$%&# BG-E2!

I've decided not to get the 20D gripe.
I use the hand strap as a helper in portrait-mode, and it feels better to me. And its a bit less weight without one. The better BP511A power and lower usage of the 20D means an extra battery is not such a "must have" as it was on the 10D. So I'm resisting it and spending my money on other camera gear.... as a good POTN PBBH* member would.

The grip on a 20D is for the look more than practical, unless you're doing portrait shots in a studio all day. There is definitely something to be said about "the look" of a unit with grip - looks like a beefy 1 Series unit, in short a "Pro wannabe look" to the average person. Well, I have the 10D with grip as the spare camera now. I'm going with the twin black DSLRs being enough of a "Pro wannabe look".. the safety fluro vest helps too - will be doing a sports event soon and I'll let you know how "the look" goes.

[*PBBH - Perpetually Broke But Happy]

Doesn't it give you a little more balance with certain lens?

I don't see me ever using the big white zooms... I'd more likely get a 1.4 converter.
I'll cross that bridge if and when.

I got an aversion to all zooms.

I have the older version of the grip and it works fine. I got an err99 once when poping out the battery door but it hasn't came back since. I don't think it has the "flex" issue either.

The 20D with the grip is heavy and it's not for everyone. Some people just like traveling light but I found that it balances out the camera pretty well with my Sigma 24-70. I don't have big hands but it feels comfortable when hand holding it now compare to before.

I'm using 1 OEM battery and 1 generic ebay one and they both work fine so far.

My BG-E2 is on it's way back to Canon now for the 5th time.

You must be a very patient men Drisley! I admire your clingin on to this piece of junk.
If I had such a bad piece of gear I would have not used it anymore. I would have turned crazy.
Yes I know crazyer then when I'v started with DSLR photography. We all seem more or less crazy.

Good luck with it agian.

I was lucky enough to get one without the false battery level indicator (or so I think), but stil has the other problem... I gotta be carefull how i hold it. I decided to live with it though, I am content with the fact that it's a piece of s#!t now and use it the best I can.

I pretty much ignore the battery indicator when the grip's on, other than that mine works perfectly.

Salleke,
Well, I'm usually not a patient person at all. But in this case, at least it's just an accessory, not the camera itself, or a lens, that is faulty. I can still take pictures while it's in the shop.
Like Toogy, I decided to live with the "flex" issue. At least this grip fit very tight, and I just added a small piece of rubberto the grip's post to lengthen it, and no more power interrupts. Not bad for a $300 accessory!
The last time I sent in the grip, according to the work order, they changed the circuit board for some reason! Now the battery life is horrible, and often after about 30 min of shooting, the camera shuts off, and the battery indicator flashes, meaning the battery is dead... when it's not!

When I contacted Service last time they told me to send the camera in as well, and that made me mad. I insisted I did not have this battery problem with the other grips, or when I dont use the grip at all. BUT they were very insistent I send in the camera. It's a simple process of elimination that if the other grips dont cause the battery problem, and the camera by itself doesn't have a battery problem, then the current grip is problematic. I even told them that and they wouldn't listen. Things got a little heated on the phone, but finally I hung up. I JUST sent the grip back again, on their account, and with ATTN:SERVICE MANAGER on the box.

I bought a BG-E2 a few months ago. It had the mentioned problems, so I returned it to B&H. I waited and tried another grip, receiving it about 10 day's ago. The new one works fine and I have had no problems (so far) with this one.

Southswede, did you just have the battery problems?
Or did you also have the flex/loose fit problem?

The one I had, had both of the problems. The new grip I just received, seems to be working fine.

I bought a BG-E2 and had the low battery problems for a couple of weeks. I persisted, just switching the batteries whenever my camera shut off. After 2-3 weeks, the problems stopped. I haven't had difficulties since. Perhaps it's an issue of "breaking it in" ?

It's a shame Canon has this problem. Cheap bastards.

Well I am not sure what number grip I am on (4th I think???) But at least this one has not had any problems with the battery indicator so I am happy. Still not as tight as I would like, but oh well, I need the vertical shutter release as 80% of my photos tend to be vertical.