Hi Josh, nice videos I’ve been watching since you started. I moved from the GH5 to the S5 about six months after it came out and also have a small rig set up with follow focus. With the GH5 the follow focus was top mounted, with the S5 it’s from below which turns the follow focus the wrong way round. When you turn the wheel away from you the focus moves closer and when you turn it towards you focus moves away! I got a single mount which fits the side of the S5 and a single rod can then be mounted from above. That way the follow focus works correctly.
Hey Gary, thanks for continuing to watch these video and support the channel! I really appreciate it :) How are you finding the S5 compared to the GH5? Ah that's annoying, Do you mount your follow focus on the left or the right hand side?
@@JoshCameron Ive solved the problem by getting an attachment that allows me to attach it to the side of the cadge so that the arm is from above and works in what I think is the correct way. I love the colour straight out of the camera and love the sigma 24 -70 f2.8 lens with it.
I have literally been in a hole comparing The S5 and the A7IV for the past two weeks and I’m so glad I found your channel, you’ve given me what I need in terms of education on the S5 system as well as all these vids that show what extras can really make up for what people consider the negatives! Thanks man you got a sub from me for sure!
Really happy this channel has helped you with your choice - I make a lot of vids about the S5 so if you do decide to go down that route then feel free to get in touch if you need any help :)
Hey Christopher! Cheers mate, appreciate that! Ah nice one. I have the S5 and the S1. Never had the pleasure of using the S1H before but it looks like a BEAST
Thanks for the great build and recommendation. I read that the V-mount battery is capable of delivering the required 9V 3A to the S5 through the USB-C port. Won't it be better to use the USB-C power delivery instead? That way, you have the added benefit of having a full battery already in the camera in the event that the V-mount runs dry. I'm currently rigging my S5 for wedding videography as an A-cam. I got the cage and top handle. the rest are in my cart currently but my budget is tiny so I'm looking to be as financially efficient as possible.
Hey Stephen! That's awesome - I bet you're a lot more used to your rig than I am! It's only been around 3 weeks shooting with a setup like this so still fine tuning, but definitely makes handheld shooting a lot nicer :)
I’m making the jump from a6400 to the S5. There’s just no competition for the price point. Seems insane to me that the s5 is only 1500 with the amount quality you’re capable of getting. My main attraction is the 6k capability. I shoot music videos and some commercial work/weddings. How often do you shoot in the 6k format with your ninja? Is there a noticeable difference opposed to the internal recording? Love your content as it pertains to the s5 and all things Panasonic. It’s made making the switch way easier! Keep it up.
Hey Jake, funnily enough that’s the exact switch I made when I first got the S5. Trust me, you’ll absolutely love it compared to the APS-C Sony cams… you’ll realise how much more comfortable other systems are to use. I shoot quite often with the Ninja V at 6K and yeah the quality difference is there, but even the internal codecs on the S5 are really solid and save quite a bit on space. I actually would say I shoot 4K 25p internal most of the time, but the 6K is very nice to have for the more “special” projects :) Thanks for watching dude, and hope you get a lot of useful insights from the channel!
Just went back and re-watched and noticed a couple of things: you don't use an HDMI clamp on your cage to secure the cable and your mini HDMI cable looks like it's flush and runs vertical on your camera instead of coming out at a 90 degree angle. Can you confirm what cable you like to use? It's not listed in your components. The right HDMI cable continues to be the bane of my existence rigging the S5. The Hyper Thin from Sanho is great when I'm only shooting 24p or 30p but with 10-bit 4K 60p and 5.9k Raw I'm stuck with the bad physical structure of the high-end, coiled Atomos cable. My next order might be a right-angled Atomos but it doesn't look like the high capacity version for the higher bandwidth formats. Update: I'm not sure what changed, but got another 8K compatible HDMI cable in the mail from CableDeconn for like $12, and not only does that cable work with everything but now so does my HyperThin from Sanho. I don't believe I changed any settings on the camera or the Atomos. I've only had the camera a few weeks so I was starting to consider that maybe I had a body with a bad micro HDMI output as I'd purchased an open box model. Anyway, I sound like an obsessed HDMI psychopath, but was truly just trying to find reliable cables to work with a left side handle which is ordered and on its way. Shooting my first paid gig with the S5 in a couple weeks so just trying to get comfortable with the rigged set up.
Hahahahah the update to this comment made me chuckle a bit! I don't think you sound like an obsessed HDMI psychopath at all - it's annoying because there aren't many good HDMI cables on the market to be honest. Just in case you were interested, here's the one that I tend to use with this rig: amzn.to/3HVCMWx
Hi Josh - I really appreciate your videos. I too have a S5 and am loving it, and am planning on getting the Atomos Ninja V to pair up with this great camera but wanted to ask you if it is possible to still use the Panasonic Android App to remotely start and stop recording, etc. with the Atomos Ninja? Meaning, that I do some 'talking head' videos and would like to use the Atomos Ninja for this but would like to use the Panasonic App on my phone to start and stop recording - can this be done? If not, it is not a deal-breaker and I will still get the Atomos, but I would like to be able to use the app.
Nice rig, now you have to find a bag for it. I use one that looks like an old doctors bag, has a great square shape that it just drops down into. No mic receiver? I guess you like to record separately and sync later.
