Battery Grip vs. No Grip ?? On Canon 5D mk iii, 5DS, etc..

My first DSLR was a Canon t2i, and from that point forward I used battery grips. I got used to the feel and size. These days I have both the Canon 5D mk iii and Canon 5DS, both with grips.

As my camera pack is nearly maxed, I considered removin the grips to reduce bulk and start shooting with body and single battery. I already have a good size Lowepro pack that holds 2 bodies with 6 lenses, so a larger pack won't be my solution. Reducing volume slightly appears to be a better path.

Have any of you photographers with Canon 5D mk iii, iv, 5DS or similar, made the switch and removed your battery grips for your regular routine?

Were there pros or cons you noticed that were significant for you?

As the general use of battery grips on full size bodies provides these advantages

• 2x shots in battery capacity
  
• portrait orientation control button convenience
  

Wilt wrote in post #18357716
As the general use of battery grips on full size bodies provides these advantages

• 2x shots in battery capacity
  
• portrait orientation control button convenience
  

...the cons are simply loss of those features (which are not issues at all for many shooters)

I totally agree with Wilt. My 5D (now gone), 5D iii and 7D ii have grips and I do like the feel and extra battery capacity. There are times when the extra bulk is just a pain when I'm packing a bag or just walking around. Carrying an extra battery is much easier than jamming a gripped camera in a bag. Less bulk when using a monopod (or even a tripod) is an advantage when I take a grip off.

Sell both 5D variants, and the grips. Buy a 1DXII. If you like the feel of a gripped body, you'll love the 1D series. One 1DX is smaller than two gripped 5D's.

So ... just for starters, I'm pulling the grip off one camera for the first time just to how it feels without even shooting. Fumbling around with the camera and lens, I can see how I was relying on the grip to balance lens weight. It wasn't obvious until taking the grip off. But I found by holding the body and lens different, it can be balanced.

It was amazing how much less less the camera protruded toward the bag cover when I slipped it into the void without the grip.

Another thing I'm noticing is that with the grip on, i held the grip so that the tripod plate didn't touch my hand. With the grip off, it looks like I'd prefer to have the plate off shooting portraits, but put it back on for landscape shooting. Maybe.

Forget why I pulled the lens on and off, but it became apparent I relied on holding the grip before entirely when switching lenses. I can see that I will need to grip the camera itself, entirely different, to switch lenses. I don't know if this matters at all or would increase chances of fumbling or not.

Bassat wrote in post #18357748
Sell both 5D variants, and the grips. Buy a 1DXII. If you like the feel of a gripped body, you'll love the 1D series. One 1DX is smaller than two gripped 5D's.

I considered that, but a single 1DX would not provide a backup camera, nor the sensor size of the 5DS. The reason for those two bodies, similar menus was a very purposeful purchase combination. I can adjust down the image size of the 5DS for portraits like the 5D mk iii. And the megapixels of the 1DX wouldn't come close to the shots like I recently took of the largest known coast redwood for a huge print canvas. But I'd love to have a 1DX series, and could see adding it as a 3rd body the next year or two. I could easily deal with 3 bodies, because I'd never carry all three of them.

I prefer the smaller size and don't use grips. I'd rather carry spare batteries, especially if you can use them in both cameras. I lug enough stuff around as is.

Tapeman wrote in post #18358856
I prefer the smaller size and don't use grips. I'd rather carry spare batteries, especially if you can use them in both cameras. I lug enough stuff around as is.

Did you ever use a grip.

I'm curious if others quit using a grip after using one for a while and felt changing lenses was peculiar. For people who never used a grip, I suppose how lenses are changed and the body held wouldn't matter. However they held it is all that they are familiar with.

I've been using a grip since Topcon Super D in 73. Used a MF motor drive on my Canon F1 cameras. I have a large palm; my hand cramps without one.

I'm also clumsy and need as much camera to hold on to as possible, which is also why I keep straps on my cameras and automatically loop the strap over my hand or arm every time I pick up a camera.

mdvaden wrote in post #18358906
Did you ever use a grip.

I'm curious if others quit using a grip after using one for a while and felt changing lenses was peculiar. For people who never used a grip, I suppose how lenses are changed and the body held wouldn't matter. However they held it is all that they are familiar with.

An off brand grip came with my 5DII and I have never used it. I have a 1DIV and am ok with it as its speed seems to make the extra weight worthwhile.

Most of the time I use long lenses primarily shooting wildlife.

Well, since my first amera, all my Bodies are Gripped, and to be honest I only removed the grip from my Camera once since.
That one thing was, when I wanted to travel light, for a full day of trip on the Croatian coast.
Turned out, I was missing the grip the whole day

For me the advantages of having a grip are far too big.
Not to mention, if you have one, you can take it off, if you need to.

I always had no grip, then got a 5D2 with a grip, and very honestly never saw much difference since I never trained myself to use the other shutter button.

There are times I'd like to have a grip so I can go all day with no battery change, but if I'm going all day, then the weight comes into play.

I don't really think you'll have much of a problem, JMHO and as you can just take them off and try it out, you should give that a go and see how you get along.

My rule for testing a change like this is to use it for two weeks in the new configuration. The first day you always feel uncomfortable. By the end of two weeks, you adapt.

I remember the frustration of switching to back button focus. I had to make myself stick with it for a while or I would have switched back after the first, second, third, fourth . . . hour. Now I would never go back.

I tried a grip when I first got my 5DII but took it off and never put one back on. For me is much easier to put a battery in my pocket and switch when I need to rather than to have the grip on.

mdvaden wrote in post #18357707
My first DSLR was a Canon t2i, and from that point forward I used battery grips. I got used to the feel and size. These days I have both the Canon 5D mk iii and Canon 5DS, both with grips.

As my camera pack is nearly maxed, I considered removin the grips to reduce bulk and start shooting with body and single battery. I already have a good size Lowepro pack that holds 2 bodies with 6 lenses, so a larger pack won't be my solution. Reducing volume slightly appears to be a better path.

Have any of you photographers with Canon 5D mk iii, iv, 5DS or similar, made the switch and removed your battery grips for your regular routine?

Were there pros or cons you noticed that were significant for you?

As soon as I start shooting my 5D Mark III without the grip, I get pain in my right palm. So I always, must, use the grip.
Plus a grip allows your body to be straight when shooting in portrait mode. Look at yourself in a mirror when shooting in Portrait Mode without a grip. Less wear and tear on the body.
So for me the added weight of the grip counter balances the weight of the longer lenses and reduces fatigue on me.