Must-Have Accessories for Panasonic GH5 Content Creators
- First Things First: Panasonic GH5 Video Specs
- Must-Have Accessories for Panasonic GH5: Ikan Stratus Cage
- Must-Have Accessories for Panasonic GH5: RODE VideoMic Pro
- Must-Have Accessories for Panasonic GH5: Acratech GP Ball Head
- Must-Have Accessories for Panasonic GH5: Ikan Delta 5-Inch Field Monitor
- Must-Have Accessories for Panasonic GH5: Manfrotto 143 Magic Arm
- Must-Have Accessories for Panasonic GH5: Unitech USB Cable
- Must-Have Accessories for Panasonic GH5: ProMediaGear TR424L Tripod
- Bonus: Zoom H5 Recorder
I picked up a Panasonic GH5 a few months ago, and as I explain in my Panasonic GH5 review, though this camera is a couple of years old, it's still one of the very best filmmaking cameras on the market today.
Combined with a host of lenses for the GH5 that work beautifully for both stills and videos, the GH5 has quickly become one of my favorite cameras. I'm saying that even though I've always been a Nikon shooter!
In fact, even though the GH5 is a couple of years old, I think it's still a solid buy in 2019. Find out why in my video below:
But no matter how good the GH5 does with video, you still need a few accessories to get the most out of this incredible camera.
Below, I've listed a few must-have accessories for Panasonic GH5 content creators.
Table of Contents
First Things First: Panasonic GH5 Video Specs
If you aren't familiar with the GH5's video specs, let me enlighten you...
For starters, you can record in 4K at up to 60p and full HD at up to 180 fps to create incredible slow-motion videos.
This camera has no video crop, so you get the full sensor readout (which is oversampled from 5.1K, so your video footage is uber sharp). What's more, there's no time limit for video clips, either, though you're obviously bound by the size of your memory card and battery life.
The GH5 also has internal 8-bit 4:2:0 IPB encoding, which only improves if you use an external recorder.
At a lower frame rate, this camera will handle 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording. Nice!
Learn how to set up a Panasonic GH5 for videomaking in the video at the start of this section by Griffin Hammond.
Must-Have Accessories for Panasonic GH5: Ikan Stratus Cage
Having a cage for your camera for video work is an absolute must, given all the accessories you need to produce high-quality videos.
I like the Ikan Stratus Cage because it's specially designed for use with the GH5. That means it fits like a glove and feels like an extension of the camera rather than a big, bulky one-size-fits-all cage that just gets in the way.
It's got an Arca-Swiss bottom plate for easy on and off, a NATO top handle to make carrying your gear that much easier (the handle also accepts bicycle grips), and there's cutouts so you can easily access the battery, SD card, and I/O doors.
Ikan even includes a built-in lens adapter support and throws in a cable clamp, too.
And with connection points that include multiple 1/4"-20 and 3/8"-16 threaded holes, a shot mount, and an ARRI rosette, there's all sorts of gear you can attach to this thing for your video production purposes.
Learn more about the Ikan Stratus Cage for Panasonic GH5
Top Accessories for the Panasonic GH5: Rode VideoMic Pro
In photography, we always talk about how it's the lens that's the key to a great shot, not the camera.
Well, in video, the key to creating the highest-quality content is having excellent audio to match your clean, crisp video.
So, you can shoot video with a GH5 all you want, but without superb audio quality to go with that 4K video footage, your film isn't going to have the impact you want.
For that reason, I bought a RODE VideoMic Pro.
This little shotgun-style mic has a 1/2-inch condenser capsule, which results in ultra-clean audio that's broadcast quality. We're talking about a self-noise level of just 14db!
It has a super-cardioid polar pattern that reduces background noise while ensuring that it captures crisp audio of the source you want to record.
And, unlike lesser microphones, the RODE VideoMic Pro has a Rycote Lyre shock system that creates a buffer between the microphone capsule and electronics and the microphone mount. This, in turn, minimizes the vibrations of the mic and improves the quality of the audio even more.
Add in fantastic sound, easy-to-reach controls, and intuitive operation, and you have the makings of the ideal microphone for filmmaking with the Panasonic GH5.
