What is your opinion on vertical grips?

So I am in the market to buy some new toys for my camera kit, which currently houses an A77.  While I have a few options I am looking at, currently my eyes are set on the following top two choices, either:

• A vertical grip and a new tripod (looking at a 3 Legged Thing X4 Jack or X1.1a Adrian).
• Another Paul C. Buff Einstein E640 to go with my current one, making a total of two in my current studio setup.

With the vertical grip I keep teetering back and forth on getting one, but the price stings a bit seeing as they currently go for around $300.  If it was $50-75, or even a fairly unrealistic $100, cheaper then it would be a no brainer for me.

I have a few reasons where I think a vertical grip will benefit me.

1. Help balance out the weight of the camera with some of my heavier lenses.  My Sigma 24-70 2.8 HSM is on my camera most of the time.  It can sometimes feel a little unbalanced with it on there, feeling more front heavy.  I've heard that vertical grips can help regain some of that balance, putting it more towards the camera body.  And while that lens is currently one of my heaviest (maybe a tie between it and my Beercan), future lenses that I plan to get will only be heavier (70-200 2.8 or the 70-400 4-5.6, fast primes, etc.).
   
2. Helping with vertical portraits.  I find it a bit of strain trying to shoot vertical shots for long periods of time, which then effect my camera holding.  I'll then relent and go back to landscape shooting to give my joints a break.  Since I am starting to shoot more and more in a studio setup, I think a vertical grip would be helpful with this.  A better tripod too for certain situations, but that is another topic for another day.
3. Two batteries can be in the camera at one time, providing longer shooting times and less fumbling through my camera bag when swapping batteries.  I'll admit, I rarely go through two batteries in one shoot and when I do it is because my first battery wasn't fully charged.  But this could be help for all day outings.
4. Possibly more comfortable to hold in landscape mode.  I don't have "large" hands, but all my fingers do not wrap around the grip completely.  I find that my pinky is either at the age or may work its way under the camera.  It isn't uncomfortable and nowhere near as bad as some of the smaller cameras (which is one of my reasons why I like the larger body cameras), but I wonder if it would make holding the camera even more comfortably by having more grip.
   

What are your opinions, personal experiences with the grip (or vertical grips in general), or suggestions?

Thanks!

--
Paul

My a77 feels naked without the grip! I always use it. YMMV

--
Busch
Take the scenic route! Life is too short to do otherwise.
My Photos

My lenses are heavy but when I put my vertical grip instead of feeling heavier I felt it more balanced. Buttons and other features are a big help and with grip you're camera looks PRO too lol! The only problem for me is that with my bags I can't insert my gripped a77, I'm looking for Think Thank Retrospective 20.

Sony A77 + Grip, Sony 16-50 2.8 SSM, Sony 50 1.4, Sigma 70-200 2.8 EX OS HSM, Sigma 105 2.8M EX OS HSM

If someone would come out with a vertical grip that did not have the duplicate buttons and controls, I would buy it.

My A77 has enough buttons and controls as it is. A vertical grip with just the extra batteries that would add a small amount of heft would be great!

Similar to the one that was available with the old 9xi film camera.

--
Karl Scharf >>> ( Sony SLT-A77, Rokinon 8mm, Sigma 10-20 f4.0-5.6, Sigma 18-250 f3.5-6.3, Sigma 50-500 f4.5-6.3 OS, Minolta 70-210 f4.0, Minolta 50 f1.7, Kenko 1.4x DGX ) <<<

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is the a99 + grip holds three batteries extended battery life. Two in the grip and one in the body.

I got one for my A77 for Christmas and, though it makes for a heavier package, it does seem more balanced and I get the impression it's less subject to vibration because of the extra weight. With shorter lenses, you can use the vertical grip for your left hand and still hold your elbow against your body for extra stability- or at least I can. With the 70-400G it doesn't help in that regard, since you need to hold the lens with your left hand, still. I haven't done much portrait-oriented shooting with it, but the bit I have done is much better aligned. Prior to that, my vertical shots were always significantly off vertical, when holding the regular grip hanging from my palm-down fingers

My main "bitch" is that the camera doesn't fit my smaller bag anymore - the one I would take for just the cam and, say, two lenses.

