Holy Battery Grip!

[ashveen]

I got mine too yesterday... thats amazingly true how this grips changes the look, feel and hold of the 350D/XT... the weight too increases somewhat more i would say... the camera feels less compact too as opposed to without the grip, and feels more rigid, even though its the same...

really nice.

 

[MarcosV]

I got plenty of big bags and backpacks to fit my 300D with grip. The problem is that that's all those bags were good for --- camera gear and little else. It was a pain when flying and having limited hand carry.

Since I switched to a 350D without grip, I can fit everything in a Domke J-803 satchel that qualifies as my "personal item", allowing me to still lug a backpack or roll-on. The J-803 holds: 350D, 17-85 IS, 50/1.8, 70-200/4L, Sigma DG Super 500 flash, Tamron 1.4x TC, CompactDrive PD70X PSU, Canon S1 (if I'm willing to let the bag bulge slightly), and a bunch of accessories. The whole thing weighs around 10 lbs. I throw the battery chargers in the main hand carry.

To find a bag that will accomodate a 2" taller camera --- without screaming camera bag! --- is a lot more difficult.

The other times when size matters is when I'm backpacking and need to conserve space. Here, my smallest top loader bag is great, since I can stuff the whole thing in a crowded pack easier than my largest top loader bag.

Because I never measured the height of the 350D with grip, I'm wondering if that combo is indeed 6" tall like the 300D w/ grip was. If not, that'll open up the possibilities.

I recall the DRebel with grip was around 6" high, which severly
limited the camera bags I could use.

You don't get a camera to fit your bag, you get a bag to fit your
camera.

 

[MarcosV]

Actually I'm thinking about buying a CompuTrekker AW. It's about the same size as the Micro Trekker 200, but, does have that laptop compartment which would let me carry a CamelBak water bladder. Only concern I have is how comfortable would that be to carry.

I haven't pulled the trigger on this bag yet because I need to buy one more lens (e.g., BIGMA) in order to justify it.

And yes, if I'm going to use a camera back pack, I'm going to have a battery grip attached. It wouldn't look right otherwise.

I can fit the 300d with grip (that's bigger than yours) with the
bigma (sigma 50-500mm zoom - BIG!!) into my lowepro micro trekker
200 backpack. I still have room for the kit lens, ipod, pda, wallet
several Bird ID books and a map and some left over.

 

[M Irwin]

So it still fits into my vertical bag with just a bit of a bulge.

I got plenty of big bags and backpacks to fit my 300D with grip.
The problem is that that's all those bags were good for --- camera
gear and little else. It was a pain when flying and having limited
hand carry.

 

[MarcosV]

Hmmm... I wonder if that 0.5" is enough to not make an unacceptably large bulge in my smaller bags?

Ah well, I figure as soon as I buy one more large zoom (e.g., BIGMA), I'll be buying the battery grip and have the justification I need to go back to larger bags (e.g., Dome F-802).

• Thanks for the info,

Marcos

I got plenty of big bags and backpacks to fit my 300D with grip.
The problem is that that's all those bags were good for --- camera
gear and little else. It was a pain when flying and having limited
hand carry.

 

[Bobby Timonera]

Has anyone used rechargable AA in their battery grip? Can you
comment on the experience and if it's worth the bother?

Right now I just have the one battery that came with the camera in
the magazine. I'm assuming that two camera batteries would be
better than 6 rechargable AA's...but I'm not sure....that's why I'm
asking.

Hehe ... I haven't tried the AAs. But my guess, they'll not last half as long as one NB-2LH. Just rely on the NB-2LH, and you'll never miss the AAs. I thought before that a digital camera should be using AAs to appeal to me. My first 2 P&S digicams used AAs (Olympus C3000z and Minolta 7Hi), but I had to bring a million spare batteries in my camera bag.

Then with the 300D, I haven't really consumed the 2 batteries in the grip on a busy day's shoot. Though a few times during weddings, I just voluntarily changed batteries coz I don't want to miss the shot just in case the batteries dry up during decisive moments.

