Battery Grip for 5d3

Does a battery grip for the the 5d3 just add battery life or does it add extra power to drive larger lenses faster.
Thanks. Scott

toothtango wrote in post #18027029
Does a battery grip for the the 5d3 just add battery life or does it add extra power to drive larger lenses faster.
Thanks. Scott

There are two main reasons to use a battery grip. One is have the power of two batteries instantly available so you don't have to change one at possibly a bad time. The other is if you plan on switching the position of the camera for portrait shooting a lot, since the controls are duplicated for each position. A third possible benefit is that certain large lenses balance a bit better on cameras with a grip. Some people also like the way a camera with a grip fits their hand. The extra power does not drive larger lenses better. The down side of a grip is that it adds significant weight and bulk to the camera. Whether to use one or not is a very subjective thing.

Something else to be aware of is the fact that you cannot swap out one battery while the other keeps the camera operating. Opening the battery bay door on the grip turns the camera power off, just like opening the battery bay door on the camera does. Well it does for the two Canon made grips that I have used.

Alan

PS I use one all the time, I like how the camera feels with the grip, I like the weight to keep the balance point close in. I do tend to use larger heavier lenses though. My "standard zoom" is a Sigma 20-40 f/2.8 EX DG, which is a constant f/2.8 35mm format ultra wide zoom, so is not the smallest or lightest lens in the world having an 82mm filter thread size. I used to use a Pentax ME Super fitted with the Autowinder AII back in my film days, and my 300D came in a kit complete with the grip, which made it feel very similar to the ME Super.