Gripped ?

It's an attachment you add to the bottom of the camera. It allows for a longer battery life, it balances the camera better, and usually has another button for easier portrait shooting. For example here's a D300:

Ungripped:
nikon-d300.jpg


Gripped:
Nikon_D300_front_34.jpg


They aren't really vital. The main advantage I find for the D300 is the extra button it gives you and the higher Frames per second. A gripped D300 goes up to 7fps.

(I'm not sure if you can get one for the D60, but I'll let others confirm this)
 
To add to that, there is a grip available for the D60 on Gadgetinfinity that I've spotted called the FBH-N40. Not sure if I'd recommend it. The shutter button works off IR so I'd imagine you'd have to enable remote shutter in the menu. On mine this used to automaticall revert to standard if you didn't shoot for a while. That would be very annoying. Also, it's 3rd party because there's no standard battery grip for it. I'm sure it increases the battery life though.

To be honest, I find the D60s small size is one of it's advantages. When you get to the stage that you're looking at grips and what they offer then I'd be thinking it's body upgrade time :lol:
 
As above

It normally takes two batteries so gives you a longer shooting time, and like said makes the camera bigger and heavier so a little more stable.

Spike
 
And don't forget - the grip has a little slot for the camera's battery-cover so you don't lose it - on the side of the bit that slides into the battery recess.

The amount of people who don't realise this and lose the cover...lol
 
Some like it, some don't. Can be useful, as indicated and can be a hindrance. It's a very acquired-taste kind of thing.

I am not sure if you can get an original Nikon grip for the D60, but 3rd-part ones are available. Link Delight are a good e-bay sellers for odd bits, the link posted seems to indicate that their powergrip does work on a D60.
 
Alot of people (especially people with big hands) find they make the camera much easier to hold.
I couldnt hold my 400D with a flash on without the grip.
 
I bought one for my D70s....Have no intention of repeating this with my D300, it's quite heavy enough on it's own:lol:
 
As has been said above they can provide several advantages to having your camera ungripped. Probably the biggest plus for me is just how easy it makes shooting in portrait. Those few extra buttons and 2nd shutter release button are just so useful, I can't imagine having a camera that is ungripped now. It's also part of the reason I can't afford to upgrade camera yet because I have to be able to get the grp at the same time. :bang:

Tom N.
 
yeah it may make the camera a bit heavier and yeah obviously bigger but i have one for my D90 and don't think i'd be without one now, longer battery life and much better for portrait photos also with a telephoto lens it makes it feel alot better balanced. With the D60 you'll need to buy one off ebay or amazon as i don't think Nikon actually make one..

Ben
 
This thread really is gripping stuff..sorry had to say it!:coat:

I find all of the above benefits, but also the cameras I've had, past and present feel more robust and better built with a grip on..

May be it's just what I've found by grips are like marmite; you either love them or hate them..
 
I do love to use grips but I hate that tiny bit of play you can feel. No matter how well you tighten everything up, there is always that slight feeling of play that constantly makes me worry.

I notice you have a D60, which is a pretty small body, so if you have even average sized hands, the D60 would probably feel much more comfortable in your hands. Thats my main reason for loving them. The extra shutter button is just another bonus.
 
Arkady said:
And don't forget - the grip has a little slot for the camera's battery-cover so you don't lose it - on the side of the bit that slides into the battery recess.

The amount of people who don't realise this and lose the cover...lol
Click to expand...

Great tip Arkady, learn something new every day :)
 
I just bought the MB-D10 for my D700, heres the difference:

Without:
DSCF7739.jpg


With:
DSCF7740.jpg


It makes the camera a lot bigger, and adds just over 400grams to the weight.

I haven't had a chance to use it yet, but having used other gripped cameras before it's a lot better and easier to use... When taking portrait shots with the D700 it's a bit awkward and sometimes shakey after a long shoot, especially with the added weight of a Nikon 24-70 2.8 on top.
 
Skyline On Fire said:
I do love to use grips but I hate that tiny bit of play you can feel. No matter how well you tighten everything up, there is always that slight feeling of play that constantly makes me worry.

I notice you have a D60, which is a pretty small body, so if you have even average sized hands, the D60 would probably feel much more comfortable in your hands. Thats my main reason for loving them. The extra shutter button is just another bonus.
Click to expand...

I can't say I notice any play on my 5D Mk II, presumably because I also have a Kirk L bracket bolted to camera and grip :thinking:
 
Can't find one for the D1x...

Arthur
whistle.gif


PS - I like marmite too...
 
It seems that I am one of the few (only?) people who cannot get on with a grip. Tried one with my 20D as well as my 40D but the set-up just did not feel right. To me, the grip unbalanced the camera. (With all sizes of lens.) I did not miss the second shutter button either: I got used to twisting my wrist over for portrait shots years ago. As for battery life, one battery normally last me all day, even moving the guts of a 600mm about. Memory card has to be changed approximately 4X as often as the battery.

But I know other people who say the complete opposite to me ... try before you buy is the mantra here I think.
 
Wouldn't be without one, camera feels too small and unbalanced without it.
 
I thought about getting one for my D60 because I wanted a vertical shutter button. but the remote system on the third party grips just seems to be a waste of time. Plus you are never going to get the AA battery out put to be the same as the D60 battery.

Keep your money and buy a second back up battery.