Yeah getting the bag is the annoying part, I'm probably going to get a flight case for it at some point! No mic receiver or wireless transmitter on this setup. Whenever I record audio it tends to be static shots and therefore I always use a boomed XLR shotgun mic running into a recorder, so therefore it wasn't a necessity for the everyday setup :)
GH6 club! Have they made cages for it yet? Yeah the GH6 would be awesome with a bit more weight. The already amazing stabilisation would turn into an actual gimbal with some extra goodies attached 🙌🏼
Beautiful setup! I have similar - it stands out, how little is talked about the bm assist 12g instead of the nija v. BRAW with all its flavors I find much more attractive in workflow. In my opinion, this is also one of the big selling points for video work with Lumix S over many cameras from other brands. Most of them don't have it.
The BM video assist was definitely on my radar when I wanted to squeeze the most out of this camera, but the issue I have is that I edit in FCPX so therefore the workflow of BM Raw would be quite a headache. ProRes is a much easier codec for me since it plays like butter in FCPX and allows me to truly maximise the performance of the M1 Pro chip in my computer :)
@@JoshCameron I Love FCP X. I don't have an Apple M yet, but all tests say that BM Resolve has adapted really well and everything including BRAW works extremely smoothly. To squeeze everything out of the material, you can't get around the color correction options of BM Resolve. Maybe with Autodesk Flame or Baselight but they are not free. But of course I also wonder how well Color Finale Transcoder supports BRAW in FCPX natively? 🤔
I've heard too many bad things about micro HDMI none of which I've experienced, so have you experienced any? I know a full sized port is infinitely better. I personally use the s5 on the RSC2 with raven eye connected and did not notice any glitches (except sometimes when it gets blocky due to the raven eye). Also, what ND would you recommend? After thorough investigation, I really liked the bang for the buck Moment ND 2-5 which has the look of a much more expensive filter than it really is. Not to mention I gave up on the PMVND side of things, too damn expensive! Would really appreciate some recommendations!
Hey dude! Never experienced anything bad with my micro HDMI to be honest. It’s not the strongest port in the world and sometimes it can make me a little nervous if something abrasively knocks the cable etc, but aside from that it’s absolutely fine. Here’s the ND filter(S) I use: amzn.to/3ICutNU amzn.to/3wt33HS Hope this helps :)
Hi Josh. Once a gain jour video is on the point. Nevertheless I have one question : are we obliged to use dummy batterie to powered the S1/S5 with v mount batterie ? Can i not powered my S1 with usb-c cable ? I mean the new Smallrig v mount batterie hase a usb-c out of 12v/3A capacity… I’m asking that because I’m not a huge fan of letting open the clap of the battery Thx a lot !
You can use USB-C power, but that doesn't actually provide power and instead kinda trickle charges the internal battery. So it will work, but not in the most effective way. Hope this helps!
If I was ever making a handheld video rig this is exactly what I would do (the setup, not necessarily the specific models). Speaking of dummy batteries, would you happen to have a list of reliable/reputable brands? I get this asked quite a lot.
Even if it's not the same gear, I think that this configuration is very comfortable for most styles of shooting :) Ummmm, dummy batteries wise - I should have them linked in the description of this video!
Thanks bro! I'm currently building my S5 rig and needed to see this. Question, where did you get your coiled HDMI cord from? I have a full to micro cord, but that coiled one looks much cleaner 👌🏿👌🏿
@@JoshCameron it looks solid (considering fragility of micro-hdmi) with this angled plug! 😊 but isn't it blocking headphones and microphone inputs though? 🧐
I have never used one of these follow focus set-ups on a mirrorless cam, it always seemed like more of a gimmick to feel cool, same as people shooting their tiny mirrorless cameras with giant matte boxes and french flags, for "le aesthetic." Does it actually make it easier to focus? Can you change the gear pitch, even with stills lenses to get more focus throw on the wheel than focusing directly on the lens?
Hahahaha you know what, I had the same thought to start off with. I just thought that if someone wanted a cine cam, they should just buy one... However, with mirrorless cameras getting as good as they are now, especially since the S5 can shoot 6K RAW video, this rig makes a lot of sense. The follow focus does make it a lot easier, and the extra weight does definitely help for smooth footage. You can change pretty much everything about it to be honest, and there's also pins for hard A/B stops if you did want to do a focus pull multiple times etc. It won't be my be-all-end all setup of course, but gimbals are just so annoying to use, and I do have two of them, but I never enjoy using them
Josh - FYI, I ordered the DTap to Panasonic S5 cable you linked to, but the vendor took my money and has never delivered the product. It's been more than 2 weeks since I ordered it. They say it shipped but won't help anymore than that. You may want to link to another cable if there is one. Right now I can't find one available in the US.
@@JoshCameron Yes, I did contact the seller and they said they would look into it. I never heard back, but I did receive an email confirmation that a new unit was shipped to me. It showed up a week later and has worked great with my camera. I really appreciate all the info you put into your video, it helped me get my rig set up and running.
Hi Josh great video, one question please, can you power an S5ii directly from a small power bank ? or do you need a "dummy" battery that then goes into a power bank. Thank you. Love your S5 videos Ive learnt so much from your channel.
Hi mate, almost have the exact same rig as you! (Bought through your aff links on the Nitze vid). My only problem is finding a bag that can fit the entire rig without disassembling it. Do you happen to know of any brands?
Thanks for using my links dude, really appreciate it! Bags wise, I'm literally in the same boat as you! Can't seem to find anything that allows me to simply drop the whole rig in!
Hey Stanley! The handle almost acts as a support contact point when I use the focus wheel and doesn’t really hinder me at all. It’s kind of comfy in the weirdest way!
