compared to newer glass, which can be pretty frustrating for moving subjects, but the sharpness is legendary. 2. A proper charging setup. Instead of just one battery, get a kit like the Wasabi Power Battery (2-Pack) and Dual USB Charger for Panasonic DMW-BLG10 (make sure it fits ur specific body!). Having a USB charger means you can top off from a power bank while you're at lunch. 3. A low-profile strap. Don't use the bulky one that came in the box. I've used the Peak Design Cuff Camera Wrist Strap for three years and it's perfect for travel. It's super secure but doesnt get in the way when you're trying to be discrete. Anyway, keep it simple and dont overpack. The best kit is the one you actually want to carry... peace!

Honestly, I've been shooting MFT for ages and the biggest lesson I've learned is that being lightweight is great until you realize how easy it is to fumbel the camera. I actually had a pretty scary moment where my kit almost took a dive because the grip on my current setup was just way too small for my hands. After that, I added a tiny metal thumb rest that slides into the hot shoe. It's basically a life-changer for one-handed shooting and makes the whole thing feel so much more secure. And speaking of reliability, I'm always super paranoid about the screen. I once got a nasty scratch just from the zipper on my jacket, so now a tempered glass protector is the first thing I buy. It doesnt add any weight but man, the peace of mind is worth it. I also learned to be really careful with those cheap travel chargers—one of mine literally started smoking in a hotel room once. Now I stick to a more robust dual-slot one I got that has built-in safety circuits. Definitly better to be safe than sorry when you're out in the field.

Saving this whole thread. So much good info here you guys are awesome.