YACC: Anyone using GM5 with add-on thumb grip?

I highly recommend the Franiec grip as it makes the GM5 fill my medium (US 9) sized hand so much better and stops my fingers hunting for something to hold on to.

The thumb grip you linked looks like it's intended to stop the thumb pressing the Video button by mistake. As I don't use the video function on my GM5, I found it far easier to disable that button in the menu as my thumb naturally rests there.

Can't help with the grip question, but the GM5 feels okay to me with lenses up to the 35-100 f2.8 (IMO). The Olympus 75-300 is overkill though, and feels too big and heavy to be comfortable. With the primes and the 9-18 and suchlike, all is well.

Years ago on Unix I used yacc to build a compiler LALR parser. Pain in the butt writing the grammar as input to yacc and getting it right.

--
Henry Richardson
http://www.bakubo.com

Have been using the GM5 unadorned with various lenses and a wrist strap, which so far seems like a decent compromise for handling heavier glass (e.g., mZD75). I could see the benefit of a front finger grip, not sure I'd benefit from the thumbrest, although it looks very clever and nicely made.

Cheers,

Rick

IMHO the thumb grip would be a waste of effort. The Franiec grip works fine. No problem with lenses - the 35-100mm f2.8 works great, the Nocticron 42.5mm f1.2 works great.

MFrost said:

Is anyone using GM5 with add-on thumb grip like COTTA? Opinions of it?

Assuming there's also grip on the other side (like richard franiec), would it help handling or is it just a hindrance/of no consequence?

Click to expand...

I use similar hotshoe thumb grips from Fotodiox with my GX7 and GX8. There are two types, Type A, short and Type B, long. I bought both and I find it helpful. I prefer the shorter Type A.

They're only about $15, why not try it for yourself? The front Franiac grip would be a good addition, too.

http://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-Thum...453195012&sr=8-2&keywords=Fotodiox+thumb+grip

Ahh. Didn't notice that. Almost tempted to mark this as an answer to the question...

Hopefully I get compiled answer for my guestion .

The GM5 is a great take anywhere camera, which I bought recently.

I ordered a Hakuba G3 FBGC (Flip Bag Camera Grip) from Japan and immediately put it on after unboxing. There are four versions (G1-G4) and each has a different shape. The G3 one I picked seems similar to that Richard Franiec one, just a bit shorter, fitting a couple of fingers nicely.

With that stick on grip, it makes it easier to hold and compliments the built-in thumb grip in the back. I don't think the COTTA would be necessary after adding a front grip, just make sure you have a wrist strap just in case, but even without it I feel confident it won't slip out from my hands easily. Plus, the COTTA would use up the GM5's hot shoe for anything you might need it for, like a flash or an optical viewfinder.

Decided to order GM5 + 12-32mm; although not bargain it was decently discounted (and now Pana shall announce GM7 and prices will plummet further...).

At the same time ordered Franiec grip and decided to bite the bullet and ordered COTTA thumb grip. Looked closely at Fotodiox thumb grips, but leaned still towards COTTA as it was also discounted and specifically designed for GM5.

Time will tell whether thumb grip is benefical or not. I think that at least it will be easier to find than stock flash shoe cover...

MFrost
-- just my 0.2 cents

Cheers for the update. Let us know how it improves the handling, curious to know what a heftier thumb grip would do to the overall feel along with the rubber grip in front.

Agree with Terminal Boy. Franiec grip makes a great difference without adding weight or too much bulk.

My GM5 has the Franiec front grip and the add-on Panasonic Eye Cup. It would be impossible to mount a thumb grip with the eye cup in place, plus, a thumb grip is not comfortable or helpful. Better to disable the video button if that is what your thumb pushes in error.

I find the built-in thumb rest on the GM5 adequate. I have used a Franiec grip before on a Canon S90 and liked it, but so far I've held off on getting one for the GM5. That's partly because I mostly use my GM5 with the 12-32 or 20mm lenses, so I don't feel much need for a grip. I kind of like the clean look without it. I do use a finger cuff for security. http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/56468921

This is my initial take about GM5 handling and thumb grib, after a short period of use.

But first: My glove size is around EU 9 which I think is US M. So YMMV in more than one way.

For short while I've been using GM5 unadorned although both Franiec grip and COTTA arrived.

While GM5 form factor suggests PS handling, it IMHO really should be used with two hands, the other hand supporting lens and camera. You can shoot with one hand, but at least for me even the Olympus 17mm f1.8 feels a bit front heavy. With two hands even the bigger lenses like 12-40mm f2.8 or 25mm f1.4 behave quite nicely.

For me the REC button is no problem, I have unintentionally pushed it only once with my thumb, suggesting I was gripping camera too hard with my right hand.

I've had more problems with base of my thumb. It tends to curve just enough over the touch screen lower right corner, and activate the fn7 button (which currently has shutter type selection). This might be just a 'new user' effect which disappears with more time and experience with GM5.


GM5 unadorned; my base of thumb curves over the touch screen and activates fn menu.

When I control my right thumb so that it's straight up and camera weight really rests with my left hand, I seem to avoid the unintentional menu activation. But then again my right hand/wrist feels a bit more strained.


GM5 unadorned and right thumb straight up. Camera and lens weight on left hand.

You probably have a different kind/size of hands (finger length and so on) so problem points might be a bit different than mine.

So. Added the COTTA thumb grip:


Thumb grip adds one more dimension to GM5, reducing pocketability somewhat. (that's a Joby GorillaPod plate in the bottom of the camera which I forgot to remove before taking pictures)

It changes the placement of my thumb so that the base does not hit the touch screen so easily. With bigger lenses GM5 might be a bit more comfortable with thumb grip than without - can't say for sure as they require the other hand support anyway.

With smaller lenses the thumb grip definitely gives me a better feel if I try one hand shooting. On negative side it also kind of tempts me to get a tighter grip with my right hand from the camera (unnecessarily), even when using my left hand, and thus may result a strained hand. If you're looking for pocketability, thumb grip probably is not your thing.


Thumb grip changes the placement of my thumb for the better position. Or at least that's my assessment so far.

Thumb grip also reserves the flash shoe; this might or might not be a problem. But I think that if I need the flash (ordered Oly FL-LM3), I probably won't need the grip at the same time. Time will tell. At least the thumb grip is bigger than the standard clip so it won't get lost so easily (so one might think).

As in previous post (jeffharris) mentioned, Fotodiox makes cheaper thumb grips than COTTA. COTTA is no cheap for what it is, but it is designed to fit GM5. I ended up anyway with COTTA as it was in christmas/year end sale and also felt that Fotodiox grips were too high for GM5. But they might be a good fit (anyone tested one on GM5?).

So what's missing? The Franiec grip. I will now use my GM5 both unadorned and with COTTA, but at some point I will anyway attach the Franiec. Then I will see how that changes the handling.

But IMHO GM5 is perfectly usable unadorned, and it's nice to have options to change that form if it doesn't feel good or suit the situation.

MFrost
-- just my 0.2 cents

The GM5 has a fairly good spot on the back for your thumb, I would skip the back thing you have attached to the hot shoe. The Franiec grip does improve the handling of the camera, it's worth adding.