Originally posted by davemdsn I bought the grip for my K10 largely out of habit, having had one for my *istD, my MZ-S, and my ME Super. (The PZ-1P is the only Pentax SLR that I didn't have a grip for.) The K10D is easily large enough to accommodate most large hands without the added grip so it is not necessary for simply handling the camera.
I don't know if it was so much habit for my choice. I do have a grip/drive for my 2 Super Programs, my PZ-1P, and my K10D. I do not have one for my SF1 or my DS. I know if there was a Pentax one for the DS I'd have it. I just find them to make the way I handle/hold my cameras to be mucho more comfortable/convenient. I found the PZ-1P grip to be my favourite for comfort, especially with the built-in wrist strap, but I also find it to be way over priced, and does nothing for me in portrait. The comfort and function on the K10D is great. It's battery management, and all the functions you can easily use in portrait great too, the card and remote storage or a bonus. The cost of it is great too. It cost less than the PZ-1P grip that has no functions, battery or storage. It makes the K10D bigger, and heavier, but for me I feel more stable/balanced with it on with a telephoto on the front. If I had a pancake on the front I might be tempted to take it off if I knew it wasn't going to be used in portrait. The only thing I have found to be a downside is the tripod mount is off centre of the ccd. That is only a nuisance if you are doing panos, and my pano head is not so strong that I want to leave the extra weight on the camera anyhow.
By all means try to find some place you can feel a camera, lens, and grip together. For some it might not feel 'right', I personally can not understand that, and for some it might take a tiny bit of use to feel and appreciate the benefits. For the rest of us it's an instant appreciation for that grip to complete the body. My hands are not large but I have consistently found over the years that a grip on any camera I use is an asset.