What are the must-have accessories for the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV?

Question

honestly im getting so fed up with my 5D Mark IV and its not even the cameras fault really its just that i feel like im missing half the stuff i need to actually use it properly. I moved to Chicago recently and started doing more professional portrait work and a couple small weddings but man the battery life is just killing me especially when i have to use the screen to focus. my hand gets so cramped after like three hours of shooting and i feel like such an amateur fumbling around with it. i spent so much on the actual body that i didnt really think about the extra gear i would need and now my first big solo wedding is coming up in three weeks and im panicking a little bit. i have about 600 bucks left in my budget to fix this situation before the big day. i just want this thing to feel like the workhorse everyone says it is because right now it just feels like a headache.

extra batteries or maybe a battery grip to help with the hand cramps

what kind of straps actually save your neck during a 10 hour day

memory cards that wont lag when im burst shooting during the ceremony

maybe a better screen protector or something for the glare

what are the absolute must-have accessories for the 5D Mark IV that actually make life easier and not just more expensive?

FiberFusion · Accepted Answer

Honestly, I have been through exactly what you're feeling. My first few weddings in Chicago left me with a sore neck and a dead battery right before the first dance. It is a total nightmare. @Reply #1 - good point! about the grip, though if you want to keep the profile smaller while saving your hands, I would suggest a slightly different route for ergonomics. I switched to a hip holster years ago and never looked back. It takes all that weight off your spine and puts it on your hips. Also, the 5D Mark IV has that dual slot setup for a reason... the CompactFlash slot is actually much more reliable for high-speed bursts during a ceremony compared to just relying on the SD side. It avoids that annoying buffer lag when things get intense. To stay under your 600 buck budget, here is what I actually use:Spider Camera Holster SpiderPro Single Camera System v2This puts the camera on your belt. No more neck pain, and it makes swapping lenses way easier since you have a stable base.SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB CompactFlash Card 160MB/sUse this as your main card. It handles the write speeds way better when you are firing off shots of the kiss or the exit.Canon LP-E6N Lithium-Ion BatteryJust buy the official ones. I have had third party ones swell up or die at 20 percent and it just isnt worth the stress during a live event. Basically, focus on the stuff that keeps you physically comfortable. If you are in pain, your photos are gonna show it because you are rushing to finish. Just my two cents from a few hundred weddings...

AuroraBorealis · Answer

Oh man, I totally get the struggle! That 5D Mark IV is a beast once you dial it in. To save your hands and your wallet, here is what I would do:

Get the Canon BG-E20 Battery Grip, it makes vertical portraits so much easier!

Grab some SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I cards, they are fast and super cheap now.

For your neck, the Peak Design Slide Camera Strap is literally amazing for long days! Definitely look for these used to stay well under that 600 mark!