I too agree with photoptimist. This method of carrying when shooting can make a big difference, and makes the reliance on having the desirable for some big handle design less of an issue. But for carrying in hand at the ready, like for certain events, the larger handle is helpful when not shooting. The KP's design is great for changing these parameters as needed. For me with some moderate sized lenses, there's no problem with the largest supplied grip, and even the smallest grip will do fine with a compact lens. For larger lenses, the optional battery grip is the way to go, especially when hand-carrying at the side in the portrait position, which provides a whole lot of gripping area. Easy to change to the normal position if desired as the camera is swung up to the eye for shooting.
---------- Post added 11-27-21 at 07:52 PM ----------
Originally posted by Serkevan Bottom line, don't keep your K-1 in hand with a Metz 48 flash and a 700g 70-210 tele for two hours while going up and down a forest path taking portraits of friends. Trust me on that one .
Different use conditions is the reason I've long had more than one camera size and design. For this situation and others, My K-S2 is very lightweight, and has small dimensions for a DSLR. Yet it offers 2-wheel operation, WR construction, a top-quality VF, the flippy screen with even a built-in selfie setup, and with the amazingly compact DA-L 18-50mm WR kit lens it can fit into a large jacket pocket! It is also capable of convenient high-quality imaging, while size and weight with this setup thus carried is negligible.
If not wearing a jacket, then it's back to the KP. With that same lens or say the DA 21mm Ltd, (but then no WR) it can even fit into a belt case, due to NOT having the often-desired larger built-in right-hand grip, in this instance using the smallest changeable grip for a much more slim form to fit into such a case. Again, with this arrangement size and carrying weight are also negligible, and with quality imaging. Of course, it's very possible to also slip the DA 40mm and/or DA 70mm Ltd's into one's pockets!