Battery grip.. why?

bent toe wrote in post #14819991
I have a question about battery grip, why does one choose to use them?

To my understanding the battery grip allows the user to use 4 AA batteries aswell as the original inside the battery grip.

A battery grip costs between $150-$300
Original Canon battery range from $40-$100

So people pay more money in order to be able to use AA batteries that last not even half the time of an original Canon battery. My battery can take around 1500-2000 images before going below 15% capacity, i bought an extra one, this means i can take roughly 4000 pictures with both my batteries for an extra cost of $45.
So a valid argument can't really be the AA batteries, if the battery grip could take two Canon originals inside, then it would be a great argument.

The other option people buy a batterygrip is for stability/heavier camera. But arent tripods/monopods used for this?

And then there is the third options.. the one that some will never admit, that using a battery grip makes the photographer look more "professional".


So, to sum it up.. why?

I have original grips on both my 5DII & 7D.

1) Holds two batteries so you haven't got to carry a second or bother with swapping.
2) Allows you to shoot portrait with controls in correct place
3) Balances out heavy lenses
4) Protects the bottom of the camera when you rest it on the floor
5) Double up the important controls - for anyone who's had them fail in the field
6) Makes your camera look bigger than 'Uncle Bob's, when your getting paid to be there

Hope this helps.

ocabj wrote in post #14820637
Battery grips are a must have for portrait shooting. The controls in portrait orientation is a the huge bonus.

http://www.ocabj.net …-e11-battery-grip-review/

Bingo....

I will chime in with my biggest two reasons for the grip. Double battery capacity and bigger feel for me. I have larger hands and the 600D felt cramped without the grip. I immediately felt more comfortable with it on there.

Also, I do like the bulkier look. Call me vain, but as a gadget geek, the bulkier size does make it look tougher. All subjective, but my .02.

I ahve the Meike chinese grip. No complaints, and for $20 from amzon, couldn't be happier.

bent toe wrote in post #14819991
I have a question about battery grip, why does one choose to use them?

To my understanding the battery grip allows the user to use 4 AA batteries aswell as the original inside the battery grip.

A battery grip costs between $150-$300
Original Canon battery range from $40-$100

So people pay more money in order to be able to use AA batteries that last not even half the time of an original Canon battery. My battery can take around 1500-2000 images before going below 15% capacity, i bought an extra one, this means i can take roughly 4000 pictures with both my batteries for an extra cost of $45.
So a valid argument can't really be the AA batteries, if the battery grip could take two Canon originals inside, then it would be a great argument.

The other option people buy a batterygrip is for stability/heavier camera. But arent tripods/monopods used for this?

And then there is the third options.. the one that some will never admit, that using a battery grip makes the photographer look more "professional".


So, to sum it up.. why?

Mostly for me it was the feel (and my bodies were gripped, they weren't an attachment but I would have purchased grips/drives had they not been). Most of my out and about shooting wasn't done without a pod and I used smaller fast primes (very rarely large lenses). I zoomed with my feet and often spun the camera while I was working through the composition and trying to zero in on why I thought a particular subject was interesting. It was just a comfort issue.

If you honestly don't understand it; you either don't shoot that way (or portraits), have small hands or haven't tried it yet.

I didn't order a grip for my latest purchase (a T4i) but I did order several extra batteries. (it's a touristy travel camera). My plan is to order a FF body next year some time for some creative work that is a larger body built for this already though that I would have bought a grip for it it wasn't already considered in the body design. The only reason I would buy a grip later for the T4i is if I find myself doing some video stuff that I've been thinking about (creative shorts with a local theater group) for pure convenience.

As far as your assertion about a look of professionalism goes... well, I guess that could be case sometimes. Just not sure why someone would want to carry around extra weight just for a look but I suppose some do. People carry big zooms around in places where there's almost no chance of using them all the time I suspect for this exact reason.

The vertical controls are what did it for me. Once I started shooting tighter for soccer, the vertical orientation became a necessity. Sitting behind a monopod for a couple hours worth of games, there's no way I'd want to reach up and over to the main controls.

Now that I've been using my 1D more, the T2i really does feel too small to handle well most of the time, and the grip helps a lot with that.

bent toe wrote in post #14819991
...So a valid argument can't really be the AA batteries...

You've gotten lots of answers now for all the reasons people buy a grip. I just wanted to address this one.

Yes, there is a valid reason to buy a grip for AA batteries. Emergency power (as one reply already said), and also going to areas where you will be away from power for days at a time so recharging will not be something you want to rely on.

However, I would guess many members here don't even bother to take the AA battery tray in their bag...

RTPVid wrote in post #14821166
You've gotten lots of answers now for all the reasons people buy a grip. I just wanted to address this one.

Yes, there is a valid reason to buy a grip for AA batteries. Emergency power (as one reply already said), and also going to areas where you will be away from power for days at a time so recharging will not be something you want to rely on.

However, I would guess many members here don't even bother to take the AA battery tray in their bag...

+1

I usually put mines back into the box after I get the grip to store incase I sell the grip and only use 2 OEM batteries.

