Sounds like I need a grip.

Last night my wife and I were shooting some pics with her new XT and during a short time shooting my pinky and ring finger were hurting from holding the camera. All the times I held the camera at the store I did not have this problem. Is it just something I need to get used to or does it sound like the BG-E3 grip would help me here? I don't have large hands, in fact they are small with long thin fingers. All of the people who said the XT was too small complained because they have large hands. My wife mentioned that the camera was light last night so she might not mind the grips weight but if not how fast can it be removed?

By the way we are enjoying our learning of the XT and have taken some good shots and some bad ones. Still have a lot to learn and I think the wife will want a better zoom lens for indoors.

Large hands often implies long fingers. Long fingers with small palms will have just as much problem. As to whether the grip will help, that depends some on which fingers were cramping up. If you were running into the lens mount with your fingers, having the larger surface may help.

Yep. Get a grip.

I bought a grip for my 350D/XT recently and the camera is much easier to handle

Mine live on the camera, so I've kinda attached it to the camera with the strap looped strategically, but it's easy to detach a non-josh rigged grip.

B&H has it for ~$145. Is this about the best price? I am probably going to wait about a month or so to see if it continues as well as get more familiar with the camera to see what else I might need. So far I plan on getting a grip, Tamron 28-75/2.8, and another card. Thanks for the input.

ROFL! Beat me to it!

I avoided the XT because of tis small size and weight. The DRebel, though not much heftier proved a better fit for me however I still purchased the grip used from a POTN member and love it. I have a bit of tremor and that weight of the grip actually alleviates some of that for me.

for "quick" changes I need 3 batteries with me (although I generally have all 5 on long days in the field)- 2 for the grip and one handy to slip in when I have to lose the grip. I keep the extra battery and the bay door together and easy to reach. then it is just a spin of the dial, pop in the battery and secure the door. might miss some shots but with practice it has become quicker.

...and so it begins. Get ahead of the "I want/need a new lens" game and just sand down the numbers on all your credit cards.

Go on DO IT!



Glad you're having fun. Post some pics already. Don't keep us in suspenders.

If you're going to get the Tamron get the grip. Trust me. The lens is alot heavier than the kit lense and so much more heavier than your 50mm 1.8.

The grip was worth every penny to me. It makes the camera feel 100 times better.

I might have to take the plunge. I just found a used Tamron for $269 in near mint condition at a local shop. Might have to check it out. It looks like the cheapest grip is about $140 shipped at Amazon.

Consider a hand strap
http://www.camdapter.c​om/

I have a 1 series camera, which essentially has a vertical grip built into the body already. The grip is really for holding the camera in the portrait mode without twisting your hand over, and to provide additional battery space. I use the Canon handstrap, which only fits the grip combination. This really helps to hold on to the camera securely without much effort at all from the fingers, even when I have a very heavy lens attached. The reference above is the only hand strap I have seen that will fit to a camera without a grip since there would not be a loop on the bottom of the camera for the handstrap to attach to.
Mike K

Mike K wrote:
Consider a hand strap
http://www.camdapter.c​om/

I have a 1 series camera, which essentially has a vertical grip built into the body already. The grip is really for holding the camera in the portrait mode without twisting your hand over, and to provide additional battery space. I use the Canon handstrap, which only fits the grip combination. This really helps to hold on to the camera securely without much effort at all from the fingers, even when I have a very heavy lens attached. The reference above is the only hand strap I have seen that will fit to a camera without a grip since there would not be a loop on the bottom of the camera for the handstrap to attach to.
Mike K

I will look into that. Although I went tonight to pick up a new lens (used) and tried the grip. I don't know if I can resist. It was so nice.

Get the Grip + Hand Strap, you won't regret it

for me, its not the length of the grip that is the problem, its the girth

its just a bit skinny

i have the bg-e3 on my xt, and i love it , especially with the e1 handstrap

the handstrap is what helped the most, it just allows your and muscles to relax, instead of always clenching the camera

I played around with the BG-E3 at a local shop today. It will most likely be my next purchase, probably when I get my rebates back from canon.