Most people I know who has one, wouldn't be without it, and I'm aready starting to feel that way. Also - and let's not forget this point - the camera looks cool with it on, and looks like a much more serious piece of gear

--
*Jerry*
Sony V1, H5, A350 and A77... Still learning...
'The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.'
-- Dorothea Lange
http://www.pbase.com/icicle50/root
http://www.pbase.com/icicle50/image/88943577/medium.jpg

... if I were buying now I'd settle for this one:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ADHLN7O/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B005K8AUNE&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=07GTXSKXHK54N3HX1QP1

--
Gary
http://www.kleinoak.org/a700/mustang_a700.jpg

Since everyone (including OP yourself) has said sensible things about the vertical grip, I 'd like to add two of my musings:

1. ) the vertical grip is totally un-necessary. It's bulky, heavy and (mostly) expensive.
   
2. ) as soon as you have one, argument 1.) vanishes in thin air. You'll love the feel, the functions, the size, the looks, and even the weight. It's that good in Sony's design.

So here you are in this nasty dilemma that only you can solve.....

Bart

Reading your thoughts, I would buy a tripod with a nice head to go along with it...

The cameras are already not the lightest and used in conjunction with heavy lenses such as CZ24-70 or 70-400 I would really not need more weight to go along with it...

So there, the opinion of someone who doesn't have and doesn't want it

I put a vertical grip on my A700 when I used it to shoot track meets since shooting continuous mode while following runners was easier with the grip since I shot only vertically.  I replaced it for sports with the A850 and put a vertical grip on it for the same purpose but took the one off of the A700 since I just shoot various insects with it now and rarely shoot vertically and only shoot single shots.  I have the A77 now and have not bought the vertical grip for it since I have only used it for general purposes with a light zoom wide angle lens.  But track season is coming and I may get the vertical grip for it since I want to try it out there some along with the A850.  So other than lots of continuous vertical shots I really don't need one and it is just extra weight around my neck.  It does look cool though.

Also go find a bag that will hold a full frame and grip comfortably. I have a Tamron 8 and 12 and so far the only type I like. I haven't found a single backpack I am happy with.

A vertical grip is the first accessory I get for a new body. I have one on my a500 my a700, a900 and a99. Hell, I even have one on my Nex 5n (that one is a waste of time though.) The balance, the look the feel are all important. But for me the security that I don't have to change batteries on a shoot is priceless.

Luckily, my camera bag (LowePro Slingshot 302 AW) is big enough to keep a vertical grip.  Actually, I think it would keep it more secure since it will allow less room for movement.

--
Paul

The tripods I am look at come with a nice, removable ball head (This one).  That is one of my main reasons for a new tripod, one with a better head that is removable.

--
Paul

I've been happy with my LowePro Slingshot 302AW.  Closer to the size of a full backpack, I can hold the following in it:

• My A77 and its manual
• Minolta 70-210mm f/4, aka "Beercan"
• Tamron 90mm f/2.8 macro
• Sony 50mm f/1.4
• Sony 35mm f/1.8
• Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8
• Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 HSM
• Sony HVL-F56AM flash and my flash filters and diffuser
• Extra battery
• Lens cleaner, brush, cloth, and air bulb
• Datacolor Spydercube
• Polarizing filter
• Collapsible exposure disc
• And room on the side for a monopod or tripod

--
Paul

Any word or feedback on these third party grips?

That particular one looks almost like a direct knockoff of the original Sony grip.

--
Paul

The gripped A77 with 70-400G attached fits in the centre pocket of the Slingshot 300 AW like a hand in a glove, whereas the ungripped A77 slops around a bit (not that this was a probem). I used to be able to fit the A77 with 70-400G longways in the 100 AW and a shorter lens in the top pocket for when I wanted to travel real light, but can't anymore with the grip on the A77 - just not enough depth front-back in the 100.

--
*Jerry*
Sony V1, H5, A350 and A77... Still learning...
'The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.'
-- Dorothea Lange
http://www.pbase.com/icicle50/root
http://www.pbase.com/icicle50/image/88943577/medium.jpg

I'll check it out. My biggest problem isn't extra lenses as much as camera thickness with the grip. When I landscape I really only carry a couple of lenses.

I checked it out at B&H it looks good. I may get that 302.

I have a vertical grip for my A77. I have big hands, and I use it mainly with my heavier lenses because it gives the camera a little longer finger holding area. I also like that I can go on an all-day shoot and don't have to change batteries.

I just bought a second A77 to use with a second lens to have a Wide Angle/Telephoto combination. I doubt if I will buy a second vertical grip because I intend to use smaller wide angle lenses on the second A77.

I don't like using the vertical grip on a tripod unless the lens has a tripod mount. There is too much play between the camera and grip for the combination to be very stable on a tripod.