What are the must-have travel accessories for Olympus camera setups?

Question

I'm leaving for Iceland in literally 12 days and I'm freaking out a bit because I just picked up an OM-5 for the trip and I'm not sure what else I really need to pack to make the most of it. I've been reading a bunch of blogs and everyone says to get the Peak Design Capture Clip but then I saw some forum posts saying the base of the smaller Olympus bodies is a bit narrow and it might put too much stress on the tripod mount or just feel awkward when hiking. I really want to be able to access my camera fast while I'm trekking near the waterfalls so the clip sounds great but I'm torn. I also looked into those JJC grip things because the camera is tiny for my hands but some people say it adds too much weight. I have about 200 bucks left in my budget for accessories after buying the 12-40mm pro lens. Do I need special filters for the smaller MFT sensor or just standard NDs? I'm mostly worried about keeping the gear safe from the mist and rain too since I've heard the weather there is brutal. What are the absolute must-have travel accessories you guys use for your Olympus setups when you're on the move?

HarborHeliotrope · Accepted Answer

To add to the point above: you definitely need extra juice. Iceland's cold will eat those small batteries.

Olympus BLS-50 Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery: Grab two. OEM is better in freezing temps compared to cheap third-party stuff.

Kase Wolverine Magnetic Circular Filter Kit 62mm: These are great because theyre magnetic. Fiddling with screw-on threads when your fingers are frozen is a nightmare. The OM-5 weather sealing is solid, but extra power is the real priority.

Patrickaxorp · Answer

I've been shooting Olympus for years and Iceland is basically the ultimate test for this gear. About that Peak Design Capture Clip v3... honestly, the rumors about the OM-5 tripod mount are something to take seriously. I tried using one on a hike and felt way too much flex with the OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO II attached. The baseplate is composite, not metal like the OM-1, so constant torque can be risky if you're scrambling over rocks. I eventually swapped to the Peak Design Slide Lite Camera Strap and just kept it short across my body. It’s nearly as fast as the clip but way safer for the camera body long-term. You definitely want a grip tho. I use the JJC HG-OM5 Metal Hand Grip and the weight is negligible compared to the massive improvement in handling. When your hands are freezing and wet near Skogafoss, you'll be glad for that extra bit of metal to hold onto. For the waterfalls, standard filters are fine. I’ve had great results with the Hoya PROND1000 10-stop ND Filter for those long exposures. Just make sure you get the 62mm size for that Pro lens. Since the 12-40mm and OM-5 are both weather-sealed, you dont need to freak out about the mist, but bring a bunch of microfiber cloths. I usually keep a few MagicFiber Microfiber Cleaning Cloths in my pocket because the salt spray and mist will spot your lens every ten seconds. Enjoy the trip, it's gonna be epic.

Jude Samuel Mitchell · Answer

The OM-5 is an absolute beast for technical performance! That IP53 rating is legendary and works perfectly with your 12-40mm pro gear. Since youre hitting waterfalls, just go with any high-end ND filters from Hoya or maybe Tiffen. You really need those top-tier coatings to handle the mist and spray. Also, definitely grab a remote shutter from JJC for those silky long exposures. Youre gonna have a blast!