Grip VS Spare Batteries

L

Luke_

Messages
265
Name
Luke
Edit My Images
Yes
I was looking at getting a grip for my camera, but then I thought, why dont I just buy three more rechargeable batteries for the same price?

I dont do any studio work, so I dont need shooting all the time. But when I go on holidays and trips out, surely its just as easy to swap the batteries over?

Or am I missing something :|
 
Luke_ said:
I was looking at getting a grip for my camera, but then I thought, why dont I just buy three more rechargeable batteries for the same price?

I dont do any studio work, so I dont need shooting all the time. But when I go on holidays and trips out, surely its just as easy to swap the batteries over?

Or am I missing something :|
Click to expand...

Have you noticed how all the really expensive exotic cameras are a certain size. Well if you attach a grip your less expensive camera becomes the same size. This size difference is sited by most people as the reason for using a grip together with the button in the right place for taking portrait shots. The grip also increases the frame rate of certain cameras as the camera has access to both batteries at the same time.

Personally I do like the larger size with the grip as I have large hands. If it was only for the battery life then I too would just carry a spare battery. The grip also allows alternative batteries for some models such as using a D3 battery on a D300/700 which gives FAR more shots.
 
Don't think you're missing anything assuming it's not a flim camera where you sometimes get extra fps by having a battery grip attatched, or you really want the extra comfort of the grip when shooting portrait format. For travel and holidays i wouldn't have thought the extra weight of the grip would have been worth it.
 
My camera is big enough and I only have standard size hands!

Why would I want it to look bigger, my K20 is big enough!

Thanks for the advice, having 4 batteries total should be more than enough!
 
I will never use my 5D without a grip. I find it a little uncomfortable to hold. With the grip, it is a delight.

Same goes for when I had my 400D.

For me the benefits, in order, are:

1. Ergonomics (comfort)
2. Shutter button and dial when in portrait orientation
3. Extra battery life
 
I don't use grips and don't like them. Quite apart from the reported problems with them getting stuck, I find they make the camera unbalanced, too bulky, too heavy and it won't fit comfortably in my bag. I don't need more than the 5 FPS a single battery gives me and am capable of keeping an eye on battery charge levels and swapping over during a break in shooting if I think a battery's about to run out of charge.

If you can, borrow a grip from someone and see how you get on with it - you may well like the feel and balance of your rig with one bolted on.
 
Having previously owned one myself, I wouldn't buy one again. Barely got used. It does balance the wieght of a heavy lens nicely, but that's about the only advantage I found worth it. I don't necessarily agree portraits are easier/nicer to take and they can get stuck to the body easily and break. I prefer to make my DSLR as compact aspossible to maximise the opportunity to take it places with me to get shots.
 
clicktor said:
Having previously owned one myself, I wouldn't buy one again. Barely got used. It does balance the wieght of a heavy lens nicely, but that's about the only advantage I found worth it. I don't necessarily agree portraits are easier/nicer to take and they can get stuck to the body easily and break. I prefer to make my DSLR as compact aspossible to maximise the opportunity to take it places with me to get shots.
Click to expand...

When you say it barely got used, did you not just leave it on the camera?

I got a new camera the other day, and my BG-E4 grip arrived this morning so I have put it on. I am fairly certain it will never ever come off now.
 
stan the man said:
also,a grip makes the balance right when using the heavier lens..like a 70-200 F/2.8.
Click to expand...

not true for the canon 20D and sigma 70-200, balances perfectly on the tripod mount point (which is where my main support hand is placed) without grip. to be honest i find the same with the 120-300 but then i guess its a personal thing.

personally ive never missed not having a grip, my 7dayshop higher mAh batts very rarely need changing mid way through an event even while constantly SERVO'ing.
 
Spare batteries every time. For me the ergonomics of the portrait shutter release just aren't any advantage, to the point where I won't use it even if its there. The positioning of it stops me reaching the DoF button (assigned to flash off) and the Function button (assigned to Spot Meter/Bracket), If I needed the extra FPS and battery life, the extra cost with the grip and D3 batteries means that the D3 would look like a better option then the D700 for me, they do have uses, but they're not the be all and end all stick it on your camera and forget it solution some make out

Hugh
 
When I had the 40D I used a grip, not because it looked good but because the camera felt better and was more comfortable for me to use. I rarely put 2 batteries in it and just swapped them over if I needed to so the extra battery capacity was not a reason for using it.
The only time it came off the camera was when I sold it so that I could pack it all in the original boxes when I sold it.
 
I've got one for my F100, primarily because I take a lot of pics in portrait format and there's a vertical release button. Plus it was cheap 2nd hand :D
However, it does increase the bulk of what is already a large camera, especially with a 24-70 on the front. It was this bulkiness that caused me to remove it and return it to its box.

Not got one for the D700 - the battery life is fine, and I always carry a spare battery. Hard to justify the cost for the amount of use it'd get.
 
It depends whether you use it or need it, I've used one on my 20D since I bought the camera, stays on all the time and feels balanced when using my heavier zooms and longer primes. A friend borrowed it for his new 50D, because he wasn't getting on with the handing with a 400mm f4 DO attached, it improved his shots, but my 20D felt naked without the grip attached. I'm also used to the large camera bodies because my main body is a 1D.
 
I have big hands so I use it more for the handling comfort on my 450D than the extended battery life.
 
I never used to be a fan of grips, thinking they were a bit pricey for what they were, I always carried extra batteries in a pocket and my 20D seemed to have perfect balance with f2.8 glass, and though they were mainly bought to make a camera look more like a 1D. If you wanted the bigger camera surely the price of the grip and batteries wouldn't be much less than having bought a bigger camera from further up the range in the first place.

However having moved over to the 1D now going back to my 20D or 5D without a grip feels strange, especially taking portrait orientation shots handheld. However I see these as lightweigh, more portable cameras so I'm not going to be buying a grip any time soon.
 
I don't like grips, particularly for trips and holidays when every gram counts. Try to explain your airline why your baggage is 11kg, good luck with that. I'd rather taken an extra lens or flash. A normal 40D battery last 2 good days of shooting, and you can have a spare one in your pocket, or take the charger with you. Anything is lighter than the grip. The 1D / D3 integrated grips are somewhat smaller and more suited to normal hands, but then they are not cameras for leisure use. I also can't stand how the grip gets in the way holding the lens with the left hand.
 
I've not got a grip (lol) but never really felt the need for one. 5D battery lasts forever anyway - easily managing a family afteroon out whilst flashing none left for example - plus I got a spare unbranded battery for £5 off eBay which, for now at least, lasts just as long.
 
I'm surprised there's so much negativity about grips tbh. I always have one on my 5d and I wouldn't be without it. I can get a whole wedding day out of the two batteries it holds, the portrait buttons are essential to me, and it makes it miles better to hold.

On my 2nd body I don't have one though, prefering to keep that small and light and I don't use the 70-200 on that body so the balance thing is less of an issue.
 
I find my 20D quite uncomfortable to use without the grip, especially with the longer lenses. Also I very rarely use a neck strap and carry the camera around with a hand strap which only fits when you have the grip on anyway.

The extra capacity is nice but it isnt a major thing for me unless it's winter time. I usually find I only charge my camera every month or two with the 2 batterys in the grip it's good for several thousand shots.
 
never had a grip up until recently, love it now though - got big hands so it's much nicer to hold onto + really like the portrait button. feels like a proper (1d) camera :)

drew
 
as soon as i get myself another job i am going to get a grip for my 450D , not for the battery life , purely for the convenience of portrait mode and the option of a handstrap as a neckstrap does my head in big time :razz: :lol:
 
But really, my 5D is uncomfortable in my hands without the grip. I feel I have more control of it, it feels safer in my hands, and it is more comfortable.
If that makes me look "gear obsessed", then so be it, at least I'm comfortable.

Those of you who are being so quick to dismiss owning a grip, how many of you have actually tried one?
 
grips balance out decent glass, make it easier to hold, looks more 'pro' (which can have a distinct difference in people's reaction), you don't need to worry about batteries for all but the longest shoot, and give you portrait orientation.... and all for about £40 for a chinese one that's exactly the same as the nikon one... what's not to love?
 