Along the same lines I’m curious which HDMI cable you’re using and how it co-exists with the handle. I’ve only been able to get the Atomos coiled cable to work with the Ninja V and 10-bit 4K 60p footage, but it just sticks straight out. I want to use my follow focus on the left and would love a handle to use with that nato rail on the left side of small rig’s S5 cage, but feel like I need an alternative to the Atomos cable. Thoughts?
@@stoneylama I'm not sure if any other HDMI cable allows you to record with a Ninja V, but you could try the Atomos angled micro HDMI cable and see if it helps with the spacing a little.
@@stanleystevens6278 that's a great suggestion. Ordered a couple more bendy HDMIs to test - the latest being the HyperThin by Sanho that got some positive reviews for 10-bit 4k60 - but the Atomos is the devil I know at least.
Why do you have the LCD screen open? Seems in a couple of shots that it was in the way other than making some use. I’m just curious. Amazing setup btw!
Unfortunately not mate - there's not very many options out there tbh. Maybe check amazon again but I can't remember seeing anything good there either. The company I got mine from should deliver to the UK as they sent mine out to me and im UK based.... confusing!
Hey Josh, This vid has been a big help. I too was getting so irritated with the Ninja V battery dying so quickly. What tripod do you suggest? I built an entire square cage around my Lumix S5
How’s the additional weight of the v mount been in the run and gun scenarios? I am tempted but most of the work I’m doing is centered around whitewater which makes me a touch nervous to use the v mount battery set up.
I personally love the extra weight. I noticed that I can keep my horizon way straighter with this setup as the extra weight anchors it down a little more. If you’re around water a lot though then I don’t think V-Mount would be a great idea since it’s not technically sealed to the elements as well as a weather-sealed body by itself
I think they probably have a few updates coming soon for this camera, but I'm not sure when we'll see them. It's very rare for Panasonic to just 'leave their cameras alone' in a sense... They love to improve their cameras constantly so we may see something pop up soon :)
So the focus ring doesn’t move in or out when you zoom in or out, so I actually have full reign over the focal length and can still make the most of the rig with a zoom lens :)
I think I buy also the follow focus. Nice Rig I also use my S5 with a Rig :) I used some NpF 940 Batteries for powering my Rig. Not so heavy and expensive as the V Mount. And you can use your camera Screen better.
Do you only use one NP-F 940 battery to power your whole rig or two at the same time? If so, how often do you usually change your batteries. I’m thinking of going that route because the V Mount is more expensive and some of my lights are also powered by NP-F batteries.
@@gabrielsejasvaleriano2798 I'm also in the process of using a single NP-F. Now just waiting for the Atomx dummy battery for my Shinobi to complete the setup.
@@gabrielsejasvaleriano2798 I use one Single NpF 940 from Blumax. I made a video about my Rig on my channel. Some weeks ago. It is way cheaper lighter and better imo. You can shoot hours with one Battery. I have 4 and I dont know how long I can roll.... Hours in 4k 25 fps 10 bit.
Love the rig setup. For run and gun though, I find it tricky using the right bag for quick in and out with these rigs. What do you use? Any suggestions?
This is also a big problem for me! I can't find any bag that's suitable for this rig, so I either keep it assembled and transport it on my passenger seat, or I have to tear it down... so annoying!
I use the Panasonic 16-35 F4, the Sigma 28-70 F2.8 and the Panasonic 24-105 F4 mainly. I also occasionally use the Panasonic 85mm 1.8 and all of the talking shots in my videos are filmed with the Panasonic 24mm 1.8 :)
I think it would, especially if a heavier lens is mounted. Maybe one way to solve this is to rest the external battery on your sternum before switching from left handle to follow focus.
I don’t really have an issue with it to be honest. The side grip acts as a supporting contact point when I use the focus wheel and I’ve never really seen my horizon dip or become tilted during focus pulls etc
Hi Josh. I've been getting so much value from your videos since I bought my S5 last year. You've helped me make several purchases including this Nitze cage and handle so thank you! I'm just wondering if you ever use your Lumix XLR adaptor with this rig, and if so, how do you attach it? It seems to me that the Nitze lil Stinger handle will not be able to be attached if the XLR adaptor is in the hot shoe. If you use the adaptor with this rig, do you use a hot shoe extension cable? And if so, is there a specific type? Because the ones I have found for sale seem to be meant for flashes so I'm not sure if they would work for this purpose. Thank you in advance and keep up the awesome work! 😊
Any reason why you went with the ninja v or a bm video assist? I’m looking into getting a recording and very interested in experience. I edit in Final Cut Pro but color finale has a plug-in for BM raw.
I went for the Ninja V purely because ProRes is the most streamlined codec for FCPX and that’s what I edit in. I didn’t realise there was a plug-in for BM RAW though! I can make a video on the workflow with externally recorded files. It’s pretty simple , just takes a little more work and memory :)
Is there a lag/latency when recording externally? Looking at picking up a BM assist but I've heard about monitor latency issues which is giving me second thoughts. Would love to know your experience 🙂
I haven't noticed any glaring latency when monitoring with both the Atomos or the BM Video Assist. Of course there's probably a slight millisecond of delay but it's definitely not something I pick up on. Hope this helps!
You could either use something like a rode wireless go, or just a standard shotgun mic. Unfortunately I didn't leave much space for an XLR unit, but most of the audio work I do is tripod based anyways :) Hope this helps!
Hey Josh great content man, quick question. Do you record externally RAW to your Ninja V or do you only use it as a monitor. If you're recording to to the Ninja V can you please talk about what your process is for editing and coloring with the footage. Thank you and like always great work keep it up !
