Battery grip

B

Baz007

Suspended / Banned
Messages
218
Name
Chris
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi all, me again! I'm new to this photography lark and getting quite into it! I was using my camera a fair bit taking motorsport pics this weekend and decided my camera feels a little small in my hands. I have a 20D, which will probably get upgraded once funds allow ( had to start somewhere).
Question is, how much difference will the grip make, do I actually need one and would you go for one of the cheaper versions from HK or a genuine Canon one?

Sorry for yet another silly question,

Chris
 
Genuine Canon one for me (BG-E2N), balances the camera a lot better IMHO, especially with a longish zoom lens on it and is very useful for portrait format shots as has an additional shutter button. The HK ones IMHO aren't as well made construction wise.

Also takes an additional battery as well. As for whether you need one, it isn't essential but I can honestly say I enjoy using my 40D more than I did without one.

Mark
 
Grips are awesome, I never take mine off my 40D.

If you do alot of portrait work then a vertical grip is essential.

I also find it more comfortable shooting in landscape with the grip. Gives a little bit extra space to hold the camera with.

I used to have a HK one on my 400D and now have an official Canon on my 40D. The build quality is so much better, feels alot nicer and alot stronger. Also has a few extra buttons and attatches to the camera better.

You can import official Canon grips from HK for alot cheaper than they are in the UK (around £75 compared to £130 in the UK).
 
Well, after the advice in this thread I decided to slap yet more gear on my CC! Currently bidding on a grip on the bay, an offical one. Prices for new, genuine ones are really cheap in HK but shipping is ridiculous! I'll be sure to let you know when i get it
 
Baz I bought my oem (make YXTM) grip for £36 plus £12 delivery off eBay, it's as good as the original.
 
I've also got an YXTM grip and comparing it to the official Canon unit they are extremely similar, I couldn’t justify the extra cash for the official one.
 
Hmmm, decisions, decisions. If this S/H canon one falls through I may have to re-evaluate the situation and act accordingly. Nobody warned me that getting into this photography lark would involve so many decisions and so much stuff to spend money on.
 
Put it this way I was looking at an official grip imported from HK at around £80-£100, instead I paid £55 for a YXTM one with two additional batteries, a cheap but useful IR remote, and a hand strap that works great with the grip fitted.

I've used all this stuff for a fair amount of time over the past couple of months and not a single compliant.
 
I had a Canon grip for my 30D. When I bought my 40D I was planning to transfer the grip over and, perhaps, get another grip for the 30D. In the end I did not bother with the transfer. The 40D body has a chunkier feel to it and sits better in my hands than the 30D and I did not feel adding the grip would be of any worthwhile benefit. For one thing, I think the grip looks sort of naff. It does not make the 30D/40D look like a 1D series camera all of a sudden. More importantly, I'd rather save the weight and bulk by having no grips, rather than one or two extra lumps in my kit bag. Now the 40D gets my longer lenses - 70-200 f/2.8 and 100-400, and my 30D generally gets the short lenses like my 10-22 and 17-55. I do not miss the grip on the 30D at all and, like I say, I don't think the 40D needs one in any case. If you shoot a lot of portrait orientation - (I don't) - then maybe the grip is worthwhile. I'm happier without.

Apart from all that, I don't really see anything to get excited about with the BG-E2N "weatherproofing". The 40D is still not fully weatherproofed in any case so it's all a bit moot. Plus, the absence of a dedicated AF-On button is a disgrace. Canon is being lazy and taking its customers for fools if they think adding a couple of strips of weatherproofing tape to the BG-E2 is worth £50 on top of the old price.
 
GSXRMovistar said:
Put it this way I was looking at an official grip imported from HK at around £80-£100, instead I paid £55 for a YXTM one with two additional batteries, a cheap but useful IR remote, and a hand strap that works great with the grip fitted.

I've used all this stuff for a fair amount of time over the past couple of months and not a single compliant.
Click to expand...

Right, thanks for your advice, I'll order one of those now as the bid for the S/H canon one, without box has just hit 70, i'm not prepared to pay that :thumbsdown:
 
steep - if you can hold off buying either of those grips that you just linked to on bay.

I have ordered the pro version for the 400D. i got 2 battery packs with it as well. Ordered it on friday so should be here this week some time. will post back up on here when I get it.

The only downside I can see is the battery pack is black, and my 400D is silver.. LOL mind you not even the official canon ones come in silver.

Mike
 
I'm sorry but I don't agree with the posts made about YXTM grips...I don't think they are as good as the official Canon grips.

I have owned both, a YXTM on my 400D and official BG-E2N on my 40D and the official is alot better. Nicer build quality, extra buttons, more comfortable to hold, better scroll wheel.

If you get it for under £100 then the official Canon is worth the extra money in my opinion, but I woulden't pay over £100 for it.

I got mine with my 40D for £680 which was a bargain.

The YXTM are good, don't get me wrong, for the price they are great value for money but I won't buy another one when I get a new body, I will get official Canon.
 
I've gone for the YXTM purely because I can't be bothered bidding anymore. If this photography thing sticks with me long enough to buy a better camera, I'll look into a Canon one then. THanks everybody fr the advice
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top