A Better Grip for Lumix GM1

I love my little GM1, it is the tiniest full MFT camera that take interchangeable lenses, it is so small, it is hard to hand hold steadily till I found out and stuck on a Richard Franiec custom grip for the GM1!

Four years ago that small piece of 20g anodized aluminium alloy cost me a whopping US$34.95 plus shipping, my friends thought I am mad, paying that much for a small piece of metal! That piece of sculptured alloy was mounted on the GM1 with 3M double-sided tape and transformed the handling of the little camera!

Until, my friend Mity, post in Facebook what he ordered for his GM1!

A Better Grip for Lumix GX85

I love my Panasonic Lumix GX85, it is not too small like the GM1 and not too big like the GX8.

The GX85 is perfectly balance and comfortable to hold with most of the compact M43 lenses, it gets a bit front heavy when you start using heavy or long lenses on this "thin" body.

Unlike the GX7 it replaced (the GX85 is GX7 Mk2 in Japan), the "front grip" on the GX85 is not thick enough to stabilise a long or heavy lens, this is when I decided to get an external grip.

After much searches, I am shocked that there are less than a handful grips for the GX85, most of them are NOT grips per sec but thumb rests EXCEPT ONE!

LCD Shade For Lumix GM1

By now, you would have notice I like to take the little Lumix GM1 wherever I go, it is my perfect pocketable point n shoot with great IQ (image quality)!

My friend asked me what are the features that I do not like about this small wonder, well there are TWO that actually irritate me; the rest, I can live with ;)

Actually, both of the irritations have to do with the LCD screen!

Mind you, that 3" screen is sharp and accurate; except it CANNOT tilt and on numerous occasion, while shooting out on a sunny day; the screen has so much reflection that I cannot even frame my shots!

My second irate on the screen is the focussing "square" always move to a different location, this happen because your fingers accidentally touch the screen when the camera is turn on!

Unlike my OM-D, I can actually turn off the touch-ability of the screen!

Get A Grip For Your Lumix GM1 !

You know I love my Lumix GM1, but in the situation where I really need to shoot holding the little camera with one hand... Grrrr!! It is nearly impossible! There are no support whatsoever for you to hold on to the camera, it is highly likely that you will DROP it!

The smooth front with nothing to hold on to!

 I know, I know... good old Panasonic make a "grip" for this small wonder, take a look...

Scarabaeus Camera Holster

Holster - noun, a sheathlike carrying case for a firearm, attached to a belt, shoulder sling, or saddle.

For a long time I realised carrying a camera round your neck for a long time can result in a bad sore neck, you secretly wish that some genius will come out with a holster that you can clip your camera on your belt; allowing you to "draw" your camera instantly like a pistol, shoot, and slide back into the hostel when you are done ;) Not that there is a lack of holster candidates, Google "camera holsters" and you can find plenty!

But... they are mostly made for BIG and heavy DSLRs which, as you know; I have NO INTEREST in anymore.

Where is my dream holster for my compact or mirrorless M43 cameras? None! Until now!!
SCARABAEUS was discovered by me on Friday and I placed an order immediately, this is what arrived at my office today (Wednesday)!

My Kingston MobileLite G3

My new Kingston MobilLite G3 arrive this morning, this G3 is not a Mac; duh! It is a card reader!

 In April 2012 Kingston Digital, Inc., announced  it has released the third generation of its popular MobileLite portable card reader.

MobileLite G3 is a compact, multi-functional USB 3.0 card reader that lets users easily transfer digital data, photos, games, music and more stored on memory expansion cards between all kinds of digital devices.

MobileLite G3 meets the USB 3.0 specification and SDA 3.01 standard, and is backwards compatible with USB 2.0.

Wein HSHSB for Safe Sync to Old Flash

HSHSB is Hot Shoe to Hot Shoe Safe Sync to Wein Products Inc in L.A., USA.

The range of innovative products from this company will astound you, but we are talking about the HSHSB; which I ordered four days ago from B&H Photo & Video in New York and I received it yesterday!

But first, for those that don't know... HSHSB SAFE SYNCS Safely reduces any electronic flash source with trigger voltage from up to 400 volts to less than 6 volts to the camera sync input. This is absolutely mandatory for all digital cameras, the high voltage will literally fried your chips ;)

Get A Grip & TRANSFORM OM-D E-M5!

Get A Grip means "it seems like you've lost it, so go get it!!"

Before I start my rant I wanted to say "GET A GRIP Olympus Australia!!!"

Why?

In New Zealand, you have to go through Olympus Australia to order anything Olympus!  And it take A LONG TIME!

My HLD-6 grip for the OM-D E-M5 took FIVE WEEKS to arrive! It is as bad, if not worst than getting my passport renewed at the Malaysian Embassy here!  ;)

Why do I need extra grip and support for a most reviewed compact camera?  Because this retro-centric super compact is just TOO BLEEDING SMALL for my huge palms!