Lumix G7 essentials
With every camera, you’ll need essentials and accessories. Essentials are key to ensuring your camera functions properly, while accessories not only make your setup look cool and professional but also add to the usability and functionality of your gear. These additions can speed up your filming process, ease your workflow, or give you more creative options. If you’re just starting out with your first camera, I recommend checking out the equipment guide, either through the drop-down menu at the top or by visiting the "Order of Acquisition" page. This guide will show you when to get each piece of gear and in what order, helping you focus on what matters most and ensuring a smooth start to your filmmaking journey. This advice comes from three years of trial and error, and I’m sharing what I’ve learned to save you time and help you grow faster.
What should you get first? This list is organized by order of importance, with the first item being the most important and the last being the least, yet still very important. Each item is separated by a white dotted bar, while each category is separated by a full white bar. Items within each category are also listed in order of importance, and it’s best to get them together, as you’ll soon need the others after acquiring the first. Finally, on top of each item , is a text, labelling the equipment in question as Essential or Accessory.
If this is your first camera: Start by using the camera on its own. Only get the essentials (listed next to each camera choice), and learn how to stabilize the camera using just the strap. As you become more comfortable, you can gradually introduce more accessories. Begin with a tripod, lighting, a prime 50mm lens, and good audio. Once you’ve mastered the basics with these tools, you can start exploring more advanced accessories and techniques.
If this isn’t your first camera: You’ll unfortunately need to acquire most of the essentials and accessories all at once. This includes items like a camera cage, side and top handles, and a dedicated 2-point connection mount for your stabilizer if you have one. Since you’re more experienced with cameras, you can judge what’s necessary and what isn’t just yet. Focus on getting what you need to avoid being slowed down, and invest the rest into better batteries, SD cards, lenses, filters, and other accessories. Yes, buying a second camera involves much more than just the camera itself. Check out the page "Useful Tips: Buying a Second Camera" to help you remember what you’ll need right off the bat.
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Essential
SD Cards
MAXIMUM 128GB When it comes to SD cards, getting the right match for your camera is crucial. Higher storage is always preferred because empty cards perform better than full ones, and there's nothing worse than running into a full card after forgetting to empty it. It's all about how much you're willing to invest. For shooting 4K at 24fps in Cine D with the Lumix G7, two 128GB cards are ideal. This way, you'll never run out of space, and having a backup is essential in case one card fails or if you want to continue shooting while keeping the full card safe. While 64GB is technically enough, I would recommend investing in two 128GB cards rather than needing to buy a new one after running out of space. V30 cards are more than enough for the Lumix G7, but if you want to future-proof your setup, aim for V60.
Essential
Camera battery
Having at least one spare battery for your camera is essential, and ideally, two spares are recommended to ensure uninterrupted shooting. With two batteries, you can shoot for over four hours, far beyond the capacity of a single battery. This allows for continuous shooting by swapping out the used battery and charging it immediately, enabling you to shoot for up to eight hours or more without running out of power. For shorter shoots under four hours, this setup provides peace of mind without worrying about battery life. Having a total of three batteries gives you an extra safety net, especially if you forget to charge one after swapping it during a shoot.
Reason for a camera cage (Aside from looks) A camera cage is one of the most overlooked accessories among amateur and beginner filmmakers. Many assume it’s just for aesthetics, making the camera look cool, and that it’s unnecessary. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Once you’ve become comfortable with your camera, gained experience, and learned how to minimize shake using just the strap, a camera cage should be your next investment. Handheld stabilization is all about weight and IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization). If your camera doesn’t have IBIS, increasing its weight can significantly improve stabilization. A lighter camera is easier to move, which means even the slightest micro-movements of your hand will be reflected in the footage. In contrast, a heavier camera requires more effort to move, reducing unintentional twitches and creating smoother shots. You can test this at home by hanging a piece of paper on a string and comparing how it moves versus a spoon on a string. The paper will flutter with every movement, while the spoon will remain steadier. As you advance in filmmaking, a camera cage becomes even more essential. It offers the ability to attach various accessories in one place, and the option to secure a mount with two points of connection, which prevents twisting and loosening—especially useful when using stabilizers. Additionally, most cages allow you to attach side and top handles, giving you more precision with handheld movements. Last but not least, a camera cage offers crucial protection for your camera. Whether you accidentally drop the camera, something falls on it, or even if you’re just worried about wearing out the screw-in mount, a cage can save you a lot of trouble. Once you secure your camera in the cage, you won’t need to keep using the camera’s screw mount, preserving its longevity. If the cage’s screws wear out over time, you only need to replace the cage, not the camera itself.
Accessory
The Lumix G7 used to have a dedicated cage made by SmallRig, which was a tight fit molded to the camera's shape. However, since the G7 is an older model, this specific cage has been discontinued. The alternative is to get a universal cage, and the CAMVATE DSLR Camera Cage is perfect for the G7. We've tested it for about two years and have never encountered any problems. The CAMVATE cage is sturdy, not too bulky, and features a two-point connection—one at the bottom screw thread and one at the top in the cold shoe of the camera—ensuring the cage doesn't twist or loosen. It offers plenty of holes for mounting accessories and provides easy access to the camera bay door and port door without any difficulty. The only drawback of this cage is its price, which is just over $120 US. It comes with a top and side handle, adding quite a bit of weight, which is perfect for the G7. The additional weight helps stabilize this very small camera, which lacks in-body image stabilization (IBIS), making handheld shooting more stable and precise.
Camera rig build
Dummy battery
A dummy battery is a useful tool that replaces the traditional battery in your camera's battery bay with a hollowed-out version that has a cable attached. This cable allows you to connect the camera directly to an external power source, such as a V-mount battery. The advantage of using a dummy battery is that it gives you continuous power without the need to stop and replace batteries during a shoot, ensuring you don’t miss crucial moments. Since it's powered by the V-mount battery, the power capacity is significantly higher, which can extend your shooting time by several hours or even a full day, depending on the size of the battery you choose. With this setup, you can also power other accessories from the same V-mount, streamlining your rig and avoiding the hassle of managing multiple batteries. It’s a great solution for professional filmmakers looking for longer shooting times and fewer interruptions on set.