Battery grip: yay or nay?

Whateverist · 05-06-2016, 08:56 AM

On the upside, I do shoot a lot of portrait (the orientation, not the genre) and it'd be nice to have an AA battery option for emergencies.

On the downside, money.

So, grip users: do you feel the K-1 benefits from having it?

**grhazelton** · 05-06-2016, 09:05 AM

I can't speak for the K 1, but I wouldn't be without one on my K 5!

alamo5000 · 05-06-2016, 09:16 AM

I am posting to monitor replies here as I am interested too. I wonder what the grip does for weight on the K1.

I would also be interested to see a pic of the K1 next to a K3 so that I can 'compare' how my hand might fit on there.

I have grown accustomed to using the grip on a K3 now.... so all these K1 pics are tempting me in a big big way.

**jatrax** · 05-06-2016, 09:28 AM

I will go the other way, I've tried grips and they just don't work for me. The extra weight cancels out any battery increase. I do shoot about half portrait but find turning the camera works for me. YMMV

MadMathMind · 05-06-2016, 09:28 AM

Yah! I find the camera so much easier to hold and work with, especially in portrait orientation, with it. I can't believe I ever shot without it!

As a side bonus, it makes people oooh and aaahh over your camera, haha. I once had it mistaken for a 1D X!

Winder · 05-06-2016, 09:31 AM

With the D-FA* 70-200mm I will be using the grip. The lens is just too big to go all day without it.

With the 31mm I wont use it. I won't take it off just for a few shots, but if I going for a walk with the 31mm I will remove the grip.

For me it just depends on the lens and how long I will be shooting.

**Quartermaster James** · 05-06-2016, 09:44 AM - **8 Likes**

Originally posted by MadMathMind

As a side bonus, it makes people oooh and aaahh over your camera, haha. I once had it mistaken for a 1D X!

Sorry to hear that.
.
.
.

Last edited by Quartermaster James; 05-06-2016 at 10:06 AM.

Whateverist · 05-06-2016, 09:45 AM - **2 Likes**

Quote:

As a side bonus, it makes people oooh and aaahh over your camera, haha. I once had it mistaken for a 1D X!

But half the point of a Pentax is that people don't notice it!

(semi-serious, but I'm not one for flashy gear and the Pentax line seems to suit that just fine)

volosong · 05-06-2016, 09:59 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by jatrax

I will go the other way, I've tried grips and they just don't work for me...

I'm with you on this. I've had grips since my K20 days, (on a K20, K-7, K-5, and K-3). I carry it in the 'travel' lens bag but very rarely use it. As with you, it is just easier to turn the camera and bend my right wrist up to forehead level. Only real time I shoot portrait orientation is when grabbing frames for a mosaic.

**UncleVanya** · 05-06-2016, 10:02 AM

Originally posted by jatrax

I will go the other way, I've tried grips and they just don't work for me. The extra weight cancels out any battery increase. I do shoot about half portrait but find turning the camera works for me. YMMV

Me too.

**Quartermaster James** · 05-06-2016, 10:05 AM

Originally posted by jatrax

I will go the other way, I've tried grips and they just don't work for me. The extra weight cancels out any battery increase. I do shoot about half portrait but find turning the camera works for me. YMMV

I agree. I'm okay with the weight, but I find the grip makes the camera overly large and unwieldy; hard to carry, hard to fit into a pack, etc.

Out in the field, where I could benefit from the extra battery most, the grip is a lot more troublesome than carrying even three extra batteries.

Also, I keep an Arca type plate on my camera and use a carry clip and my tripod, etc., are all set-up to accept same. I do not like the grip+plate combo.

YMMV. I can see how with a different shooting style the grip could be a benefit, especially a more studio style environment.

Finally, while I've been on the "it's great to have the AA option for emergencies" bandwagon for years now, I have never, ever had such "emergency" arise!

johnc · 05-06-2016, 10:20 AM

I find it is a useful thing to have, though I don't use it a lot. I think it's worth picking up for the offer price in UK (£99 with K-1) if you are not using the £130 discount to buy a lens.

