Grips and general battery issues.

[Scrubdog]

Just aquired a 5D MKI and it came with a grip on + 4 batteries.

Now obvs I am not a pro but the grip just added so much weight to the camera I found it uncomfortable. I even felt a bit embarrassed by the size of it when I was testing it in town. Especially with a nifty 50 on the front

I can understand a pro firing off lots of shots needing a grip but I couldn't wait to take it off. I had to buy a battery cover as there wasn't one on it and now it's arrived the camera feels so much better.

A couple of Q's if you don't mind.

I take it the batteries just kick into each other when the grip is on until they all run out?

What is wrong with having the spares charged up in your pocket and changing them as and when needed, can't be that slow can it?

 

[milspec78]

Congratulations on the 5D it is an amazing bit of kit!

The usefulness of a grip depends on what you shoot and i am sure many pro's feel the way you do and dont use them. I tend to shoot portrait orientation a lot and I find it more comfortable shooting with a grip. I think it balances better when you have a chunky lens on the front.

If i need to carry my gear all day or want to be a little more discrete i leave the grip at home and just pocket an extra battery like you suggest.

Camera will take from both batteries simultaneously till they are pretty much both dead (you will get pretty much twice the shots between charges)

Good luck with the new camera, enjoy

 

[Kemble3]

I use a grip on my 5D2s for two reasons. First the feel and the balance of the camera is much better in my hands, especially with a large zoom bolted to the front, Secondly, the added power capacity allows me not to worry about running out of juice.

Also, in the grip you took off, there is a small slot that holds the battery cover, so you may still find the original in there.

Ian

 

[Scrubdog]

Congratulations on the 5D it is an amazing bit of kit!

The usefulness of a grip depends on what you shoot and i am sure many pro's feel the way you do and dont use them. I tend to shoot portrait orientation a lot and I find it more comfortable shooting with a grip. It think it balances better when you have a chunky lens on the front.

If i need to carry my gear all day or want to be a little more discrete i leave the grip at home and just pocket an extra battery like you suggest.

Camera will take from both batteries simultaneously till they are pretty much both dead (you will get pretty much twice the shots between charges)

Good luck with the new camera, enjoy

Thanks for the good wishes. I never thought of balance tbh. It did feel weird with a small lens on but will soon have something bigger on that's for sure.

I use a grip on my 5D2s for two reasons. First the feel and the balance of the camera is much better in my hands, especially with a large zoom bolted to the front, Secondly, the added power capacity allows me not to worry about running out of juice.

Also, in the grip you took off, there is a small slot that holds the battery cover, so you may still find the original in there.

Ian

Thanks Ian, first placed I looked after a quick google search for a new one. No luck but it was only £15 and came in 2 days.

Just a case of getting used to new, and different, kit I suppose. Having used a 400D for so long I find this so different even for a Canon.

 

[andyred]

Just aquired a 5D MKI and it came with a grip on + 4 batteries.................What is wrong with having the spares charged up in your pocket and changing them as and when needed, can't be that slow can it?

Hi Roland and congrats on your new body

I've tried a grip previously and couldn't really get used to it, there are lots on here that really like grips and probably as many that don't - it's a personal choice.

In answer to your question re batteries, no won't slow your camera down at all, and absolutley no issue in keeping a spare or 2 in your pocket for if / when required. The only difference it makes is the minute or so it takes to change it...

 

[badboy1984]

many use the grip for verticle shutter, better grip on the camera if you got big hands and the balance when bolting big lens.

Nothing wrong when using the grip with a small 50mm ....... i do that alot lol

 

[501cards]

The grip really is a personal choice on how you shoot,

It you do a lot in Portrait orientation the extra controls are a godsend, if you shoot landscape mode a lot then not so much use.

The Weight is an issue but so is the balance it gives with a longer lens,

Batteries are so good these days, that it negates the need for the extra in the grip, lets face it how many times in a day do you run out of power using a single modern battery, and a spare in the pocket is fine,

But Really its down to what you shoot, how you shoot, and personal preference some love em, some hate, them, I never take mine of my 5DIIs as I shoot in portrait a lot and swap from the 1D to 5D all the while so having no grip would just confuse me with the grip buttons missing,

Back in the "Day" of Motordrives and Powerwinders, there was a + for everyone having one on the bottom, now its just a personal preference..