How many of you use grips?

http://www.canonrumors​.com/2012/04/bg-e11-delayed/

So I just read that the BG-E11 grip for the 5D3 has been delayed again. I also noticed a couple of threads in other forums where people are blowing up over this delay, like it is the end of their world.

Are battery grips really that vital?

I tried using battery grip once, but I really didn't like the added bulk and the extra space it takes in my camera bag.

What about you? Are battery grips super important to you?

Ivann wrote in post #14333173
Are battery grips really that vital?

Yes.

They make the camera much more comfortable to hold (I have big hands) and seems to balance better with bigger/heavier lenses. Also makes portrait orientation shooting much better, even will be more so with the new 5DIII grip with the controller.

Not me with one exception - if I happen to be shooting a supertele, I do think the grip helps counterbalance the weight of the lens on the backend.

Yes they are, my main reasons are better balance, especially with my 70-200 and extended battery life, have to say I was a little disappointed about the delay.

i put nope, never because there wasnt a nope but plan on it...

I have a 1Ds2 which has a built-in "grip", but I don't have one for my backup/second camera. I don't see it as absolutely critical but I do find it very convenient.

I put grips on my T1I, T2I and my 60 d mainly for balance and the extra battery life. I could just carry a spare battery but IMO it's easier with the grip plus for portraits the buttons are where you need them when its rotated to the portrait position. It does feel more balanced when I have the sig 150-500 on, not that I shoot portraits with the sig 150-500.

grip never leaves my 7D, I shot my company's holiday party without it just to keep the weight down and I did not enjoy shooting without my grip. Shooting in portrait orientation without the grip was just a pain and I missed the extra heft of the grip, just felt really awkward...

I would if the 7D grip had the joystick.

Reasons I use and love my battery grip:

1) Even if you don't have big hands the lack of a grip often means your pinky finger ends up falling off the bottom of the camera when holding (without a grip). This gets annoying as your finger is always slipping and rubbing on the corner. A grip gives your pinky finger somewhere to rest and removes the irritation of the rubbing.

2) A grip gives you the ability to fit a proper wrist strap (like the canon E1). This helps support you whilst your holding the camera, making it a little easier to move your fingers to select other buttons and also meaning you can relax your hold a little when the camera is held at rest.

3) A grip gives you 2 battery slots - this increases your shooting time with the batteries considerably. Letting you shoot for longer - with higher end bodies using more power and with lenses AF and IS also pulling more out the addition of a second battery helps a lot. You can even use the AA holder in an emergency.

4) Helps with balance with heavier and loner lenses. The additional size and weight of the camera helps to move the point of balance further back on the setup, pulling it closer to your centre of gravity and thus making the setup much easier to hold for a sharp shot.

5) Vertical controls make portrait shooting a breeze; doesn't matter what you shoot portrait aspect will come into play and having the grip makes shifting between landscape and portrait fast and simple. Without the vertical shutter you put a lot of strain on your wrist when shooting portrait (esp with a heavier setup) which makes it annoying and more fatiguing to shoot like that - the grip removes this problem.

6) You look way more pro with a grip

Honestly I got the grip for my 400D and loved it so much I make sure when I got my 7D that I got a grip at the same time. I've never had the grips off since and about the only time they ever come into conflict is with a some manfrotto tripod head designs (they seem to only work with ungripped rebels for design never 1D series......) == silly things like their focusing rail not fitting camera with a grip unless the lens being used has a long rear section between its tripod collar and the camera.

Grip never leaves the 1D series ;D haha every camera I own will always have a grip and L bracket

no plan to buy a grip. grip for 5d2 is $235.... and it doesnt help make better image....

Remove the word "battery" and just refer to the device as a "grip" and you'll have why I use mine. I use only one battery at a time in mine so the "battery" part of the name means nothing to me at all. However, the "grip" part means that I can have a better hold of my camera and, especially, have a similar grip on the camera regardless if I want a "landscape" or a "portrait" orientation.

Didn't think I'd want one until I tried one... makes a world of difference (for me) on a smaller body like the T2i.

Very interesting responses here.
I guess I'll try grips again and to see it from a different perspective.

It is just that I did not notice any improved balance when I tried it the first time.