The times I use it are limited to on a tripod (I quite often leave the QR plate on the grip rather than on the camera, partly because the QR plate for my junior geared head is a little large). Another benefit here is that I'm not looking around for tools/coins to take the QR plate one and off the camera - I tend to keep a QR plate on the grip at all times.

It is REALLY handy when shooting portraits/events, just because I find I tire of holding the camera in Portrait orientation and it helps me hold the camera level in portrait. But I don't always bring it, owing to size and weight.

I do NOT take it walking/hiking etc, it's much easier to pocket a spare battery or two, and it makes the camera unwieldy to fit in my (smallish) bag.

So for me - not essential - but worth it if you get an offer price (which would mean not too much loss when selling in the future e.g. as part of an upgrade). Just my 2p!

John

Whateverist · 05-06-2016, 10:20 AM - **1 Like**

Quote:

Finally, while I've been on the "it's great to have the AA option for emergencies" bandwagon for years now, I have never, ever had such "emergency" arise!

I've had it happen exactly once. Prague, with my A640 that I forgot to pack spares for. I was never happier to see a newspaper stand with overpriced Duracells. Ever since then I've religiously charged and packed my batteries whenever I go anywhere but in the back of my mind there's that little voice, "what if you run out?".

VoiceOfReason · 05-06-2016, 10:33 AM - **1 Like**

I have never used the one I got with my K3, even though I have had it for a year and a half. perhaps I should sell it.

**LaurenOE** · 05-06-2016, 10:37 AM

I've used a battery grip on every camera that could have one. As far back as my ME-Super, *ist-D and my soon-to-be-in-my-hands K1. You get an additional battery, better ergonomics and sometimes some cool extra storage places - like for an additional SD card or remote. Battery grips are definitely worth it - so many uses.

05-06-2016, 08:56 AM	#1
Whateverist Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 32	Battery grip: yay or nay? On the upside, I do shoot a lot of portrait (the orientation, not the genre) and it'd be nice to have an AA battery option for emergencies. On the downside, money. So, grip users: do you feel the K-1 benefits from having it?

05-06-2016, 10:20 AM	#12
johnc Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: United Kingdom Photos: Albums Posts: 735	I find it is a useful thing to have, though I don't use it a lot. I think it's worth picking up for the offer price in UK (£99 with K-1) if you are not using the £130 discount to buy a lens. The times I use it are limited to on a tripod (I quite often leave the QR plate on the grip rather than on the camera, partly because the QR plate for my junior geared head is a little large). Another benefit here is that I'm not looking around for tools/coins to take the QR plate one and off the camera - I tend to keep a QR plate on the grip at all times. It is REALLY handy when shooting portraits/events, just because I find I tire of holding the camera in Portrait orientation and it helps me hold the camera level in portrait. But I don't always bring it, owing to size and weight. I do NOT take it walking/hiking etc, it's much easier to pocket a spare battery or two, and it makes the camera unwieldy to fit in my (smallish) bag. So for me - not essential - but worth it if you get an offer price (which would mean not too much loss when selling in the future e.g. as part of an upgrade). Just my 2p! John Last edited by johnc; 05-07-2016 at 02:03 AM.

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05-06-2016, 09:05 AM	#2
grhazelton Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Jonesboro, GA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,972	I can't speak for the K 1, but I wouldn't be without one on my K 5!

05-06-2016, 09:16 AM	#3
alamo5000 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 2,962	I am posting to monitor replies here as I am interested too. I wonder what the grip does for weight on the K1. I would also be interested to see a pic of the K1 next to a K3 so that I can 'compare' how my hand might fit on there. I have grown accustomed to using the grip on a K3 now.... so all these K1 pics are tempting me in a big big way.

05-06-2016, 09:28 AM	#4
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	I will go the other way, I've tried grips and they just don't work for me. The extra weight cancels out any battery increase. I do shoot about half portrait but find turning the camera works for me. YMMV

05-06-2016, 09:28 AM	#5
MadMathMind Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Houston, TX Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,717	Yah! I find the camera so much easier to hold and work with, especially in portrait orientation, with it. I can't believe I ever shot without it! As a side bonus, it makes people oooh and aaahh over your camera, haha. I once had it mistaken for a 1D X!

