Battery Grip or No Battery Grip? (And a Question!)

[ISupportTigger]

Which do you prefer/want/have?


I also have a question. I am looking to purchase the 30D with the Canon Zoom Telephoto EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 III Autofocus Lens. Would you recommend the BG-E2 battery grip by Canon? I think I would love the extra battery power and IMO it makes the camera look more "professional." Does anyone have any comments or opinions on this?

TIA.

 

[jonestavern]

How 'bout an option for "I want one but they don't make one for my camera". I have a D50 and can't seem to find one.

Chris

 

[ISupportTigger]

How 'bout an option for "I want one but they don't make one for my camera". I have a D50 and can't seem to find one.

Chris

Oops! If AZ JazzyJ/WebmasterCricket/any other mod/webmaster could add that option to the poll, I would be greatful!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I had one for my D60. I have one for my 10D. It is an integral part of my 1D. I would hate to have a camera without a portrait grip and a hand strap. I find it much more comfortable. It's also much easier to take a bunch of portrait shots.

The downside is that it makes your camera more "professional" looking, so more random strangers ask you to use their cameras to take their picture.

 

[ISupportTigger]

I had one for my D60. I have one for my 10D. It is an integral part of my 1D. I would hate to have a camera without a portrait grip and a hand strap. I find it much more comfortable. It's also much easier to take a bunch of portrait shots.

That's what I have been reading.

The downside is that it makes your camera more "professional" looking, so more random strangers ask you to use their cameras to take their picture.

As long as they aren't asking to use MY camera, I'm alright with that.

 

[handicap18]

I have a 3rd party battery grip for my Nikon D50. Unfortunately Nikon does not make one for this particular camera. The one I have does not have a verticle shutter release, but I still like it. I have big hands and the grip gives me much more control over the camera.

The worst thing about it is that you do have to use 2 of the same battery otherwise you don't get any extra battery life.

 

[handicap18]

How 'bout an option for "I want one but they don't make one for my camera". I have a D50 and can't seem to find one.

Chris

Chris
Here is the one I found for my D50. There are others out there. I believe there are some that do have a remote shutter release built into it for a verticle grip shutter release.

Opteka Battery Grip for Nikon D50

 

[MICKEY88]

How 'bout an option for "I want one but they don't make one for my camera". I have a D50 and can't seem to find one.

Chris

check ebay, there are several. with and without shutter release..

 

[MarkBarbieri]

As long as they aren't asking to use MY camera, I'm alright with that.

It's OK sometimes, but it's a pain at others. It especially annoys me when I'm with my family and we're obviously trying to go someplace. The funny thing is that they often have a weird little p&s that I have no clue about how to use. They might gain a bit in my ability to compose a shot, but they'll probably lose that in extra camera shake from someone not used to using a non-viewfinder camera.

I did get asked to take a picture of a drunk couple in front of the castle in the MK once. They wanted a picture showing them drinking beer in the MK but didn't have a camera, so they wanted me to take a picture with mine. I dutifully did so and then promptly erased it. I don't have much patience with drunks.

 

[ktulu]

I just got one for my XTi and I already love it. The camera feels much better in my hands now.

 

[Groucho]

I dunno. I may be picking up a K10D sooner rather than later (hopefully I'll be making a DL trip before long... ) and there's an extra rebate if you buy the battery grip at the same time, bringing the additional cost to all of $70 or so. But I dunno - I honestly don't see myself using it. Battery life is not a concern, and the last thing I'm interested in doing is making the camera bigger and heavier. I don't have any issues with holding the camera on its end. Furthermore, I also an very inconsistent with how I hold the camera so I'm just as likely to rotate it one way as the other.

Like I said, I dunno. It's not a big bump in price (and is very full-featured) but I can't help but think that I'd rather spend that money elsewhere.

 

[tinksdad]

I've got one for my D200 and LOVE it. Better balance to the camera and the extra battery life with two of them is awesome! The "only" thing that is a downside, is the added battery pack does add a bit of wiggle room to the whole set up between the camera and the tripod attachment. Not terrible, but isn't solid like the built in types. Guess that's another reason to upgrade.......

I'd recommend them to anybody!

 

[jann1033]

this is pretty far down on my want list since a bigger heavier camera is something i don't need and so far i get more than a day of shooting on a battery so what's the hurry,,,

 

[jonestavern]

Thanks all for the tips on the D50 grip Looks like it's time to open up the checkbook (again...)

Chris

 

[DVC Jen]

this is pretty far down on my want list since a bigger heavier camera is something i don't need and so far i get more than a day of shooting on a battery so what's the hurry,,,

I had thought about getting one - but so glad I didn't. I didn't have any issues with the battery life on the 30D - as a matter of fact it is better than on the XTi.

I could do an entire day and sometimes part of the next with one battery.

My wrists and fingers were getting sore at the end of each day by the weight of the 30D. I couldn't just let it hang around my neck either - that was causing lots of neck and shoudler pain. I spent the entire time with it strapped around my neck or crossed over my shoulder - and still holding a lot of that weight in my hand.

Adding more weight to that is NOT something I would want to do.

 

[mabas9395]

My wrists and fingers were getting sore at the end of each day by the weight of the 30D.

I don't have my battery grip yet. But one of the things I've heard about it is that depending on the size of your hands and the camera you have, it can actually help reduce the pain in your wrists and fingers. I have a Rebel XT which is one of the smaller of the dSLR's. The battery grip should make it a little larger so that it fits better into my hand's natural position. That way, my hands don't cramp up trying to grip the small body.

But as they say on the net, YMMV.

 

[Metallicat]

this is pretty far down on my want list since a bigger heavier camera is something i don't need and so far i get more than a day of shooting on a battery so what's the hurry,,,

I had one on my Rebel but it added so much extra weight, I just couldn't stand carrying the thing around. I like my camera MUCH better without it.

 

[Cricket2]

Choice added. If a vote really needs to be changed, let me know.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

If you have or get a portrait grip, I would strongly suggest that you consider a hand strap to go with it. I love carrying my camera around with the hand strap. I find it to be much more comfortable than using a neck strap.

 

[deletedpenguin]

I just bought one! I'll appreciate the additional battery life, but I bought it more for the vertical shutter release.