I'm finally considering a new body and thus all of the peripheral items (ie L-bracket), batteries, etc.

I've never used a battery grip on my camera but I constantly here about those who do and rave about it. I see neither the benefit to having extra onboard batteries at the cost of the constant extra heft doing so nor do I appreciate the advantage of having secondary controls for shooting in portrait mode....but then I've never used a grip! I carry my "extra" batteries in a kit bag in my daypack (usually a Lowepro Slingshot 200) and I'm quite comfortable switching frequently between landscape and portrait using the existing controls on an ungripped camera. I suppose there could be a balancing issue if matched with a super telephoto...but I don't know if one of those will ever be in my future at the exponential rates their pricing is escalating at, thus a 100-400 or 400/5.6 may be the biggest.

I'm curious as to how many use one, how "indispensable" you feel one is and why, and whether you recommend one.

Thanks.

I find the vertical grip handy on my D300. The caveat being that it adds weight, and eventually that weight gets to me. If I'm out and about on foot I tend to leave it off. If I'm shooting hockey or working out of my car I leave it on. These old bones can't take as much as they used to

For those of us that need the extra battery capacity and a duplicate set of controls when working vertically without having to twist your hand over the top of the camera, it is indispensable. If these things aren't important in your photography then it is an unnecessary addition for you

I always use a grip-Always, If nothing else it helps balance big lenses when using a gimbal type head

Dave

Like it on 70-200 2.8 and bigger, not on anything smaller.

I love the second set of controls for vertical shooting! Mine are on my cameras almost permanently. I can think of only three times I've ever removed them from any of my cameras (having had one since 2003). Two of those three times were for travel by air (when the travel was for business, not photography), and the third was when I stripped down my backup camera for my 10 year old daughter to carry on a hike. The weight doesn't bother me at all for hiking.

-Paul

Mine stays permanently attached to my D700. The extra battery is far less important for me than the improved ergonomics for vertical shooting. Especially on a Nikon where the controls aren't in the best of places for vertical shooting.

I bought one to travel with because it had the capacity to use AA batteries in case of emergency.

Bill

From the moment I placed the MBD10 on my D300 I knew it would be there virtually permanently. Here are the reasons:

1. The grip makes the otherwise small camera “fit” my large hand. I could not care any less about the extra weight it adds. In fact, I like a hefty camera. By the way, I have NiCads in the grip and they are dead and have been dead. For power I totally rely on swapping two of the Nikon rechargeable batteries in and out of the hinged compartment in the body, i.e. one is always freshly charged and ready to replace the exhausted one inside the body. I have read where people complain that it is a design flaw......having to remove the grip in order to reach the D300’s battery compartment. Give me a break!

2. IMO, with anything larger than a normal or wide angle lens, the camera is “front-weighted” and out of balance with just the body and lens. Add the grip with my batteries inside for weight....and the whole unit balances out, i.e. I want the mass more proximal than distal.

3. It took a few years but now I have converted to always using the grip to release the shutter when in vertical format.

4. When walking with the D300 it is often simply hanging from my right hand with my fingers wrapped under the side grip. Without the MBD10 attached my little finger would not also be gripping the camera. What adds to my secure feeling when holding the camera this way is the stickiness or tackiness of the rubber that Nikon molds into their camera bodies. It has just the right “grippy” feeling (good job Nikon!). But have been thinking lately that I ought to look into Really Right Stuff’s hand strap for that extra security.

I doubt I will ever try to sell my D300. Too many memories with it. And besides....I would not get much for it: The rubber grip is heavily worn smooth and very dulled where my thumb (from base to tip) grips the camera in both vert and horizontal positions. But I like that because it shows me that I have used this camera a lot.....and that is what I bought it for.

Thanks for the opportunity to comment on my experience.

Robert

As the post above, I can't shoot a D300 comfortably without the grip on it. I also like a heavy body as I normally have a heavier lens and the balance is better.

Use a grip...it's the only way to shoot while keeping your right arm tucked close to your body for greatly increased camera stability. A grip is also financially a far better surface to absorb the nicks and dents your expensive body will be subject to (for when you eventually sell your body). As well, I've had no problems using 3rd party grips that offer big dollar savings. Good Luck

I like the grip to help balance heavy lenses and for verticals, although Canon's grips(7D and 5Dm2) are poorly designed IMO. Besides the ergonomics of a brick, they omitted a toggle for the AF point selection.

WELL, I certainly thank everyone for their responses and rationale. I don't know if ONLY those who use a grip responded or whether the vast majority of Naturescapers use grips. I'll need to reconsider my position and try out a grip BEFORE I commit to an L-bracket!

Hey Russ

I'm surprised so many good shooters here struggle so much with pushing a button. I shoot with a grip, but remove it on most of my backpacking trips, for the weight and space savings. It makes a big difference if I'm trying to carry the camera in an external pouch while backpacking. I have no difficulty managing to shoot vertically with or without the grip at all. I do wish the little el3 (?) battery got a better lifespan, but such seems to be the breaks.

With the D300s I think it does improve framerate to use the grip, but I can't recall exactly.

Cheers

Carl

BG-E7 Canon grip for the 7D has the main dial control and button for focus point selection if that is what you are referring to, the same as the grip for the 50D which I have, from what I see. Also, doesn't it have the grip control activation switch? I'm talking about the button with the quad icon and the magnifying glass I see on the image at b&h's product page.

Oh Come on Now! I like my grip cuz it make my camera look cooler and not like those "Soccer Mom" Jobs!!!!

GRIN>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Jim

Seriously, I got big Paws and I like the extra weight for stability not to mention the extra voltage too.....

I'm w/ Dizzy - the 40D is just a lot more comfortable for me w/ a grip on.

Does the Canon 7D grip include the AF on button? I use the AF on button to focur with rather than the large exposure button and am concerned that without it on the grip I would give up the ability to focus with it using the grip.

Looks like it
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/652388-REG/Canon_3815B001_BG_E7_Battery_Grip.html

I have grips on all my Nikons but I think it is a carryover from when I used an F2 with a motor drive attached. I got used to that "feel" and never could achieve it without adding a grip to my cameras. I do like the security of an additional battery and the ability to set which battery is in use first. I never remove the grips from my cameras unless my wife is going to use one of them. Hope this helps.