To B(attery Grip) or not to B -- That is the question

[Belmondo]

I'm interested in what you feel to be the main advantage of a battery grip. Is it the extra battery capacity? The extra shutter button when shooting in portrait mode? Does the extra mass make the whole unit more stable on a tripod? Does the larger size and weight make the camera easier to handle?

OR

Do you find the extra weight and bulk less preferable than just carrying an extra battery in your pocket?

Just collecting opinions.

Thanks,

Tom

[tannoy]

I find the extra weight helps when using big lenses. The extra battery life is very important for me, I ususally can go all day on one charge. The only downsides are the extra weight to carry around all day and the increased "visibility" of the camera. I personally don't like people noticing my camera as I have a fear in some places I have shot of the camera getting "legs". Overall I love the battery grip and the number one reason I bought it was for the use of the hand strap.

Cheers,
Darrin

[Belmondo]

I have the battery grip for the 10D, and have found that the best use (for me) has been as a counterweight when using a larger lens on its tripod mount. I'm sure there have to be more reasons than that, however, or they'd just sell counterweights.

[Dans_D60]

Personally I’m so comfortable with the grip and wrist strap on my 10D that my D60 (without these items) feels weird. I never take the battery grip or wrist strap off and I do use the vertical shutter release for portrait work. No doubt it’s a bit heavy but nothing compared to a 1D or 1Ds.

I have an image posted of my 10D with grip and wrist strap on my home page:
http://www.pettusphoto.com

….Dan

[Belmondo]

Dans_d60 wrote:
Personally I’m so comfortable with the grip and wrist strap on my 10D that my D60 (without these items) feels weird.

I can see where the wrist strap might be ergonomically helpful for carrying things around. Maybe I’ll look into that. Interesting thought.

Thanks.

[Dave I]

I consider the extra battery to be a non-issue, really. The things last so long, and it's easy enough to carry a spare in the bag.

I use mine because it gives a much better grip. Without it, my hand 'hangs off' the bottom of the camera. The strap makes it feel even more secure. It really feels like I couldn't possibly drop it with the strap on.

The downside is that it makes the thing much more cumbersome to cart around. Bigger camera bags, etc.

I rarely actually use the vertical grip/extra shutter button.

[iwatkins]

Does Big Ed come with the wrist strap or is that extra ?

I ask as I have fairly big hands and my hand tends to also "hang" off the bottom of the camera as well. For security (i.e. so I don't drop it) I have the normal neck strap installed just so I can wrap that around my wrist. But that strap gets twisted and gets in the way.

I don't think I would buy the grip for the battery life but more to improve my grip and also secuirty if it does indeed come with the strap.

Cheers

Ian

[Dave I]

It's not included, but it's only about $20. Well worth it; it does wonders.

[CoolToolGuy]

I considered it for the Digital Rebel, but I can't justify it just yet. The vertical controls are a bonus, but the extra battery doesn't seem to be a big need for me.
The drain on the battery is not that great, since the LCD cannot be used as a viewfinder and the zooms are all manual. That leaves focusing, basic camera control, and image review. For my use, I can probably go all day, and switch a battery if I need to. While you can go longer with two batteries and the grip, if you do run low you have to carry two spares to reload. Or carry one and sacrifice the grip.
Have Fun

[Roger_Cavanagh]

Like most of the others, I like the grip for the better balance and feel of the the camera, and the extra security of the wrist strap.

Personally, the vertical controls aren't used much because it's easier - espeically with your hand through the strap - to rotate everything rather than switch to the vertical button.

Regards,

[CyberDyneSystems]

I'm the odd one out in this reply so far,.

I got the Big Ed from the get go as my previous experiences with digitals told me I would NEED the battery capacity.

As it turns out the BP-511 in the 10D lasts much much longer than a set of batteries did in my old olympus,. (like 8 times as many shots!!!)

So the battery capacity is less of an incentive.

Personally I tend to put it on and take it off a LOT!

When hiking and shooting wildlife it tends to stay off,. and I just carry some BP-511s in my pocket. 90% of my wildlife shots will be shot landscape...

But,. when I shoot in the theatre,.. I shoot a lot of protrait,.. like 75% and then I really rely on the vertical grip and controls.

I do not have the grip strap,. maybe I should try it.

