Universal Mount for the FZ5
Now you can attach most important things to your camera like:
Erik!
My RDS mount
The FZ5 has a black screen between consecutive shots. It is nearly impossible to follow fast moving objects.
The RDS = red dot sign, designed for weapons, helps in this situation. It is an aiming device for fast moving objects. Many people shoot perfectly centered OOF (out of focus) pictures with this device. The FZ5 is not fast enough without predictive focus. But if you substitute the predictive focus with your own skills, this is a nice tool. The red dot is not visible to the object (no laser!!) But your camera looks more like a weapon now...
I have tried hard to avoid the bricks this time, but there was no chance! The criteria were:
This is my solution:
Two LEGO� bricks (the third is decoration) were fixed with a double adhesive "poster strip". This first adjusting procedure is done on a tripod. The "removing trigger" will be covered lateron. The RDS is mounted on a technic beam. At this point the height can be adjusted. There is a screw for horizonal adjustments.
Two connectors provide the quick release mechanism. The device passed the obligatory BIF seagull test.
This is my universal mounting point now for: reflectors, torches, hot shoe, santa claus...
I am still searching for the hot shoe of the FZ5. Panasonic� must have forgotten this part ;-)
I hope there will be a cooperation of Panasonic�, Leica� and LEGO� (just a dream).
Wire Release - minimalistic - 6 bricks
!! The FZ5 like all FZs can be controlled via USB. This function is included in Panasonics alignment software (Tatsujin).
But unlike Canon the big P. never handed out this function to the customer
This is part of the customer friendly "take it as it is, or leave it" policy !!
..and please don't use the tatsujin software! Some people destroyed their camera in Germany with this software. It is an adjustment software used together with a specific hardware!
Using this part: bracket - remote release and remote flash
The FZ5 - a "pocket camera"
I have a small bag, but this vest is better for my excursions.
The c-180 was replaced by the non vignetting B-300 (=tcon17)
The remote release is much smaller now
The light box is bigger now, containing LED lights and backgrounds
Some equipment was added: eg. cokin graduated grey filter, RDS, reversed lens, macrorail
There will be a light weight "bean sack" soon
....so the inner pockets are used too
24 to 730mm (35 equiv.), full macro equipment and ext. flash in your pockets!
No more searching in bulky bags of 500g and more
Simply compare this to SLR equipment ;-) This is not a chance to get better pictures,
but my way to carry this camera very often.
My Nikon (FM2) stayed home, most of the time
Remote release and changing SD and battery on a tripod
The central parts are glued!
This is my "bird feeder" release, pneumatics has an old tradition:
FZ5 retro V2
(this one is called: give me steam, a bigger version: sledgehammer)
The pneumatic release is much better than a mechanic wire release.
Minimalistic pneumatics (Hama), velcro tape, plate with drilled hole below
Macro Setup
The universal connector helps with many problems:
(the small part in the middle is the camera!)
More ideas about macro and light with the FZ5: LIGHT
Attaching big lenses with plumber parts
Attaching anything with cokin system A
I am tired of searching adapters for adapters, or even reverse adapters......
But I needed a fast system to attach special lenses to my cameras. Fast and centered of course!
This is my solution:
I am using a cokin system A, designed for square filters and various threads.
The A and P system cover the whole range of threads 40,5 - 62mm or 49 - 82mm!
This versatile system will be your friend for many generations of cameras.
I did cut a round opening into the cap and fixed a 39mm thread for enlarging lenses into it.
Reversed lenses are surrounded by a compressable but stiff foam. (there is a 28mm takumar)
They are stuffed into the sun shade and have a "firm grip".
The equipment is centered and can be changed fast!
Advanced solutions:
- componon 4 /50mm reversed mount in f-adapter (minimal vignetting at 12*)
- 35mm takumar reversed mount, cokin and part of a modified sun shade
- microscopic objectiv in f-adapter (used for amber shots)
Eye shade
Take a tube, think a little bit and start to cut
Sizes are variable as the light.
Avoid the commercial eye pieces: no fantasy - round, such a nonsense!
Microscopic
a working combination: Leitz microscope (1890), Lumix (2005), F-adapter
Some jokes:
This is dedicated to Goldberg and Storm:
For those who are tired of combining teleconverters: 500mm mirror Tele, orthoscopic ocular, F-adapter. A spotting scope would be better!
It started as a joke...
But a different setup gives some hope:
My new toy is a relict of those ancient SLR days. I started to test my 1,8/50mm pentacon lens as reversed lens (covered in the square-cokin sun shade). - Very good results up to now! But looking at the moon, I had to attach my beroflex 8/500mm in front of this lens. 500/50 = 10* Converter. The wide aperture of the reversed lens is essential for this setup. The exact distance of the two lenses has to be tested. Extension tubes and extenders can be used. All this is cheap material, but the tripod has to be extremely good! There is little purple fringing which can be removed easily.
This is my first test: FZ5 8x zoom, f:3.3 t:1/100 full frame
..click to enlarge!
One last word on external power supplies:
Any experiments are at own risk!
Please remove the internal battery. You don`t want to charge the internal battery with your external battery!
Auto power off is disabled with external batteries and (!) there is a small current even if the camera is switched off. So disconnect the battery pack after using it.
A stabilized power supply with 7.5V works great. Actually you can use a range near 6V up to 8.4V.
This is the normal range of the internal battery between full charge and discharge.
The commercial DSP9000 is first choice as external battery pac - attaching to the tripod mount.
I am using 6 (not 7 as mentioned in some tricks and tips!) standard AA NImH 2400 mAh accu cells for my FZ5. The camera cooperates even with 5 fully charged cells, but I don't know how long....
The power consumption is stable: 2W (lcd, no zoom activities) over the whole range of voltages (6 - 8.4V)
Currents: 8.4V 0.23A; 6V 0.34A
The external power plug seems to work primarily as charging plug!
This explains the strange voltage printed in the camera body.
8.4V slightly exceeds the voltage of a fully charged battery.
If the internal battery is inserted still, these are the currents:
8.4V 0,12A camera switched on (looks like charging only)
8.4V 0.10A camera switched off (again charging)
7.8V 0A camera uses only the charged internal battery!
These are the official values of power consumption:
2.1W LCD; 2.0W View finder; 1.2W playback LCD; 1.1W playback View finder
The external power supply should provide more than 2.1W!
Reloading the flash and using the zoom needs more than 3W.
Please check the exact voltage with and w/o load!
..the next version will use the brick box at the right side.
MORE !
My Links page is under construction.Here are some themes handles by others - recommended!
I have seen French and German manuals on the Swiss - Panasonic server
The lx2 manual resides at the austrian server at the moment
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