Just wondering for the one who own BG-E3 for your canon 350 or 400D, How useful you think it is?
Does it really help alot? Or it actually end up you buy it, but because of too bulk then you don usually use it?

I myself found my 400D is very hard to grab. Thinking to get one BG-E3, but scare later on found it too troublesome ends up never use it and money go to waste..

BG-E3 owners, how you think?

If you are going to use your 400D for another 2 years, get it...

But if you thinking of upgrade within 6 months, why waste money?

very useful, especially when you're taking portrait shots (portrait, as in portrait vs landscape. that type. meaning hold camera the OTHER way)

it also adds weight for stability. it also holds 2 batteries instead of 1. it also can hold AA batteries if you need.

lastly, you get additional area to hold the camera.

My concern is will it be too bulky? I personally wish to get one, but scare later on don like to carry it around..

BTW, how much the cheapest we can get now?

Yeah... It is useful for 2 things;

(1) Big Hand

(2) Potrait / Vertical shots.

It is so useful that I think all camera should come built-in like the 1D...

i don't have big hands. i still find it useful.

How much is it the cheapest now? actually I am in singapore, I found it quite expensive here

It's like S$200 for a new one.. meaning RM440...

between goldfries and VOIP, i have the smallest hand, but the grip is really useful for the added stability and for when I taking portrait shots.
I now have the grip permanently attached to my 400D, got use to it already so don't really find it bulky haha
Yeah cheaper to get at Singapore, i got mind for RM480 at YL

Price for battery grip is not cheap...

It is why I ask you guys to think how long you going to keep your camera. If for at least 1 year.... then can consider buying... But if 1 year also not sure... better dun waste money... Because at the end, the battery grip will be bundled cheap cheap sell to people...

mine permanently too.

btw i got mine for RM 350. not from shop la. it's spanking new, just that pre-owned.

i think my hands is smallest among u guys but last finger still hanging around without using grip. for me, i think it really worth the investment. Especially it supports AA battery. Very useful when u go travelling

i like the double Li-Ion pack. no need change battery so often.

at first i was also thinking why spend RM400-500 to buy a piece of sh*t to attach to the cam. but once i got it, i like it a lot. now i feel weird without using it.

Yup... And it make the small 400D bigger... Even the horizontal normal gripping feel also improve with the battery grip!

I also looking for BG-e3.. currently using 3rd party battery grip.
ahh.. used one also i dont mind.. i need it
[WTB] used bg-e3

Bro.. sorry if im being rude.

If you think it will be too bulky, then why buy dslr at the first place? a G9 is easy to use and to carry around.

Good point...

I found bulky or not is subjective... even to the same person...

Most of the time I need my battery grip... But there are times when I want to travel light for bussiness, I remove the battery grip and only carry the 17-55.

I guess it is why Canon make the vertical grip as an optional accessaroes...

Especially when used together with a heavy lens & flash.

and it makes u looks more pro...

honestly i wont eliminate the possibilities of getting one for my d40 if nikon release an official battery grip.. lol

but i think i dun need the 3rd party grip as my hands fit the d40 nicely.

Another thing, sorry coz i donno about this BG-E3.. Goldfries mentioned about double Li-Ion pack. Does that means the battery inside the BG-E3 is actually connected to the camera? So, the battery is not put inside for storage purpose only?

battery grips have pins, to transfer data for dials, shutter buttons etc.
and it has power pins as well, that's why it is call battery grip, it is not something that just screw down there.

i am ex 400D owner with BG-E3...
never regret for getting the grip.... like it so much...

Off topic - Just in this topic, I see lots of pioneer forum members who joined january 2003. Me myself, WkKay, datto, goldfries, valho....

lowyat.net rocks..

LOL. well it was due to some database issue AFAIK, so all registrants from a particular date range are set to January 2003.

anyway the battery grip allows you 2 hold 2 batteries. this means you run both batteries together instead of just 1. so you can have more shots all the way without having to recharge.

sometimes i just use 1 battery inside though, this way i could charge one while using the other. the grip serves as handle and weight add-on.

normally i use 1 battery only. when it dies, i replace with another one. when both die, i put both together in the grip. then the camera works again. surprisingly it still can last quite long.

ya, when u run 2 batteries together, it is actually more longer lasting than u run each of them separately.. maybe it is like 2.5 like that.. haha

Well, I'll try to go along the lines of battery grip irrespective of what model you will be using today or the future:

Advantages
- Better grip
- Balances the setup when you couple a heavy lens and flash head
- Vertical framing convenience
- Allows for 2 batteries for longer usage (not necessarily double the operating time)
- More power supply choices and flexibility (battery pack and AAs)
- Minimize motion and vibration caused by your finger pressing the shutter too hard

Disadvantages
- Although heavy is good, it is bulky and a lot of weight
- Your bag may not fit the camera+battery grip, which means you either need to dismantle it before going to the bag. Alternatively, you need to de-couple lens.
- When you rest your camera on a surface, the battery grip causes the camera to be too tall and the lens is not supported. Causing it to tip down, with your lens filter thread and mount taking a lot of downward stress.