[EoSD30fReAk]

I also got the grip on my (custumized) D30, For the balance and for the looks. The battery life is very good so i don't need it for that. I made the wrist strap myself from an old neckstrap en an old video pulsebelt and it looks identical to the original strap only it didn't cost me a thing.

[Barnsie]

I love the grip. I've only ever taken it off the camera to check the serial when the "early batch af paranoia" was rampant. I think the general feel and balance is my primary reason for having it. I'm also much more comfortable using the hand strap than not. It let's the camera stick to my hand while allowing me to contort my fingers to get to whatever control I need.

The battery issue is nice, but carrying an extra battery wouldn't be much of a hassle.

I use the vertical controls, but as others have said, if I already have my hand in the strap, it's often easier to crank my wrist for an isolated vertical shot rather than adjust to the vertical shutter release.

Barnsie

[MediaMagic]

Just to add to the count... I love the weight/bulk and "feel" of the camera with the B(attery Grip). It really does have a much more comfortable feel to me. I've never used the hand strap either though. I'll have to give that a shot.

The extra battery life isn't really that important but, I have noticed that when using the camera on a bracket, I have a tendency to use the grip controls almost all the time. Very convenient. But if I'm hand holding the camera, I rarely use the grip controls unless I'm shooting a number of vertical shots in a row.

[psk4363]

Where do I start?

1) More battery power,
2) Moe comfortable,
3) Better balance,
4) Improved grip for those of us with larger than small hands,
5) Improved functionality of controls,
6) Etc., etc., etc.

'Nuff said!

Cheers,
Barry

[Belmondo]

Thanks to all for your valuable opinions. I've ordered the hand grip from B&H to see if that makes a big difference. I suspect it will.

Tom

[Canuck]

Hi!
Most defintitely To "B" from me. I had an experience where I 100% knackered one battery (I think the Canon one as I have a 3rd party one w/ a much higher MaH rating). I was doing an extensive amount of shooting in Wales and it was also the day I got the one ot Tenby Beach that is posted on this www site and CDS' website also. The other cool bit is that for me it counterbalances long lenses to an extent. Before going to the Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 lens, I had a Sigma 70-300 lens and man was that a great balance! The downside was that having a $140 lens on a 10D holds back the camera! Since going to megalens, it is now a 100% 2 hand camera. The other piont to make is that shooting portrait w/ a camera w/o battery grip has made my hand/wrist/arm sore as all can be after a day of shooting. Most recently noted whilst in Crete, Greece, in the Samaria Gorge, this past summer when I took the EOS 50E with me. I decline comment on my pics, but others have seen them and say they are stunning. They have been scanned and are in jpeg format. It was rather interesting that in each of those pics I bracketed +2 and made the colour wildly vivid blue. It is almost like oversaturation, but isn't. By the way, the Mediterreanean Sea is the most wild colour blue I have seen yet! That was one hike I will never forget but the pics speak for themselves, and are originally 35mm!

If nothing else, get the grip, you won't regret it. I sure haven't!

Cheers from England,
Canuck

[Belmondo]

Canuck wrote:
If nothing else, get the grip, you won't regret it. I sure haven't!

Cheers from England,
Canuck

Canuck:
I actually have the grip already, but have shied away from using it thinking that it makes the whole assembly much too large, heavy, and cumbersome. Well, I guess I can be wrong about things. To be certain, I’ve read enough of these responses to believe that I have to take another look at the situation. I went ahead and ordered the hand strap from B&H --- I certainly see that as useful when the battery grip is installed on the camera. In fact, it brings to mind my Sony Handycam which has a similar strap on it. It really brings a much more solid, secure feeling to handling the camera, so I’m sure it will be the same with the 10D.

I now have three lenses with tripod mounting rings on them, and the extra mass of the body and grip combination does seem to effectively balance the heavier lenses a lot better. The issue of battery life is a non-starter in my mind. Carrying an extra battery around in your pants pocket is a lot less effort than lugging around that whole big camera/grip combination. What I’ve gathered from all the posts thus far, however, is that the grip improves the ergonomics of the camera, especially for shooting in portrait mode. I suppose that’s plausible.

Anyway, I’m committed to giving it another try just as soon as the strap arrives.

[FramerPDX]

I got my battery grip today and wow I like the way it makes the camera feel... Can't wait for tomorrow to get out and play with it some...


-Ty
FramerPDX