Not for Z: Canon's Extension Grip for EOS RP

[Volodja]

E.g., SmallRig makes such an extension grip already. Plus it is ArcaSwiss compatible. Plus it can extend into an L-bracket. Plus it is cheaper even.

So, what are you talking about?

Some people tend to defend products they purchased just because they own them.

It seems that you belong to this category.

I know what I am talking about and I have and use SmallRig (see images below). But I need it only for 10% of my photographing time.

This post is not about L-bracket. If you would like to discuss it, there is different thread in this forum.

I am addressing solution that can ergonomically extend body grip. As an example I showed Canon grip extension launched for their new "cheap" Canon EOS RP.

Why can't we have something similar for much more expensive Z6 or Z7 natively manufactured by Nikon (the same rubberized material etc.)?

As shown on 1st image below SmallRig doesn't serve well as grip because it doesn't provide ergonomically extended body grip. Awkward bump at the bottom (due to door compartment), is very inconvenient and uncomfortable for pinky. They do this "copy-paste" design for all camera brands.

We need proper grip.

I have the Smallrig and Peipro. I prefer the Smallrig. Is it perfect? No but its not fair to say its "very inconvenient and uncomfortable for pinky". It works just fine and is especially nice for the price.

Well, it's great if it works for you.

It helps me as well to balance heavier lens, but, as I mentioned, personally I feel discomfort holding camera longer time with SmallRig attached.
Have it about a month and still can’t adjust to that bump.

I hope there will be better ergonomical solutions coming out soon.

 

[DWM]

I'm really at a loss in understanding why there is so much ranting about the height of the grip on the Z cameras. Having used Micro Four-thirds cameras along with my Nikons for some years now I find it easy to move from one body to another. I've just learned to curl my pinky under the camera body and the problem is solved. I don't even think about it. And I have never seen these complaints in the M4/3 forums. Is this so hard for you all to do?

 

[Volodja]

I'm really at a loss in understanding why there is so much ranting about the height of the grip on the Z cameras. Having used Micro Four-thirds cameras along with my Nikons for some years now I find it easy to move from one body to another. I've just learned to curl my pinky under the camera body and the problem is solved. I don't even think about it. And I have never seen these complaints in the M4/3 forums. Is this so hard for you all to do?

Well, let’s put it like this. It comes from previous experience or reference point. If you switched from Nikon to M4/3 and going to use Z6/Z7 now, of course, you will find grip size of Z camera big enough. If you are coming directly from DSLR like D610/D750 you will go, to some extend, through getting to use it learning curve. I personally like grip of my Z6 but, if I mount Sigma 135 f/1.8 with FTZ, don’t talk about Sigma 105 f/1.4 man, I really need bigger grip Maybe you don’t use such lenses on M4/3.

Eventually M4/3 cameras migrated to FF sized bodies, look on Panasonic G9 grip for example. I am not talking about latest release from Olympus E-M1X. And there are good reasons behind that, it helps to ballance heavy lenses, adds comfort, release strain in wrist (having pinky below is not a natural position), add on safety against loosing camera from bigger hands.

I think Canon understood ergonomical needs of photographers and showed that in their FF ML line. They know their EOS R ir EOS RP users are coming from DSLR world and new camera provide them the same amount of grip comfort as they were used to before. EOS R has an excellent grip already but, on top of that, Canon added proper big grip for using camera in vertical portrait mode. You have got an option, should you wish.

 

[Lance B]

E.g., SmallRig makes such an extension grip already. Plus it is ArcaSwiss compatible. Plus it can extend into an L-bracket. Plus it is cheaper even.

So, what are you talking about?

Completely agree. I like the SmallRig type extensions that are available as it has the AcraSwiss compatible mount built in. If I we have a Nikon extension, then we need to add an ArcaSwiss on top of that as well, not a good solution IMO. I find the SmallRig extension very comfortable.

 

[GeorgioDS]

Just hope Nikon could release the battery grip they mentioned around the release time.

Still curious about how Nikon would design the grip since there are no contact pin on the bottom of the camera.

WiFi controlled

 

[Volodja]

E.g., SmallRig makes such an extension grip already. Plus it is ArcaSwiss compatible. Plus it can extend into an L-bracket. Plus it is cheaper even.

So, what are you talking about?

Completely agree. I like the SmallRig type extensions that are available as it has the AcraSwiss compatible mount built in. If I we have a Nikon extension, then we need to add an ArcaSwiss on top of that as well, not a good solution IMO. I find the SmallRig extension very comfortable.

