Out of the box, the GH5 lacks a few essentials for run-and-gun videography. In this guide, we detail what you need to complete your rig — on a budget.
The GH5/S and the Sony A7s I/II are arguably the hottest mirrorless cameras on the market for filmmaking. When we look at their features — compared to the camera that changed the low-budget cinematic filmmaking game, the 5D Mk II — it’s bewildering to think about how much we’re getting for the price.
While these cameras have fantastic filmmaking capabilities, they are, at their cores, mirrorless cameras for still photography. If you take the GH5 out the box and instantly hit the road to make a travel documentary, it won’t be impossible, but you will face a number of challenges. You need to first accessorize your camera to make it practical in the field.
There are two constraints to the items listed in this article: one, this list is geared toward a run-and-gun setup for documentary or travel videography, so we want the accessories to fit in one DSLR bag; two, we’re looking to keep the accessories to a minimum of $1,000. I understand that for our student- and DIY-budget-readers $1,000 is still a lot of money — especially after you’ve just spent $2,000 on the GH5 — but low budget very rarely means no budget.
As a side note, I have used all the items in this list, or I still own them. You’ll see things like the Mark I version even though there are now Mark II models on the market, but in the spirit of keeping this list budget-friendly, we’ll stick to the lower-priced options. While this budget setup is for the GH5, you can use it for inspiration for any camera in the DMC-GH series and, to some extent, most DSLR and mirrorless cameras.
The Aputure VS1 Fine HD
- $198 New
- $150 aftermarket
When you’re working in daylight, the LCD screen on the GH5 isn’t great. It wasn’t very good on the GH4, and it hasn’t got any better with the GH5s. The touchscreen has a protective coating, and as a result, the glare from direct sunlight is awful. So you’re going to need a dedicated field monitor.
The VS1 Fine HD is a 1920×1200 7-inch field monitor from Aputure. It has a 450-nit brightness along with a 1,200:1 contrast ratio, which isn’t as high-performing as top-tier small monitors, but when combined with the velcro monitor hood, it provides a good budget-friendly alternative to the GH5’s LCD screen.
The monitor also has extra functions, such as on-screen cropping markers. The VS1 provides 2.35:1, 1.33:1, 1.66:1, 1.85:1, 70%, 80%, and 90% markers; therefore, if you plan on cropping your footage or applying a letterbox, you won’t have to rely on guesswork.
The monitor also has a useful zoom function. If you’re shooting wide open on a manual lens, even with focus peaking activated, it can be a hassle to find the correct focus point on such a small LCD screen. With the VS1, you can zoom in on the monitor itself, making that process easier. The VS1 also has a cold-shoe attachment, so you can fit the monitor directly to the top of your camera.