Why do we grip our cameras?

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Why do we put battery grips on out cameras?
Extended battery life? I can shoot two back to back weddings on about 60% of my battery life so I'm pretty sure 1 battery will last a full day.
Vertical shooting? I find I can hold a camera steadier with the camera turned so the shutter release is on the bottom.
Weight? Do we need a heavier camera? I'll tell you most of the lenses I own are pretty heavy.
Make a one piece solidly built body weaker and more prone to movement and vibration when mounted to a tripod?

Ahhh. To make it look more like a 1 series camera. That is it.

I'd like to hear who chooses to shoot un gripped (not because they can't afford a grip) and why.
If you do grip your camera why and have you thought of the points I've made.

Idk... since i don't own one nor probably ever will.

not this again

mikekelley wrote in post #9677778
not this again

Sorry. I don't lurk too much so I never saw this discussion.

My grip is built in, but when it wasn't it was for a more comfortable fit in my hand and and vertical shooting.

BscPhoto wrote in post #9677793
Sorry. I don't lurk too much so I never saw this discussion.

well, we don't use grips on any of our cameras, if i want a full body, i use a full body; the only benefit to using the 1d IV, III is extended camera life and 10fps vs. 8 with the 7d and 3.5 with the 5d2, i never turn on the vertical shutter release... i prefer packing the 5d around because its less conspicuous, which is odd, because i'm pretty sure the people with gripped 50D's 5d's etc are trying to be more conspicuous; i've never gotten better pictures when someone knew i was taking them than unposed... o well...

BscPhoto wrote in post #9677763
I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Why do we put battery grips on out cameras?

Weight? No...

Mass? Yes!

More mass means less rotational moment in all axis which means steadier images. I can shoot at much slower shutter speeds with a grip mounted than I can without one.

My 135mm f/2L, 70-200 f/2.8L IS and 300mm f/2.8L IS all balance much better with a grip mounted than without one.

The weak spot is not the body/grip joint. It's the bottom of the grip itself. I remove the grip from my 5D and/or 40D if I'm doing tripod-critical work.

Maybe for some but having a 1DMkIII, I can confirm that a gripped 40D and a gripped 5D Classic look nothing like a 1-series.

crap. I don't want to start an argument. please disregard that last comment.

BscPhoto wrote in post #9677824
Kind of already seeing my point proven. I wasn't asking about your 1 series bodies. But, it's cool to own one so why not use a discussions about battery grips to mention that you have one.

So this is going to be one of those threads, huh?

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #9677815
Weight? No...

Mass? Yes!

More mass means less rotational moment in all axis which means steadier images. I can shoot at much slower shutter speeds with a grip mounted than I can without one.

My 135mm f/2L, 70-200 f/2.8L IS and 300mm f/2.8L IS all balance much better with a grip mounted than without one.



The weak spot is not the body/grip joint. It's the bottom of the grip itself. I remove the grip from my 5D and/or 40D if I'm doing tripod-critical work.



Maybe for some but having a 1DMkIII, I can confirm that a gripped 40D and a gripped 5D Classic look nothing like a 1-series.

I agree about the weak spot on the grip. I guess I was trying to encompass more about the grip.
I also agree that a gripped camera doesn't look like a 1 series body to a photographer but maybe I just meant it looks cooler.

camera doesn't feel balanced when using the bigger lenses. When I broke the grip on my 20d, shooting with the 100-400 felt unbalanced. So when I got the 7d it was one of my first purchases. The grip on the 7d is rock solid, feels alot more secure than the 20d. Oh it makes me feel like I have a 1d ;>

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #9677831
So this is going to be one of those threads, huh?

I really didn't want to start anything. I deleted that.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #9677831
So this is going to be one of those threads, huh?

It appears that way.....LOL. And I refuse to partake in it.


I have a grip on my 40D for added weight using my 600 f/4 IS on a gimble head. Then I got a 5dII and there is no way I am gripping it. I like it the way it is.

I have a 1DIV as well, its not about looking like a 1D series, because they really look nothing alike.

lilmill wrote in post #9677844
camera doesn't feel balanced when using the bigger lenses. When I broke the grip on my 20d, shooting with the 100-400 felt unbalanced. So when I got the 7d it was one of my first purchases. The grip on the 7d is rock solid, feels alot more secure than the 20d. Oh it makes me feel like I have a 1d ;>

I agree large lenses may feel more balanced with a grip. The biggest lens I have is a 70-200 and I tend to not use that on my gripless camera.

I bought a cheap grip (very satisfied with the quality) and more often than not, it stays home or in the car. I bought a cheap one because I wasn't fully sold on the idea of a "gripped" camera. I prefer to go without 90% of the time. Sure, it may look impressive to youngsters and random people on the street, but it just looks cumbersome and useless to me.