Learn more about the RODE VideoMic Pro
Acratech GP Ball Head
To say that I'm a fan of Acratech is the understatement of the century...
I've used their GP ball head for years and years, and it's never disappointed.
The build quality of this thing is crazy good. It's built like a tank and gives you ultra-precise and smooth adjustments for fine-tuning the framing of your footage (and for smooth panning motion, too).
This rig has a quick-release clamp or a double speed rubber knob or locking lever. There's a large bullseye level to keep your videos nice and straight, and with a weight load of 25 pounds, it'll support the GH5 and all your accessories just fine!
Learn more about the Acratech GP Ball Head
Must-Have Accessories for Panasonic GH5: Ikan Delta 5-Inch Field Monitor
While the Panasonic GH5 has a cool swivel LCD screen that you can use to see yourself as you record, it's nice to have a larger monitor when recording video.
For that purpose, I use the Ikan Delta 5-inch field monitor (shown above, in front of the ball head).
This thing is big and beautiful and aids me in getting the exposure and focus just right.
Though it's got a gorgeous and large 5-inch screen, the overall unit is still small and lightweight, making it easy to add to my camera bag. It doesn't bog you down when filming handheld either.
Ikan has stuffed it full of awesome features, too, like audio meters, guides, a histogram, zooming capabilities, false color, and peaking.
There's HDMI inputs and outputs, 4K UHD support, and a USB port for loading 3D LUTs.
If that doesn't scream "awesome field monitor," I don't know what does!
Learn more about the Ikan Delta 5-Inch Field Monitor
Must-Have Accessories for Panasonic GH5: Manfrotto 143 Magic Arm
With so many needed accessories to produce videos, it's helpful to have another hand (or arm, is it were) to mount your accessories to.
For that, I use the Manfrotto Magic Arm, which has three pivot points, but just one lock to lock everything in place.
You can mount a light, a camera, or any other bit of gear to it at precisely the angle you need.
There's 5/8" male studs on the ball joints at either end with 3/8" and 1/4-20" female threads.
I use mine to hold my H5 Zoom (more on that later).
Learn more about the Manfrotto 143 Magic Arm
Must-Have Accessories for Panasonic GH5: Unitech USB Cable
You need a good cable to connect your field monitor to your camera.
In my case, I use a simple 5-foot cable from Amazon. It works great, gives me room to move around, and it set me back less than $12.
Learn more about the Unitech 5-foot USB cable
Must-Have Accessories for Panasonic GH5: ProMediaGear TR424L Tripod
To support all the weight of your video gear, you need a sturdy as hell tripod, and there's no better than the ProMediaGear TR424L.
This is hands-down the best tripod I've ever owned. It's built like a tank and can hold a whopping 125 pounds of gear.
At 6.4 pounds and 26.3-inches when it's folded, this isn't exactly a travel tripod, but for studio work, holy smokes...this thing is awesome.
The 4-section carbon fiber legs are easy to deploy and lock into place. The 3-position angle locks and quarter-turn twist locks make sure of that.
This rig also has big rubber feet to aid in stability.
Up to, the aluminum alloy head has a safety lock, a bubble level, and a tripod plate with a 3/8"-16 mount.
I also like the fact that it extends up to 77 inches to accommodate my videos whether I'm standing or sitting down.
No matter if you have it at its height maxed out, at its lowest height, or somewhere in between, this tripod offers rock-solid performance.
Learn more about the ProMediaGear TR424L Tripod
Bonus Accessory: Zoom H5 Recorder
The Zoom H5 recorder might not be a must-have, when you hear the audio that comes from this, you'll consider a nice-to-have accessory for sure!
When I'm in my studio, I have my RODE NTG-4 plugged into the Zoom H5 virtually all the time.
When I'm out shooting B roll, the Zoom H5 performs masterfully for recording nature sounds and other ambient noise.
But it's the quality of the audio that's so astounding.
You can cover a huge area, yet still get beautifully crisp sound in the center with supreme clarity and sound definition.
Like I said before, great videos demand great audio, and you definitely get that with the Zoom H5!
Learn more about the Zoom H5 Recorder