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Accessories for G2

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Erich G. Simmers

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Folks:

I did a search for this topic and didn't find what I was looking for, so forgive me if this has already been discussed. I am new to digital photography, and I am about to buy a Canon G2 for use during an extended trip to Japan. Could I have suggestions for a list of "must-have" accessories for this camera--i. e. tripod, flash, etc.--that will be good for my trip? I'd appreciate brandnames and links if you have them.

Thanks for your time,

--Erich
 
Erich G. Simmers said:
Folks:

I did a search for this topic and didn't find what I was looking
for, so forgive me if this has already been discussed. I am new to
digital photography, and I am about to buy a Canon G2 for use
during an extended trip to Japan. Could I have suggestions for a
list of "must-have" accessories for this camera--i. e. tripod,
flash, etc.--that will be good for my trip? I'd appreciate
brandnames and links if you have them.
Click to expand...
You will find an external flash invaluable. Many people use the Canon Speedlight 420EX with great success. Note that only Canon's "EX" series can support E-TTL metering with the G2.

A filter adapter such as lensmate from http://www.lensmateonline.com/ and a good quality UV filter will protect your lens while extended from bumps, dust, and greasy fingers, and can help reduce blooming in daylight. The Lensmate is aluminum and a great match for the color and style of the G2.

Once you have the lensmate, you should also get a good quality polarizer for outdoor use. This filter will deepen blue skies and helps reduce glare from non-metallic surfaces such as water. A linear polarizer (as opposed to circular) works with the G2 and is cheaper.

With the lensmate mounted, the original lens cap won't fit. You'll need a standard 49mm lens cap.

You will need storage. I have and really like a 1GB IBM Microdrive. It can hold 359 RAW format files. Some people don't like the idea of microdrive and opt for large capacity CF.

You will definitely want a tripod, maybe a monopod. I don't have this myself, but the Adorama Podmatic monopod ( http://www.adorama.com/ ) seems to be a good travel monopod.
 
Erich,

How extended is your trip? You might want to consider the purchase of a Sima Image Bank ( http://www.simacorp.com/cp150.html ). I just purchased one without a hard drive for $199. You can get a 20 gig IBM 2.5 inch drive from http://www.newegg.com for $90. At the end of the day (or whenever necessary), you plug your compact flash cards or IBM Microdrive into the Image Bank and download the images. Then you reformat your camera media and start shooting again. When you get home, you connect the Image Bank to your computer via USB and your computer sees it just like any other removable drive.

I'd also suggest at least one extra camera battery, depending on your shooting habits. One thing you'll probably discover with digital photography is you tend to shoot a lot more, which is a good thing. You sharpen your skills quickly that way. After the initial purchase, the expense is minimal, so there's no reason not to shoot away. Another advantage is that you don't end up with stacks and stacks of prints that are misses - you just print the hits.

Also I'd suggest you shoot everything in RAW mode. That gives you the best image quality and the most flexibility later in post processing.

Finally, for when you get home, I suggest you purchase two software products - Breezebrowser ( http://www.breezesys.com/BreezeBrowser/ ) and Qimage Pro ( http://www.ddisoftware.com/qimage/ ). Both are shareware products and cost $35 each. I use Breezebrowser instead of Canon's Zoombrowser to convert raw images. It has a bunch of other nifty features, including a nice way to easily create photo galleries for the web. Qimage Pro is a really easy way to print your photos - it automatically resizes your files for printing using a really good resizing algorithm.

I have one last item to suggest - a CF card reader. I prefer to download to the computer with a card reader instead of plugging the camera into the computer.

Regards,
Doug
Erich G. Simmers said:
Folks:

I did a search for this topic and didn't find what I was looking
for, so forgive me if this has already been discussed. I am new to
digital photography, and I am about to buy a Canon G2 for use
during an extended trip to Japan. Could I have suggestions for a
list of "must-have" accessories for this camera--i. e. tripod,
flash, etc.--that will be good for my trip? I'd appreciate
brandnames and links if you have them.

Thanks for your time,

--Erich
Click to expand...
 
