to grip or not to grip?

[photamat]

I was wondering how many of you have vertical grip? I haven't found the necessity to get one yet. But I saw one with the vertical grip and gave me goosebumps. It was very very s*xy. can you convince me to buy one?

[Cadwell]

:lol: It looks good. Makes the 10D look like a real camera.

err... it holds two batteries, makes shooting portrait easier, errr...

Did I mention it makes the 10D look good ;)

Oh... just go and buy one. You know you want to :P

[timmyquest]

all joking aside, nothing will balance your camera out more then a battery grip. Trust me.

[sGu]

you'll love it, despite the fact it makes your 10D looks good, it makes you look professional, too. It works great, especially when it comes to portrait shots, with one extra battery in the body, you can shoot so much longer without recharge tham again, and of course, that means you'll need to buy one extra battery, or 2 more on top of that if you wanna a spare set just in case :shock: (exactly what i did)

I've had more than once that someone approaches me when i was shooting, try to complement my camera:"so, how much does your 1Ds cost you?" ... only i wish i had one ... still, when i told them it's a 10D with a grip, they seem to be very impressed with it.

So, time to reach your wallet and get yourself one of these "bad boys" :D

one thing tho', it's plastic, so you might take a while to get used it, not exactly metal body as the rest of 10D.

[RichardtheSane]

ahem. there is a quantum battery pack that balances it better than the grip.... but it is 4 times the price.

And it doesn't look nearly as good or have any extra buttons on it.

Did I mention how good the camera looks and feels with the grip on it?

[photamat]

Thanks a lot guys for pushing me over the wall. That was an itch i definitely had to scratch. I think I will go ahead and buy it. I already have two batteries. I don't have the budget right away to buy two more batteries but will do so in the next couple of months. Also, is there a dual battery charger?

[sGu]

yup, i've got one for myself just for this purpose, here is the link on B&H:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=208587&is=REG

[drisley]

Get it! I know on the 300D it is REALLY nice to use, looks great, and gives great battery life!

However, the grip on the 10D isn't quite as "professional looking" as the one on the 300D as it isn't marked as such :wink:
http://www.mts.net/~lftbrain/prof.jpg

[c0ntr0lz]

how could you not want this!!
just taking this is the fully loaded 2 battery 310d
should have put my canon lens on tho
now i just need to paint it black

http://ctrlzproduction.com/300d/front.jpg

http://ctrlzproduction.com/300d/300d.jpg

http://ctrlzproduction.com/300d/size.jpg

http://ctrlzproduction.com/300d/side.jpg



and the grip with 2 batteries wieghts about the same as the camera

[drisley]

What?! Your grip doesnt have the word "Professional" on it. Without it the grip looks cheap! :lol:

PS. I still havent figured out a way to get my 300D to take pictures of itself.

[longhornfan]

love the grip!!!! get the grip!!!!

take more photos

meet more women

take more photos

get the grip!!!!!

[c0ntr0lz]

i wonder if i can get a sticker that says it

ok this is how you do it
you need several mirrors
and the remote if ya like or just set the timer :D
those are pix from my a80 :D

[cmM]

You must buy the grip
You must buy the grip
You must buy the grip

I opened a thread like this some time ago, and guess what I did?..... I bought the grip. I'm happy with it.

[roanjohn]

I've heard this many times already..........still haven't gone to the edge.

Ro1

[flyfishnj]

It's in the cart ready to go .... :shock:

[yb98]

may be I'll be the only one to say don't buy it !
save you money and buy instead a good quality lens.
it's more important to me to have the highest quality picture than to look professional.

[Digital Prophet]

Thanks Control. Believe it or not these are the first pictures I have ever seen of the grip ON the Rebel. I always see the grip. Or the Rebel. Sometimes I see the grip NEXT to the Rebel. But never ever have I seen them hooked together. It was worth the wait. Kind of like camera porn.

I think I will get one. When I get some disposable cash that is. But I want one without "professional" on it. I mean it just looks silly. Like a guy wearing a name tag that says "sexy" at a club.

What I want to know is: If you are taking pics of your Rebel, what are you using to do it? I would take some pics of my Rebel, but it is the best camera I have.

I think I just made myself seem insane.

- Digital Prophet -

[c0ntr0lz]

flyfishnj saweeeeeeeeet
yb98 come on you can get the grip for 100 and a 50mm 1.8 for 75
that's only 200 prob with shippping


Digital Prophet no prob glad i could help
i used my a80
or you can set it up in some mirrors
like this
http://ctrlzproduction.com/images/mirror_cam/clear_cam1.jpg

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[flyfishnj]

I'm not really concerned about looking cool ... I'm an idiot and I forget to charge my batteries. If my battery is dead, I can have the best glass in the world and it won't do me any good :wink:

[drisley]

may be I'll be the only one to say don't buy it !
save you money and buy instead a good quality lens.
it's more important to me to have the highest quality picture than to look professional.

Actually, looking cool is it's least enticing feature.
Long battery life, and vertical controls are far and away the most important. No more holding the camera by the top and arching your wrist to take vertical pictures! You cant get a good quality lens for $150 (save for the 50mm f1.8)

[Jim_T]

I came very close to buying the grip... I was in a camera store holding one in my hand.

