What's so great about a vertical grip?

Matt F · Apr 9, 2004

I see a lot of complaints about the lack of vertical grip. When I turn the D70 to shoot portrait (rotate counter-clockwise, so my hand is on top) it feels perfectly comfortable. I certainly don't feel like anything is missing. But then again, I have never used a camera with a vertical grip.

What is so great about using the grip? Considering how long the single battery lasts, I can't imagine it is the extra batteries you can put inside.

-- Matt
Gallery - http://www.imageevent.com/pmattf

todd_rossnagel · Apr 9, 2004

Here's my response...

I once wondered - what's the convenience of a cell phone, when I can just pull over and use a pay phone?

Granted - that might be a stretch, but for me, once you shoot with a vertical grip, you realize how convenient it is. I do a lot of portrait shooting and I do most of that shooting off tripod...and to be honest - it's simply a comfort thing as well as a functionality issue.

I never really got jazzed about the battery issue -

Once you go to a vertical grip - it's tough to go back...unless, of course, your holding a jewel like a D70!!!!

Todd

Matt F said:
I see a lot of complaints about the lack of vertical grip. When I
turn the D70 to shoot portrait (rotate counter-clockwise, so my
hand is on top) it feels perfectly comfortable. I certainly don't
feel like anything is missing. But then again, I have never used a
camera with a vertical grip.

What is so great about using the grip? Considering how long the
single battery lasts, I can't imagine it is the extra batteries you
can put inside.

-- Matt
Gallery - http://www.imageevent.com/pmattf

Raymond Bradlau · Apr 9, 2004

For me shooting in portrait format feels much more comfortable with a vertical release, and more important if using a long or heavy lens like the 80-200 2.8 it is much more steady being able to tuck in your elbows in tahn having the right one sticking up in the air

but one of the nice things about the D70/D100/F100 is the compact size vs. the F5/D2h/D1x

Matt F said:
I see a lot of complaints about the lack of vertical grip. When I
turn the D70 to shoot portrait (rotate counter-clockwise, so my
hand is on top) it feels perfectly comfortable. I certainly don't
feel like anything is missing. But then again, I have never used a
camera with a vertical grip.

What is so great about using the grip? Considering how long the
single battery lasts, I can't imagine it is the extra batteries you
can put inside.

-- Matt
Gallery - http://www.imageevent.com/pmattf

--
http://www.pbase.com/ray645

Tom K.182709 · Apr 9, 2004

With a vertical grip, you shoot more vertical shots as you can hold the camera comfortably for hours in the position. To twist the camera signals to your mind "I'm doing something weird here" and you're less likely to shoot vertically.

If you're doing a studio portrait session, you just comfortably hold the camera, not twist your arm up over the top - isn't this obvious?

My F4s has it
My 8008s does not

When I bought a Coolpix 5000, I got a vertical grip [granted, as much for weight balance and battery power].

Grips are a catch-22. On a large pro model with the grip built in [F4, F5, D1, D2], it's heaven, but you've added weight to the camera [bad for hiking or family adventures] and it needs a bigger bag.

On an N90, D100 or Coolpix with a screw in grip, you get the obvious convertable advantages, but Nikon doesn't always provide a good, solid connection for the grip. I went through two Coolpix 5000 grips [thanks for the patience B+H] before a third one felt solid. My neighbor with his N90 gave up and lived with a flimsy connection. The flimsy feel is really bad with a big fast telephoto, when, ironically, you want to use the grip for portraits.

I'm getting a D70 [grip or no grip], but I don't plan to use it for studio portrait settings - if so, no grip would be a deal breaker.

Matt F said:

I see a lot of complaints about the lack of vertical grip. When I
turn the D70 to shoot portrait (rotate counter-clockwise, so my
hand is on top) it feels perfectly comfortable. I certainly don't
feel like anything is missing. But then again, I have never used a
camera with a vertical grip.

What is so great about using the grip? Considering how long the
single battery lasts, I can't imagine it is the extra batteries you
can put inside.

-- Matt
Gallery - http://www.imageevent.com/pmattf

Click to expand...

FKS · Apr 9, 2004

my first time with a vertical grip was three years ago when i got a d1. this was after some 21 years of shooting with 35mm cameras. i have to say that once you use a vertical grip, you dont' want to be without it.

it's just so much more comfortable to hold the camera with your palm vertical instead of twisted at the wrist. it's also more stable, especially if you have a long heavy lens on and have to shoot for several hours.

the extra battery with the d100's grip is a big plus. i've never run out of a charge on two batteries at an event doing 700+ shots with the mb-d100. it also gives the camera a nicer balance (again with long heavy lenses) to have that extra weight at the bottom of the camera.

ymmv though. i know some people who don't like having to rotate their grip when going from horizontal to vertical, and so they don't really see the need for the vertical shutter release.

