Can you use a battery grip with only one battery?

[FatCat0]

I'm thinking about gripping my 7D because I shoot portrait a lot, but as it is the battery tends to outlast my 3 8GB cf cards during normal use, so I don't think I really want to splurge on the extra battery just yet.

[Jon]

Yes, you can.

[RDKirk]

Yes, you can. No problem.

[FatCat0]

Awesome, thanks =)

[ToddR]

I do it exclusively that way.

That way, if I run out of power, I can swap to the charged one I keep in my bag. Otherwise, if I wasn't paying attention, I could potentially have two dead batteries in the grip with no charged spare on hand.

[Tigerkn]

Thanks ToddR for the great idea. Less weight as well.
I do it exclusively that way.

That way, if I run out of power, I can swap to the charged one I keep in my bag. Otherwise, if I wasn't paying attention, I could potentially have two dead batteries in the grip with no charged spare on hand.

[ToddR]

Also, I alternate my two batteries. When the one in the camera needs to be charged, I always put in the charged spare from the bag regardless of whether it would be convenient to simply charge the discharged one at that time. After charging, it always returns to the bag to be the spare, not the camera.

Likewise with the two sets of Eneloops I use in my 580.

[bohdank]

Whether you use 2 at a time and run them both down or swap them as they run down, you still end up with the same number of shots :-)

With that said, I used to use 2 when I had the 40D and the 5D. I have run 2 batteries down on a full day shooting so did have another spare pair, always charged.

The 5DII seems to get a lot more shots out of it's batteries so, for weight considerations, I use only 1 in the grip.

[tehphil]

Used it with one battery all the time on my old Rebel XT :)

[crn3371]

You can shoot with one battery, but I'd advise you to get a spare any way. I can guarantee you that with only one battery, and no spare, that at some point you will run out of juice at the most inopportune time.

[dovaka]

i have used mine with only 1 but i pretty much always use 2 and have several extras charged. then just for good measure i keep the AA adapter with me since i generally have at least 20 AA's with me at all times.

[FLiPMaRC]

Thanks ToddR for the great idea. Less weight as well.
Less weight? Can you tell if a camera has one or two batteries? :lol: Like everyone said, it's a good idea to have extra batteries.

[Tigerkn]

I meant to say less weight for the hands but it is still in the bag and hang on the back :)Less weight? Can you tell if a camera has one or two batteries? :lol: Like everyone said, it's a good idea to have extra batteries.