Why use a grip?

mipevo6

mipevo6

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Martin
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Folks,

Still new at all this, I have a 450D with a couple of lenses (70-300 and a 15-85 on the way).

Why do people use grips on these?

It looks like more weight and bulk for not a lot of benefit?

Thoughts?

Cheers

MIP
 
You would be suprised how much more balance a grip gives you, also you get some more weight in the body so makes holding the body steadier alot easier.........:thumbs:
 
Got one on my 40D most of the time, only time I take it off is with some of my longer heavier lens's!

With shorter "walk around" lengths, i find it helps with the camera holding and feel (i have quite big hands) no end!

plus as mentioned the vertical shutter release is a very nice thing to have!
 
Also a personal preference thing :) I don't get on with them at all.
 
1 Extra battery life

2 extra grip and comfort those little cameras will fall through the gaps in my my fingers unless i have a grip :lol:

3 makes me feel like ive got hold of something

4 handy for the portriat shooting pos.

theres 3 good reasons :thumbs:
 
mipevo6 said:
Folks,

It looks like more weight and bulk for not a lot of benefit?
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the weight and bulk IS the benefit imo :P

each to their own, it balances big glass much better than an ungripped body, and vertical shutter release is real nice too.
 
I've one fitted to my 450d, makes the world of difference to the handling especially when you have a heavy lens on it.
 
Also, when you put a flash on top of a 450D, it feels like it's going to tip over. With a grip on it feels so much better, it adds a bit of weight, but it's weight in the right place which I found made it easier to hold in the long run!

Chris
 
chris321 said:
Also, when you put a flash on top of a 450D, it feels like it's going to tip over. With a grip on it feels so much better, it adds a bit of weight, but it's weight in the right place which I found made it easier to hold in the long run!

Chris
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I agree entirely. I also echo the comments on the portrait shutter release options, better handling/balance in almost all situations.

I'm a 450D user and I never take mine off!
 
Chaz Photos said:
Oh and in an emergency can take AA battery's
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That's a good point as well, if you're out and about, and you realise you've forgotten to charge all your batteries, being able to use a load of AAs could prove invaluable!
 
in some circumstances you get a better balance and hold when using long lenses/doing portraits (80-200 all day doing events without grip was hellish)

however honestly a lot of people use them just so their camera looks cool/makes them look more pro/elite

apart from that extended battery life is something but i'd rather just keep the battery in my pocket :P
 
It makes your camera look much larger and hence more expensive.:razz:
 
cowasaki said:
It makes your camera look much larger and hence more expensive.:razz:
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Now this makes a lot of sense ;-)

Seriously folks, thanks for the answers...

I guess I need to try a camera with one to see what its like...

Thanks

MIP
 
It makes life A LOT easier when shooting portrait!!

Buying the the grip was a great investment, the battery life is incredible as well on a full days shoot I still have more than enough power to go through a couple more days...

Camera feels a lot more balanced as well, especially with the 24-70 2.8 on the end!! I can't imagine what it's going to be like once I get my 70-200 2.8...
 
All of the benefits as listed above, plus, there's always somewhere for your little finger to rest on :D

Also better stability when shooting portrait mode, you can still tuck your elbows in.
 
I've been using my camera quite a lot recently, I've forgotten when it was that I last charged it - must be three weeks ago at least. With the standard battery I'd have had to charge it every couple of days. I can also top up the battery in my grip in the car, on the way to a shoot, should it be necessary.

The grip also makes the camera feel a lot nicer to hold, it is better balanced when using longer lenses and for portrait the extra controls make things a lot easier.
 
Ste Manns said:
I've forgotten when it was that I last charged it - must be three weeks ago at least. With the standard battery I'd have had to charge it every couple of days.
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:thinking:

The grip does not make your battery last any longer, do you have two?
 
Try one before you buy one! I did and couldn't get on with it - made the camera too bulky and just felt wrong to me. Yes, having charge available in 2 batteries rather than just one could be an advantage but it takes just seconds to swap batteries and it's not as if a battery is likely to suddenly go from full to empty without a warning in the viewfinder! As for using AAs, well, that's fine if you've got a full set charged (don't forget that many of the rechargeables lose a fair amount of charge while waiting to be used...) as well as having the carrier handy. Extra dials on the grip? Well, I've never had a problem using the ones on the body while it's in portrait format. More frames per second? OK, a possible benefit, although having all those extra shots to sort through at the end of the day could get to be a pain!

Now onto a Canon specific problem with grips... I know that a few people on the forum have had a problem with the knurled attachment ring not letting them unscrew the grip when they want to and they've had to resort to all sorts of butchery to get the grip off.
 
Ste Manns said:
Yes it does, kinda. :razz::D

I am using a non Canon grip, it has a long life internal rechargeable battery in it which lasts a heck of a lot longer than the standard battery. Should have said, sorry. It was a lot cheaper than the OEM grip too.
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Well who knew :shrug: :)
 
<<Big hands :D

Needed one on my 450D to be able to comfortably hold it. Now I have a 40D I won't be bothering as the size and ergonomics are much more suitable.
 
Nod said:
More frames per second? OK, a possible benefit, although having all those extra shots to sort through at the end of the day could get to be a pain!
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They don't give you extra FPS.

:thinking: Unless you have a batman utility belt ready grip like Ste Manns :lol:
 
Balance for longer lenses and increased battery time on busy days.

Plus i`ve kinda got used to them now and the cameras feel diddy without them.I take them off if Mrs Frac is using them though,she doesn`t like them.
 
PerfectSpeed said:
They don't give you extra FPS.

:thinking: Unless you have a batman utility belt ready grip like Ste Manns :lol:
Click to expand...

The Nikon,oem and non oem, ones boost the D300-700 up to 8/9 fps from 6.
 
I know I am a bit of an oddity but I like my grip because I rest the left corner of it on my left shoulder (after bringing my shoulder forward a bit) and it gives me a lot more stability when shooting handheld)

Funny thing was Id never used it.. nearly sold it, decided to give it a chance for a week then decide.
I've been using it non-stop ever since and that was over 2 years ago! :D
 
mipevo6 said:
Folks,

Still new at all this, I have a 450D with a couple of lenses (70-300 and a 15-85 on the way).

Why do people use grips on these?

It looks like more weight and bulk for not a lot of benefit?

Thoughts?

Cheers

MIP
Click to expand...

I have a 40d which i have a battery grip on and i dont know what i would do without it. One thing though, the strap gest in the way abit sometimes but i love the grip !!!

All hail the grip!
 
When I was using my first dSLR (20D) 5 years ago, I bought one for it.
I don't deny the advantages of a vertical grip, however, for the specific style of photography I like to do the most (street photography and portraits of strangers), I prefer my camera to be as small and lightweight as possible, without calling too much attention.

For other styles, a grip may me usefull.
 
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