gonate Loc: sacramento,calif

What are the advantages or the dis-advantages of using a Battery Grip.besides making it heavy to carry around.
I am shooting a Canon Rebel T 3 i EOS 60D.
Thank You.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Easier to shoot in 'portrait' mode
Longer battery life
Some come with remote controls
Some come with intervalometers
Some may have gps and or wifi
And they just look cool!

Also look at http://goo.gl/mSR2C

gonate Loc: sacramento,calif

Thanks ST3 that helps, I havent found much info on them .

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

I'd like to add that a battery grip seems to balance the camera when a heavier lens is mounted (70-200mm f/2.8 IS, 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6, 120-300mm f/2.8, etc.).

Festina Lente Loc: Florida & Missouri

St3v3M answered your question well.
But perhaps the real question, is do you need one?
I have had many battery grips over the years, and currently find I no longer need them or want them most of the time.

My camera tells me how my battery is doing, and changing the battery is a 15 second task. So having that second battery "on-line" is not important to me.

But the added weight and size is important - I don't need them.

I have shot in vertical so much that having two shutter buttons and some other controls sounds good, but unless every camera you own has a battery grip (and the same model battery grip) it can get confusing. I shoot just fine in vertical format without one.

The battery grip is held in place primarily by the tripod mounting insert. When you attach a tripod (or a camera strap that used the tripod mount) the potential strain to the camera frame through the tripod mount is much greater. Is that a problem? I don't know, but I know it is significantly greater and I prefer to avoid that when possible.

One advantage I can appreciate is the ability to use off-the-shelf batteries (most battery grips offer this feature). When traveling internationally I take a battery grip in my luggage just in case I'm unable to charge the batteries. It has saved me several times.

Let us know what you decide and why. I'm sure you will get no shortage of opinions here on the Hog!

Underwaterant

Yes, I concur. I use my 5dm2 at music events taking 1500 - 2500 images and more on jpeg on one battery.
I was going to buy a grip, but have never needed one.
I think people buy it thinking it looks pro. or they'll need id.
Try it for many shots. I'm sure you'll find it unnecessary.

jjestar Loc: Savannah GA

On some Nikon models it also increases the amount of frames per second it will take.

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

For my Olympus omd-d em-5, I have a much better hold on the camera with the grip.

mafadecay Loc: Wales UK

I miss my grip when it is not fixed. I also miss the extra weight I find it helps me having something substantial to brace against.

Double battery, easy portrait angle and looks good to boot. The genuing grips are not too expensive. I would make sure it is genuine though as the third party cheapies look naf. I certainly would not be without one and like I say if I do decide to travel light it is if I have lost an arm or something.

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

In addition to the above comments, some of us (me included) use them because we have large hands and the camera just feels better with the grip in place.

raynardo Loc: Oceanside, CA

...and they make you're camera appear much bigger. So you get to appear as a big time photographer....

;)

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

I couldn't agree more. I almost bought one too, but my 7D will shoot for days before needing a charge. So do you really need one?

LouEllen

For my D800 with the large 70-200mm lens attached, I decided to try the grip. For me, the difference is very noticeable and worth the cost. That combination camera/lens is quite heavy (for me, anyhow) and I find it difficult to shoot in portrait mode without the grip. In addition, I find the extra weight enables me to have a more steady hold.

For my D90, I do not have/want a grip. It simply is not needed as I do not use a large lens with this camera.

If you are considering purchasing a grip, why not try holding the same camera with grip attached? Just see how it fits your hands.

Just my 0.02

Lou Ellen

dfchief7

My opinion and my opinion only (after 30 years of pro photography), do not waste your money on some of this crap that the ads push.
I carry (3) batteries for my canon t2i and t4i. It takes me 3 seconds to pop a new battery in and remove the old one. The bigger battery holders are big and bulky. I see sooooo many wedding photographers that lug so much crap around with them that it slows them down and also they have so much crap around their necks that they are banging gear against each other, not good for the equipment. Take a lesson from the Presidents personal photographer: one very small camera bag, one camera w/one lens and he is ready to MOVE! The same way we should be when we are shooting an event. Tom

raynardo Loc: Oceanside, CA

All good points.....but....

My Olympus doesn't allow the use of their remote shutter release without the battery pack. So, I was doomed to buy one.

Good wedding photographers are earning big bucks, much of it paid in advance. In order to survive and continue earning those bucks, they are obligated to deliver high quality images for a once-in-a-lifetime event. Bless their hearts.

The Presidential photographer doesn't need to sell his photographs anywhere, he's on a payroll, and since he has access to the President when other photographers don't, he can easily produce images that no one else can capture. Not saying Presidential photographers aren't great, my personal favorite was David Hume Kennerly, but getting photos of history is in a league all it's own, for example I provide this: