Advantages of Vertical Battery Grip?? (Page 2): When you rotate a camera without a battery grip to vertical, your right elbow ends up in the air, which is far less stable than against...

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

DVZ wrote:

From time to time I shoot friends weddings and other events and I notice that my vertical or portrait shots are not all that vertical while my landscapes only need a slight straightening in post. For those of you who use vertical battery grips, does it help keep things level when shooting fast and other than extra battery life what are other advantages?

When you rotate a camera without a battery grip to vertical, your right elbow ends up in the air, which is far less stable than against your ribs. Using a battery grip fixes that - your right elbow remains at your ribs regardless of camera orientation.

Keeping things level is more about technique than the gear. I have a tendency to drop my left hand a little so many of my shots can have a horizon that is lower on the left side. I have to make a conscious effort to correct that as I shoot. I find the in-camera azimuth display (if your camera has this feature) helpful.

Rick from NY Loc: Sarasota FL

Pistnbroke wrote:

For a wedding its useless as you need to hold it in the left hand to move the right hand . You are much better just rotating your wrist.......

I don’t understand your comment. Please explain why it is useless for wedding photography. What are you normally doing with your left hand that makes using it to rotate the camera so difficult? When you turn your right wrist to go vertical, don’t you support the camera, zoom etc with the left hand anyway?

Not trolling you at all. I am asking sincerely. Apparently you do event shooting
and prefer no grip and I am trying to digest why twisting one’s wrist is preferable to having a grip that puts the AF On button and the shutter in a more comfortable place. As you can undoubtedly tell, I much prefer the more convenient button placement using a grip, not just for event photography, but all the time.

gmango85

I found it very useful to use AA batteries with the insert while traveling through eastern Europe.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

DVZ wrote:

From time to time I shoot friends weddings and other events and I notice that my vertical or portrait shots are not all that vertical while my landscapes only need a slight straightening in post. For those of you who use vertical battery grips, does it help keep things level when shooting fast and other than extra battery life what are other advantages?

I do a lot of event shooting and the cameras I use have a built-in vertical grip. I find myself using it a lot.

The vertical grip does nothing to ensure angular alignment. That's up to you.

About 15 years ago I had a D200, for which I got a vertical grip as an accessory. Having the extra battery was a nice feature, but my current cameras have a good enough battery life that I don't find it a limitation to have only one battery in the camera. Of course I carry a spare charged battery (and a charger) but there's always some down time when I can switch batteries if it's really needed. It only takes 30 seconds, including finding the spare battery, switching them, and putting the old one away (or in the charger). But having the vertical grip spoiled me, and I find it much easier to use the vertical controls than it is to hold the camera at what I now consider an odd angle.

AntonioReyna Loc: Los Angeles, California

I have been shooting for along time and have never used a vertical grip. It came with my Canon 6DII as part of the package but I have never opened the box. I did shoot with a Canon 1DSII body where it was built it. The extra weight does give you an additional steadiness when shooting. As with everything else, to each his own. Whatever works for you.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

DirtFarmer wrote:

I do a lot of event shooting and the cameras I use... (show quote)

First you say the vertical grip has nothing to do with angular alignment, then later you say that using the vertical controls is easier than holding the camera at an odd angle. Do you not think that holding the camera at an odd angle might contribute to angular misalignment?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

robertjerl wrote:

That extra shutter button keeps you from having to almost break your arm or wrist to do a portrait oriented shot.

Yes, it is much more convenient, but I got used to portrait from years with my SLR, no grip.
I always had the shutter on top when in portrait, never on the bottom.
Even with my grip on the DSLR, I'm so used to it, for one shot, I just rotate and have my hand on top.

willaim Loc: Sunny Southern California

The vertical grip does what it actually means. Helps you hold the camera in a vertical position without twisting your hand to press the shutter button. The control buttons are the same as the camera's and you can actually hold the camera steady so it is level. True, it does make the camera a bit heavier with its 2 batteries, but once you get used to using it, you won't be without one.

Hassie Loc: Central Pennsylvania

I got one to go with my Canon 5d111 but returned it because it made the rig with lens camera and grip too heavy for my older hands to operate.

TonyL Loc: Coventry, UK

And somewhat bulkier!

wapiti Loc: round rock, texas

larryepage wrote:

I find that a vertical grip makes it much easier to hold the camera truly vertical as well as maintaining more precise control over the shutter release. The extra battery is really just a side benefit provided by the grip, although it can be a very useful benefit.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Longshadow wrote:

Yes, it is much more convenient, but I got used to portrait from years with my SLR, no grip.
I always had the shutter on top when in portrait, never on the bottom.
Even with my grip on the DSLR, I'm so used to it, for one shot, I just rotate and have my hand on top.

I had no problem when using my SLR film cameras - both were Miranda Sensorex bodies and the shutter button was on the front of the camera body just to the right of the lens. You squeezed the camera to take a picture. That also eliminated the bad habit of dipping/jiggling the camera when mashing down on a top mounted shutter button.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Have one I got with a used camera, used it for a few weeks - clumsy, unless you need the extra FPS that you get with some cameras. Fairly flexible still,(and have been using a camera with one shutter button for decades) don't need the alternate shutter button. An extra battery in the pocket or bag is (IMO) a better alternative. I suppose for someone who can palm a basketball a grip might add a comfort factor. Whatever works for you is what is best.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

DVZ wrote:

From time to time I shoot friends weddings and other events and I notice that my vertical or portrait shots are not all that vertical while my landscapes only need a slight straightening in post. For those of you who use vertical battery grips, does it help keep things level when shooting fast and other than extra battery life what are other advantages?

Shooting in portrait mode at weddings, when you need to act quickly. Other than that, have not found any other practical use for them to date.

Quixdraw Loc: x

A reasonable point, but if you start with fully charged batteries, and keep an eye on the power icon, there will always be the few seconds for a battery swap. If I did Astro, or Time lapse, or very cold conditions, I can see benefits.