[GoremanX]

I'm with ya. I'm a current Clyde (Former skinny boy) riding a 30ish lb Yeti 575 so I know about haulling all-mountain stuff up the hills.

oooh! That's a sweet bike. I'm not terribly fond of full-sussers myself, but if I was, that's probably one I'd consider. Nice, burly frame and well-spec'ed.

You are a braver man than I taking that much gear on an MTB ride. I worry like a guy with a teenage daughter when I take my body and an 18-55 beater on easy trails.

My bag has some very heavy padding, otherwise I wouldn't even consider it. It's an excellent bag as far as protection, but it also makes it large-ish and somewhat heavy... there's always a compromise somewhere. I considered hauling my gear in my saddle bags for a millisecond, and then reality kicked in.

[Alex00]

Honestly i don't see the point for having a battery grip. I just carry an extra battery with me and save my self all all the weight and bulkiness. Why make the camera bigger and heavier.

[GoremanX]

Honestly i don't see the point for having a battery grip. I just carry an extra battery with me and save my self all all the weight and bulkiness. Why make the camera bigger and heavier.

That's a generalization that I'm sure applies very well to you.

Clearly you missed my repeated statements about me forgetting to charge batteries all the time, or the one where I described how I got stuck with a dead camera 6 shots into a session because of that forgetfulness.

However I'm really glad you don't suffer from this same forgetfulness. It's good to know some people aren't as absent-minded as I am.

Anyways, there's more to it than batteries. It's called a "battery grip", not a battery pack. But I'm glad my review helped to re-enforce the fact that you don't need a grip. On the other hand, I do.

[Andi Lo]

Honestly i don't see the point for having a battery grip. I just carry an extra battery with me and save my self all all the weight and bulkiness. Why make the camera bigger and heavier.

For my K10d, it makes it VERY hard for me to not shoot straight. I think just for that, it's worth it

[Alex00]

That's a generalization that I'm sure applies very well to you.

Clearly you missed my repeated statements about me forgetting to charge batteries all the time, or the one where I described how I got stuck with a dead camera 6 shots into a session because of that forgetfulness.

However I'm really glad you don't suffer from this same forgetfulness. It's good to know some people aren't as absent-minded as I am.

Anyways, there's more to it than batteries. It's called a "battery grip", not a battery pack. But I'm glad my review helped to re-enforce the fact that you don't need a grip. On the other hand, I do.

Clearly it's a mistake from your end. I always have one battery in the camera and another charged battery in the bag. You mean you forgot to charge both????. I would most definitely not take a battery grip if I'm going biking. just make sure your battery is charged before time and you're all set. No extra weight or bulkiness. As for camera Handheld grip stability. I wouldn't bet on it that with the grip i will take better photos. I'm able to handheld my k7 with the 50-135 with no grip issues at all.

[Alex00]

For my K10d, it makes it VERY hard for me to not shoot straight. I think just for that, it's worth it

Practice is the mother of all skills. You don't need a grip to shoot straight.....

[GoremanX]

Clearly it's a mistake from your end.

Of course it is! I forget to do things all the time, I've already stated that.

I would most definitely not take a battery grip if I'm going biking.

Oh, ok. That's good to know. I would, and I have. It's a great accessory for my needs.

just make sure your battery is charged before time and you're all set. No extra weight or bulkiness.

Man do I ever feel stupid, I had no idea life was so simple and easy! I've been going about this all wrong!

As for camera Handheld grip stability. I wouldn't bet on it that with the grip i will take better photos. I'm able to handheld my k7 with the 50-135 with no grip issues at all.

What a coincidence! So can I! I was doing it for months before I finally saved up enough for a grip. It was awesome. I thought I had it made.

And then along came the grip (for completely different reasons), and I found that holding the camera was EVEN EASIER than before! Who knew?

[Alex00]

Of course it is! I forget to do things all the time, I've already stated that.



Oh, ok. That's good to know. I would, and I have. It's a great accessory for my needs.



Man do I ever feel stupid, I had no idea life was so simple and easy! I've been going about this all wrong!



What a coincidence! So can I! I was doing it for months before I finally saved up enough for a grip. It was awesome. I thought I had it made.

And then along came the grip (for completely different reasons), and I found that holding the camera was EVEN EASIER than before! Who knew?

Do Whatever sails your boat. This is only my opinion and point of view.

[GoremanX]

Do Whatever sails your boat. This is only my opinion and point of view.

Phew! Good thing I have your permission For a second there, I thought I'd have to sell my grip because you didn't approve

[a a i b]

Nice write up, Goreman.

I've also got the grip, and I like it very much, especially for portraits. My only grip-gripe is that the curled ring for attaching the grip to the body lands just at your fingertips when shooting portrait mode; it's oddly uncomfortable.

But the pros of the grip far outweigh the cons.

[GoremanX]

My only grip-gripe is that the curled ring for attaching the grip to the body lands just at your fingertips when shooting portrait mode; it's oddly uncomfortable.

Hey you're right, I hadn't noticed that. It makes for a knurled protrusion sticking into the tips of 2 of my fingers. Doesn't bother me much now, but I bet it would get real uncomfortable over extended portrait shooting sessions.

[a a i b]

Actually I debated mentioning it, as if you don't notice, it can't bother you, right?

Anyway, just a bit of tape over it solves the problem.

[Andi Lo]

Practice is the mother of all skills. You don't need a grip to shoot straight.....

I shot with K100d for two years before getting the K10d with grip. Using the K10d with grip you dont even need practice to shoot straight. it just does. And I forgot to mention that I'm talking mostly shooting from the hip / no viewfinder here Sorry if I didnt make that clear.

[Nachodog]

I just bought a grip for my new K7 from a fellow forum member today.

I had one for my K10D as well and got used to having it. I just recently bought a K7 and had a 2.5 hour session where I had to shoot almost exclusively in portrait without a grip. It was painful. I have a very sore cyst on the back of my hand that makes it really difficult to shoot in portrait.

Sometimes it's not just a matter of "don't forget to charge your batteries and spend some time practicing and you'll be fine".

[SPB]

I concur, it changes the balance and feel completely and is 100% better, just felt totally natural at first use. Very happy I bought this grip too after much thought over price. It is much easier now to take upright pictures which I avoided. The buttons are all in the right place it does help being right-handed though (not sure it would be of any use if I was left handed). I too always had a second battery in the bag, now it is on the camera, with a spare SD card. I could do one of the events I go to with no bag. K7, grip and 21mm lens, that's a bonus too for me not to carry the weight on my back all day of the stuff I don't use on that day.