Stuart
 
I'm with the "don't get a grip" party I'm afraid. I have both a D60 and a D300. My D300 is gripped and my D60 isn't. After reading up on the grip for the D60 it's a waste of money to be honest. It will probably cost you over £60 for it and the only thing it really offers is the extra battery life (apart from balancing the camera). But, you'd nearly pick up 2 new batteries for that! Also, the new portrait button on the grip won't give you the ability to focus on half click. So you're clicking and hoping for the best. On a camera that has only 3 focussing points that's a major drawback for me. You don't get any of the other features you would with a higher bracket cameras (e.g. D90 or D300), i.e. no higher fps, no extra dials for aperture/shutter speed adjusting, no AE-Lock/AF-Lock button.

So, the only advantage really is that it balances the camera. For £60? I say spend the money on extra batteries or save up and get a D90 if a grip is going to be that important :shrug:
 
I could not work without a grip now that I used one.

Invaluable for me for:
1. the extra juice the 2 batteries give
2. ease for taking portrait shots
3. right balance when using a heavy lens (both for currying and holding) such as my 300mm f2.8
 
Arkady said:
And don't forget - the grip has a little slot for the camera's battery-cover so you don't lose it - on the side of the bit that slides into the battery recess.

The amount of people who don't realise this and lose the cover...lol
Click to expand...

LOL didnt know that :thumbs: cheers for that, battery cover taken out of "man draw" and put it in grip!! Cheers
 
I'm for grips. When using larger, longer lenses I find the grip makes the whole rig seem better balanced in my (admittedly largish) hands, which means I'm not snatching at the shutter and so more controlled.
On a long shoot the extra juice of 2 batteries gives confidence that you're never going to run out; the portait mode buttons are a 'nice to have' for me but I guess pretty much essential for folks using that mode extensively.
But note that the extra comfort and control definitely adds some weight - which you might want to check out before splashing the cash. If that becomes the main issue, I believe it's possible to run on just one battery.
My grip is third party (Phottix) but well made, tight fitting and very close to the Canon version in looks, but I'm only guessing the same is true for Nikon
Mike
 
Just tried to put my door cover in the slot that Arkady mentioned earlier on, it just wouldn't fit!! I got my glasses found the obstruction and now have a spare door cover :thumbs:
 
I wouldnt shoot without a grip these days, I love the feel, again this may be down to the size of my hands.
 
I have only just started using my grip on the 500D (not had it long anyway) but with larger lenses on the front the camera is just a lot better balanced, with the camera round my neck ungripped the lens pulls the camera down with the grip on it stick out to the front.

The extra buttons are useful I guess but I so far still use the normal buttons I keep forgetting about them when I'm taking quick portrait shots. But I overall prefer the camera with the grip attached.
 
Since I bought my Grip 8 months ago it as not been off the camera. The camera seems so well balanced with a grip.
 
Modern cameras without grips feel tiny and toy-like. Grips every time.
 
I've just got a grip for a D300 that fits 2 batteries in it as well as the battery in the camera so I now have 3 times the battery life. I'm going to have to find a safe place to keep my battery charger because it looks like I'm not going to be using it too often any more.
 
tappilappi said:
It seems that I am one of the few (only?) people who cannot get on with a grip. Tried one with my 20D as well as my 40D but the set-up just did not feel right. To me, the grip unbalanced the camera. (With all sizes of lens.) I did not miss the second shutter button either: I got used to twisting my wrist over for portrait shots years ago. As for battery life, one battery normally last me all day, even moving the guts of a 600mm about. Memory card has to be changed approximately 4X as often as the battery.

But I know other people who say the complete opposite to me ... try before you buy is the mantra here I think.
Click to expand...

no - you're not the only one who doesn't get on with them - its ok talking about extra battery life, but it only takes a couple of seconds to change one and I'd rather not have the weight.

Biggest issue with using a grip for me is if I'm using the shutter button on the grip then I can no longer reach the DoF and function buttons on the front of the camera and release the shutter at the same time - (I have DoF assigned to 'hotshoe off' and function to spot meter) so I'd rather be able to use this functionality.

I don't hold with the balance issues either - but thats just me

H
 
Just went out and used the grip for the first time in anger. I hardly noticed it was on there but my camera looks like a big mean beastie now. Will give it a few more outings before deciding if it's going to stay on there.
 
boyfalldown said:
Biggest issue with using a grip for me is if I'm using the shutter button on the grip then I can no longer reach the DoF and function buttons on the front of the camera and release the shutter at the same time - (I have DoF assigned to 'hotshoe off' and function to spot meter) so I'd rather be able to use this functionality.
Click to expand...

make the one that you use most the bottom one, and with practice, you can perfect the stretch with your ring finger to press it. Takes a while to get used to, but once you've got it it becomes easy :)

I couldn't stand using a camera without a grip again. It's like higher fps, larger computer monitors, smartphones... once you've had it, you've got to have it forever!
 
itsdavedotnet said:
make the one that you use least the bottom one, and with practice, you can perfect the stretch with your ring finger to press it. Takes a while to get used to, but once you've got it it becomes easy :)
Click to expand...

do sometimes use both at once though :) thats not easy. Last time I tried using a grip I ended up using the 'normal' shutter release even holding the camera in portrait - so I'd rather not have the weight

Hugh
 
I bought one when I upgraded my D60 to a D90. I love it, absolutely love it. I'm yet to have to recharge the batteries now that I have two in there and it just feels so much better. I won't go without a grip now.
 
I always wonder when someone has their camera as gripped D90 or gripped EOS 50D (for example)what is was gripped by? madness? fear maybe? ;) its not that hard to change and charge a battery y'know...........
 
boyfalldown said:
I always wonder when someone has their camera as gripped D90 or gripped EOS 50D (for example)what is was gripped by? madness? fear maybe? ;) its not that hard to change and charge a battery y'know...........
Click to expand...

Oooh, is this turning into one of those toy throwing Nikon v Canon type debates now? ;)
 
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