Doug, how are you liking the Sima/20gig drive that you installed ? I was thinking about going that route also. Was it easy to install the drive and get it working properly ?

It seems like the least expensive 20gig storage solution currently available.
Doug Mac said:
How extended is your trip? You might want to consider the purchase
of a Sima Image Bank ( http://www.simacorp.com/cp150.html ). I just
purchased one without a hard drive for $199. You can get a 20 gig
IBM 2.5 inch drive from http://www.newegg.com for $90. At the end
of the day (or whenever necessary), you plug your compact flash
cards or IBM Microdrive into the Image Bank and download the
images. Then you reformat your camera media and start shooting
again. When you get home, you connect the Image Bank to your
computer via USB and your computer sees it just like any other
removable drive.

I'd also suggest at least one extra camera battery, depending on
your shooting habits. One thing you'll probably discover with
digital photography is you tend to shoot a lot more, which is a
good thing. You sharpen your skills quickly that way. After the
initial purchase, the expense is minimal, so there's no reason not
to shoot away. Another advantage is that you don't end up with
stacks and stacks of prints that are misses - you just print the
hits.

Also I'd suggest you shoot everything in RAW mode. That gives you
the best image quality and the most flexibility later in post
processing.

Finally, for when you get home, I suggest you purchase two software
products - Breezebrowser ( http://www.breezesys.com/BreezeBrowser/ )
and Qimage Pro ( http://www.ddisoftware.com/qimage/ ). Both are
shareware products and cost $35 each. I use Breezebrowser instead
of Canon's Zoombrowser to convert raw images. It has a bunch of
other nifty features, including a nice way to easily create photo
galleries for the web. Qimage Pro is a really easy way to print
your photos - it automatically resizes your files for printing
using a really good resizing algorithm.

I have one last item to suggest - a CF card reader. I prefer to
download to the computer with a card reader instead of plugging the
camera into the computer.

Regards,
Doug
Erich G. Simmers said:
Folks:

I did a search for this topic and didn't find what I was looking
for, so forgive me if this has already been discussed. I am new to
digital photography, and I am about to buy a Canon G2 for use
during an extended trip to Japan. Could I have suggestions for a
list of "must-have" accessories for this camera--i. e. tripod,
flash, etc.--that will be good for my trip? I'd appreciate
brandnames and links if you have them.

Thanks for your time,

--Erich
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Erich G. Simmers said:
Folks:

I did a search for this topic and didn't find what I was looking
for, so forgive me if this has already been discussed. I am new to
digital photography, and I am about to buy a Canon G2 for use
during an extended trip to Japan. Could I have suggestions for a
list of "must-have" accessories for this camera--i. e. tripod,
flash, etc.--that will be good for my trip? I'd appreciate
brandnames and links if you have them.

Thanks for your time,

--Erich
Click to expand...
Hi Erich,
My accessories in my camera bag:
1. 2 x bp511 battery pack > > very important for shooting all day long.

2. 3 x 128mb cf card > > > currently enough for me. bring one microdrive is too risky...
3. 1 x la-dc58 canon adapter
4. 1 x b+w 58mm 010 uv-haze mrc > > > protect lens and so on...
5. 1 x b+w 58mm cir-pol > > > Darken sky, minimise reflection and so on ...
6. 1 x light-duty tripod

I do not have external flash yet. Recently doing Landscape photo mostly...

Hope this helps you.

Joe

http://www.pbase.com/5913_rl
--best regards Joe
 
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=1706351

There have been a few posts asking what's in your setup. Here's one of the many threads.
Erich G. Simmers said:
Folks:

I did a search for this topic and didn't find what I was looking
for, so forgive me if this has already been discussed. I am new to
digital photography, and I am about to buy a Canon G2 for use
during an extended trip to Japan. Could I have suggestions for a
list of "must-have" accessories for this camera--i. e. tripod,
flash, etc.--that will be good for my trip? I'd appreciate
brandnames and links if you have them.