The only reason I didn't get it was because my camera wouldn't have fit in my LowePro camera bag.. (I'm very attached to it :) )

I feel it's a nice to have, but I can live very well without......

[c0ntr0lz]

I'm not really concerned about looking cool ... I'm an idiot and I forget to charge my batteries. If my battery is dead, I can have the best glass in the world and it won't do me any good :wink:


brilliant thinking :D
doesn't matter if you have a 63 vette no gas no go

[alsmith]

GRIP!! That is the answer...

[JoeTampa]

I am one of those weirdos who does NOT use the extra buttons on the grip. I actually prefer to shoot portrait 180 degrees 'round, balancing the camera on top of my right hand. Feels more stable that way, and I prefer the location of the viewfinder better.

Anyways, the weight and balance of the 10D is incredibly improved with the grip. This is especially true with longer lenses. Plus, with two charged batteries, I can shoot a whole 2G card and still have plenty of gas in the tank. The fact that it looks more professional is just a kicker.


My opinion? No 10D should be without it.

[theoldmoose]

As a left-eyed photographer, I find the grip a blessing and a curse. I almost wish that Canon made a right-hand and left-hand version, so I don't end up with my nose smashed into the back of the camera while trying to take portrait pictures.

It also doesn't help that all the flash brackets ever made assume likewise.

Sigh...

[Haifidelity]

As a left-eyed photographer, I find the grip a blessing and a curse. I almost wish that Canon made a right-hand and left-hand version, so I don't end up with my nose smashed into the back of the camera while trying to take portrait pictures.

It also doesn't help that all the flash brackets ever made assume likewise.

Sigh...

Moose, interesting you say that. Ken Rockwell apparently has a prototype left handed Nikon F100, but Nikon dropped any ideas of manufacturing lefties because the market isn't as big as they thought it'd be.

[sGu]

maybe not that many left handed people into photography ... or it could be limited convenience to equipment killed their dreams ... :roll:

[theoldmoose]

Yeah, but it's the left-handed/right-brained folks that are supposed to be the creative ones. :lol:

[aam1234]

what are the buttons on the grip for.

[photamat]

Thanks everybody for the overwhelming responses. This is why I love this forum. Now I am not only over the wall, but am running ferociously towards the grip.

[always_learning]

Here's a really simple test to determine whether or not to buy the grip. (a) handle a camera with the grip attached. (b) take off the grip and handle it again. Does it feel like half a camera? If so, buy the grip. I did.

[c0ntr0lz]

what are the buttons on the grip for.


they are the same as on the camera
http://ctrlzproduction.com/300d/grip.jpg

http://ctrlzproduction.com/300d/grip1.jpg

http://ctrlzproduction.com/300d/grip2.jpg

[aam1234]

Thanks c0ntr0lz for the graphing explanation.

Do you actually use these buttons, do you find them helpful.

Again, thanks for the trouble

[hmhm]

As someone who doesn't have the grip, has never had the grip, and is therefore an expert on the topic of not having the grip, I can conclusively say that not having the grip is the only correct choice!

Really, it always just seemed like a superficial thing, like "hey, I'm wearing my big-boy pants today!"

The two-battery argument always seemed silly to me, I can always change batteries when one dies, it takes a long time for this to happen. There are places I can store my spare battery where I don't have to heft it with every shot.

The only practical argument that makes any sense to me is having the buttons more easily reachable for vertical composition, but I've used the "hand high" method for years, and I'm strongly of the belief that "small is good" and "light is good". If I want heavy and large, I'll grab some duct tape and strap my camera to a brick.

Hmph!!! :)
-harry
p.s. Still grumpily waiting for a full-frame sensor in a 10D form factor (with a 10D price tag)...

[aam1234]

The two-battery argument always seemed silly to me, I can always change batteries when one dies, it takes a long time for this to happen

I don't have a big zoom lens yet, but one can easily imagine how much a lens like the 100-400 or the bigma drain the battery. As a matter of fact, yesterday I was testing the bigma at the shop and after I left I told myself "if you buy that bazooka you better get the grip with it"

Guess that's one reason to get the grip, I'm sure there are other reasons (long trip, major event...and others)

[roanjohn]

For some reason...........I'm still not totally convinced with this grip issue.

Ro1

[Steveo31]

I think a grip is pretty crucial. One, it holds more juice. Two, it's more convenient to have the buttons and not reach over. It takes some getting used to, but it's VERY nice once you get it down.

[c0ntr0lz]

Thanks c0ntr0lz for the graphing explanation.

Do you actually use these buttons, do you find them helpful.

Again, thanks for the trouble

no problem
yes they are quite nice to have
but one thing my friend brought up is that the best way to do portraits is to turn the camera the other way where the camera's controls are at your fingertips....turn it to where it sits in your right hand....but sometimes you can't do that


For some reason...........I'm still not totally convinced with this grip issue.


it's not just to add power or the lenght you can use it
it's also adding a nice bite of weight and balances the camera out

like when i have my Sigma 28-80mm macro on
it sometimes falls foward while sitting on a flat surface
but with the grip on it sits a bit more balanced
and adds weight for those that can't get still in low light shots

[MarkH]

This battery issue, I just don't see it being important! I use a battery for 4 or 5 hours, it goes flat, I swap it and carry on for another 4 or 5 hours. Even if I could use a lens that would drain my battery in 2 hours, who cares? It really does not take long to swap a battery.

