got a grip... feels like a whole new camera!

i just received the opteka battery grip for my XT today and i have to say... it is amazing! originally, i had decided to order it because i have two batteries and wanted to take advantage of using them both but i was really suprised at the difference this makes in how the camera feels in my hand. its now more comfortable to hold and feels very sturdy. holding the camera vertically, the grip feels very solid as well with the dials and buttons comfortably placed. i really don't see this ever coming off my camera.

anyway, i highly reccomend this to anyone using an XT,XTi. it certainly makes the camera meatier and easier to handle. (also, thanks to all of you enablers who praised your grips and made this purchase possible )

good stuff mine should be here on tuesday

I bought the canon version wouldn't want to be without it

tekkie wrote in post #2465535
good stuff mine should be here on tuesday

you're in for a treat!

FREEZE wrote in post #2465594
I bought the canon version wouldn't want to be without it

Me neither! I never saw one up close until I got one for Christmas. I never realized that the grip had camera controls built into it for operating on it's side. Very, very cool!

Feels real now, eh?

Drastically changes the feel of the XT, can't imagine shooting without mine. If I moved to a 30D or 5D I'm not sure I'd want the grip as those are much chunkier cameras.

Dorman wrote in post #2466422
Drastically changes the feel of the XT, can't imagine shooting without mine. If I moved to a 30D or 5D I'm not sure I'd want the grip as those are much chunkier cameras.

Yeah I don't use one on my 10D or 30D. Doesn't really need it ergonomically. Might be handy for the button and/or batteries but I seem to be fine without so far.

On a 5D, the grip is almost necessary I think. Any lens heavier than a 50 1.8 makes the camera very front heavy. I personally found it hard on both of my hands to hold the camera with a lens like a 24-105L for a length of time. The grip helped balance it out a bit, and also give my left hand a more natural angle of support to hold and focus from. It makes the camera huge, but every time I take it off...I put it right back on because of how bad the camera feels without it!

Nahhhh - not bad using a 5D without a grip ; held MF boxes for over 30 years in all kinds of flash and bracket configs... not a problem.

Dorman wrote in post #2466422
........ If I moved to a 30D or 5D I'm not sure I'd want the grip as those are much chunkier cameras.

Do the higher end cameras have controls built in for portrait shots. Sorry if this is a dumb question but i've never realy handled the top of the line canons. (Kind of like taking a jag for a test ride when all you can afford is a used family car.)

FREEZE wrote in post #2467149
Do the higher end cameras have controls built in for portrait shots. Sorry if this is a dumb question but i've never realy handled the top of the line canons. (Kind of like taking a jag for a test ride when all you can afford is a used family car.)

1 series do.

The 1D series cameras have built in portrait mode controls...the other bodies only have that feature if the grip is attached.

im stuck between a grip / camera bag / or a nifty fifty :S

Actually, the 5D with a grip is way more comfortable to hold in portrait mode too! That grip is made just right!