Latest Gear Additions and Exploring my Options

Over the past few weeks, while testing the Lumix G81M and considering whether I needed a slight upgrade—mainly to get 4K 60p or even 4K 120p—the overriding conclusion was that achieving this would make things significantly more complex (and expensive). Neither of which I was planning to deal with. Besides, I was quite satisfied with the current performance. So, at least for the time being, I’ll continue as I am—both to gain more experience and to see if stepping up is truly necessary.

That said, I did run into some minor issues. In bright sunlight, for example, the lens aperture combined with auto ISO wasn’t always sufficient, leading to overexposure. The large cage I have feels a bit heavy for this compact camera, and a more streamlined setup would be more practical for bike trips. The internal mic’s audio quality is also not always ideal, among other small inconveniences.

To address these, I made a few purchases, alongside some gear I already owned, like a Tascam DR-05X and two Boya shotgun mics:

• K&F Concept Variable ND8-128 ND filter
• Niceyrig Camera Cage for Panasonic G95/G85
• Wooden top handle Probty with Arri connection
• Wooden side handle Probty
• Wide-angle Metal Lens Hood 58mm for my Lumix 12-60mm
• Panasonic Shutter Release Remote L1

My latest video footage will be shot using this setup. I’ll review some of these items in a future post, or at the very least, I’ll revisit this topic to update on what’s working, what’s changed, and any new additions.

Last minute add

The G81 is a fantastic camera, and honestly, I don’t want to overcomplicate the video side of things. One thing I do sometimes miss—especially when I take only the G81 with me—is a 20MP sensor. I had already looked at its successor, the G90/G95, but upgrading to that wouldn’t bring much extra. And as I’ve said before, a GH5 or GH6 isn’t for me—too complex, too big, too heavy.

But recently, I read that Panasonic released an updated version of the G95: the G97. Reviews have been lukewarm, mainly because there aren’t many upgrades. But as I’ve said before with lens reviews—don’t compare them to higher-end models—and the same applies here.

The Panasonic G97 sells for €699, which is quite reasonable, especially compared to the GH5 or GH6. For that price, you get USB charging (even while using the camera), a better OLED touchscreen, an improved menu, support for the new Panasonic Sync app (which could work as an external monitor), Bluetooth 5, enhanced weather sealing, Full HD up to 120fps, and—importantly—it uses the same batteries as the G81 while remaining just as compact and lightweight.

So, this could be a viable upgrade option. Let’s see what the future brings.