40D: to grip or not to grip

So I upgraded from a gripped XTi to a 40D. I used the 40D for about a week before buying a grip. I loved the feel of the XTi+ grip...just the right size.

Now during that week of using the 40D without a grip, I feel like its a good size too. It has enough space for my pinky finger and feels solid and balanced. With the grip, it almost feels too big.

So my question to you is...to grip or not to grip on a 40D.

It should be 3 questions.

1. is the extra weight ok? I can walk around for days holding a gripped cam with a 70-200 on it in my right hand.

2. is the extra battery life important?

3. Ergos? Do you shoot portrait orientation a lot, or do you need the balance of the extra weight.

Honestly, I can't shoot a non-gripped body with 70-200 very well, it's just the way I learned.

I have grips on all my bodies.

For my big hands it's a necessity.

I shoot with a 5D and a 1DM3, and I like using the 5D (no grip) for a lot of my out-and-about and street photography and appreciate the relative compactness/light weight. So, if I had a 40D and a grip, I'd probably leave the grip off for a lot of my shooting, but then on occasion it would be a handy thing to have.

I tend to always grip my bodies for the ability to shoot in portrait orientation easily. Now with the weight of my 70-200 though, i've been toying with not keeping the 30D gripped to cut weight.

I have two of them we never use. I'll sell you one or both.
Chris

i miss mine already.=D

Never had one and shoot a LOT in portrait orientation. Never felt uncomfortable... maybe it's my hands and wrists. I can also tuck my elbows into my body without effort or fotcing it for support.

For me, it would be about as usefull as hanging dice of my rear view mirror

I prefer a grip on all cameras, but that is me and I have big hands. Ultimately though it is your call. Do you find it too big with the grip, do you need the extra power, do you shoot vertical a lot? Your answer to these questions will help you decide.

I have 40D for more than a year now and I never felt the need for battery grip.
Size is just about right for my hands and I always have fully charged spare battery in my camera bag.
My biggest lens is 70-200 f/2.8 IS and I use it a lot.

Prior to that, I couldn’t even imagine shooting with Rebel XT without a grip!

When I had my 30D I used it for a while without a grip. The only reason I got one was to help balance out my big lenses. I think if you're just gonna use normal sized lenses and don't take vertical pictures and don't need a lot of battery you should be fine without one.

I have fairly small hands and I wouldn't go without my grip. I'm not sure if my hand or grip style itself is just weird but it feels SO much better with it on. The handstrap is just icing on the cake

grip:
- more battery life
- better ergo with portrait
- more pro

craiglee wrote in post #6457837
grip:
- more battery life
- better ergo with portrait
- more pro

#1 reason =_=

Hermeto wrote in post #6457048
I have 40D for more than a year now and I never felt the need for battery grip.
Size is just about right for my hands and I always have fully charged spare battery in my camera bag.
My biggest lens is 70-200 f/2.8 IS and I use it a lot.

Prior to that, I couldn’t even imagine shooting with Rebel XT without a grip!

Same here, and I would feel spending the cash on a decent tripod to be more useful. I keep 2 spare batteries with me at all times, and rarely need more than one.