battery grips

What does everyone think of battery grips? I bought one with my 20 D but I am not sure I like it. It makes the camera so big and bulky, not to mention heavy. I never put in both batteries so I wonder why I use it. It makes the camera look a bit more "professional" and different but I am thinking...."So what?" ( this might be a bad thing as it might mark me for theft) I am coming from a film rebel and its so nice and light....i miss it

What do you all think?

Joel

I am thinking about getting one for my rebel, I know its large and bulky, but it does make it look professional and helps out on verticle shooting.

ya but only marginally.....the damb thing is hard to fit in bags, feels like I am walking around with a lead brick around my neck and with the 580 EX and a bracekt on its insane! Its a workout not a shootout!

My reasons for using the battery grip:

1. Two batteries instead of one.
2. Provides an anchor for the wrist strap although I hear you can get 3rd party straps that anchor to the tripod socket.
3. Better balance when using the heavier telephoto zoom lenses.
4. Shutter release and other buttons for vertical (portraits) shots.

There are the advantages already discussed (extra battery, etc.). To me, it's a matter of 'feel'.

I bought my 1D last summer. Before that, I had a 10D and would use it alternately with and without the battery grip. It didn't seem to make much difference. After using the Mk II, however, I find the heft of the camera is actually an asset to controlling it, even in handheld situations. Some folks refer to 'balance, and that's probably the best term to describe it.

Between shots, all that weight is a real nuisance, but in use, I find it most helpful.

For a while, I was convinced I really might want a smaller, lighter camera for 'walking around.' I sold my 1D (Mk I) and bought a 20D. The first few times I tried to use the 20D, I realized I missed the extra mass. I now have a battery grip installed on it, and it rarely comes off.

I bought the battery grip for my Rebel 2000 some five or so years ago. I liked it so much that it's now the first accessory I buy when I get a new body.

I bought my grip a few months after I got my Drebel. Now I can't think of shooting without the ease of the vertical buttons.

Wait, am I missing something? You can remove the battery grip!!!!!!

Kinger wrote:
Wait, am I missing something? You can remove the battery grip!!!!!!

Yup, unless you have the 1D series cameras. Then you're out of luck!

I am a new owner of the battery grip for my DReb. My main reason was that the DReb felt too small in my hands. What a great addition! The camera is much more comfortable and stable in my hands, enough so that I think it will show up in sharpness of pics. And has been stated, it balances better with heavier lens, both during shooting and hanging from my neck. The controls for vertical shooting are a nice advantage too. The ability to carry an extra battery wasnt really even an issue for me--I'd be just as happy if it only held one battery.

The downside of course is a lot of extra weight and the bulk may sometimes be a problem. In those cases I'll just remove it (and miss it like crazy!)

I had a grip on my 10D and I never used it. To me the benefits weren't enough to justify the extra weigh. Especially with a long lens on it. So when I bought my 20D I didn't purchase the grip.

<--- Rebel + BGrip, main reason being is extra battery, and I hate my pinky finger sliping under the camera. With the grip I can hold the camera any way I like, all the weight is in the back, very good when I Start sticking on a heavier lens like the 28-135 USM IS. I've shot with the grip for so long, I cant imagine shooting without it.