Equipment Battery Grips

Who's got one, and who uses it?

Nearly 14 months gone since I bought my 20D with grip and I'm still undecided about it. No doubt it has it's uses, mainly when the 70-200 F2.8 is loaded to balance it out, but I'm certainly not in the "ZOMGZILLASAURUS IT NEVER LEAVES MY CAMERA!" camp.

I think the main reason is because I use Custom Function 13 AF Point Selection Method set to 1: Multi-Controller Direct. I just find this so much easier and quicker for AF selection than having to press the AF-Selector button then spin the front dial. Problem is, with the grip attached, you can't actually reach the multi-controller in portrait orientation and pressing the AF-Selector button resets to auto-point-selection.

The other option is using Quick Control Dial Select (rear wheel) which, whilst not as quick as you have to cycle through points, is reachable from both orientations. But with that enabled I don't see how you dial in exposure comp? Hmm, maybe time to dig out the manual.

Ok, that got a bit Canon oriented, but I'm still not sure on the grip. I think maybe because I don't shoot in portrait that much? Maybe if I left it on I would a bit more as it's easier with the grip. With that, though, we go full circle to the above problem.

Bah.

 

I've just bought one. Admittedly it was a complete impulse buy and I'm not sure what to expect. If I end up not using it all that much I'll throw it on ebay.

I guess i'll be more qualified to reply in the future

 

I've not taken mine off since I got it around a year ago (except for once, and it was pissing me off all day). I find the added bulk makes the camera far easier to handle.

Perhaps if I had a larger/heavier camera, I wouldn't use it as much.

 

I think part of the reason I've never left it on the camera is because I started out with the Slingshot AW100 and that didn't accommodate the grip attached. Now I've got the AW200 I could probably leave it on all the time.

There's no doubt it's useful and nice to use. I've used a colleague's 1DMkII and I love the full-size. The grip's great when wanting to shoot portrait, especially for extended periods, but I just have my focus selection problem to overcome.

Looking at the new 1DMkIII it looks like the pros are gonna have the same issue with the multi-controller. Maybe if they put it to the right of the Quick-Control, where the card door is, one could reach it from both orientations?

If Canon just re-introduced eye-controlled focussing, we wouldn't have this problem.

 

it seems a little overpriced for what it offers. i nearly bought one a while ago, mentioned it to a friend who shoots a lot of photos at concerts for magazines, and her response:

"NO. don't bother. ok sure if you have long lenses it's slightly more convenient, but all the time i've shot with grips/pro bodies, i never used the vertical part of the grip! it was just too inconvenient to keep shifting my grip over - so i just lived with turning my wrist over. seriously mate, there's no point"

so, i didn't buy one. maybe when i get a 70-200mm though. (if that ever happens...), but your opinion pretty much sums up, and reinforces, my feelings about them.

(i almost think sometimes people buy them just to 'look pro'.... i mean have you read most of the discussions over at dpreview? worse than PC hardware whores...)

 

Aye. Like I said, it's useful as a balance for the longer glass but just bulky outside of that. And, tbh, I think my camera looks a hell of a lot worse with the grip on. The body and grip don't really fit seamlessly, it just looks like a camera with a hunk of plastic strapped on. Which exactly what it is, of course, but it could look better.

I think this whole thing has arisen for me because I'm deciding what to take with me to SA next week and the grip's gonna get left behind. Its cons (bulk, weight, AF select) far outweigh its pros (slight convenience?).

@Fod: Yeah, I stopped reading dpreview about a year ago, tbh. There's just too much crap to try and filter through and the number of decent contributors seems to be on the slide. I had barey any replies to my (so I thought) probing topics and if I were to post this here you can rest assured it's just be filled with "Stop bitching. If you don't like it sell it" and "Why is everyone hung up on kit, go and shoot photos". Gets tired very quickly.

The only threads that get any number of replies, and not necessarily of quality, are the rumour threads around new kit.

 

I'm not going to bother for £70. I'd rather spend the money on other bits then upgrade to a high end full body when finally I go to Malaysia.

 

I have one on my D200 and never take it off. I like the extra battery, and the extra 2 comand dials, shutter release and AF point selector. I was trained on the D2x and just like the feel, the pinky finger has something to rest on and it does help when holding a camera all day. And I find the added weigh helps steady the camera for clearer shots.

For everyone? no. But then neither are pro bodies. which is the feeling I'm used to. My biggest grip is that my grip is plastic, and not die cast magnesium like the body. The grip for the F6 was die cast and you really can feel the difference.

Edit: I'm not to sure what you mean by the AF selection, I have a thumb button that is AF on. When pushed and combined with the front comand dial, it cycles through the AF points. otherwise in landscape I just use the AF selector. The UI of Canon was one of the main points that pushed me to Nikon. The D2h/x and D200 are just so much eaiser to pick up and use. That counted a lot since I spend 8 hours a day using it.

 

Having used a grip on my 30D for a whole 24 hours, I'm moving towards the "ZOMGZILLASAURUS IT NEVER LEAVES MY CAMERA!" camp. The added weight is good but when shooting portrait the grip is invaluable just for comfort imo - having my arms wrapped round the top of a camera for hours doesn't sound like fun really.

It is expensive for what it does, but skimping on something which makes shooting way more comfortable is odd when using an expensive camera (basically any dSLR).