Ok, that is good if it works for you and you are fine with features but please don’t call this grip

I use/need ArcaSwiss for 10% of time I use my camera.
The rest 90% I have it in hand therefore need grip. SmallRig is good L-bracket, no doubt, it is versatile and adjustable, but not more that that. As stand alone grip extention it is far from being perfect and you know it everytime your pinky touches it. It has poor ergonomics and even opening of battery compartment is not easy.

People are talking about it because there is no alternative on the market right now. Happy SmallRig owners, quickly adapted available design from Sony and jupi let’s make business with Z owners.

If Nikon had introduced from begin 1-1.5 cm tall grip extention made of the same material as body itself people would pay double price for native solution. No one would even talk about SmallRig. There are plenty of different 50% lighter and 50% cheaper L-brackets on market already with ArcaSwiss compatibility. More materials available, some made of light magnesium for example. Those can be always attached and removed even from that grip when needed for tripod, don’t see any problem there.

 

[Lance B]

E.g., SmallRig makes such an extension grip already. Plus it is ArcaSwiss compatible. Plus it can extend into an L-bracket. Plus it is cheaper even.

So, what are you talking about?

Completely agree. I like the SmallRig type extensions that are available as it has the AcraSwiss compatible mount built in. If I we have a Nikon extension, then we need to add an ArcaSwiss on top of that as well, not a good solution IMO. I find the SmallRig extension very comfortable.

Ok, that is good if it works for you and you are fine with features but please don’t call this grip

I didn't call it a grip, but it is as good as one as far as I am concerned and it seems most others seem to think that as well.

I use/need ArcaSwiss for 10% of time I use my camera.
The rest 90% I have it in hand therefore need grip. SmallRig is good L-bracket, no doubt, it is versatile and adjustable, but not more that that. As stand alone grip extention it is far from being perfect and you know it everytime your pinky touches it. It has poor ergonomics and even opening of battery compartment is not easy.

No issue for me at all.

People are talking about it because there is no alternative on the market right now. Happy SmallRig owners, quickly adapted available design from Sony and jupi let’s make business with Z owners.

There are quite a number of SmallRig type extensions on the market and they all seem to be good, according to those that have them.

If Nikon had introduced from begin 1-1.5 cm tall grip extention made of the same material as body itself people would pay double price for native solution.

Quite possibly, but if it doesn't have the Arca Swiss adaption, it is no good for me and probably many others that require that adaptation.

No one would even talk about SmallRig.

I would and I think a great deal many others would also because it has the Arca Swiss built in. Kills two birds with one stone, so to speak.

There are plenty of different 50% lighter and 50% cheaper L-brackets on market already with ArcaSwiss compatibility. More materials available, some made of light magnesium for example. Those can be always attached and removed even from that grip when needed for tripod, don’t see any problem there.

I can see that there may be those that would like a "grip" extension built by Nikon and maybe they would sell a quite number of them, but I also think that the SmallRig type extensions are also excellent and have a place also due to the built in Arca Swiss. I think the issue here is that you don't seem to see the other point of view and that these SmallRig type extensions are excellent for many, if not most, people due to the Arca Swiss built into it.

 

[Lance B]

I'm really at a loss in understanding why there is so much ranting about the height of the grip on the Z cameras. Having used Micro Four-thirds cameras along with my Nikons for some years now I find it easy to move from one body to another. I've just learned to curl my pinky under the camera body and the problem is solved. I don't even think about it. And I have never seen these complaints in the M4/3 forums. Is this so hard for you all to do?

Yes, it seems like "much ado about nothing"

 

[Volodja]

Lance B,

I see and accept your point.
Thank you for thoroughly commenting all blocks of my previous post.

My opinion is, I don’t want to carry attached to camera L-Bracket without using directly its main function. I don’t film and don’t need expanded features to build on top. When I bought SmallRig I had exactly the same expectations, “two in one”. Praxis however, was a bit different, already explained. Ergonomically it doesn’t provide great comfort to my ordinary fingers. You remember, when D750 came out, there where many people saying that grip is not comfortable, I am not buying it, and, on the opposite side, many who loved it. It’s ok to discuss and share opinions, and I don’t expect your and mine opinions, as well as experience or needs to be identical

And speaking about ArcaSwiss stand alone L-Bracket solution. If one will look around, there are many possible solutions. For example one from 3leggedthing. It has only 67g!

https://www.3leggedthing.com/zelda

So again, I don’t see point to carry SmallRig with 156g for the moment when I don’t need that ArcaSwiss feature because my tripod is at home and I am at event. If I need to travel with tripod or I do landscape I would prefer smaller and lighter plate with me to reduce overall weight like this 67g L-Bracket. In studio weight doesn’t really matter.

