Originally posted by Ben_Edict I cannot comment on the BG-3. I use the battery grips on every camera I have (or motor drives in old days...) and sorely miss it, if I have to use another camera without grip. A hand grip improves ergonomics considerably, because modern cameras are simply so small, that they don't fit comfortably into my (average sized) hands. I never know where to place my small finger. Also, doubled battery live and ofcourse the shutter release and additional control wheels (on the BG-2), are very convenient, once you have yourself acustomed to actually use them.
Also, I personally find, it helps stabilizing the camera, when using bigger lenses.
There are drawbacks though: a full day with the camera+grip+ heavy lens around your neck, leaves marks around your neck and you may get sore skin, especially when it is hot... Many camera bags cannot accomodate a camera+grip easily - which is the most annoying thing for me.
Ben
Sorry it takes me so long to get back to all the comments.
I finally have a chance to take the camera out for a whole day and the setup (k200d +18-250) did leave a clear mark on my neck at the end of the day (and that is without the grip).
Currently my bag is a crumpler 5MDH which will not fit the camera+grip unless I take one of the dividers out.
The grip and eyecup is still a very tempting idea for me, I think I will get them both eventually but the question is which to get first