LCD

My Canon 5d iii is already too heavy and carrying an extra battery is not a hassle.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

There you are, yasee, LCD ... so - you've already done away with the grip, have you?

Yes ... a 5D3 ... is a very big camera ... and, carrying an extra battery in your pocket or bag - is NOT a hassle, at all ...

I have spare batteries for every single camera I own, firmly entrenched inside each bag set aside for that model ....

One or two ... even have two, or three ...

Plus, my Sony models have spare batteries in little Velcro-closed pockets, attached to the camera straps ... since their output is quite low ....

nadelewitz Loc: Ithaca NY

I bought battery grips for my Canon 60D and 40D primarily because they give me more to hold onto to steady the camera. I guess my hands are big? I don't always keep the grip on though, because of the weight. The other reason is simply to have a shutter and AF-On button in the "normal" place when shooting vertically. Using shutter and back-button focus on the camera is harder when doing vertical.

And yes, a bag or a case setup for camera with grip or without grip is a pain if switching.

HarryBinNC Loc: Blue Ridge Mtns, No.Carolina, USA

The grip on my Fuji X-T2 is a godsend to me - mostly when I am shooting performance video, which I do quite a lot of. The three most important factors that come to mind are:

#1 - The first and most important factor for me is that the grip allows me to solidly grab both sides of the camera and with my elbows in and the viewfinder mashed into my eye, I have a solid platform to record several nearly continuous hours of video (or stills) without wilting and wobbling. This alone would have justified the high cost of the grip even if it didn't provide extra batteries!

#2 - How the batteries are discharged - both batteries in the grip are used up before switching to the single main battery in the camera body. I have yet to have that happen, so I have altogether avoided the possibility of overheating the camera when recording 4K content. When I first got the camera, I purposely ran the camera battery down while filming without the grip. The camera body got appreciably warmer than it does with the grip. The camera still performed flawlessly, but I like the idea that the camera probably has a higher life expectancy with the grip if a lot of video is being recorded.

#3 - Getting those hours of recording without having to swap batteries - with plenty in reserve. There also is a Boost switch on the grip which, when on, makes most operations a little quicker.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

As a a generality, I do not like battery grips ! - But, when I do vertical BIF's, I WANT the shutter and focus controls to be in the same place I have always used them - so it is a (must) mental thing to expedite successful BIF in the vertical position !

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Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Yes, it is, Nadele ... when I realized I'd always have to use a KIT BAG for just one camera with a grip on it ... I kinda lost interest ...

Not that I mind carrying a kit bag when I go on a shoot (after all, I will probably need it for extra glass) but - for everyday stuff ... I want to use just a single camera bag ... and that's just not possible if you use a Battery Grip ... which is mildly frustrating ...

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Well, Harry ... then the grip is an important part of your use of your camera in daily operation ... then, YOU've come to terms with grip use, then ...

We all have different experiences, Harry ... for me, it just wasn't worth the bother, in the end ...

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Okay, Larry ... so that means, then ... you ALWAYS carry your VG-C77AM with you, even though, it's not always attached to the a77 II ... good idea!!!!

But, there are times, I'm sure - when you wanted to do vertical operation, but did not have the time to make the transition - right?

So, it's a hassle, and a compromise you must make ... keep it attached, or don't ... and deal with the consequences ....

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

No, I have the grip on my 80D - and try to be using the Canon if at all possible for BIF ! and it stays on the 80D. No grip on the Sony. And, so yes, there are sometimes consequences 8-(

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chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

...well, the main reason I like the battery pack (which, of course, the D5 doesn't have, lol) is when I have to flip from landscape to portrait. The buttons are where I normally feel them...yes, extra battery punch is a bonus, lol...

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Oh, I see, Larry ... thought you were referring to the Sony ... you do keep the grip on the 80D all the time, then ... I see

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

I'm sorry, Charles ... am lost here ... you don't have the battery back for your D5 but you do use the extra battery grip ... do I have you, right?

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

...yes, if you look at my equipment you'll see I also have a D800 and a D500 (plus a couple of IR conversions that I don't use a pack on)...those two cameras definitely use a battery pack, at least when I require the flexibility of being able to simply flip the camera (mostly using a monopod here, sporty stuff) from view to view. The D5 is a unit, no battery pack extension offered, nor needed because the camera is designed with the extra buttons on the side so, when it's flipped, they are there for use.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Oh, I see, Charles ... yes, I was aware the D5 incorporated a battery grip ... which is what confused me for a moment ...

But, doesn't it have the capability to wire up an external battery pack, too, Charles?

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

...not that I know of...nor care, lol...it's a beast as is. When I put my 200-400 f4 on there...sheesh, but what a camera. Yanno, even without a mono, the capability to rotate and have your shooting grip correct is a very nice thing. I take my 800/500 out on occasion without the grip/pack and always miss that flexibility.