With the 350D + grip now, I just got 3 extra "generic" batteries. My AA adapter, it's kept in the 350D box. I still have spare AAs in my bag, though, for my flashguns (550, 420) and CompactDrive PSD.

--
BOBBY TIMONERA, Iligan City, Philippines
http://www.pbase.com/timonera / http://www.photos.ph/timonera

 

[cdibuycom]

I sucked it up and bought the grip, hand strap (from 10D as mentioned earlier), and a Bogen ball head this morning from B&H. Should arrive in 2 days since I only live 5 hrs drive from NYC.

I'ma be p1ssed if y'all are lied to me!
--
My Gallery: http://www.cdi-ink.com/

 

[Bobby Timonera]

--
BOBBY TIMONERA, Iligan City, Philippines
http://www.pbase.com/timonera / http://www.photos.ph/timonera

 

[cdibuycom]

Hope not. I'm poor. Even poorer now! lol.

--
BOBBY TIMONERA, Iligan City, Philippines
http://www.pbase.com/timonera / http://www.photos.ph/timonera

--
My Gallery: http://www.cdi-ink.com/

 

[Joe49621]

Why not the 20D ? For a person just going to DSLR, it seems that the price of the grip plus Rebel XT camera greatly reduces the delta price to upgrade to a 20D.

Joe

 

[cdibuycom]

Well...some of us already OWN the XT...so umm...it's cheaper to get a grip than brush the perfectly competent XT to the side and buy another camera.

(My next camera will hopefully be the 1Ds Mark II or it's replacement with the XT + Grip serving as backup)

Why not the 20D ? For a person just going to DSLR, it seems that
the price of the grip plus Rebel XT camera greatly reduces the
delta price to upgrade to a 20D.

Joe

--
My Gallery: http://www.cdi-ink.com/

 

[Snapman]

See, I was just the opposite. I bought the battery grip, used it
for a week and then sent it back because I didn't like the feel or
balance of the camera. Especially when setting the XT down and
having it flop forward like a drunken sailor. It sort of defeated
the purpose of getting a small DSLR for me. And I could never quite
get used to using it properly on vertical shots and the like
either. But I'm in the small minority it seems.

I liked it for actual shooting with my 300D but no longer use it and have decided to sell mine. The fact is that I do a lot of walking about with my camera and the addition of the grip adds a lot to the weight and bulk. It would be ideal for anybody doing a lot of studio photography without a tripod though, as it makes it much more comfortable to hold the camera vertically..

--
Canon 300D Kit + 28-300 Tamron Zoom
Canon 550EX Speedlite
Olympus C-720
Canon EOS-600 + 28-200 Sigma Zoom

 

[cdibuycom]

Not sure about the 300D's, but the XT's is only 8 ounces and 5"x3.8"x2.8". I consider that neither a lot of bulk nor a lot of weight.

See, I was just the opposite. I bought the battery grip, used it
for a week and then sent it back because I didn't like the feel or
balance of the camera. Especially when setting the XT down and
having it flop forward like a drunken sailor. It sort of defeated
the purpose of getting a small DSLR for me. And I could never quite
get used to using it properly on vertical shots and the like
either. But I'm in the small minority it seems.

I liked it for actual shooting with my 300D but no longer use it
and have decided to sell mine. The fact is that I do a lot of
walking about with my camera and the addition of the grip adds a
lot to the weight and bulk. It would be ideal for anybody doing a
lot of studio photography without a tripod though, as it makes it
much more comfortable to hold the camera vertically..

--
Canon 300D Kit + 28-300 Tamron Zoom
Canon 550EX Speedlite
Olympus C-720
Canon EOS-600 + 28-200 Sigma Zoom

--
My Gallery: http://www.cdi-ink.com/

 

[cdibuycom]

Wanna add...