Hey Luis! Thanks for the nice words dude - so sometimes I shoot RAW, sometimes I don’t. It all depends on how large the project is and whether I’d actually get the full scope and benefits of RAW with whatever I’m shooting at the time. RAW is great, but it’s huge, and the file sizes make it more of a special occasion sorta thing more so than a definitive part to my workflow. Yeah dude, I can defo make a video showing how I process the ProRes RAW footage. It’s a little trickier than standard H.265 or similar camera based codecs since you have to add noise reduction and sharpening yourself etc, but aside from that it’s much of the same :)
@@JoshCameron would you recommend saving and buying the whole rig in one purchase or gradually adding parts overtime? Could obviously start with a cage and top handle but feel the purpose of that in the first place is to support the other components despite it adding weight which helps
Hi Josh, may I ask how long this battery lasts? Do you think I can film an entire wedding (morning to evening) on one battery powering the camera and a monitor?
The V-Mount battery powering this rig (including the monitor) will last me around 3-4 hours with constant shooting, but of course there's many variables (like the codec you're shooting in etc). I'd say with two of these V-Mount batteries you'll be golden :)
Sight... You're making me hesitate even more. So like, I know what it's like to carry +1 kg for 10 hours but pushing it to 3 kg feels like a bit much. Having the big battery seems like a great idea, but whipping a regular battery every so often doesn't seem like a drag compared to how much weight the plate plus V mount plus battery puts on. Now I do understand the point of stability but with such prime Ibis system and a side handle, is it really needed? Know what I mean. (Regardless, great infos.)
Love your videos, but I do want to give a warning: I've had issues and been told in the past that powering both the monitor and the camera with the same source can cause issues or even damage both units. Just something to lass along
Thanks for the advice Karl. I’ll have to look more into that as well since the last thing I want is damage to both the camera and monitor. I’m sure there’s a finessed solution since V-Mount power is quite common, so hopefully I can find a solution that’s the least risky !
From an electrical standpoint, running the power through the voltage converter in the dummy battery should effectively decouple the two devices and prevent them from messing with each other
@@tompotter8748 not sure if Josh ever changed his rig up. If he didn't, it has been four months and I haven't seen any bad news. I did find an instruction book from an ARRI camera that recommended if the monitor and the camera had the same external battery there was a warning. I thought I had posted it here, but I suppose I did not.
This video was extremely useful for me, especially due to the fact that I'm a Lumix S5 user myself. Quick question, how easy is it for you to change lenses on this rig with the focus system attached and all?
Hey dude! So lens changes are very simple as Stanley said. The follow focus can just swing out of the way and then you can go ahead and attach whatever lens you like. Of course, lens changes are slightly more fiddly since you then have to change the position of the follow focus according to the size of the new lens you’re using, but aside from that it’s really no big deal :) Thanks for watching!
You were not lying the camera is 🔥
I like how the weight made the footage look a lot smoother
Hi Josh, nice videos I’ve been watching since you started. I moved from the GH5 to the S5 about six months after it came out and also have a small rig set up with follow focus. With the GH5 the follow focus was top mounted, with the S5 it’s from below which turns the follow focus the wrong way round. When you turn the wheel away from you the focus moves closer and when you turn it towards you focus moves away! I got a single mount which fits the side of the S5 and a single rod can then be mounted from above. That way the follow focus works correctly.
Hey Gary, thanks for continuing to watch these video and support the channel! I really appreciate it :) How are you finding the S5 compared to the GH5?
Ah that's annoying, Do you mount your follow focus on the left or the right hand side?
@@JoshCameron Ive solved the problem by getting an attachment that allows me to attach it to the side of the cadge so that the arm is from above and works in what I think is the correct way. I love the colour straight out of the camera and love the sigma 24 -70 f2.8 lens with it.
ordering almost all the parts right now with your links. thanks Josh.
I have literally been in a hole comparing The S5 and the A7IV for the past two weeks and I’m so glad I found your channel, you’ve given me what I need in terms of education on the S5 system as well as all these vids that show what extras can really make up for what people consider the negatives!
Thanks man you got a sub from me for sure!
Really happy this channel has helped you with your choice - I make a lot of vids about the S5 so if you do decide to go down that route then feel free to get in touch if you need any help :)
Hey Josh, thanks for choosing a beige shirt over a black one. So much easier to see all the parts in that rig. I love your videos so I've subscribed.
Hey Stanley, wardrobe makes a huge difference ;D Really appreciate you subscribing - hopefully this channel will continue to be helpful for you :)
I love your channel man. I come straight to it for all of my curiosities with my S5. You have definitely deserved my subscription.
You're a legend, thanks for watching dude!
I’m subscribed and I like your content man, nice to see some lumix users, I shoot with the S1 + S1H
Hey Christopher! Cheers mate, appreciate that! Ah nice one. I have the S5 and the S1. Never had the pleasure of using the S1H before but it looks like a BEAST
nice S5 setup. Love how compact it is. Cheers
🤩Nice setup!! Thanks for the share! 👍
I can’t wait to get my own
The best setup I seen by far and I’m going to use this setup
Thanks for the great build and recommendation. I read that the V-mount battery is capable of delivering the required 9V 3A to the S5 through the USB-C port. Won't it be better to use the USB-C power delivery instead? That way, you have the added benefit of having a full battery already in the camera in the event that the V-mount runs dry.
I'm currently rigging my S5 for wedding videography as an A-cam. I got the cage and top handle. the rest are in my cart currently but my budget is tiny so I'm looking to be as financially efficient as possible.