I love my grips as I have large hands. While I was reading the thread I did wonder if it was all in my head so I took the grip of my d300 the things that I noticed instantly were
1 My little finger was under the body as I could not place all my fingers on the body comfortably.
2 I had to hold the camera in a different way which meant I was gripping it tighter, my hand was at a completely different angle.
3 The caamera did not feel as secure in my hand.
4 I really missed the shutter release for taking portrait orientated shots.
 
I had a 400D, bought a grip as my hands were uncomfortable on the small body, I really liked it and got used to the extra bulk to hold on to and also the extra battery life which means i donthave to constantly worry about whether i have charged the batteries or not.

I now have a 50D which is gripped as still found that a little small and missed the grip functionality of the 400D, When i get my 5DII i will by a grip straight away for that as well.

the camera does feel naked without the grip and none of the two i have owned have ceized on me. I use the E-1 hand strap as feel it helps distribute the weingt over the back of my hand when not in use. Really dont like neck straps unless i know i am going out in the sticks or shooting with 2 cameras etc...
 
Grip on the K10D/K20D is nice, balances better with larger lenses (DA* 60-250mm), gives longer battery life and also gives you a home for a spare memory card and infared remote. The Pentax grip is also fully weather sealed like the camera body.

On the down side it makes you look a bit of a plonker but no more so than a backpack, wooly hat, monopod or Sigma 50-500mm. ;)
 
for me on the a300 shooting in portraits makes it alot easier and comfortable
 
Sorry, grip for me 100% of the time. Better balance and handling, portrait orientation controls (not just shutter release!!) and the ability to not worry about batteries running out right at an inevitably critical moment.

Had them on both my previous Canon's, bought it without a second thought for my current D300. Had to spend a day waiting for it to arrive with a tiny camera to play with in the meantime.. thank gawd for Bristol cameras swift delivery!
 
I had used 400D (+Sigma 18-50) with grip and really hated it. The increase in weight was stupid, and it was just painful when it was dangling on my neck. The grip was the mass centre and it really hurt me when walking around. So there are some bad memories to remember!

For 40D it is even more pointless! BG-E2N doesn't have the stupid AF-ON button! How on earth am I supposed to focus - manually?! And then there are all sorts of problems with then, they fail, contacts get loose, or you can't remove it (see another thread).

If I get 1D, then fair enough, I am stuck with one, although a well designed and integrated one. If I go 5D route, then I am staying gripless!
 
The Grip NEVER comes off my camera apart from putting batteries in the body. I find it is much more balanced and easier to hold, and the portrait shutter button is really convinient.
 
daugirdas said:
I had used 400D (+Sigma 18-50) with grip and really hated it. The increase in weight was stupid, and it was just painful when it was dangling on my neck. The grip was the mass centre and it really hurt me when walking around. So there are some bad memories to remember!

For 40D it is even more pointless! BG-E2N doesn't have the stupid AF-ON button! How on earth am I supposed to focus - manually?! And then there are all sorts of problems with then, they fail, contacts get loose, or you can't remove it (see another thread).

If I get 1D, then fair enough, I am stuck with one, although a well designed and integrated one. If I go 5D route, then I am staying gripless!
Click to expand...

You need to build up bigger neck muscles.:lol:

I have never found the increased weight a problem, and I quiet often walk around with 2 cameras round my neck or if they are not round my neck I have this lot in my slingshot 300 on my back.

1x d300
either 1xd200 or 1xd80
sigma 70-200 2.8
sigma 24-70 2.8
sigma 10-20
nikon 105 2.8 vr micro
50mm 1.8
sb800
remote release
spare QR plate for tripod
lee filter holder adaptor rings and ND grad filter set
105mm B&W CPL
spare set aa batteries for sb800
spare memory cards
ttl flash cable
aa insert for grips 1xfor d200 or d80 and 1xfor d300
hotshoe spirit level.
and a few other odds and sods



As for the problems you mention. All mine have the AF on button, mine have never failed, no contact have got loose and have always been able to remove them, not that I do remove them but I do check that they do not sieze.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top