--
http://pbase.com/ottokalata

Matt F said:
What is so great about using the grip? Considering how long the
single battery lasts, I can't imagine it is the extra batteries you
can put inside.

-- Matt
Gallery - http://www.imageevent.com/pmattf

chris-fla · Apr 9, 2004

The vertical group is AMAZING on the D100, but it isn't a deal breaker as I have sold my D100 and love my new D70.

Chris

Marli · Apr 9, 2004

Once you have one you will not go back.

On my 300D I have one. 1200 shots on a charge. And it is better for vert shots.

But at the end of the day as long as you get the pic.

jpbeal · Apr 9, 2004

interesting. everyone seems to be right eye dominant. when I shoot vertical, it's hand-UNDER-camera, sometimes triggering the shutter with my thumb. I'm left eye dominant, and hand-over-camera places the camera over my face obscuring any vision from the right eye.

are there any vertical grips that work rotated clockwise, operated by the left hand? probably not.

Matt F said:
I see a lot of complaints about the lack of vertical grip. When I
turn the D70 to shoot portrait (rotate counter-clockwise, so my
hand is on top) it feels perfectly comfortable. I certainly don't
feel like anything is missing. But then again, I have never used a
camera with a vertical grip.

What is so great about using the grip? Considering how long the
single battery lasts, I can't imagine it is the extra batteries you
can put inside.

-- Matt
Gallery - http://www.imageevent.com/pmattf

JayAndriot · Apr 9, 2004

You know I used to shoot with F5's and the vertical grip was a nice feature to have but since I got the D70 I find that I'm shooting verticals the way I used to shoot them in the bad old days of my FTN, I put the release under my thumb and shoot what most would think of as upside down (the shutter release is on the bottom this way) It's just as easy to shoot with the thumb down postion as shooting with a vertical grip and the camera is smaller and lighter.

Tom K.182709 · Apr 9, 2004

horizonal - left eye

vertical - right eye

John Beal said:
are there any vertical grips that work rotated clockwise, operated
by the left hand? probably not.

Matt F said:

I see a lot of complaints about the lack of vertical grip. When I
turn the D70 to shoot portrait (rotate counter-clockwise, so my
hand is on top) it feels perfectly comfortable. I certainly don't
feel like anything is missing. But then again, I have never used a
camera with a vertical grip.

What is so great about using the grip? Considering how long the
single battery lasts, I can't imagine it is the extra batteries you
can put inside.

-- Matt
Gallery - http://www.imageevent.com/pmattf

Click to expand...

Old Ed · Apr 9, 2004

Matt F said:
I see a lot of complaints about the lack of vertical grip. When I
turn the D70 to shoot portrait (rotate counter-clockwise, so my
hand is on top) it feels perfectly comfortable. I certainly don't
feel like anything is missing. But then again, I have never used a
camera with a vertical grip.

What is so great about using the grip? Considering how long the
single battery lasts, I can't imagine it is the extra batteries you
can put inside.

-- Matt
Gallery - http://www.imageevent.com/pmattf

lharris · Apr 9, 2004

Fear not--almost the same-- plus monovision--different prescription in each eye and the need for prism-each of my eyes sees at a different height and this is compensated for with prisim in my prescription.

If you have never been tested for it--I might recommend it...It is also my I can't wear contacts...or lasik

Learned this when learning to shoot a rifle..

Linda

Tom K. said:
vertical - right eye

John Beal said:

are there any vertical grips that work rotated clockwise, operated
by the left hand? probably not.

Matt F said:

I see a lot of complaints about the lack of vertical grip. When I
turn the D70 to shoot portrait (rotate counter-clockwise, so my
hand is on top) it feels perfectly comfortable. I certainly don't
feel like anything is missing. But then again, I have never used a
camera with a vertical grip.

What is so great about using the grip? Considering how long the
single battery lasts, I can't imagine it is the extra batteries you
can put inside.

-- Matt
Gallery - http://www.imageevent.com/pmattf

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Dan Clark · Apr 9, 2004

Some of the noise about the vertical grip comes from the Canon 300D users. The 300D is VERY short. Even with my smallish hands, I got the "dangling pinkie" syndrome when I tried a 300D - your little pinkie hangs off the bottom of the camera because the 300D isn't tall enough!

With my D70, that's not an issue; it has a great handgrip. Very comfortable in portrait and landscape orientation.

So, while a vertical grip does make it a bit easier to hold a DSLR in portrait position, I think lots of Canon owners buy it simply to make the camera tall enough to hold!

Regards,

Dan.

Matt F said:
I see a lot of complaints about the lack of vertical grip. When I
turn the D70 to shoot portrait (rotate counter-clockwise, so my
hand is on top) it feels perfectly comfortable. I certainly don't
feel like anything is missing. But then again, I have never used a
camera with a vertical grip.

What is so great about using the grip? Considering how long the
single battery lasts, I can't imagine it is the extra batteries you
can put inside.