I'd swap the V mount with pd power bank for cost and redundancy.
Love this setup, and is similar to how I rock my S5 - shooting 6k with the Ninja V is really impressive for a camera this size
Hey Stephen! That's awesome - I bet you're a lot more used to your rig than I am! It's only been around 3 weeks shooting with a setup like this so still fine tuning, but definitely makes handheld shooting a lot nicer :)
Please tell me what hdmi cable you use
super cool! thank you
Thanks for watching :)
Love it!
Cheers Pav!
I’m making the jump from a6400 to the S5. There’s just no competition for the price point. Seems insane to me that the s5 is only 1500 with the amount quality you’re capable of getting. My main attraction is the 6k capability. I shoot music videos and some commercial work/weddings. How often do you shoot in the 6k format with your ninja? Is there a noticeable difference opposed to the internal recording? Love your content as it pertains to the s5 and all things Panasonic. It’s made making the switch way easier! Keep it up.
Hey Jake, funnily enough that’s the exact switch I made when I first got the S5. Trust me, you’ll absolutely love it compared to the APS-C Sony cams… you’ll realise how much more comfortable other systems are to use.
I shoot quite often with the Ninja V at 6K and yeah the quality difference is there, but even the internal codecs on the S5 are really solid and save quite a bit on space. I actually would say I shoot 4K 25p internal most of the time, but the 6K is very nice to have for the more “special” projects :)
Thanks for watching dude, and hope you get a lot of useful insights from the channel!
Great video again. Love you’re energy m8
Thanks mate!
can you power the s5 through the usb-c
yes
Love this rig!
Thanks Al! Me too!
Just went back and re-watched and noticed a couple of things: you don't use an HDMI clamp on your cage to secure the cable and your mini HDMI cable looks like it's flush and runs vertical on your camera instead of coming out at a 90 degree angle. Can you confirm what cable you like to use? It's not listed in your components. The right HDMI cable continues to be the bane of my existence rigging the S5. The Hyper Thin from Sanho is great when I'm only shooting 24p or 30p but with 10-bit 4K 60p and 5.9k Raw I'm stuck with the bad physical structure of the high-end, coiled Atomos cable. My next order might be a right-angled Atomos but it doesn't look like the high capacity version for the higher bandwidth formats.
Update: I'm not sure what changed, but got another 8K compatible HDMI cable in the mail from CableDeconn for like $12, and not only does that cable work with everything but now so does my HyperThin from Sanho. I don't believe I changed any settings on the camera or the Atomos. I've only had the camera a few weeks so I was starting to consider that maybe I had a body with a bad micro HDMI output as I'd purchased an open box model. Anyway, I sound like an obsessed HDMI psychopath, but was truly just trying to find reliable cables to work with a left side handle which is ordered and on its way. Shooting my first paid gig with the S5 in a couple weeks so just trying to get comfortable with the rigged set up.
Hahahahah the update to this comment made me chuckle a bit! I don't think you sound like an obsessed HDMI psychopath at all - it's annoying because there aren't many good HDMI cables on the market to be honest.
Just in case you were interested, here's the one that I tend to use with this rig:
amzn.to/3HVCMWx
Hi Josh - I really appreciate your videos. I too have a S5 and am loving it, and am planning on getting the Atomos Ninja V to pair up with this great camera but wanted to ask you if it is possible to still use the Panasonic Android App to remotely start and stop recording, etc. with the Atomos Ninja? Meaning, that I do some 'talking head' videos and would like to use the Atomos Ninja for this but would like to use the Panasonic App on my phone to start and stop recording - can this be done? If not, it is not a deal-breaker and I will still get the Atomos, but I would like to be able to use the app.
Nice rig, now you have to find a bag for it. I use one that looks like an old doctors bag, has a great square shape that it just drops down into. No mic receiver? I guess you like to record separately and sync later.
Yeah getting the bag is the annoying part, I'm probably going to get a flight case for it at some point!
No mic receiver or wireless transmitter on this setup. Whenever I record audio it tends to be static shots and therefore I always use a boomed XLR shotgun mic running into a recorder, so therefore it wasn't a necessity for the everyday setup :)
Looks great! I think I need a cage for my gh6 to get a monitor into my setup more easily
GH6 club! Have they made cages for it yet? Yeah the GH6 would be awesome with a bit more weight. The already amazing stabilisation would turn into an actual gimbal with some extra goodies attached 🙌🏼
Beautiful setup! I have similar - it stands out, how little is talked about the bm assist 12g instead of the nija v. BRAW with all its flavors I find much more attractive in workflow. In my opinion, this is also one of the big selling points for video work with Lumix S over many cameras from other brands. Most of them don't have it.
The BM video assist was definitely on my radar when I wanted to squeeze the most out of this camera, but the issue I have is that I edit in FCPX so therefore the workflow of BM Raw would be quite a headache. ProRes is a much easier codec for me since it plays like butter in FCPX and allows me to truly maximise the performance of the M1 Pro chip in my computer :)
@@JoshCameron I Love FCP X. I don't have an Apple M yet, but all tests say that BM Resolve has adapted really well and everything including BRAW works extremely smoothly. To squeeze everything out of the material, you can't get around the color correction options of BM Resolve. Maybe with Autodesk Flame or Baselight but they are not free.
But of course I also wonder how well Color Finale Transcoder supports BRAW in FCPX natively?
🤔
Hey Josh,
from an ergonomics standpoint I was curious about the follow focus and handgrip on the same side instead of grip on the right side?
