Battery grip pointless on 10D ?

[Tugstar]

I was looking at the battery grip and realise that it take the same lithium battery as the camera does.
Is there any point in having the grip ?
Does it ballance the camera better ?

[Belmondo]

It has room for two batteries. It does balance the camera better, and also make it more comfortable when shooting in portrait mode. Combined with the hand strap, it makes a very nice package, especially when one of the larger lenses is installed.

[scottbergerphoto]

The battery grip gives you:
1. Two batteries. Comes in handy for IS lenses ,long shooting days and when you look at alot of histograms.
2. Vertical shutter release for portraits.
3. Some people like the feel of the camera with the grip on.
Personally, mine spends most of the time on the shelf.
Scott

[FotoPhreak]

scottbergerphoto wrote:.
2. Vertical shutter release for portraits.


What did you mean 'vertical shutter release'?

Actually no let me rephrase that ...

From what I understand you are simply referring to shooting in portrait rather than landscape, correct?

If so, this can surely be done without the battery grip? Are you referring to it making it feel more comfortable when shooting in this mode?

If both the above are correct ... just wanted to confirm there is actually no mechanical/technical difference with it on other than having an extended battery life?!?

Thanks.

[DaveG]

FotoPhreak wrote:
scottbergerphoto wrote:.
2. Vertical shutter release for portraits.


What did you mean 'vertical shutter release'?

Actually no let me rephrase that ...

From what I understand you are simply referring to shooting in portrait rather than landscape, correct?

If so, this can surely be done without the battery grip? Are you referring to it making it feel more comfortable when shooting in this mode?

If both the above are correct ... just wanted to confirm there is actually no mechanical/technical difference with it on other than having an extended battery life?!?

Thanks.


There's another shutter button on the end of the grip. When you hold the camera in the vertical position this shutter release will be on the top. It's just more comfortable to change your hand position if you are going to do extensive vertical shooting.

There's also a finger dial to control what the large back dial won't, just like on the top deck of the camera. As well there's a couple of buttons to control back focus (if you have it enabled) and the focus points.

All and all the vertical grip with the extra battery compartment, as well as these other tools is a very good investment.

[agit-prop]

DaveG wrote:...buttons to control back focus (if you have it enabled)...

That would be an interesting feature!

I think you must mean AE/FE lock (*)

[defordphoto]

I would never operate my 10D/D60 without the grip. It improves the balance so much it's incredible. Nice to have two batteries worth of shooting too.

[DaveG]

Agit-Prop wrote:
DaveG wrote:...buttons to control back focus (if you have it enabled)...

That would be an interesting feature!

I think you must mean AE/FE lock (*)




No I mean back focus. Use Custom Function 4 and change the setting to 1:AE lock/AF. It may well say AE lock but it enables the middle button by your right thumb (when you're holding the camera to your eye) to activate the AF.

[ypad_dave]

I love the battery grip for all of the above reasons, but it does have it's drawbacks for the LEFT-HANDERS in this world! :( Infact, most camera's aren't meant for lefty's, because your open eye always looks at the camera body, and not the subject you are trying to shoot. Very frustrating, but unavoidable.

Go on.. try it... look through the viewer with your opposite eye.... not easy is it?? Well, it isn't easy for me either.

If only there was an opposite battery grip available.


David.M.

[GenEOS]

Most cameras are not South-Paw friendly! SO I think a left handed version is out of the question, but try flipping the camera over!

The vertical grip is a quintessential (sp?) part of a pro-slr, be it digital or film. If for any other reason, they look cool!!

Having two batteries does help. I can drain 2 single batteries quicker than the two in tandem. Don't ask me why this is, maybe a technophile measurbator can tell me??

[agit-prop]

DaveG wrote:
Agit-Prop wrote:
DaveG wrote:...buttons to control back focus (if you have it enabled)...

That would be an interesting feature!

I think you must mean AE/FE lock (*)




No I mean back focus. Use Custom Function 4 and change the setting to 1:AE lock/AF. It may well say AE lock but it enables the middle button by your right thumb (when you're holding the camera to your eye) to activate the AF.