But, because you defend SmallRig, there is another disadvantage of it that nobody is talking about. You can’t mount FTZ dapter on it because of that stabilization pin in the middle. So imagine you have say very heavy lens (I tried Sigma 105 f/1.4 Art with ~ 1.6kg) but let’s assume even heavier long telephoto lens)
and want to have it on tripod you need to screw in support plate for FTZ (can be purchased separately) to deccrease stress on mount itself. How good this solution is I don’t know. I prefer to mount on tripod FTZ or lens if this is allowed by lens supportive collar, then, again SmallRig in such situation is just pointless. SmallRig is not a universal solution where small L-Bracket only can be.

Different solution allows you to mount small L-Bracket beneath FTZ adapter. It’s also safer for camera in combination with heavy lens.

And last point negative temperatures. Photographing outside at -10/15C I cannot always use gloves and find skin to metal surface contact at this temperature not good solution at all! You don’t have such problem with rubberized grips

I didn’t want intentionally to discuss SmallRig but because of user falconeyes who even doesn’t own it and called “What are you talking about?” all this started. Vertraue mir, ich weiß sehr gut worüber ich spreche

Coming back to the main topic. I hope there is someone clever in China who is watching all the trends, analyze missing chains, parts, can make copy of that Canon extension grip (86g by the way) optimize it for Z6/Z7 and offer for few $.

Peace

 

[Ke Liu]

Didnt know how much does Canon charge for such, but on my Z, I got pinky support on the L-plate, not expensive, merely equivalent to 30USD.

 

[Clayton1985]

I'm really at a loss in understanding why there is so much ranting about the height of the grip on the Z cameras. Having used Micro Four-thirds cameras along with my Nikons for some years now I find it easy to move from one body to another. I've just learned to curl my pinky under the camera body and the problem is solved. I don't even think about it. And I have never seen these complaints in the M4/3 forums. Is this so hard for you all to do?

The problem isn't solved because for some unknown reason you think it has something to do with difficulty and not comfort. No it isn't hard to curl your pinky under the camera body... it's just not comfortable.

 

[Volodja]

I'm really at a loss in understanding why there is so much ranting about the height of the grip on the Z cameras. Having used Micro Four-thirds cameras along with my Nikons for some years now I find it easy to move from one body to another. I've just learned to curl my pinky under the camera body and the problem is solved. I don't even think about it. And I have never seen these complaints in the M4/3 forums. Is this so hard for you all to do?

The problem isn't solved because for some unknown reason you think it has something to do with difficulty and not comfort. No it isn't hard to curl your pinky under the camera body... it's just not comfortable.

I think shorter Z body is the only Nikon’s excuse for not including 2 card slots

 

[Volodja]

Didnt know how much does Canon charge for such, but on my Z, I got pinky support on the L-plate, not expensive, merely equivalent to 30USD.

79.99$

https://www.amazon.com/Canon-Extension-Grip-Eg-E1-Re/dp/B07NBY4BQN/ref=bdl_pop_ttl_B07NBY4BQN

They have 3 versions(colors)

https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EG-E1-Extension-Grip.aspx

 

[gianfranco75]

Ok, that is good if it works for you and you are fine with features but please don’t call this grip

I use/need ArcaSwiss for 10% of time I use my camera.
The rest 90% I have it in hand therefore need grip. SmallRig is good L-bracket, no doubt, it is versatile and adjustable, but not more that that. As stand alone grip extention it is far from being perfect and you know it everytime your pinky touches it. It has poor ergonomics and even opening of battery compartment is not easy.

People are talking about it because there is no alternative on the market right now. Happy SmallRig owners, quickly adapted available design from Sony and jupi let’s make business with Z owners.

If Nikon had introduced from begin 1-1.5 cm tall grip extention made of the same material as body itself people would pay double price for native solution. No one would even talk about SmallRig. There are plenty of different 50% lighter and 50% cheaper L-brackets on market already with ArcaSwiss compatibility. More materials available, some made of light magnesium for example. Those can be always attached and removed even from that grip when needed for tripod, don’t see any problem there.

I agree with you and always thought that the bump would be totally uncomfortable for me. I am also looking for some kind of grip extension, possibly in a L-bracket but I believe this would not be possible due to the nondetachable battery door (or at least not easily detachable), cause the L-brackets for Sony Alpha do not have that bump ( http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/Alpha-a7RIII ).

From the pictures, the Gabale L-bracket seems to have the smallest bump ( https://www.ebay.de/itm/GABALE-QR-L...Z6-LB-Z7-Camera/113642245106?var=413772455565 )

I am actually surprised that nobody came up with a similar solution to the (expensive) Sony grip extension. It is very light but really makes a difference (of course, you cant use a plate with it):

https://www.sony.com/electronics/interchangeable-lens-cameras-other-accessories/gp-x1em