I've heard too many bad things about micro HDMI none of which I've experienced, so have you experienced any? I know a full sized port is infinitely better. I personally use the s5 on the RSC2 with raven eye connected and did not notice any glitches (except sometimes when it gets blocky due to the raven eye).
Also, what ND would you recommend? After thorough investigation, I really liked the bang for the buck Moment ND 2-5 which has the look of a much more expensive filter than it really is. Not to mention I gave up on the PMVND side of things, too damn expensive! Would really appreciate some recommendations!
Hey dude! Never experienced anything bad with my micro HDMI to be honest. It’s not the strongest port in the world and sometimes it can make me a little nervous if something abrasively knocks the cable etc, but aside from that it’s absolutely fine.
Here’s the ND filter(S) I use:
amzn.to/3ICutNU
amzn.to/3wt33HS
Hope this helps :)
Your videos are so freaking useful thank you so much. 🙌
Thanks man, I appreciate it 👏🏻
Hi Josh. Once a gain jour video is on the point. Nevertheless I have one question : are we obliged to use dummy batterie to powered the S1/S5 with v mount batterie ? Can i not powered my S1 with usb-c cable ? I mean the new Smallrig v mount batterie hase a usb-c out of 12v/3A capacity…
I’m asking that because I’m not a huge fan of letting open the clap of the battery
Thx a lot !
You can use USB-C power, but that doesn't actually provide power and instead kinda trickle charges the internal battery. So it will work, but not in the most effective way.
Hope this helps!
I can’t find that Nitze V mount plate (n21-d2) anywhere. You got any other recommendations?
What HDMI cable and ND filter do you use? Please give links
If I was ever making a handheld video rig this is exactly what I would do (the setup, not necessarily the specific models).
Speaking of dummy batteries, would you happen to have a list of reliable/reputable brands? I get this asked quite a lot.
Even if it's not the same gear, I think that this configuration is very comfortable for most styles of shooting :) Ummmm, dummy batteries wise - I should have them linked in the description of this video!
Thanks bro! I'm currently building my S5 rig and needed to see this. Question, where did you get your coiled HDMI cord from? I have a full to micro cord, but that coiled one looks much cleaner 👌🏿👌🏿
Here's a link to the one I use - amzn.to/3itNGH7
Hope this helps! Thanks for watching :)
@@JoshCameron Thanks!
@@JoshCameron it looks solid (considering fragility of micro-hdmi) with this angled plug! 😊 but isn't it blocking headphones and microphone inputs though? 🧐
With this configuration what is the duration battery ?
The V Mount battery lasts me a good 3-4 hours of constant shooting with this setup :)
I have never used one of these follow focus set-ups on a mirrorless cam, it always seemed like more of a gimmick to feel cool, same as people shooting their tiny mirrorless cameras with giant matte boxes and french flags, for "le aesthetic."
Does it actually make it easier to focus? Can you change the gear pitch, even with stills lenses to get more focus throw on the wheel than focusing directly on the lens?
Hahahaha you know what, I had the same thought to start off with. I just thought that if someone wanted a cine cam, they should just buy one... However, with mirrorless cameras getting as good as they are now, especially since the S5 can shoot 6K RAW video, this rig makes a lot of sense.
The follow focus does make it a lot easier, and the extra weight does definitely help for smooth footage. You can change pretty much everything about it to be honest, and there's also pins for hard A/B stops if you did want to do a focus pull multiple times etc.
It won't be my be-all-end all setup of course, but gimbals are just so annoying to use, and I do have two of them, but I never enjoy using them
can you connect directly the ninja v to the v mount battery?
With a dummy battery, yes!
@@JoshCameron i got andycine d tap to dummy battery , worries if it will work :(
Josh - FYI, I ordered the DTap to Panasonic S5 cable you linked to, but the vendor took my money and has never delivered the product. It's been more than 2 weeks since I ordered it. They say it shipped but won't help anymore than that. You may want to link to another cable if there is one. Right now I can't find one available in the US.
I'm really sorry to hear this mate. Have you resolved this since posting the comment?
@@JoshCameron Yes, I did contact the seller and they said they would look into it. I never heard back, but I did receive an email confirmation that a new unit was shipped to me. It showed up a week later and has worked great with my camera. I really appreciate all the info you put into your video, it helped me get my rig set up and running.
Hi Josh great video, one question please, can you power an S5ii directly from a small power bank ? or do you need a "dummy" battery that then goes into a power bank. Thank you. Love your S5 videos Ive learnt so much from your channel.
Yes, the S5 can be powered through the USB C port with a power bank. You might like to use a cage with cable clamp to make it secure.
Hi mate. Would you still recommend this follow focus? I’ve never used one but thinking of getting one. Any thoughts at all on this?
Hi mate, almost have the exact same rig as you! (Bought through your aff links on the Nitze vid). My only problem is finding a bag that can fit the entire rig without disassembling it. Do you happen to know of any brands?
Thanks for using my links dude, really appreciate it! Bags wise, I'm literally in the same boat as you! Can't seem to find anything that allows me to simply drop the whole rig in!
I don’t know about a bag guys, but I’m thinking a box…maybe? LOL!
Can i power Lumix S1 with V mout battery?
As long as you have a dummy battery to DTap cable :)
Do you have a suggestion for powering the S5 for streaming? (Wall Power)
You can get dummy batteries for the S5 that would go straight to DC I believe :)
@@JoshCameron I’ve seen a few that people say “works for the S5 but I haven’t seen any on an official list, even in the dummy batteries on Amazon :(
Im building this exact rig as we speak
I've been wondering if the left handle will make it difficult to access the follow focus. How was it for you?