Thanks for your time,

--Erich
Click to expand...
--Keep on shooting!Lisa
 
Erich,

I will be ordering my G2 on Monday. I have been researching this camera for almost two months. Here are some suggestions (and probably what I will buy):

1) An extra battery (BP-511)
2) Battery charger for the car (CR-560)
3) Canon close-up lens (250D) w/ Canon conversion lens adapter (LA-DC58)
4) Canon Speedlite external flash (420 EX)
5) Diffuser and bounce card (for external flash) from Sto-Fen or LumiQuest
6) Two compactflash cards (256MB or > ; one from Ritek & one from Viking)
7) Extra lens cap and tether (as appropriate, depending on your adapter setup)

Note #1: if you're not interested in doing a lot of macro photography, you certainly wouldn't need the close-up lens OR you may elect to go with the cheaper macro filters (3 in the set) from Hoya (along with the Lensmate adapter).

Note #2: to protect your lens you may want a double-coated UV filter (B+W is an excellent choice) along with the Lensmate adapter.

You may also want to consider some of these items:

1) Tripod (probably from Velbon)
2) Photo Printer (Canon s800 or s900 WITH Canon paper)
3) Camera bag (probably from Lowepro)
4) Additional software (e.g., BreezeBrowzer, full version of PhotoShop)
5) Tele-adapter lens (from Canon or Olympus)
6) CompactFlash card reader (there are many solutions to choose from)

That's all I can think of for now but there are many other posts on this subject. Matt just asked a similar question the other day. Go to http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=2109564 and check it out.

I hope this helps.

Regards... Tim
Erich G. Simmers said:
Folks:

I did a search for this topic and didn't find what I was looking
for, so forgive me if this has already been discussed. I am new to
digital photography, and I am about to buy a Canon G2 for use
during an extended trip to Japan. Could I have suggestions for a
list of "must-have" accessories for this camera--i. e. tripod,
flash, etc.--that will be good for my trip? I'd appreciate
brandnames and links if you have them.

Thanks for your time,

--Erich
Click to expand...
 
I previously tried a Canon G1 for a few weeks and was very impressed with the camera. However, I am very particular and insisted on having a lens protector on the camera at all times. Unfortunately, the Canon lens adapter, part number LADC58 blocked the image through the veiwfinder in some cases. My wife felt this wasn't acceptable, so we returned the camera. I am strongly considering a G2 (or the Pro 90) and would appreciate it if you can tell me if you have the same problem with the lensmate adapter. Thank you in advance for your reply.

Doug Most
eg said:
Erich G. Simmers said:
Folks:

I did a search for this topic and didn't find what I was looking
for, so forgive me if this has already been discussed. I am new to
digital photography, and I am about to buy a Canon G2 for use
during an extended trip to Japan. Could I have suggestions for a
list of "must-have" accessories for this camera--i. e. tripod,
flash, etc.--that will be good for my trip? I'd appreciate
brandnames and links if you have them.
Click to expand...
You will find an external flash invaluable. Many people use the
Canon Speedlight 420EX with great success. Note that only Canon's
"EX" series can support E-TTL metering with the G2.

A filter adapter such as lensmate from
http://www.lensmateonline.com/ and a good quality UV filter will
protect your lens while extended from bumps, dust, and greasy
fingers, and can help reduce blooming in daylight. The Lensmate is
aluminum and a great match for the color and style of the G2.

Once you have the lensmate, you should also get a good quality
polarizer for outdoor use. This filter will deepen blue skies and
helps reduce glare from non-metallic surfaces such as water. A
linear polarizer (as opposed to circular) works with the G2 and is
cheaper.

With the lensmate mounted, the original lens cap won't fit. You'll
need a standard 49mm lens cap.

You will need storage. I have and really like a 1GB IBM Microdrive.
It can hold 359 RAW format files. Some people don't like the idea
of microdrive and opt for large capacity CF.

You will definitely want a tripod, maybe a monopod. I don't have
this myself, but the Adorama Podmatic monopod
( http://www.adorama.com/ ) seems to be a good travel monopod.
Click to expand...
 
