Battery Grip and Small Hands?

I'm a woman with tiny hands - usually an XS glove size, with room to spare in the fingertips. The XTi standard grip actually feels better to me than the 40D grip.

However, I find myself shooting more and more portrait orientation, and would love to have a grip for that, to make the shooting more comfortable (especially when using a lens like the 100-400) and get the additional controls. I might not even use the extra battery storage (because of weight), but mostly want the grip for portrait orentation.

Anyone else in this situation (or who knows someone similar) who has or has used a battery grip and can share their experience?

The extra set of controls is quite helpful if you shoot a lot in portrait orientation. I'd suggest trying one. Try looking for a used one in the Marketplace. If you don't want to spend the money on the Canon grip, take a look at the Opteka grip. It's the preferred third party grip around here.

I would definitely go to your local camera shop and try one out in person before making a purchase. In terms of dimensions, I think they are all the same (Canon, Opteka, Targus, etc.)

My rarely shot portrait until I got the grip on my XT, now it's my preference. The grip on the XXX's isn't very heavy and it's grippy so I think you'll like it. I wish the 40D grip was more like it.

edit: Hey, show us a pic of your tiny little hands

SlowBlink wrote in post #5586492
My rarely shot portrait until I got the grip on my XT, now it's my preference. The grip on the XXX's isn't very heavy and it's grippy so I think you'll like it. I wish the 40D grip was more like it.

edit: Hey, show us a pic of your tiny little hands

Sorry, no hand pics (and if you start singing "short people" I'll send the gremlins to you!). But for reference, my hand fits comfortably on the standard grip, and there's even a bit of grip left below my pinky.

My brother has an Xti with the grip and I have owned the 40D with grip and now the 5D with grip and can honestly say that none of the separate grip bodies feel as good as the Xti does with the grip on. I have actually started getting myself used to shooting with no grip on my X0D and 5D. I actually dont like the grips now that much!

The battery grip isn't going to interfere with how you normally hold the camera. If anything it will improve your grip as it gives you a few extra places where you can grab/brace the camera. And it is indispensable for portrait shooting. The shape and feel of the grip are going to be different and in fact it may have more volume than the regular XTi grip, but you still shouldn't have any problems with it.