Hey Stanley! The handle almost acts as a support contact point when I use the focus wheel and doesn’t really hinder me at all. It’s kind of comfy in the weirdest way!
@@JoshCameron Thanks for the reply. I'm more convinced to get a left handle now.
Along the same lines I’m curious which HDMI cable you’re using and how it co-exists with the handle. I’ve only been able to get the Atomos coiled cable to work with the Ninja V and 10-bit 4K 60p footage, but it just sticks straight out. I want to use my follow focus on the left and would love a handle to use with that nato rail on the left side of small rig’s S5 cage, but feel like I need an alternative to the Atomos cable. Thoughts?
@@stoneylama I'm not sure if any other HDMI cable allows you to record with a Ninja V, but you could try the Atomos angled micro HDMI cable and see if it helps with the spacing a little.
@@stanleystevens6278 that's a great suggestion. Ordered a couple more bendy HDMIs to test - the latest being the HyperThin by Sanho that got some positive reviews for 10-bit 4k60 - but the Atomos is the devil I know at least.
Why do you have the LCD screen open? Seems in a couple of shots that it was in the way other than making some use. I’m just curious. Amazing setup btw!
Thanks Manuel! So I normally use the LCD for checking my settings, and then I use the external monitor for framing and monitoring generally etc :)
What is your 2nd camera? The one shooting this video.
Panasonic S1 :)
@@JoshCameron damn! Loving the image quality from these Panasonic cameras. The autofocus issues may be worth the headache after all.
Hey mate! The D Tap battery for the S5, the link you gave doesn't deliver to the UK. Any other recommendations?
Unfortunately not mate - there's not very many options out there tbh. Maybe check amazon again but I can't remember seeing anything good there either. The company I got mine from should deliver to the UK as they sent mine out to me and im UK based.... confusing!
How do you deal with the severe HDMI lag by monitoring with the Ninja V?
It's not bad tbh - I find that I can get away with it!
Hey Josh, This vid has been a big help. I too was getting so irritated with the Ninja V battery dying so quickly. What tripod do you suggest? I built an entire square cage around my Lumix S5
Really glad this helped you! I use these tripods:
amzn.to/3AO97ML
Hi Josh have you used any third-party batteries/chargers for the S5?
How’s the additional weight of the v mount been in the run and gun scenarios? I am tempted but most of the work I’m doing is centered around whitewater which makes me a touch nervous to use the v mount battery set up.
I personally love the extra weight. I noticed that I can keep my horizon way straighter with this setup as the extra weight anchors it down a little more. If you’re around water a lot though then I don’t think V-Mount would be a great idea since it’s not technically sealed to the elements as well as a weather-sealed body by itself
Are you surprised not to see a firmware update come to S5 since the release of the GH6? Perhaps matching its autofocus for instance
I think they probably have a few updates coming soon for this camera, but I'm not sure when we'll see them. It's very rare for Panasonic to just 'leave their cameras alone' in a sense... They love to improve their cameras constantly so we may see something pop up soon :)
How does the focus puller work with the lens? Noticed it’s a zoom? Do you keep it on 24mm?
So the focus ring doesn’t move in or out when you zoom in or out, so I actually have full reign over the focal length and can still make the most of the rig with a zoom lens :)
Josh! How do you charge the camera with the V-mount? D-tap to usb-c and then in the camera?
Dummy battery to D-Tap!
I think I buy also the follow focus. Nice Rig I also use my S5 with a Rig :)
I used some NpF 940 Batteries for powering my Rig. Not so heavy and expensive as the V Mount. And you can use your camera Screen better.
Do you only use one NP-F 940 battery to power your whole rig or two at the same time? If so, how often do you usually change your batteries. I’m thinking of going that route because the V Mount is more expensive and some of my lights are also powered by NP-F batteries.
@@gabrielsejasvaleriano2798 I'm also in the process of using a single NP-F. Now just waiting for the Atomx dummy battery for my Shinobi to complete the setup.
@@gabrielsejasvaleriano2798 I use one Single NpF 940 from Blumax. I made a video about my Rig on my channel. Some weeks ago. It is way cheaper lighter and better imo. You can shoot hours with one Battery. I have 4 and I dont know how long I can roll.... Hours in 4k 25 fps 10 bit.
Love the rig setup. For run and gun though, I find it tricky using the right bag for quick in and out with these rigs. What do you use? Any suggestions?
This is also a big problem for me! I can't find any bag that's suitable for this rig, so I either keep it assembled and transport it on my passenger seat, or I have to tear it down... so annoying!
@@JoshCameron I just use a Pelican case and cut the foam out exactly for placement of camera in it as is
Great video, I recently got S5, what lenses do you use?
I use the Panasonic 16-35 F4, the Sigma 28-70 F2.8 and the Panasonic 24-105 F4 mainly. I also occasionally use the Panasonic 85mm 1.8 and all of the talking shots in my videos are filmed with the Panasonic 24mm 1.8 :)
How do you find focussing with the handle and Small rig focus wheel? Is it natural? Do you lose balance when turning the wheel?
I think it would, especially if a heavier lens is mounted. Maybe one way to solve this is to rest the external battery on your sternum before switching from left handle to follow focus.
I don’t really have an issue with it to be honest. The side grip acts as a supporting contact point when I use the focus wheel and I’ve never really seen my horizon dip or become tilted during focus pulls etc
What SD memory card do you use for highest quality video?