Douglas Most said:
I previously tried a Canon G1 for a few weeks and was very
impressed with the camera. However, I am very particular and
insisted on having a lens protector on the camera at all times.
Unfortunately, the Canon lens adapter, part number LADC58 blocked
the image through the veiwfinder in some cases. My wife felt this
wasn't acceptable, so we returned the camera. I am strongly
considering a G2 (or the Pro 90) and would appreciate it if you can
tell me if you have the same problem with the lensmate adapter.
Thank you in advance for your reply.
Click to expand...
The lensmate will block the viewfinder to a lesser degree than the Canon adapter, but you can see it. The lensmate website ( http://www.lensmate.com/ ) has a FAQ section with examples.

I almost never use the optical viewfinder, so it isn't a problem for me. Even when I do however, I don't find the lensmate blockage a problem. You can still frame the shot. It's kind of like having a big nose. :)
 
Mark,

I'll let you know today! My drive arrived last Friday and the Image Bank should get here today. I emailed some folks on the forum and they were gracious enough to respond. They were all very pleased with the Image Bank. I went to the Sima web page and downloaded the PDF version of the instruction manual. From what I saw, it is easy and straightforward to install the drive. I'll post or email to you what all is involved as soon as I do it.

Doug
Markep said:
Doug, how are you liking the Sima/20gig drive that you installed ?
I was thinking about going that route also. Was it easy to install
the drive and get it working properly ?

It seems like the least expensive 20gig storage solution currently
available.
Click to expand...
 
TimBuk2 said:
1) An extra battery (BP-511)
Click to expand...
Definitely on my list.
TimBuk2 said:
3) Canon close-up lens (250D) w/ Canon conversion lens adapter
(LA-DC58)
Click to expand...
I only need the adapter, the rest are filters.
TimBuk2 said:
4) Canon Speedlite external flash (420 EX)
Click to expand...
I agree with the Speedlite, but for now, I'll use the internal flash bouncer mod.
TimBuk2 said:
Note #2: to protect your lens you may want a double-coated UV
filter (B+W is an excellent choice) along with the Lensmate adapter.
Click to expand...
Note to self:
http://www.vistek.ca/search/detail.asp?SKU=102626
http://www.vistek.ca/search/detail.asp?SKU=102927

http://www.henrys.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ItemsDisplay?catalogId=10101&departmentId=10404&itemID=45819
TimBuk2 said:
1) Tripod (probably from Velbon)
Click to expand...
I'm still considering which one I should buy here...
TimBuk2 said:
2) Photo Printer (Canon s800 or s900 WITH Canon paper)
Click to expand...
I'd get an Epson SP 820 probably.
TimBuk2 said:
3) Camera bag (probably from Lowepro)
Click to expand...
I've got myself a Nova 1. I'd have gone for the smaller Nova Mini, but Black's have these Lowepro bags on sale. :-)
TimBuk2 said:
6) CompactFlash card reader (there are many solutions to choose from)
Click to expand...
Must have.--Printer Boy http://www.printerboyweb.net/ (warning: offensive material inside)
 
Joe Chen said:
1. 2 x bp511 battery pack > > very important for shooting all day long.
Click to expand...
How are people finding the actualy battery life holds up when shooting with the G2?

Soon I shall be going on a 1 month trip to Nepal, during which I'll spend 21 days trekking with very limited chances to recharge - maybe none, if I'm lucky once or twice.

I've got the standard Canon BP511 battery and two extra replacement batteries (AC Delco 1500mAh ones from http://www.batterybarn.com/bp511.htm ). From all the reviews I've read it seems I should get about 300 shots per battery, with occasional flash use. So far I've not been able to fully test this myself.

Not sure about how much memory I'll take. I've got a 256Mb CF and am currently thinking of getting another 256Mb CF and a 1Gb Microdrive.

This trip isn't a "photography" trip - I'm just going trekking but would like to take photos while I'm there. Does the above seem about right to people?

Also, anyone any experience of how the G2 and it's batteries hold up in the cold and at altitude? I'm expecting a few days will be around 0 celcius, maybe down to -10 at night. I plan to keep the batteries in my sleeping bag at night to keep them warm.

