Need advice on equipment for G5

[abhishek_singh8]

 

<p>I am a newbie in this field. I have Panasonic G5 + 14-42mm + 45-140mm+small lowpro bag, which is suffient for my camera and both lenses. I am going to Travel Grand Canyon+Antelope+Vegas+Coral Pink Sand Dunes+Kelso Dunes in this month end.<br>

Most of the time in my travel, I will have lot of light due to desert and clean sunny climate. I am planning to take a basic, light weighted tripod.<br>

I was checking on Tripods. Below url is for Slik Compact II Tripod. Will it have subject to vibration, as this is light weighted ? Others recommended tripds seems to be out of my budget.<br /><a href="http://www.ebay.com/ctg/Slik-Compact-II-Tripod-/99337475#alurl-/ctg/Slik-Compact-II-Tripod-/99337475?rt=nc&_dmpt=US_Tripods&_pcategid=30093&_pcatid=772&_pdpal=1&_sgz=1&_trksid=p5360.c0.m312&LH_BIN=1-state-15_bin_qqq_qqq">http://www.ebay.com/ctg/Slik-Compact-II-Tripod-/99337475#alurl-/ctg/Slik-Compact-II-Tripod-/99337475?rt=nc&_dmpt=US_Tripods&_pcategid=30093&_pcatid=772&_pdpal=1&_sgz=1&_trksid=p5360.c0.m312&LH_BIN=1-state-15_bin_qqq_qqq</a><br>

I have LUMIX G Vario 14-42mm lens and H-FS45150K 45-150mm Lumix G Series Lens, which came with this camera as kit.<br>

Should I consider some like Hoya 52mm (HMC UV / Circular Polarizer / Warm) ? Here is URL - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hoya-Circular-Polarizer-Introduction-Filter/dp/B000WVGR9U/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1377021446&sr=1-4&keywords=Hoya+kit+52mm">http://www.amazon.com/Hoya-Circular-Polarizer-Introduction-Filter/dp/B000WVGR9U/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1377021446&sr=1-4&keywords=Hoya+kit+52mm</a><br>

Or some individual filter or something else, I will require for my travel ?</p>

 

[starvy]

<p>Abhishek,<br>

What do you like to photograph? Would you be doing long exposures? While cameras placed on tripod is always going to offer the most sturdy shot, however, the G5 has image stabilisation to my knowledge. Do you really need all this gear? The 14-42 lens actually works as a 28 to 84mm. I don't think you would be requiring much of a tripod for this in the sort of light expected around that part of the world in August? You'd be shooting in f8/1/100 at least for most of the time so why add to your weight? Just enjoy the trip.</p>

[abhishek_singh8]

<p>Thanks Starvy for reply.<br>

I am still learning it. I tried HDR/Bracketing multiple times and everytime, it seems it shakes and give me pictures with blurred edges. May be, I am not handling it correctly.<br>

I take your point that Tripod may be optional. Should I go for any filter ?</p>

[SCL]

<p>The only filters which might be of use to you would be a circular polarizing filter or a gradient neutral density filter. IMHO, if you aren't experienced at using either for at least a couple of weeks prior to your trip to learn their nuances, I'd say don't bother. Mostly just enjoy the scenery.</p>

[abhishek_singh8]

<p>It seems, I would not bother to take any filter as of now and will lean towards Tripod. Just thinking of a basic, light weighted one. <a href="http://www.slik.co.jp/slik_com/CMS-COMPACT_II.html">http://www.slik.co.jp/slik_com/CMS-COMPACT_II.html</a> This one looks small and light weighted, but still looking for its reviews and some equivalent others.</p>

[jcuknz]

<p>More photos are spoilt by incorrect trigger technique than any other reason. Assuming that you use the G5 at 400 ISO [ as I use my GH2 ] unless you are working in pretty low light you will have a satisfactory shutter speed. This means the blurredness is caused by yourself and you need to adopt a good practice such as taking half trigger and when you get the AOK signal from the camera [ the green dot top right corner of viewfinder or LCD] then gently compress the trigger all the way to take the photo .. no quick jabs please :-)<br>

I had the G3 before getting the GH for the external controls</p>

<p>The only time I use a tripod is when at home ...I guess if I did HDR I might use it but since I have a proper editing programme I normally only take one shot and adjust parts of the photo as required.</p>

<p>A light tripod is probably worse than hand holding particularly if you use it fully extended. Particularly too if there is any breeze. Better to rest the camera on or lean yourself against something rock steady</p>

<p>Better too if you just use the three legs with column wound down. Top tripods don't have columns. When using a tripod I also always use the ten second delay release and after pressing the trigger leave camera tripod untouched until exposure is complete ... or else as last time I used my cable release ... but the 10 second release is almost as good. The cable release has a two pressure button so you can take half trigger and then the exposure. I do not know if the G5 has provision to use the Panasonic cable releaase as my GH2. but reading dpreview I think it does.</p>

<p>Recently I came across the option of using burst so that while the first frame has camera shake from pressing the trigger subsequent frames are sharper ... the photographer was doing HDR this way, taking a burst of about twelve shots and selecting the three he found best, and the results of hand holding without OIS, at a rule breaking long exposure [ 1/60 > 1/80 ] , and a incredibly long lens 900mm were quite fantastic ... vintage aircraft meet. He was using the FZ200.<br>

As he wrote it works for him but he didn't suggest others follow as he was breaking so many rules :-)</p>

<p>Now I have OIS I simply leave my tripod at home and enjoy my trip :-) But I know how to press the trigger. I did take my $30 mini-tripod to sit on firm things or hold firmly against verticals, but it was hardly used.</p>

[iambaxter]

<p>I have the first version of that tripod. It is great for traveling and hiking. Small ,light weight and inexpencive. If used properly it will give good results. Big problem with it is that it is less than a meter high. This means you have to get on your hands and knees to look through the view finder or to look at the screen, unless your camera has a swivel screen. I would never use it with the center column extended. I assume that you will be driving and weight and size will not be a big factor for this trip, so I would not recommend this as a primary tripod. I'm sure that someone could recommend something better for about the same price. As far as filters, the only one you might need for landscapes would be a circular polerizer.<br>

<a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/708872-REG/Velbon_DF60_F_DF_60_Tripod_W_3_Way_Panhead.html">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/708872-REG/Velbon_DF60_F_DF_60_Tripod_W_3_Way_Panhead.html</a></p>

 

[abhishek_singh8]

<p>Ok. I will go with your suggestions and would like to buy CPL. I have few more questions on this.<br />My Panasonic G5 which had kit lens of 14-42mm (G Vario 1:3.5-5.6/14-42 ASPH) and 45-140mm (G Vario 1:40.0-5.6/45-150 ASPH).<br />Please help me buying correct and worthy filter for my lens, specially for my travel purpose. I have few questions<br />1) As per my lens sizes, which filter size, I should choose ? 52mm or 62mm or something else ?<br />2) I was reading about filters and found that Hoya filters are good, but there are many. Can somebody suggest me, which one should I go for ?<br />3) Normal CPL should be ok or should I go for B+W CPL ?</p>