battery pack worth it?

[murtaugh]

so i was just thiking about ordering the battery pack/grip for my 20D but trying to decide if it is worth it or not? what do you guys think?

[coreypolis]

well its not going to improve image quality or activate any special features, its all about ergonomics, and once you use it you won't want to be without it.

Its a great tool, assuming other needs are met first.

[newfly5]

wont shoot without. I waited till i saved enough for it before I ordered camera.

[Mike Reynolds]

I have bioth the 30D and XTi and wouldn't ever think of removing either grips

[FlyACL]

By far the best accessory I have.

[Jon]

well its not going to improve image quality or activate any special features, its all about ergonomics, and once you use it you won't want to be without it.

Its a great tool, assuming other needs are met first.
I had it. I don't use it. It wasn't worth it to me. It certainly isn't worth it in terms of battery life, and it doesn't make (for me) much difference in hand-holding the 20D in portrait mode. With my flash bracket, it'd be upside down in portrait mode, or the bracket would interfere with my hands. It's definitely something that users of other than 350D/400D should put behind lenses and storage.

[goforphoto]

I rather like mine. gives you somewhere to put your pinky LOL. All joking aside it is worth every penny if you are an event shooter where you can use 2 cannon batteries and for backup the AA clip is handy also. although it does get in the way on a tri-pod lock .

[SuzyView]

I used my 20D with the grip yesterday, Jon and it felt well balanced with the 24-70 and the 580EX. I can't imagine trying to balance on a bracket with the grip on, that is heavy and I've seen it done, but it's not for me. I had to choose whether to use the grip or use the bracket. The grip won and I took some great pictures. I even shot a lot without the flash because lighting wasn't too dim. I will use the grip more as Christmas portraits season starts for me. But the Sterlingtek batteries really last a long time, not really needed to have the grip for that. I have one thing that happens whenever I put the grip on the 20D, more people do double takes. It makes the 20D or any of the XT's look more serious. People marvel at it. Take the grip off, it looks like any other SLR. Weird.

[kevin_c]

With big lenses like a 70-200 f/2.8, and shooting vertically (Like I do quite a bit) it's very useful IMO.
Once you use one like this you will wonder how you managed without it.

[goforphoto]

Yeah I forgot to mention that Suzie, when you have to grip on and say a 300mm lens people tend to get out of your way. Not to mention the comments like "Whoa do you have a permit for that thing"

[touch]

could not be without mine.

[Raymate]

It was the first thing I got for my 350D (within a few hours of buying the camera) make it much better to hold and use, the get the E1 hand strap and it's just fits like a glove :)

[murtaugh]

thank you all for the feedback. i just ordered my battery pack on the 14th and with any luck i will have it by the end of the month( mail takes along time to get to Baghdad). i am looking forward to trying it out. i'll let you know what i think when i get it.