You mean AF lock. "Back focus" refers to the distance between the rear element of a lens and the sensor.

[Jesper]

ypad_dave wrote:
I love the battery grip for all of the above reasons, but it does have it's drawbacks for the LEFT-HANDERS in this world! :( Infact, most camera's aren't meant for lefty's, because your open eye always looks at the camera body, and not the subject you are trying to shoot. Very frustrating, but unavoidable.

Go on.. try it... look through the viewer with your opposite eye.... not easy is it?? Well, it isn't easy for me either.

If only there was an opposite battery grip available.


Left-handedness and left-eyedness are two different things (really!). I am right-handed, but left-eyed: I always look through the viewfinder with my left eye. I've noticed that most of my family is right-handed and right-eyed.

Try this: With both eyes open, stretch your arm (left or right, doesn't matter) and point to something in the distance with your finger. Now first close one eye and look what you're pointing at; then close the other eye (and open the other again...) and look what you're pointing at. You'll notice that with one of your eyes you are pointing to at the subject, and with the other you're pointing next to the subject. This shows you what eye you are using most and shows you if you are right- or left-eyed.

[agit-prop]

ypad_dave wrote:
I love the battery grip for all of the above reasons, but it does have it's drawbacks for the LEFT-HANDERS in this world! :( Infact, most camera's aren't meant for lefty's, because your open eye always looks at the camera body, and not the subject you are trying to shoot. Very frustrating, but unavoidable.

Go on.. try it... look through the viewer with your opposite eye.... not easy is it?? Well, it isn't easy for me either.

If only there was an opposite battery grip available.


David.M.

Or you can be part of the 20% minority of people whose dominant eye is the reverse of thier dominant hand. I'm right handed, so the controls are comfortable, but I'm left eye dominant, so I mash my nose into the back of the camera

[DaveG]

Agit-Prop wrote:
DaveG wrote:
Agit-Prop wrote:
DaveG wrote:...buttons to control back focus (if you have it enabled)...

That would be an interesting feature!

I think you must mean AE/FE lock (*)




No I mean back focus. Use Custom Function 4 and change the setting to 1:AE lock/AF. It may well say AE lock but it enables the middle button by your right thumb (when you're holding the camera to your eye) to activate the AF.


You mean AF lock. "Back focus" refers to the distance between the rear element of a lens and the sensor.

Ok how about "On the BACK of the camera FOCUS"?

[Belmondo]

Agit-Prop wrote:You mean AF lock. "Back focus" refers to the distance between the rear element of a lens and the sensor.

Well, you sound like you know what you're talking about, so I'll take that explanation as gospel.

Prior to this, I always though 'back focus' was either:
1. When the AF focuses behind the object it's trying to focus on.

or

2. What I do whenever I see Jennifer Lopez.

Life is so full of so many mysteries.

[CyberDyneSystems]

belmondo wrote:
Agit-Prop wrote:You mean AF lock. "Back focus" refers to the distance between the rear element of a lens and the sensor.

Well, you sound like you know what you're talking about, so I'll take that explanation as gospel.

Prior to this, I always though 'back focus' was either:
1. When the AF focuses behind the object it's trying to focus on.

or

2. What I do whenever I see Jennifer Lopez.

Life is so full of so many mysteries.

Actually What Agit-prop describes above is NOT back focus,. but it is one of things that will CAUSE backfocus.

Back foucs is in fact what Belmodo lists as #1 But several factors can contribute to this occurence.

But it also seems that historically many used the term to refer to focus lock.

Anyays,. back to the grip,. I too use it only occasionally,.. BUT

I have shot events such as ballets and fashion shoots shows.. where 90% or more of the shots are taken in a vertical "portrait" position,..

...at these times the vertical grip is indeed absolutely indispensible!

So,. take into account how you shoot and what you shoot,. if you spend a lot of time turning your camera vertical for a prtrait shot,. the grip is for you! :)

[ypad_dave]

Did the test, and......

left handed, left eyed, and nose smashed.

Good job I'm not colour-blind too! :D

Cheers

David.M.