BG-E2 came today!

[BonjiB]

Just thought i'd share. :-) I love this thing. I went around taking vertical pictures just to get a feel for it and it's a dream to use. So much easier than tilting your wrist all up and such. My ONLY complaint is the absense of a multicontroller. It's not a huge deal cuz i can switch it back into normal mode requiring a focus button press then the quickdial or multicontroller press. I had mine set to multicontroller direct cuz i could just hit it any time and quickly select a focus point. Other than that little agrivation it's amazing. The best part about it is the extra handling it gives the camera. Just makes it feel more solid. I have my fz30 battery on charge so when that's finished i'll take a picture or two to add to the post (how about that for irony... taking a picture of your camera....) B&H has the 20d/30d grip for 169 which is as inexpensive as i could find it anywhere i felt comfortable ordering from. If you want better handling and a cooler looking camera it's well worth the dough. So yeah... slr owners... go buy a battery grip and be like me!

[RichNY]

Weight wise are you putting an extra battery in the grip or just using the grip for the size?

[BonjiB]

I only have one battery in it right now cuz i'm too cheap to spit out 50 more for a second battery. I bought it for the vertical grip.

[drew_viii]

i spent like 50 to 60 USD for the bg e2 and 2 batteries as well, though the batteries are not from canon, but it was good enough for the price though... bought it from ebay which came from HK with no tax at all which is good, delivery is fast as well...

i had my bg e2 too just yesterday! i like it the feeling of taking it vertical shots, though i have to remove the neck strap cuz its bothering me when doing some vertical shots...

ei, you might as well add the hand strap for your camera... think its called canon E1 hand strap, since you have the bg e2, it will go well with it... i just ordered mine today :D

[BonjiB]

Well what i went ahead and did was took the neckstrap off and mounted it sideways since MOST of my shots are vertical. That way i just hafta deal with the neckstrap being in the way when i'm shooting horizontally. I'll see how well i like it being turned that way for a while. A hand grip would get old for me pretty quick for what i do (mostly events.) They require enough standing around doing nothing to make a neckstrap worth keeping. I can't over how different this camera feels.

[drew_viii]

yeah, i know how exactly you feel now... i can't wait to bring out this camera and try the bg e2 and my new lens today... the only thing im worried is the compartment for my camera bag, it wouldnt fit with my bg e2 attached on it, i have to detach it in order to put it in, so looks like ill be looking for a new bag today as well...

[adam75south]

dammit, this forum is bad for my bank account. now i really want one.

[JMWallace]

I would make the recommendation for eveyone...no matter which camera they have to the batter grip. It makes the camera feel more balanced and sturdy in your hand. The bulk at the bottom of it makes for a great place to hold the camera FIRMLY. Unbelievable how much more simple taking portait becomes with it on! I can't see any reason to ever take it off.

One HUGE problem tho...it might make transitioning to holding a Mark MUCH more comfortable. AAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK:eek:

I got mine on ebay for like $125.

[24Peter]

I finally got the Canon battery grip(e) for my XT a couple of months ago. Really helps balance the camera esp. with a large flash or lens on the thing. Plus as JM notes, it will make the transition to a 1 series a little more natural... ;)

[BonjiB]

A 1 series is definately on my list for stuff to buy in the next 2 years. That's why i'm saving and investing in all full frame lenses from here on out. Only reason i went with a tamron aps-c is for the wide angle. I wasn't prepared to shell out a billion dollars for a 16mm-something when on full frame that'd be way wider than i'd ever need. I figure once the 16.7 megapixel body is replaced with whatever is next i'll be able to pick that one up (or the one before it) for something slightly less rediculous than 6 grand. I don't see going with a 5d when a 1ds is only twice as much and a mark II is only 3 times as much. :-) Realistically a 1ds (11.1 full frame) is prolly my next step up in a couple years. Mark II can wait. :-) I like to stay a generation or two behind in any electronics. Gives me the absolute top of the line (2 years ago) for a good price. I figure 2 years ago people were using this thing thinking "wow this is the greatest thing ever." So why can't i be content with that now?

[BonjiB]

Here's a picture of my 20d with the bg-e2 attached. Took that with my fz30. It was weird going back. I haven't used the fz30 in so long.

[NewTekBuzz]

Is there anything on the back of the grip? they should put a small lcd for batt. status.. that would spice things up a bit.

batt. grip is on my list. STILL trying to make up my mind on what zoom to get!! UUGGGGG I will make up my mind this w/e and place my order with B&H. I was hoping to place that order yesterday and have it here for this w/e but could not make up my mind.... I would rather not rush it.

anyway bonjib... looks nice

[BonjiB]

There aren't any lcd displays on the grip cuz the main battery display is accurate through the grip. The only thing on the back is the two buttons and the door for the batteries. THe two buttons are the same two at thumbs axx near the main shutter button. AE/AF. Also programmable just like the main 2. All in all i'm really loving this grip. It feels more like how the 20d SHOULD have been made in the first place (in my opinion.) As for zoom lenses... go ahead and bite the bullet... save up for the 70-200 f/2.8L IS. That's what i'm doing. I'm going to buy all my accessories first though so WHILE i save for the lens i'll have a badass setup to play with. My last/next purchase before the 70-200 is the 580ex flash.