I know the IBM Microdrives aren't any good for about 3000m altitude (and I'll be spending about 7-9 days above that).

Jamie
 
jamie, the battery life sounds just about right...i once shot a wedding with my G1 and got exactly 499 shots on two batteries with the LCD on full-time using a 1GB microdrive and about 25% internal flash use (for outdoor fill). the G2 is supposed to be even better with battery management than the G1. now that 256mb compact flash cards are so cheap, you might be better off with several of those than a microdrive for your trip...microdrives use up something ten times the power of CF cards. where i live the temps never get even close to freezing so i can't say about how they'll how they'll hold up in cold temps. have a great trip!
 
Will F said:
Jamie...
-02F Banff Canada last month No Problems!
Click to expand...
The batteries held up well as well as the camera?

Did you take any precautions to keeping the camera/batteries warm?

I've heard some batteries drain really fast in the cold.

Cheers,
Jamie
 
hello EG,

i am considering between Tiffen & Lensmate. i like Tiffen 's small size but Lensmate has a matching color. just want to know if the Tiffen would block some view at wide angle as its thread is 43mm as compared to 49mm in Lensmate.

btw, can i order the Tiffen adapter thro internet? i checked their web but they just accept orders within US. oh.. forget to tell i am from Hong Kong.

regards
eg said:
Douglas Most said:
I previously tried a Canon G1 for a few weeks and was very
impressed with the camera. However, I am very particular and
insisted on having a lens protector on the camera at all times.
Unfortunately, the Canon lens adapter, part number LADC58 blocked
the image through the veiwfinder in some cases. My wife felt this
wasn't acceptable, so we returned the camera. I am strongly
considering a G2 (or the Pro 90) and would appreciate it if you can
tell me if you have the same problem with the lensmate adapter.
Thank you in advance for your reply.
Click to expand...
The lensmate will block the viewfinder to a lesser degree than the
Canon adapter, but you can see it. The lensmate website
( http://www.lensmate.com/ ) has a FAQ section with examples.

I almost never use the optical viewfinder, so it isn't a problem
for me. Even when I do however, I don't find the lensmate blockage
a problem. You can still frame the shot. It's kind of like having a
big nose. :)
Click to expand...
 
Mark,

I promised to get back to you regarding the Sima Image Bank.

The unit arrived by UPS last night. Here was the installation procedure. BTW, it is spelled out clearly in the manual that comes with the unit.

I unscrewed the 4 screws in the back of the Image Bank. Underneath is the bottom of the unit's circuit board, the socket for the hard drive and a metal "U" shaped bracket that is screwed to the bottom of the circuit board. As instructed, I removed the bracket. Next I removed the hard drive from the anti static bag. Using the two screws that come with the Image Bank, I loosely attached the bracket to the hard drive. I then checked the pins on the drive to make sure I was straight with Pin 1 and the drive was oriented correctly. I noticed that on the IBM drive, the jumper pins are adjacent to the connector pins. I made sure that I was aligning the connector to the socket. This is easy because when you center the hard drive in the back, everything aligns correctly. I then carefully slid the hard drive up, making sure the pins aligned with the connector. Once the pins were seated, the holes in the bracket lined up with the holes in the circuit board. I screwed the bracket to the board, then tightened the bracket screws to the hard drive. I then screwed the back onto the Image Bank. It has taken me longer to describe it than it took to actually do it! Easy as pie.

Next, I took the unit to my computer. I plugged it in and connected the USB cable. I then plugged it into the computer. I'm running Windows 2000, so I didn't have to install the drivers that were supplied on the CD that came with the Image Bank. My computer recognized the unit and automatically configured the drivers to handle it. At this point, I could see it was connected, but I didn't have a drive letter. I have noticed that on occasion with my computer I need to reboot after connecting a new USB device. I think this is an eccentricity of my computer (home built AMD). I unmounted the drive (always do this before disconnecting a USB device) and rebooted. After the computer came up, I plugged the Image Bank in the USB. This time Windows 2000 recognized the drive and that it was unformatted. The system asked me what drive letter I wanted to use and if I wanted to format the drive. It took less than five minutes for it to format the 20 gig drive. After formatting, I could view the drive from "My Computer". I unmounted the drive and unplugged the USB. I disconnected the cable from the drive. Next, following instructions, I plugged in my CF card, then pressed the "Power" button. The unit came on with no errors. I then pressed the "Copy from CF" button and watched it go. A few minutes later it had copied my 128 meg CF card. When complete, it automatically powers down, or you can turn it off with the "Power" button. I then connected it back to the computer and copied the files without incident.