SD Cards (UHS-ii)
UK - amzn.to/3w89ddQ
US - amzn.to/3fqQGUg
DE - amzn.to/31BJMn1
Hi Josh. I've been getting so much value from your videos since I bought my S5 last year. You've helped me make several purchases including this Nitze cage and handle so thank you!
I'm just wondering if you ever use your Lumix XLR adaptor with this rig, and if so, how do you attach it? It seems to me that the Nitze lil Stinger handle will not be able to be attached if the XLR adaptor is in the hot shoe. If you use the adaptor with this rig, do you use a hot shoe extension cable? And if so, is there a specific type? Because the ones I have found for sale seem to be meant for flashes so I'm not sure if they would work for this purpose.
Thank you in advance and keep up the awesome work! 😊
Any reason why you went with the ninja v or a bm video assist? I’m looking into getting a recording and very interested in experience. I edit in Final Cut Pro but color finale has a plug-in for BM raw.
I went for the Ninja V purely because ProRes is the most streamlined codec for FCPX and that’s what I edit in. I didn’t realise there was a plug-in for BM RAW though!
I can make a video on the workflow with externally recorded files. It’s pretty simple , just takes a little more work and memory :)
@@JoshCameron that would be awesome to watch!
Is there a lag/latency when recording externally? Looking at picking up a BM assist but I've heard about monitor latency issues which is giving me second thoughts. Would love to know your experience 🙂
I haven't noticed any glaring latency when monitoring with both the Atomos or the BM Video Assist. Of course there's probably a slight millisecond of delay but it's definitely not something I pick up on. Hope this helps!
What audio set up can you use on this ?
You could either use something like a rode wireless go, or just a standard shotgun mic. Unfortunately I didn't leave much space for an XLR unit, but most of the audio work I do is tripod based anyways :) Hope this helps!
How much does the rig with the camera weigh?
It's around 2kg I believe!
Hey Josh great content man, quick question. Do you record externally RAW to your Ninja V or do you only use it as a monitor. If you're recording to to the Ninja V can you please talk about what your process is for editing and coloring with the footage. Thank you and like always great work keep it up !
Hey Luis! Thanks for the nice words dude - so sometimes I shoot RAW, sometimes I don’t. It all depends on how large the project is and whether I’d actually get the full scope and benefits of RAW with whatever I’m shooting at the time. RAW is great, but it’s huge, and the file sizes make it more of a special occasion sorta thing more so than a definitive part to my workflow.
Yeah dude, I can defo make a video showing how I process the ProRes RAW footage. It’s a little trickier than standard H.265 or similar camera based codecs since you have to add noise reduction and sharpening yourself etc, but aside from that it’s much of the same :)
Want a rig like this so badly
Can’t believe how expensive all the parts are though for what they are 😂
Yeah... camera stuff is too expensive :(
@@JoshCameron would you recommend saving and buying the whole rig in one purchase or gradually adding parts overtime? Could obviously start with a cage and top handle but feel the purpose of that in the first place is to support the other components despite it adding weight which helps
Hi Josh, may I ask how long this battery lasts? Do you think I can film an entire wedding (morning to evening) on one battery powering the camera and a monitor?
The V-Mount battery powering this rig (including the monitor) will last me around 3-4 hours with constant shooting, but of course there's many variables (like the codec you're shooting in etc). I'd say with two of these V-Mount batteries you'll be golden :)
@@JoshCameron Thanks, appreciate it!
Sight... You're making me hesitate even more. So like, I know what it's like to carry +1 kg for 10 hours but pushing it to 3 kg feels like a bit much. Having the big battery seems like a great idea, but whipping a regular battery every so often doesn't seem like a drag compared to how much weight the plate plus V mount plus battery puts on. Now I do understand the point of stability but with such prime Ibis system and a side handle, is it really needed? Know what I mean. (Regardless, great infos.)
Love your videos, but I do want to give a warning: I've had issues and been told in the past that powering both the monitor and the camera with the same source can cause issues or even damage both units. Just something to lass along
Thanks for the advice Karl. I’ll have to look more into that as well since the last thing I want is damage to both the camera and monitor. I’m sure there’s a finessed solution since V-Mount power is quite common, so hopefully I can find a solution that’s the least risky !
From an electrical standpoint, running the power through the voltage converter in the dummy battery should effectively decouple the two devices and prevent them from messing with each other
@@tompotter8748 not sure if Josh ever changed his rig up. If he didn't, it has been four months and I haven't seen any bad news. I did find an instruction book from an ARRI camera that recommended if the monitor and the camera had the same external battery there was a warning. I thought I had posted it here, but I suppose I did not.
No Mic?
I always boom a shotgun for interviews and/or use lav kits :)
This video was extremely useful for me, especially due to the fact that I'm a Lumix S5 user myself. Quick question, how easy is it for you to change lenses on this rig with the focus system attached and all?
I have the Smallrig follow focus. Just loosen it's rod clamp, swing it out of the way and you'll be able to change lenses like normal.
Hey dude! So lens changes are very simple as Stanley said. The follow focus can just swing out of the way and then you can go ahead and attach whatever lens you like. Of course, lens changes are slightly more fiddly since you then have to change the position of the follow focus according to the size of the new lens you’re using, but aside from that it’s really no big deal :)
Thanks for watching!
Thank you guys both!
" Today I build my S5 CINEMA Rig for shooting DIGITAL content, Let's Go ! "
You're right, i'll just use my iPhone instead and get rid of everything else!
Nice!