Tell me about battery grips

[TheGoofster]

Another thread mentioned battery grips, and rather than hijacking that thread, I thought I would start another, and try to find out more about them.

What can you tell me about them? Right now I am only a casual photographer. In time, who knows where that might lead, but for now I am still just at the entry level of learning about photography (or in part re-learning).
How important is a grip for somebody who isn't shooting all the time? I've done a little research on them, and see that they have a couple of main purposes:
Better grip on the camera
Extra battery life (as well as being able to use standard AA batteries
Better balance when using a bigger lens.
Good for using when shooting portraits (especially when going vertical).

Are there any other benefits to them?

How important would you say these features are to you? How often do you use them in a more casual (non-professional) situation?
If you have an extra charged battery with you, do you still find yourself ever relying on the extra battery capabilities of the grip?
I'll be starting with a Nikon D3000 and a 55-200 VR lens. Would a grip really be that helpful with such a lens?
Also, is there a big difference between a name brand grip, and an off-brand? Is there a certain off-brand that typically works better than others (especially for a Nikon)?

Again, anything that you can tell me would be a great help for future reference.

Thanks.

 

[The Grays]

Well the benefits I have found to the battery grips is first off I have a big hand and it is more for me to grip and hold the camera better. Second my grip for my Nikon D200 has a verticle release, so when I take verticle pictures the shutter release is on top like I am used to. Third it carries 2 batteries which allows me to do a full 12 plus hours of shooting at Disney with out worry of haveing a dead battery. It switches over completely when the first batttery dies seamless.

Hope this helps

Dan

 

[WillowBelle]

I have a battery grip on my 50D. I am female, my hands aren't exceptionally huge, so that isn't a big selling point for me. I agree that it's nice to have the extra battery life. I'm left handed so it doesn't feel right to me to use the extra shutter buttons that come on it. I think it has to do with the direction I flip the camera. My DH is right handed and when/if he takes a vertical picture he uses the buttons. It can make the camera seem like it weighs a TON after a 12 hour day @ the parks.

 

[The Grays]

My wife does not have big hands but she likes the grip to hold on.

It does add weight to the camera but I take that over having to worry about carrying an extra battery and when it goes dead and having the time to swap it out.

If you dont soot alot then I would say the advantage would be IF it felt better for you

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I love having a grip. I keep mine on most of the time, although I usually don't bring it to Disney to cut down on weight and bulk.

The biggest advantage to me is how the camera handles. It is much more comfortable when taking portrait shots.

I also like the ability to use a good hand strap. I'm not sure about the other brands, but the Canon handstrap only works when you have the grip on. Having my hand strapped to the camera is my favorite way to carry it when I'm out and about.

The extra battery life is nice, but not a huge deal. It's not all that hard to throw an extra battery in your pocket and swap it out when your first battery is tired, so the grip doesn't buy you too much. Also, Canon's grip draws from both batteries, so at the end of a shoot you have a pair of half-used batteries rather than one full and one empty. Not too smart.

One other potentially handy feature is that the Canon grips typically come with a AA battery tray. If you want, you can run the camera off of a bunch of AA batteries or you could use that if your regular battery gave up the ghost early. I've never used that feature. In fact, now I'm wondering whether the grip does that or if I'm confusing it with something else.

There are grip downsides. When you have a camera that takes an add-on grip (unlike a Canon 1 series or Nikon D3, which essentially have a built in grip), you've got more places where dirt can collect. You've got more places where water can intrude. It's extra bulk, weight, and cost. If you use L-brackets (and while I am a fan of grips, I'm a much bigger fan of L-brackets), you'll either need two or you'll have to decide whether you want a grip one or a non-grip one. Finally, anything that makes your camera look bigger and more professional will attract more people who want you to use their cameras to take pictures of them.

 

[Code]

If I ever got a battery grip for portrait shooting (and I'm very tempted), I would still leave the extra battery slot empty to save the weight. It takes less than 10 seconds for me to swap out batteries.

 

[Gdad]

I am in the minority I guess but sold my battery grip. Not worth the extra bulk and weight for me- my camera battery lasts all day with heavy use on a single charge and if I was worried about it an extra battery in my pocket is a better option for me than dealing with the grip. And somehow I have managed to take portrait shots without it just fine.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Aren't there some Nikon cameras that gain special powers when you use a grip? I thought that some of them increase their FPS with a grip.

 

[The Grays]

Aren't there some Nikon cameras that gain special powers when you use a grip? I thought that some of them increase their FPS with a grip.

yes that is true

 

[TheGoofster]

Aren't there some Nikon cameras that gain special powers when you use a grip? I thought that some of them increase their FPS with a grip.

Apparently the D300 increases from 7 FPS to 8 FPS (in burst mode) when used with the Nikon battery grip.

 

[AndrewWG]

One other potentially handy feature is that the Canon grips typically come with a AA battery tray. If you want, you can run the camera off of a bunch of AA batteries or you could use that if your regular battery gave up the ghost early. I've never used that feature. In fact, now I'm wondering whether the grip does that or if I'm confusing it with something else.

This is true Mark. The battery grip for my 30D does have the tray for the AA batteries. And for this feature alone, I will never sell it and still shlep it around with me wherever I go. It has saved my butt more than once. If for some reason my battery dies, I just get some AA batteries wherever I am and keep on shooting. Otherwise, the grip has done little for me other than add weight to the whole setup. That is, at least at this point in my beginning stages of photography. Perhaps someday I will have better use for it.

 

[Gdad]

Aren't there some Nikon cameras that gain special powers when you use a grip? I thought that some of them increase their FPS with a grip.

I have found that without the grip I take 2 less lousy pictures every second!

 

[boBQuincy]

I am in the minority I guess but sold my battery grip. Not worth the extra bulk and weight for me- my camera battery lasts all day with heavy use on a single charge and if I was worried about it an extra battery in my pocket is a better option for me than dealing with the grip. And somehow I have managed to take portrait shots without it just fine.

That's my take on it as well, I don't want more bulk or weight and a spare battery is pretty small. Canon's Xsi feels just right to me without a grip.