tca2267 Loc: Florida

Do a lot of you use a "battery grip?"

What is th advantage of a battery grip?

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

The advantage is you don't need to change batteries as often. Some say it makes the camera fit their hands better. My hands are smallish so fit is not an issue.

I used to buy a grip for every camera I purchased that had that option but not any more. The extra weight and bulk got to be a chore. Its much easier to carry and extra battery or two on a long shoot.

In the past some of my cameras (Nikon) got a small increase in frame rate form the grip when fully loaded but I'm not aware if that is still true on more recent cameras.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

Absolutely! on my D700 to get 8fps and D7200 for balance when shooting long glass...
Virtually impossible to balance a light camera on a gimbal mount without it...

btw, only the naive think gimbals work on non IF (internal focusing) glass...
You'll have to make major compromises in balance point and likely be fighting the rig for much of the time...
Experience is a brutal teacher... hate zooms especially pumpers, not only are they are slow and a challenge to balance on a gimbal mount they also suck dust and debris into the lens (as well as fungus)

I shoot two zooms a lot... the AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 IF ED VR and AF-S 200-400mm f/4 IF ED VR Nikkors
Use a battery grip to balance these pieces of kit for both hand held and on monopods...

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

My grip is about 80% extra battery benefit and 20% carry convenience with the hand strap.
(But I still have the clip-on neck strap when desired.)

juan_uy Loc: Uruguay

You also get some of the controls duplicated, most important is shutter release, for shooting vertical without twisting your wrist.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I have to laugh.
I've been rotating the camera with my hand on top (never hand on bottom) for so many years I still do it 99% of the time for single vertical shots, but I sometimes change for multiple shots.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

Absolutely, dual batteries make for longer shooting ability. Bigger heft fills my hands better. Better control, especially when using long heavy lenses.

& Looks kool!

As a side note, stick with OEM for a good fit & proper operation.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Well, my Vello grip has been working flawlessly for years...

juan_uy Loc: Uruguay

I have to agree, as I seldomly use the grip, I end up doing the same even when I have it

I just mentioned it because it's supposedly another benefit that wasn't mentioned. I guess that if someone has a grip and will be taking only portraits on a session, it will probably use that feature

jim quist Loc: Missouri

I used to buy grips for each of my cameras.
Advantages:
1.I expected that since the grip used two batteries that my batteries would last twice as long. They actually lasted longer.
2. When you switch to shooting vertical you can keep your elbow in the same position because the grip has shutter button on it. So your elbow won't be sticking out to the side of your head.
3. You can make all the same adjustments with your finger shooting vertical as horizontal.
4 The grip extends the area where your hand holds the camera. So it can be more comfortable. Without the grip my pinky finger generally finds its way under the camera body. With the grip my pinky fits just fine.
5. There is a third place to attach your camera strap. If you attach the strap to the top left and the bottom right of the camera, then when you carry the camera over your shoulder your 70-200 lens will face downward instead of sticking out, which is what happens if you attach your strap to the two top connecting points.

Disadvantages:
1. You have to keep those contacts inside the grip clean or you can expect problems.
2. You have to make sure that grip is fastened tight to the body.
3. When the camera quits functioning because of a faulty grip there is no way to know it is the grip until you begin searching for the problem.
4. The added weight of the grip plus the second battery.
5. When I shot collegiate sports the photographers who used 3rd party grips had a lot of complaints about them. We came to the conclusion that the grip is probably the one item you do not want from a 3rd party manufacturer. Keep in mind we were shooting pretty heavy. Covering football, volleyball, rugby, baseball, softball, track & field, plus regular news throughout the week some of us were shooting thousands of pictures per week. the grips got heavy use.
6. I used the Canon grip with my Canon cameras, and only had a problem if the battery terminal in the grip wasn't clean, the batteries died, or the grip was loose.
7. The grip comes with an insert so you can use AA batteries as a back-up. Don't expect very many shots until the batteries go dead.

I began using Canon 1D bodies that have the built in grip and the third place to connect the camera strap. After using the first body a short while I figured that is the only way to go. Have never purchased a camera without a built-in grip since.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I have added a grip to each of my cameras, beginning with a D200 almost 15 years ago. The D200 grip was a little inconvenient, as the design required removal of the battery door. Both batteries were installed in the external grip. It was not very quick and easy to remove the grip if there was a situation where it was not desirable. Newer designs (D300 and later) do not disturb the battery that is installed in the camera, except that the grip must be removed in order to charge that battery. But the benefit is that the grip can be quickly removed if desired. I have my cameras set up to use the battery in the grip first, so doing that always leaves the most charged battery in the camera and ready to use.

The secondary controls for use in portrait orientation are very much a non-trivial benefit. I have mine set up to actuate focus and to turn on the electronic level in all of my cameras, as well as having the additional (lockable) shutter release button available.

I tried third party grips one time...when I got a box of accessories along with a D300 that I bought. The shutter release worked OK, but the other controls did not, and the grip also interfered with proper operation of other camera functions not directly related to the grip. Since that experience, it has been strictly Nikon grips.

For me, the grips much improve the physical handling qualities of each of my cameras, and they significantly reduce the apparent weight of the camera/lens system. I consider them well worth the cost. My shooting doesn't routinely push me into the second battery, but it's very reassuring to know that it is there. Having two batteries means that FOR ME it is not necessary to be continually topping off the charges in the batteries, which I believe is beneficial to overall battery life.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

For me, the main advantage is to help counter weight the long lenses I use. Currently I use the Sony a9 with the 200-600 mm lens. If I did not have the battery grip on the a9, it would not balance as nice.
Same with my D850 and D500 with the Nikon 200-500 mm lens attached. When using the Nikon 500 5.6 PF lens, the grips are not as necessary but I use them any way because I like the size feel in my hands. I hand hold all of my shots, so I like the balance and feel of a battery grip.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

I have two EM1 mk ii bodies. I use a battery grip for the larger lenses (40-150, and a DSLR 70-300 with adapter). It helps with balance as the 40-150 in particular is not a light lens. I shoot a lot of portrait orientation. Because of a chronic neuromuscular problem the grip makes it easier to shoot in that orientation for longer periods. In addition I like the bulk of the grip for carrying. A minor downside with the Olympus is that the grip has to be fully removed to access the second battery for charging.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Besides the extra battery, it gives you better purchase on the camera, especially when shooting in vertical orientation.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I had one on my D600 - just because. When I sold the camera, the grip went with it. I didn't see a need for a grip.