Extra Battery/Grip's

[LowSpark420]

After looking through the literally 39 pages of posts on the "show us your macro rig" thread, I noticed many of you all have the extra battery grip attached to the bottom of the Canon.

Is this more necessary when shooting with a larger flash like the 430 EXII and using an off shoe cord?

Just curious...

[Warl0rd]

no. I even remove the grip when doing macro because of the extra weight :p

[LowSpark420]

Good to know!

[FlyingPhotog]

If I know I'm going out to do extended tripod work, I remove the grip from my 5D and/or 40D to eliminate as much wobble as possible.

The Grip/Body interface isn't the most stable meeting place.

[LowSpark420]

Ok, then I guess the question is...when do you really need the extra battery? I mean, I have used my camera a good bit and never had an issue with power running low.

[Warl0rd]

that's just one the advantages of having the grip, IMO its more important the ability to shoot portrait in a much more natural way (of holding the camera). the grip also makes the body more easy to hold (if you have bigger hands), specially on the entry levels.

now if you use a flash bracket shooting in portrait isn't exactly easy (and safe), most of the work I make and see in around is in landscape mode.

[LowSpark420]

So with the battery grip I would have a total of 3 lithium batteries running the camera if it was fully loaded?

I know the grip holds two and then the connector to the camera holds one also? Is that right?

[Warl0rd]

mine doesn't

just 2 on the grip (which can carry 6xAA instead of 2 batteries)

[LowSpark420]

So two on the grip and then that piece that shoots up from the grip acts as the connector to the camera body where the camera battery holder is located?

[FlyingPhotog]

So two on the grip and then that piece that shoots up from the grip acts as the connector to the camera body where the camera battery holder is located?

Correct...

And on the outboard side of the vertical part, there is an indentation in which you can store the single battery door that has to be removed from the body to attach the grip.

[LowSpark420]

Good deal, b/c that was about to be my next question, how to deal with the door on the camera body itself. :)

[Warl0rd]

Correct...

And on the outboard side of the vertical part, there is an indentation in which you can store the single battery door that has to be removed from the body to attach the grip.thats something I only learned several months after :lol:

[LowSpark420]

Warl0rd: That is specifically why I am soooo glad to have found this forum - there are always kind folks on here willing to provide insight (even if they have typed the same advice 20 times to 20 different newbies). We have a great group of folks on here for sure!

[Warl0rd]

we do and I'm glad to make part of it :)