Comments on: Do you have a Battery Grip for your DSLR?

By: Maite

Maite — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 23:43:34 +0000

I have a grip on my 550D and as an equine photographer, it’s helped me a lot.
-I have shaky hands
-I’m running across hundreds of acres to get to where I want to be. To get there and find that I’m out of battery? I’ve been very close to shoving the camera off a cliff.
-More weight, more stability
-People take you seriously – great when you’re selling photos! Most people with a DSLR or even a bridge think that they can instantly take better photos. Having a big, serious camera has netted me a /lot/ more sales – weird psychological associations FTW!
-I often don’t have the time to change batteries. The 550D’s battery metre is so crap – it’s about 80% in the first bar and 20% in the other two bars – that by the time I realise I’m low on power, I’m shooting a xc course or something, attempting to get all the jumps in – I can’t switch off the camera and replace batteries then!
-AA rechargables are cheap and AAs can be found EVERYWHERE. Run out of battery on holiday? Just slip in some cheapos from the petrol station. Easy, done. You can even cannibalise from torches or anything really.
-I have tiny hands. I’m barely 5’5″ and my hands can’t reach the fifth key on Guitar Hero controllers. I’m thwarted by tight orange juice caps but I have NO PROBLEM at all with the extra weight. It’s barely there!
-I don’t shoot much portrait (unfortunately, it seems like most people will shell out heaps on jumping photography but see dressage as an annoying part of a ODE – as a dressage rider, that disgusts me!) but it’s nice to have the option there.

By: photoop

photoop — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 22:45:48 +0000

I use the battery grip on all my cameras. The increase in the number of shots I can take and the fit for my grip, has made my shooting life easy. I also use an L-bracket that allows easy shift to vertical plane where the shutter release and exposure controls can be used in this position. The battery grip is worth the cost.

By: Alan

Alan — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 21:42:03 +0000

I fitted one to my 30D a few months after I got the camera and have never taken it off since. I find the camera much more comfortable to hold especially when taking portrait shots as you have the extra shutter and FE / AF lock buttons. The extra battery power is a plus but it is more for comfort and convenience than anything else.

By: John Smith

John Smith — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 10:23:50 +0000

I don,t think it will make any difference physically but it will make the shoot so much less hassle. Assuming you start with a full pack, you will be able to shoot all day and night without having to stop and change batteries. You will also have the additional shutter button for portrait shots without having to become a contortionist. Good luck

By: Angela

Angela — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 07:47:19 +0000

I just got a 5D Mark II with 85mm f/1.2 L lens and I am shooting a Bar Mitzvah. Will it be strenuous for a 100 pd girl to have an additional weight of a battery grip? I will be shooting couple of hours ceremony and several hours of after party. Would you recommend for me to get extra batteries of a battery grip instead?

By: John H

John H — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:13:10 +0000

I started using a grip on my 50D within the past couple of months and don’t know how I ever got olong without it. I shot very few portrait oriented shots previously but now find preferring that mode for many occassions/action shots and the grip makes it much easier to shoot. I primarily use a Sigma 120-400 zoom, on a monopod, for my sports action shooting and loosening the lens lock allows me to move from landscape to portrait mode very quickly. The grip was a great addition to my kit!

By: Ali-C

Ali-C — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 20:55:47 +0000

I was considering one for my 500D as I like to do alot of portrait work, plus I find the 500D far too small for my hands. So I tried a mate’s D3 and it felt so comfortable I was completely sold. The weight in the grip counterbalances the lens well and it’s incredibly comfortable for portrait use.

…Plus it looks pretty damn good too. :p

By: Js2

Js2 — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 05:57:29 +0000

I recently purchased the MB-D10 battery grip for my D700. So far I’ve liked it that much that it has stayed attached to my Camera. I really like the added weight (to me it gives me more balance when shooting with longer lens like the 70-200mm vr ii) and also the ability to shoot portrait in a normal grip position (especially useful with larger lens to reduce camera shake from the awkward position without having the battery grip).

The added size is beneficial to my hand because my hand now rest perfectly on the sides of the camera due to the additional support on the bottom.

I have been very please with the battery grip!!!

By: Pappy

Pappy — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 02:07:42 +0000

I have onfor my Rebel Xti for few reasons:
- stability especially when i shoot with my 70-200,
- better grip on my Xti coz after a long time of handling it, my palm & fingers tend to feel numb holding the small body,
- the ability to use AA size batt especially on excursion.

I find it usefull especially when i shoot portrait. At least i don’t need to bend my arms over my head and compromise on my stability particularly when i shoot on a slope and giant trees.

The last point proves my concern during my recent trip to Cambodia. With the huge snapshots of the vast Angkor compound, even my existing 2 batt pack is not enough. With additional AA supplies i manage to continue shooting the whole day, feeling contented that i didn’t miss a point. A life saver they are.

By: Ian Worthington

Ian Worthington — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:16:07 +0000

Might not be the best test: nimhs self-discharge unconnected. That’s one of the reasons I’ve gone over to eneloops.