 

I probably would have bought some more glass or something over spending nearly £100 on a grip, but I got one on the cheap from a friend. In all honesty, I've not actually been out shooting with it yet but it really makes the camera feel more comfortable and weighty to hold. I fully agree with Jumeira_Johnny in that, without the grip, my pinky feels lost and it's a bit awkward as to what to do with it I never really had an issue with the size of the camera till I got a grip - now it just feels too small without it. Maybe I'll have a different opinion after I've been using it out in the field...

 

Canon, by default, has exactly the same. Press the AF-Select button then use the command dial to cycle through until you reach the point you want. That works absolutey perfectly with both on-body or on-grip controls.

Problem is, that takes time. Ok, it's maybe a second at the most to leap across - accurately - from one side to the other but it's a hell of a lot longer than just selecting which point you want directly. The XXD series have 9 AF points along with an 8-way directional controller + push click. Set Custom Function 13 to 1: Multi-Controller Direct and just nudge the d-pad at the exact point you want, or click for centre. To reset to auto-point you just press the AF-Select button. It's bloody wonderful.

Problem with the grip on is that you can't reach teh d-pad, and the AF button has been assigned - by the custom function as it obviously covers both - to be auto AF-point select so pressing it just always resets to auto.

 

I've got one for my 400D, and I leave it on all the time. Partly because I'd have to keep the little battery compartment door handy to take it off, partly because I like how the camera handles with the added bulk, slightly because it fits into my camera bag better with the added height, but mostly for the extra battery life from having two in there. I rarely use the sideways grip functionality or the extra buttons, but they're nice to have available on the odd occasions.

Since I got a cheap off-brand one, the finger wheel is a bit looser than the one on the camera too, which I like (the demo unit in the store was more like that; my camera's wheel is a lot 'clickier'). Although the shutter button on the thing feels a little off and the placement feels a tad strange. But honestly, it's mostly there for the battery life and the more appropriate-feeling bulk.

Come to think of it, the body just looks weak without it attached now. It must add at least another 50% to the height - the 400D body is only just bigger than my old P+S.

 

Oh, it's off-brand. I was just gonna say, on my 20D's BG-E2 the battery-door sits in a little slot on the grip so it's always there if you want to switch back.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if the real Canon one does that as well, at least for the 300/350/400D model, but I wasn't about to pay twice as much for that off-chance. Otherwise it's identical features, and I'm not even sure if the official one comes with the 6xAA adapter as well (like how most Canon lenses never come with hoods when a lot of alternatives, from cheap to great quality, do).

 

Well, I've got a 300D, which was in that kit form, so I ended up with a black body, grip, and 18-55 EF-S USM lens, with the body being as light and plasticy as it is (and quite small for me..) the grip has never left the camera (except for flights, fit into my bag better) the grip gives me some more room for my 3rd and pinky finger, plus the extra weight just feels more reasuring...

It's quite rare I use the vertical grip for shooting, but it's nice to know that when I do I can still keep that rigid triangle in my arms without having to contort myself and risk a bump messing up the entire frame.. Plus I do use 2 batteries almost all the time being that i can't go up to the bar mid gig and say ... "urm can you charge this up for me please..." brandishing a battery, charger and cable...

 

Yeah that sounds the same. I only use the AF on+comand dial in the portrait position, otherwaise the d-pad is alot quicker. My biggest irk is that when shooting in portrait, my eyebrow occasionaly bumps the d-pad and my AF point wanders off. But over all the AF point selection is fast and convinient in both orientations.

 

I think its down to the personal preference and which camera your using tbh. When i purchased two second hand Canon EOS 5's (film SLR) last year for myself and the GF mine came with a grip and hers did not. The cameras where much bigger than we we were used to anyway but she absolutely hated the extra bulk of the battery grip. I had to use the battery grip as the camera did not come with the covers needed to use it without the grip and although i found it bulky at first i got used to it pretty quickly. Now if i try and use her camera it just feels really strange and unnatural not having the vertical grip.

My new 400D feels even worse with out the grip as my pinky finger has no where to rest and it always feels like I'm not holding it securely enough. I was also taking quite a few portrait shots on Friday with a 75-300mm lens and the battery grip would have made it a whole lot easier.

On Tuesday i was doing some high key portraits at my evening class with a medium format camera and was cursing the wretched thing for not having another grip as it was a really heavy cumbersome bit of kit.

 

Back when I worked at the newspaper, and was shooting with the (then new) Nikon D1, I fell in love with the vertical grip. Sitting at a basketball game or other event for hours, it just made it that much more convenient - and comfortable - to be able to shoot vertically without bending my wrist over.

For me, the weight and appearance weren't an issue. It was all about function. I only wish I could afford to get one for my camera now.

Personally, I think this is one of those "YMMV" things.

-monkey

 

So you're suggesting the d-pad can select point but you can also use the button+command wheel to select, too? See Canon's either or. The d-pad for selection with button resetting (auto), or you use the button+wheel to select. Shame, would be nice to have both.


@Firehed: My Canon BG-E2 came with AA battery adapter.

 

My grip never leaves my camera. I much prefer the weight and bulk of the grip. I find the vertical shutter and control wheel incredibly useful. It also balances my 70-200 lens.

af point selection really isn't an issue with me as the 10D doesn't have a d pad so i don't know any different.