D.I.Y. K3 battery grip

How did anyone ever manage to hold a screw thread Leica

I've often wondered this, too

The notion that a grip improves the 'balance' is another thing I don't get. A lens sticking out the front of a camera is intrinsically unbalanced - that's why big lenses have tripod mounts.

And since the CG of the grip is immediately below the CG of the body, I don't see how the grip affect the balance at all.

So what do people actually mean by 'balance' in this context?

It's very unlikely that any modifications required would be a butcher job. IOW things could be returned to normal

This is a very strongly individual choice. 'Balance' ? - well what is meant by this I think is that if the COG is forwards (like when using a bigger / longer lens) the more surface area for your hands to make contact with the easier it is to counteract that pull and keep and good tactile sense of the camera body.

For me the grip is a permanent fixture - my senses have adapted so much to it that the K7 feels silly and unsubstantial without it. I do a lot of vertical shooting and I find it a great advantage for this, much easier to move the camera left and right with the wrist in a neutral position, and the essential buttons are right there. The additional battery options and extra power it provides is just an added bonus for me - the main thing is the solidity and extra handling finess and control it provides.


If I could have a Pentax DSLR in future that had a body size equivilent to the K7 plus grip, all in one unit with the controls and extra battery spaces included, I'd be very happy.

I think the word "balance" is probably being misused. "stability" is a more the correct term IMO. Adding weight will add stability and lessen the chance of camera shake

Yes, thats right, but for me its not just about keeping the camera more steady, its a dynamic aid as well. The extra contact surface with the hands helps with control in moving the camera around and in precise framing handheld. And it is very secure and quick to flick into portratit and back again with all the buttons in the same places feeling - wise.

I felt the opposite to that. I found it easier and quicker keep my fingers on the normal controls and just rotate everything 90 deg for portrait. I never used the grip controls. interestingly observing photographers at events with grips I don't recall every seeing one of them use the grip controls in portrait mode

I certainly don't use them, it feels unnatural

My grips are used to house the battery with none in the camera, and a spare memory card and I never use the grips controls.

All of my cameras have grips for one reason, the whole outfit just feels better in use with a grip. I like to know that I have a big beefy camera in my hands.

One reason I'll probably not upgrade to a K-3, apart from my not believing that it delivers an upgrade in the areas of most interest to me, is the fact that I have to buy yet another grip for it, but at least it uses the same battery as the K-5 series.

If I need an upgrade I'll just chop in my K20D + grip and K-5 for a K-5 IIs. That'll save me the £200 cost of a grip.

Nothing's changed from film slr to digital so I don't understand the reference to film SLR's.
I've always used a grip don't like holding a camera with my pinky floating free
Increased battery power is another big plus , maybe some people just dont use there cameras enough

As to balance the extra weight countered the lens front weight so when your on a gimbal you can achieve balance without pulling the camera to far backwards.

In hand is the same your supporting the lens with your left hand the less weight your body has the further forward your left hand needs to be and the less control you have over movement.

At a guess you don't have the grip tight enough to the mount, or the mis-fit is holding some contacts off.

Both batteries register fine and switch over on grip depletion without issue on my k3_3rd party grip

As you've ripped out 1 -2 locating lugs there is no going back so it is butchered.

Though the grip will still fit the K5 after so in that regards is OK.

To make it anything other than a stop gap I'd also chamfer the plastic ribs to get a better fit , then it really woudl be Butchered

The easiest way to fix the buttons is swop the plastic tops over I haven't bothered as it only a stop gap for me and having striped a grip down previously there is just to many screws for me to bother.

Does anyone know why that pin has been removed? It seems it is a plunger and when the grip is mounted it is pressed in and doesn't fit into any holes of any sort. Therefore it should still fit on a K3 but what is its function?
CHEERS Vic.

I think you looking in the wrong place

The lug to remove is the steel pin , the reason it need removing is is a smaller diameter locating hole on the K3.

You could also drill out you K3 if you preferred

OK. awaldram. I've just had another look and you're right. It was one of those optical illusions where things look the other way round and I thought there was a hole where there is actually a pin. Silly Me. However this makes me think? what about the other steel pin at the other end of the grip. Does this need removing also?
CHEERS Vic.