Will i need a grip and Monopod?

cdi-ink.com wrote in post #2265967
Support the lens with your left hand...instead of trying to hold it all from the camera body. The right hand should only be operating controls, not carrying a load. Of course when there's a really small lens on the front you kinda have to balance it all together with both hands.

So a battery grip won't help at all to "balance" it out?

Bosman wrote in post #2266006
So a battery grip won't help at all to "balance" it out?

Not in my opinion. Gives you more hand-room but I don't find it essential - at least not on a 30D. The Rebel series though, IMO, don't have enough room for the hand in the first place.

Bosman wrote in post #2266006
So a battery grip won't help at all to "balance" it out?

I have rather large hands, about a 9½ span, and the battery grip adds weight, as does the magnesium alloy of my camera bodies, which feels solid and balanced in my hands... This also gives me a better grip for verticle shots as well as balancing the camera better with a longer or heavier lens...

Holding the camera and lens...
The lens should be held in the left hand in such a way that the whole thing balances, now if I use my 400mm lens on a plastic body EOS camera without a grip, my grip on the lens has to be further down the barrel to feel comfortably balanced than it does on a 20D or 5D... The further away my arm is from my body the more risk I have of camera shake, plus when using with the grip and a short lens on the camera I can rest the grip on the palm of my left hand, which to me is comfortable...

The best thing to do with the grip is try one, when I shoot I always use one, if my wife is also on the shoot she removes the one on the camera she uses...

The grip really is a matter of personal preference...I would rather have the grip on the camera. I guess I have big hands, because without the grip, the body of my 20D just seems to small and to shoot in portrait orientation is just plain clumsy. The 70-200IS is a fair chunk of glass, but generally doesn't require a monopod....that said....there are many shooting ops that would benefit from the use of a pod of any type....so it never hurts to have one. Very rare that you hear someone say..."I wish I hadn't used a tripod or monopod." The same can not be said of the reverse!

cdi-ink.com wrote in post #2266061
Not in my opinion. Gives you more hand-room but I don't find it essential - at least not on a 30D. The Rebel series though, IMO, don't have enough room for the hand in the first place.

I fully concur. I routinely have the 70-200 IS on my 200D. When that's not on, the replacement is usually the 100-400 IS. And no grip. I also usually don't use a monopod with the IS lenses.

RgB wrote in post #2265147
Hi all,

I am buying some lenses soon the biggest being 70-200 2.8L IS.
My body is a 30D, will i need a grip to be able to use it comfortably?

What about a Monopod would that also be necessary?

Thanks

the reason to fork out the big bucks for an IS lens is so you don't have to use a monopod, imo.

i do use a grip and love the extra hand positions, stability and battery life.

ed rader

Well i have been having trouble using my tele in portrait mode as it would shake like hell.

The monopod i am thinking would come in handy at places like the Zoo when you'll have to carry the weight all day.

Is the 70-2002.8IS tripod sensing?

Thanks for all the reply's

I use a 70-200/2.8 non-IS and I've never really felt the need for a monopod. Perhaps it would be helpful, but it seems to me to be more clumsy than convient.

RgB wrote in post #2268131
Well i have been having trouble using my tele in portrait mode as it would shake like hell.

The monopod i am thinking would come in handy at places like the Zoo when you'll have to carry the weight all day.

Is the 70-2002.8IS tripod sensing?

Thanks for all the reply's

if you are are determined to use a monopod maybe you should consider the non-IS version...or perhaps the new 70-200L f4 IS.

ed rader