05-06-2016, 09:31 AM	#6
Winder Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 6,617	With the D-FA* 70-200mm I will be using the grip. The lens is just too big to go all day without it. With the 31mm I wont use it. I won't take it off just for a few shots, but if I going for a walk with the 31mm I will remove the grip. For me it just depends on the lens and how long I will be shooting.

05-06-2016, 09:44 AM - 8 Likes	#7
Quartermaster James Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 653	Originally posted by MadMathMind As a side bonus, it makes people oooh and aaahh over your camera, haha. I once had it mistaken for a 1D X! Sorry to hear that. . . . Last edited by Quartermaster James; 05-06-2016 at 10:06 AM.

05-06-2016, 09:45 AM - 2 Likes	#8
Whateverist Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 32 Original Poster	Quote: As a side bonus, it makes people oooh and aaahh over your camera, haha. I once had it mistaken for a 1D X! But half the point of a Pentax is that people don't notice it! (semi-serious, but I'm not one for flashy gear and the Pentax line seems to suit that just fine)

05-06-2016, 09:59 AM - 1 Like	#9
volosong Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 696	Originally posted by jatrax I will go the other way, I've tried grips and they just don't work for me... I'm with you on this. I've had grips since my K20 days, (on a K20, K-7, K-5, and K-3). I carry it in the 'travel' lens bag but very rarely use it. As with you, it is just easier to turn the camera and bend my right wrist up to forehead level. Only real time I shoot portrait orientation is when grabbing frames for a mosaic.

05-06-2016, 10:02 AM	#10
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,385	Originally posted by jatrax I will go the other way, I've tried grips and they just don't work for me. The extra weight cancels out any battery increase. I do shoot about half portrait but find turning the camera works for me. YMMV Me too.

05-06-2016, 10:05 AM	#11
Quartermaster James Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 653	Originally posted by jatrax I will go the other way, I've tried grips and they just don't work for me. The extra weight cancels out any battery increase. I do shoot about half portrait but find turning the camera works for me. YMMV I agree. I'm okay with the weight, but I find the grip makes the camera overly large and unwieldy; hard to carry, hard to fit into a pack, etc. Out in the field, where I could benefit from the extra battery most, the grip is a lot more troublesome than carrying even three extra batteries. Also, I keep an Arca type plate on my camera and use a carry clip and my tripod, etc., are all set-up to accept same. I do not like the grip+plate combo. YMMV. I can see how with a different shooting style the grip could be a benefit, especially a more studio style environment. Finally, while I've been on the "it's great to have the AA option for emergencies" bandwagon for years now, I have never, ever had such "emergency" arise!

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05-06-2016, 10:20 AM - 1 Like	#13
Whateverist Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 32 Original Poster	Quote: Finally, while I've been on the "it's great to have the AA option for emergencies" bandwagon for years now, I have never, ever had such "emergency" arise! I've had it happen exactly once. Prague, with my A640 that I forgot to pack spares for. I was never happier to see a newspaper stand with overpriced Duracells. Ever since then I've religiously charged and packed my batteries whenever I go anywhere but in the back of my mind there's that little voice, "what if you run out?".

05-06-2016, 10:33 AM - 1 Like	#14
VoiceOfReason Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Mishawaka IN area Photos: Albums Posts: 6,124	I have never used the one I got with my K3, even though I have had it for a year and a half. perhaps I should sell it.

05-06-2016, 10:37 AM	#15
LaurenOE Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Back in Florida, but worldwide gigs! Photos: Albums Posts: 3,690	I've used a battery grip on every camera that could have one. As far back as my ME-Super, *ist-D and my soon-to-be-in-my-hands K1. You get an additional battery, better ergonomics and sometimes some cool extra storage places - like for an additional SD card or remote. Battery grips are definitely worth it - so many uses.