RTPVid wrote in post #14821166
You've gotten lots of answers now for all the reasons people buy a grip. I just wanted to address this one.

Yes, there is a valid reason to buy a grip for AA batteries. Emergency power (as one reply already said), and also going to areas where you will be away from power for days at a time so recharging will not be something you want to rely on.

However, I would guess many members here don't even bother to take the AA battery tray in their bag...

I've been caught not once but twice with low batteries before. So I've always use AA's now. I can't even remember when was the last time I've used the OEM battery.

My biggest problem is that I keep forgetting to turn off the grip when I store the camera.

Canajun wrote in post #14821268
I've been caught not once but twice with low batteries before. So I've always use AA's now. I can't even remember when was the last time I've used the OEM battery.

Interesting. With two OEM batteries in my 550D grip, I can shoot 2-3000 shots before the battery shows any drain on the LCD. My grip came with two off-brand batteries that last just as long as the Canon units. So, I go on vacation and don't use the charger once. Same thing with a two-day soccer tournament -- one set of batteries will handle the whole thing easily.

Canajun wrote in post #14821268
My biggest problem is that I keep forgetting to turn off the grip when I store the camera.

I never turn it off. I thought this was just to prevent the vertical controls from working.

^^ That's what I understood as well. I never turn mine off.

I have small hands. I don't often use a grip on my 7D, although I do have one for it.
The T2i has one on all the time, however - it makes it much easier to handle the small body.

I just went through this with my own thread a little while ago - https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1200641

Now that I have the grip, I don't think I could go without. So much so, that I bought a spare grip just in case something goes wrong with one. I have both a Genuine Canon grip, and a Targus grip, and they are pretty much identical (decals look slightly different then the body decals on the Targus).

Here's why I like the grip;

1) - Increased body size (Rebel XT is a small body)
2) - Portrait orientation - Awesome!
3) - Double the battery capacity - seems I now get about 1000 clicks before the battery leve goes down one mark, whereas it was about 400 before
4) - AA Batteries - Essential if you are going somewhere that you won't be able to recharge, or if on vacation, and you left the charger home.
5) - Added weight - It does actually help with hand held shots when you don't have a tri/monopod. (This actually surprised me).
6) - Coolness factor - Chicks dig big grips

Here's what I DON'T like about the grip;

1) - Doesn't fit well in my Tamrac Adventure 74 backpack
2) - The button positions are just a hair off from the on-body buttons, so it takes a little fumbling at first until you are used to it
3) - Figuring out where to put the now unused battery door so I don't lose it

waterrockets wrote in post #14821542
Interesting. With two OEM batteries in my 550D grip,(1) I can shoot 2-3000 shots before the battery shows any drain on the LCD. My grip came with two off-brand batteries that last just as long as the Canon units. So, (2) I go on vacation and don't use the charger once. Same thing with a two-day soccer tournament -- one set of batteries will handle the whole thing easily.

(3) I never turn it off. I thought this was just to prevent the vertical controls from working.

1. I only have the original OEM, the cost of buying a second OEM seemed a little impractical since I have other uses for AA batts.

2. We do not have A/C power at my cottage. I can charge my AA's using solar (similar to the ones you use in cars).

3. I guess old school. If not in use. Turn it off.

KirkS518 wrote in post #14821649
I just went through this with my own thread a little while ago - https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1200641

Now that I have the grip, I don't think I could go without. So much so, that I bought a spare grip just in case something goes wrong with one. I have both a Genuine Canon grip, and a Targus grip, and they are pretty much identical (decals look slightly different then the body decals on the Targus).

Here's why I like the grip;

1) - Increased body size (Rebel XT is a small body)
2) - Portrait orientation - Awesome!
3) - Double the battery capacity - seems I now get about 1000 clicks before the battery leve goes down one mark, whereas it was about 400 before
4) - AA Batteries - Essential if you are going somewhere that you won't be able to recharge, or if on vacation, and you left the charger home.
5) - Added weight - It does actually help with hand held shots when you don't have a tri/monopod. (This actually surprised me).
6) - Coolness factor - Chicks dig big grips

Here's what I DON'T like about the grip;

1) - Doesn't fit well in my Tamrac Adventure 74 backpack
2) - The button positions are just a hair off from the on-body buttons, so it takes a little fumbling at first until you are used to it
3) - Figuring out where to put the now unused battery door so I don't lose it

Chick magnet

I picked up a 3rd party grip so I could see if I would like it or not on my 1100D, I LOVE IT. I have BIG hands and the T3 was just to small to hold. With the grip I can hold it all day and it feels great. I now have both my batteries loaded and dont have to worry. It also adds a little weight which is nice. Not sure how much I will use the vertical button but its nice to have.

Its a little tight in my bag now but still fits. And the wife says it makes my camera look cooler I have gotten over my gear envy so this was not a deciding factor for me.

KirkS518 wrote in post #14821649
3) - Figuring out where to put the now unused battery door so I don't lose it

Here:

In order of importance to me.
1. More to hold on to the small body.

2. Takes AA batteries in an emergency

3. Hold two Canon batteries

4. Controls for portrait mode.