-- Matt
Gallery - http://www.imageevent.com/pmattf

Mike Lewis · Apr 9, 2004

Matt F said:
I see a lot of complaints about the lack of vertical grip. When I
turn the D70 to shoot portrait (rotate counter-clockwise, so my
hand is on top) it feels perfectly comfortable. I certainly don't
feel like anything is missing. But then again, I have never used a
camera with a vertical grip.

What is so great about using the grip? Considering how long the
single battery lasts, I can't imagine it is the extra batteries you
can put inside.

-- Matt
Gallery - http://www.imageevent.com/pmattf

--
Mike L.

http://www.pbase.com/ferrari355/galleries

Minolta Dimage S404

Nikon D70 Soon to be

Raymond Bradlau · Apr 9, 2004

"It makes your camera bigger and heavier. Woo Hoo!"

thank you for taking the the time to express you well thought out very insightful opinion, I never thought of that way

BTW What are you using or have used to come this opinion?
--
http://www.pbase.com/ray645

frank ong · Apr 9, 2004

All this talk about the vertical grip is very interesting cause when I was learning to shoot back when cameras didn't have hand grips, there were numerous articles in Modern Photography, and Popular photography about the "correct" way to shoot verticals. They both agreed that putting the shutter release on the bottom so you could cradle the body with your palm and then use your thumb to press the shutter release was the most stable.
History revisited, Lessons forgotten...

JayAndriot said:
You know I used to shoot with F5's and the vertical grip was a nice
feature to have but since I got the D70 I find that I'm shooting
verticals the way I used to shoot them in the bad old days of my
FTN, I put the release under my thumb and shoot what most would
think of as upside down (the shutter release is on the bottom this
way) It's just as easy to shoot with the thumb down postion as
shooting with a vertical grip and the camera is smaller and lighter.

Dave Beaman · Apr 9, 2004

For years I shot with a Metz 402 then 60-ct1 and then the 45 series flashes. They are very powerful and have the potato masher handle which attaches to a flat bracket on the left of the camera . When you shoot a vertical you need to turn the camera clockwise with hand underneath so the flash will be on top of the camera.

Also when I am in an inclosed room (i know, most rooms are) with my back toward a wall, I wil turn that Big Metz head around and up so it points backwards towards the edge of the wall/ceiling. This way the flash bounces off the walll and ceiling acting like a huge umbrella. This gives the softest results. Well you have an umbrella that is effectively 10 foot square.

My point, actually two. I stil like to do that when I have my sb-800 attached to the hotshoe. I am forced to turn the camera clockwise since the sb-800 doesn't rotate a full 180 in each direction. Sad

But as to the vertical grip. I have had only one camera with a vertical grip and that was the original Maxxum 9000 with optional motor drive and vertical grip. I loved it but I work quite well with out it now.

dave

Old Ed · Apr 10, 2004

Hi Raymond -

Responses below...

Raymond Bradlau said:
"It makes your camera bigger and heavier. Woo Hoo!"

thank you for taking the the time to express you well thought out
very insightful opinion, I never thought of that way

I'm going to guess that you are going for sarcasm here.
But I value economy of language, hence my (nt) post.
I want some real payoff when I add significant size and
weight; but I don't see it with add-on grips. Your mileage
may vary.

Raymond Bradlau said:
BTW What are you using or have used to come this opinion?

I don't know what this has to do with the price of tea in
China, but since you asked: My D70 is my sixth digicam
and eighth 35mm-type SLR. I have approximately 16
Nikkors. I also have a Leica rangefinder system with 3 lenses,
a Hasselblad system with 3 lenses, about four Rolleiflex TLRs
with assorted accessories, some Kodaks and Polaroids,
assorted antique cameras, a flatbed scanner, and a film
scanner. I've been "into" photography for about 45 years.

Will that do?

Happy shooting...

Raymond Bradlau said:
--
http://www.pbase.com/ray645

Marli · Apr 11, 2004

You are correct. I have read a lot of writeups that say the same about the 10D. The Nikons are a lot deaper in the body.. I find the Canons rather short.

Dan Clark said:
With my D70, that's not an issue; it has a great handgrip. Very
comfortable in portrait and landscape orientation.

So, while a vertical grip does make it a bit easier to hold a DSLR
in portrait position, I think lots of Canon owners buy it simply to
make the camera tall enough to hold!

Regards,

Dan.

Matt F said:

I see a lot of complaints about the lack of vertical grip. When I
turn the D70 to shoot portrait (rotate counter-clockwise, so my
hand is on top) it feels perfectly comfortable. I certainly don't
feel like anything is missing. But then again, I have never used a
camera with a vertical grip.

What is so great about using the grip? Considering how long the
single battery lasts, I can't imagine it is the extra batteries you
can put inside.

-- Matt
Gallery - http://www.imageevent.com/pmattf

Click to expand...

What's so great about a vertical grip?

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