BG-E2 Grip, Should I Get It?!?!?!

[RbrtPtikLeoSeny]

Hey everyone, just got my 20d last week with the 70-200 f/4 for sports shooting, and I've been noticing that I shoot portrait style a lot. It doesn't entirely hurt my wrist, just a little, but it makes it harder to hold the camera steady which is really important since I don't use tripod or have IS on my lens....

So, I'm just wondering if this BG-E2 grip thing is really worth it. Looks plasticy... is it cheaply made? Feel cheaply made? How well does it work? Is there more shutter lag when using it?

Oh, and can it really hold two 20d batteries?!?! That'd be pretty sweet. Plenty of battery life!

Thanks for any help!

[condyk]

I have a grip on my 300d and wouldn't take it off. Well worth it as offers much greater comfort and balance, esp. with longer and/or heavier lenses. A second battery is good when you might be far from a recharging point. Never used the portrait buttons personally as not relevant to me.

[RbrtPtikLeoSeny]

Haha, so, you bought it, but never use it for shooting portrait? That's funny! It adds that much more comfort though when shooting landscape style? Hmmmm, sounds sweet. Plus, makes it feel more like a 1D MkII huh?:cool: oooh yeeaaaa:lol:

Anyone else have anything to say about it?

[psk4363]

Without dobt get the grip! It balances the SLR very well, gives extra functionality via the extra shutter release, etc., and can be used equally well in both 'portrait' and 'landscape' mode.

Still here? Go get one now!

Barry

[RbrtPtikLeoSeny]

Haha, alright! I'll get one! :-) thanks!

[yuli]

See my Junior Rig review, I used it with the same 20D set up you have.

[RobbTC]

The grip is good for landscape mode as well b/c if you have big hands (or even medium sized), your pinky falls off the camera w/o it.

Plus with a flash on the camera, it tends to fall forward when hanging around your neck w/o the grip.

I'm waiting for mine to come back from Canon service (says it was shipped friday) to get the battery contact problem fixed.

[grego]

The grips are always good if you shoot a lot. The extra shutter button is a great reason for it, but also gives you a lot of time to take photos.

[Toogy]

I don't know what to tell you, the grip sure makes the camera feel better, makes it more ergonomic, BUT there are problems with it for sure.
The latest one I have it giving me false battery readings all the time, I don't have time to send it back to Canon right now, as I am about to start the wedding season.
I have to keep popping out the battery and putting it back in.

[Mark_48]

Does anyone use the grip in conjunction with a "flip" style flash bracket? The orientation of the flash flipped for a vertical shot puts the shutter button to the bottom of the camera which isn't exactly convenient.


Mark.......

[RbrtPtikLeoSeny]

Hmmmm, battery reading problem? That sucks, but if mine had any problems what so ever I'd just return it anyway. I'm very picky......

Oooh, good question. Is bhphoto.com good with returns? How long after purchasing a product do you have to return it? How do you return something? Ect.... I've been wondering about that for a lil while now. Probably should have asked before I made my first purchase from them. :-)