The extra controls might be handy for portrait shots, but I really have no problems using my controls now. I some ways it is easier to quickly go from landscape to portrait to landscape when you keep your right hand in the same place.

The only arguement that might convince me to buy a grip would be the one about improved balance. When I can afford to get a 70-200 f2.8L IS then the camera might get a little lens heavy and a grip might improve the balance. Until then I am not too worried.

[Jesper]

Looks like many people are in favour of the grip, some even calling it "essential". Not me!!

What does the grip offer - extra battery power and an extra set of buttons to make vertical shooting easier. For me, those things are only minor conveniences. Changing batteries on the camera is a matter of seconds and I can just as easily shoot vertically without an extra set of buttons.

The disadvantages are that it makes the camera more conspicuous (I don't want people to look at my camera all the time!) and it adds unnecessary extra weight.

It's personal ofcourse, but I consider the grip one of the more useless accessories.

[drisley]

I take a lot of vertical shots, and it's such a relief using the grip!
No more carpal tunnel problem like I had before the grip.

And yes, not having to worry about batteries is nice.
Changing batteries, just like changing CF cards, can cause you to miss pictures.

For me it is essential.

[theflyingkiwi]

to change or not to change that is only a small part of the function that the gip provides. I am looking at getting the group, one of the reasons is because it does hold 2 batteries. the main reason is when I take a shot in portrait mode the camera is more comfortable.

When I go out shooting, there are a number of things that bug me, one is changing the battery, two is changing the CF card, three is to hold the camera when I shoot in portrait mode, I find hold the camera just plan uncomfortable no matter which way I hold it. So what does this come down to. We for me I see a "need" to have the grip.

[c0ntr0lz]

to change or not to change that is only a small part of the function that the gip provides. I am looking at getting the group, one of the reasons is because it does hold 2 batteries. the main reason is when I take a shot in portrait mode the camera is more comfortable.

When I go out shooting, there are a number of things that bug me, one is changing the battery, two is changing the CF card, three is to hold the camera when I shoot in portrait mode, I find hold the camera just plan uncomfortable no matter which way I hold it. So what does this come down to. We for me I see a "need" to have the grip.

thenn the grip is perfect for you!!

[theflyingkiwi]

to change or not to change that is only a small part of the function that the gip provides. I am looking at getting the group, one of the reasons is because it does hold 2 batteries. the main reason is when I take a shot in portrait mode the camera is more comfortable.

When I go out shooting, there are a number of things that bug me, one is changing the battery, two is changing the CF card, three is to hold the camera when I shoot in portrait mode, I find hold the camera just plan uncomfortable no matter which way I hold it. So what does this come down to. We for me I see a "need" to have the grip.

thenn the grip is perfect for you!!

believe it or not that is what I am planning. but alas the car deciced that it was unloved and that it need me to spend money on it errr :(

[flyfishnj]

I get mine tomorrow (Ordered from B&H on Friday). Will let you know

[meesey]

buttons: shutter, zoom in, zoom out, shutter on/off switch, wheel check it out at http://emedia.leeward.hawaii.edu/frary/canon_eos10d_05.htm

in my experience i like it for holding 2 batteries and plus the vertical for portraits, i have noticed that with the grip on the 10d my hand fells better lower on the camera, not so scrunched up when i did not have the grip, of course i could just have big hands, lol, i would recommend it also for the balancing , to me it makes the 10d feel like a complete camera, not to mention all the people that walk by when i am out shooting and say,"wow, honey can i buy one like his."[/url]

[walkien]

I wonder the grip for the Rebel will fit into 10D?

[dn7elson]

I wonder the grip for the Rebel will fit into 10D?

Different grips. The DRebel/300D use the BG-E1, the 10D the BG-ED3

[meesey]

yes ums diff grips all together

[timmyquest]

As someone who doesn't have the grip, has never had the grip, and is therefore an expert on the topic of not having the grip, I can conclusively say that not having the grip is the only correct choice!

Really, it always just seemed like a superficial thing, like "hey, I'm wearing my big-boy pants today!"

The two-battery argument always seemed silly to me, I can always change batteries when one dies, it takes a long time for this to happen. There are places I can store my spare battery where I don't have to heft it with every shot.

The only practical argument that makes any sense to me is having the buttons more easily reachable for vertical composition, but I've used the "hand high" method for years, and I'm strongly of the belief that "small is good" and "light is good". If I want heavy and large, I'll grab some duct tape and strap my camera to a brick.

Hmph!!! :)
-harry
p.s. Still grumpily waiting for a full-frame sensor in a 10D form factor (with a 10D price tag)...

It really bothers me that someone can give this advice...unless you have tiny girly hands the 300D and 10D are just too darn small especially when larger lenses are mounted.