It took me maybe 30 minutes from unpacking it to copying and downloading 128 meg CF. So far, I'm Very pleased, both with Sima and newegg.com.

Regards, Doug
Markep said:
Doug, how are you liking the Sima/20gig drive that you installed ?
I was thinking about going that route also. Was it easy to install
the drive and get it working properly ?

It seems like the least expensive 20gig storage solution currently
available.
Click to expand...
 
Very nice, that doesn't sound hard at all, thank you for the details. I think that I will have to go get one of these.

Is the only way to get the Sima from their own web-site ? I have seen the pre-assembled models available at a discount away from their web-site, but I have not seen the no-hard-drive version available this way, I can only find it on the Sima site.
Doug Mac said:
I promised to get back to you regarding the Sima Image Bank.

The unit arrived by UPS last night. Here was the installation
procedure. BTW, it is spelled out clearly in the manual that comes
with the unit.

I unscrewed the 4 screws in the back of the Image Bank. Underneath
is the bottom of the unit's circuit board, the socket for the hard
drive and a metal "U" shaped bracket that is screwed to the bottom
of the circuit board. As instructed, I removed the bracket. Next
I removed the hard drive from the anti static bag. Using the two
screws that come with the Image Bank, I loosely attached the
bracket to the hard drive. I then checked the pins on the drive to
make sure I was straight with Pin 1 and the drive was oriented
correctly. I noticed that on the IBM drive, the jumper pins are
adjacent to the connector pins. I made sure that I was aligning
the connector to the socket. This is easy because when you center
the hard drive in the back, everything aligns correctly. I then
carefully slid the hard drive up, making sure the pins aligned with
the connector. Once the pins were seated, the holes in the bracket
lined up with the holes in the circuit board. I screwed the
bracket to the board, then tightened the bracket screws to the hard
drive. I then screwed the back onto the Image Bank. It has taken
me longer to describe it than it took to actually do it! Easy as
pie.

Next, I took the unit to my computer. I plugged it in and
connected the USB cable. I then plugged it into the computer. I'm
running Windows 2000, so I didn't have to install the drivers that
were supplied on the CD that came with the Image Bank. My computer
recognized the unit and automatically configured the drivers to
handle it. At this point, I could see it was connected, but I
didn't have a drive letter. I have noticed that on occasion with
my computer I need to reboot after connecting a new USB device. I
think this is an eccentricity of my computer (home built AMD). I
unmounted the drive (always do this before disconnecting a USB
device) and rebooted. After the computer came up, I plugged the
Image Bank in the USB. This time Windows 2000 recognized the
drive and that it was unformatted. The system asked me what drive
letter I wanted to use and if I wanted to format the drive. It
took less than five minutes for it to format the 20 gig drive.
After formatting, I could view the drive from "My Computer". I
unmounted the drive and unplugged the USB. I disconnected the cable
from the drive. Next, following instructions, I plugged in my CF
card, then pressed the "Power" button. The unit came on with no
errors. I then pressed the "Copy from CF" button and watched it
go. A few minutes later it had copied my 128 meg CF card. When
complete, it automatically powers down, or you can turn it off with
the "Power" button. I then connected it back to the computer and
copied the files without incident.

It took me maybe 30 minutes from unpacking it to copying and
downloading 128 meg CF. So far, I'm Very pleased, both with Sima
and newegg.com.

Regards, Doug
Markep said:
Doug, how are you liking the Sima/20gig drive that you installed ?
I was thinking about going that route also. Was it easy to install
the drive and get it working properly ?

It seems like the least expensive 20gig storage solution currently
available.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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