But of course, Bigma is my walkaround lens ;-)
--
My Gallery: http://www.cdi-ink.com/

 

[24Peter]

I'm currently testing the BG-3 with my XT and have mixed feelings about it. First it increases the weight of the camera significantly (adds 8 oz to a 17 oz camera w/out a lens/battery). Second it is very bulky on an otherwise svelte camera. I did a studio photo shoot with it this weekend and for the most part liked it but my arms were way tired after several hours of shooting even though it added only another 1/2 lb. to my set up. And the vertical controls take some getting used to as they tweak the wrist in a whole new way. Later we headed outside to finish the shoot with some exterior shots and I put an external flash on the camera along with the battery grip and it was just too heavy. I ended up ditching the flash since I had someone working the reflector for us.

I've got another shoot this weekend and then I'll decide if I keep it. It is nice to have a place to put my pinky but it's definitely too heavy/bulky for me to use the grip all the time (the whole reason I bought the XT was for it's size/weight.) My point is, where ever you buy it, make sure you can return it if it doesn't work for you.
--
View my Rebel XT/Panasonic FZ20 galleries here: http://imageevent.com/24peter

 

[Joe49621]

Yes, but my question is if you had to start from scratch and as a suggestion to a person just getting inot DSLR, isn't the D20 route worth the added expense (since it has a better feel, more features and longer battery life)?

Thanks
Joe

 

[cdibuycom]

I dunno. I haven't even tried the 20D...I couldn't afford to even look at it at the time. However, when starting out, I needed a good lens and a good camera at the same time. I got the XT + kit lens + 50mm 1.8 for less than the 20D sells for body-only. That at least got me on the right foot to sell my Fuji S7000 which gave me half the money I needed for Bigma. Once I purchased Bigma and got to shoot auto racing, I made some money from the sales of those prints + the small fee I get each night from the track owners to pay for the grip, bigger memory card, extra battery, etc.

Baby steps for me. If money is no object then the newbie might as well get the 20D or better yet 1Ds Mark II and all the L glass Canon makes.

Yes, but my question is if you had to start from scratch and as a
suggestion to a person just getting inot DSLR, isn't the D20 route
worth the added expense (since it has a better feel, more features
and longer battery life)?

Thanks
Joe

--
My Gallery: http://www.cdi-ink.com/

 

[MarcosV]

Three reasons I went with the XT over the 20D:

• Cost. That $500 to $600 up front price difference for me was better spent towards a 17-85 IS or 70-200/4L
• The feature set of the XT is good enough for what I want to do for the next two years or so
• Smaller size. Since I can comfortably handle a XT, why not?
• XT has a more pleasing shutter sound
• Opportunity. I originally was going to skip the XT and just focus on new lens this year, but, a relatively had buyer's remorse and so I had the opportunity for upgrading to two week old XT and save $300 at the same time. Otherwise, I would have bought the 20D or its replacement in another year.

As for the 20D, I would have bought the battery grip for it as well.

Having gotten use to the ergonomics of the XT, I still like the 20D for the following: more/better AF sensors; faster burst rates/buffers; longer shutter life. The second control wheel is really nice, but, for what I do, it's not essential.

• Marcos

Why not the 20D ? For a person just going to DSLR, it seems that
the price of the grip plus Rebel XT camera greatly reduces the
delta price to upgrade to a 20D.

 

[Mark Marshall]

If you don't use the wheel or buttons then the BG3 is an awful expensive counter balance. About as "useful" as the D70 grip - LOL
--

'Brothers and sisters, we've been told there's some bad bokeh going around' ~ Wavy Gravy at Photokina

 

[cdibuycom]

It'll take some getting used to the fact that the buttons are even there, but I will definitely use them....it'll definitely make 500mm stealth portraits a helluva lot easier!

If you don't use the wheel or buttons then the BG3 is an awful
expensive counter balance. About as "useful" as the D70 grip - LOL
--
'Brothers and sisters, we've been told there's some bad bokeh going
around' ~ Wavy Gravy at Photokina

--
My Gallery: http://www.cdi-ink.com/