Although the disadvantages are valid and true, you can counter it by changing your approach in handling your camera. EOS 30/40D camera might not need a battery grip so soon because it is a large body to begin with. The EOS400D is simply too small for our hands and when you do framing, your left hand will be tired because there is no battery grip present there to support your left palm.

But like TheVOIP says, if you're upgrading soon then don't waste money on the BG-E3 because you can't use it when you upgrade. Owners of EOS30D can still use their BG-E2/N on the new 40D.

the above bolded does not apply to some battery grips, like the Sony ones for example.



yes, some bags don't fit it. i have to abandon my old bag (small lowepro) because once you have the grip on, the most you can put is prime 50mm. any other lens, sorry la no place to adjust.

as to the camera tipping, it depends on what lense. kit lens and prime lens (50 1.8) are usually fine. they won't tip.

here's the 18-55 on 350D + BGE3



on the other hand fit with any of my other lens - sure tip. because they're heavy. i don't think the stress is that power lah. in most cases, the filter doesn't touch the ground. like my lenses for example, only the hood touches it.




well if you enjoy the convenience of a grip in taking portrait shots, then having BG would be nice. it's not just the weight la.

this is how you hold without grip



try doing that for long period of shots. i did that when doing runway shoot. after that my index finger hurts and i had to use middle finger for shutter. no kidding.

because you know la when it's packed, you have to hold that way, tip toe, balance. focus / snap, and hope your arm doesn't block and armpit doesn't irritate others.

when it tip you can do what I did below



shooting portrait/vertical without grip is very tiring, even more so when you are using heavy lens coz of the way you need to hold the camera, if add flash die already lo

you might need are more block variation cos some lens barrels are much bigger.

I got mine in s'pore as well S$180+ in sim lim.

And yes , I was like you before , asking few people how useful is the grip is ? , well once I got it , i was satisfied with the grip which gives me a magazine slot which fits 2 x NB 2LH batteries , which gives me a longer time I can use and the 6x AA Magazine slot which is useful during outstation where you cant charge your NB 2LH , and you can just head to the store and get 6x of AA batteries , which save your day if you were outstation to or anywhere.

I tried the grip with a 55-250mm IS lens , well i can say it is very stable for me , which the weight from the grip stablised it better.

here's how it looks when shooting vertically

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sherrenlee/2255136286/

sheren: Your hyperstore does not display properly in Firefox in Linux,
FYI

ok i will inform my engineer thanks for the feedback

Man, when you bought it S$180? Just want to know the market price now.. Sim Lim is not like Lowyat, they markup the price alot at times.

I got it ~Dec 2007.

be careful when you get from there. Do not be in a hurry. Ask more questions. Do not fall into trap.
(I did)

How about 3rd party battery grip, anyone used these before? Any comments?

@shootM3

I would advice you not to get a 3rd party batt grip... Just save a lil more and get a original one.

Well from what I heard the 3rd party isnt as good quality as the Original Canon one , I think is still better to get the Original Canon Battery Grip

icic ok thx for the advices
Wasn't aiming at battery grip for now but after reading this thread, seems like it's very useful

your welcome , before hand after i gotten my 350D, After that i got my Flash and i Had a Dilemma should I get a Grip , well its very useful now and im satisfied with it
also one thing i want to add, while your camera is on a tripod with the battery grip , when you need to change ur batteries you just need to turn the key lock and pull out the battery magazine out without having to unscrew the plate which mounted on the camera

The 1st accessory I bought after getting my 400D is the BG-E3.

Got my BG-E3 today at singapore, but only manage to get S$187 including tax. Which is around RM420.

@jim

I think that's a reasonable price... I asked around almost half a year ago and the lowest I price I got was Rm440-460 range. Congrats on your purchase anyway and shoot more !

BG-E3 is good!! help you lots when you are using big lens. Make sure to get original with original batt, you dont want your cam to spoil... here is my 2cent