Holy Battery Grip!

thanks, probably a safer ber given HK purchase might incur VAT and import duty plus 'customs handling' if i'm unlucky - had that on a pair of tennis shoes and it made them very expensive.

I really want to get one... but I cant seem to justify spening $180 CAN on something that doesnt really "do" anything.

I'll probably opt for a 50mm 1.8 lense first...

I got my XT about three weeks ago, got the battery grip about a week later. Even though I don't have small hands, I don't feel the XT is too small I quite like the size.

Now with the battery grip it does give the camera a much more solid and balanced feel, but the one thing I really don't like about it that when I have the camera slung over my shoulder, the camera sticks straight out instead of hanging lens down, to me this is a major annoyance, so still have not decided to keep the grip or not.
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Kristian Farren
http://kf3.net/gallery/

even with a 28-135 (i have no heavier lenses at current) it still sticks out/leans down a little (causing zoom creep) and doesnt hang downwards.

At least with the grip it will stay sticking out and the lens wont extend.

It can always be a pain though - its probably better to just constantly take photos rather than hang it round your neck!!!

Graphik

I wouldn't say the battery grip doesn't do anything. You can control the FEL, and has the dial to adjust your aperture or shutter priority settings, etc. Plus, it is so much more comfortable taking pictures because of the balance. With my pinky hanging out, I ocassionally took pictures that were not level, either vertically or horizontally - probably a flaw in my technique.

Initially, I regretted getting the 350D because of the feel of the camera. With the battery grip, it feels like a totally different camera. I like it when the lens does not hang and stick straight out. The camera doesn't feel limp around your neck but a projection from your body.

Definitely get the 50 f1.8, it is a very good lens and well worth the $75 cost.

Photo Optix were doing it for £99 a month or so back and Jesops price.

I too like the feel and practicability, but did remove it on a trip to Valencia to reduce overall handlugage.
Matthew

snow4ever said:

I got my XT about three weeks ago, got the battery grip about a
week later. Even though I don't have small hands, I don't feel the
XT is too small I quite like the size.
Now with the battery grip it does give the camera a much more solid
and balanced feel, but the one thing I really don't like about it
that when I have the camera slung over my shoulder, the camera
sticks straight out instead of hanging lens down, to me this is a
major annoyance, so still have not decided to keep the grip or not.
--



Kristian Farren
http://kf3.net/gallery/

Click to expand...

There is an easy solution, with or without the grip. If you are walking with it and don't want it to stick out and to protect it from bumping into other pedestrian or pole etc.. I wear it cross wise like a satchel and the invert the camera, the top of the camera, with the flash shoe rest against my body. Note that the camera is on the side of my body not in front. So, the strap goes from my left shoulder and the camera hang above my right hip, underneath my right arm, the lens is close of my body and what sticks out the the base of the camera. The lens presses against my right side so it fits well. If I want to shoot I rotate the camera up and across.

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if I made sense, I'm sorry

Sangs said:

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.

Click to expand...

Same here. I found the feel of the XT with the battery grip just awful. It turned it into a heavy, awkward, clumsy camera that was difficult to hold -- especially in the vertical position!

Then I got the Hakuba hand grip -- heaven! The camera was still light but easy to grip, even with a heavy lens. I would highly recommend checking out the Hakuba befor spending 10X as much on the battery grip.

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Sam Kanter, NYC

snow4ever said:

...but the one thing I really don't like about it
that when I have the camera slung over my shoulder, the camera
sticks straight out instead of hanging lens down, to me this is a
major annoyance, so still have not decided to keep the grip or not.

Click to expand...

Stick a Bigma on it with the grip and you'll go back to P&S maybe??
"Its tooooo heavy!!!"

What we complain about here.......

LOL. Don't forget to add an external flash...so 7.75 lbs in all.

WBirch said:

snow4ever said:

...but the one thing I really don't like about it
that when I have the camera slung over my shoulder, the camera
sticks straight out instead of hanging lens down, to me this is a
major annoyance, so still have not decided to keep the grip or not.

Click to expand...

Stick a Bigma on it with the grip and you'll go back to P&S maybe??
"Its tooooo heavy!!!"

What we complain about here.......

Click to expand...

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

cdibuycom said:

LOL. Don't forget to add an external flash...so 7.75 lbs in all.

Click to expand...

Hi cdi,
The ironic thing is that it all becomes "light" when after a great
photo. All day long is another story. Some want to colour co-ordinate
here and look "stylish" though. Yikes.

Wayne.

Definitly try the Canon handstrap E1,you do away with the neckstrap all together,works much better in vertical shots{doesn't get in the way}.Refer to the instructions on how to install it from the handgrip instructions,cause the handstrap is packaged with no documentaton.