Grips. Essential or not?

It comes down to being able to make a decision. You have already decided that there was no need to continue using a grip on your K20, so is there an obstacle to making another decision with the K5?

I use gripped bodies as I find my cameras handle better especially in the vertical shots. The usual benefits of extra battery capacity and card holder are there if you need.

I think it's a decision best made by you, based on your shooting style and type of photography.

Best regards

The difficulty in deciding is finding someone/a shop that has one that I can try before I buy!

1.5>2 hours each way by rail/walking as we're opposite sides of London, but (a) good idea, and (b) too much temptation?

I'm very grateful for all the comments, which to sum up seems to be more it's a matter of personal taste rather than step change in handling, etc.

I just felt it added nothing to the K20D, but then its a bigger body and just feels right all the time. Haven't used the K5II yet so will have to wait and see whether it feels as natural.

Good point. Have a look at Pentax.co.uk for other dealers in London that may be easier to reach.

Enjoy the new camera! Who knows it may fit you like a glove and you won't need one.

Thanks for that. Looks like I'll be off to Selfridges

I would phone Selfridges first to avoid a wasted journey. Very little stock on display last time I was in there - although they may have a load of stuff in their cavernous underground stockrooms. SRS have 10x as much stuff on display.

Quicker to go south to Park Cameras in Burgess Hill?

Dan

Never felt the need for one. I don't find it awkward whatsoever to shoot in the vertical position without one because I'm extremely accustomed to it. I've handled a Canon with a grip which belongs to another member of my camera club a fair bit and in all honestly found it very cumbersome.

I have smallish hands and the K-5 seems a decent size for me. It's really already at the largest end of my scale for a comfortable, practical camera size. To an extent, I consider DSLRs to be inherently bulky and awkward. I will probably never go full frame.

In fact, the micro four thirds format, particularly the Olympus OMD E-M5 with it's excellent low light performance, would be seriously tempting me away from DSLRs if it wasn't for the fact that the available f/2.8 zooms for the format cost a grand a pop. My Tamron 17-50 (£300) and DA* 50-135 (£650) put together cost under grand and now that I have them both I wouldn't give them up. Paying 2K for the equivalent lens combo somehow doesn't appeal.

agree with quite lot m'learned friend above says

Own both a K10D and a K5II, both of which have grips. K10D has a copy, but the K5II has an original Pentax one. Couldn't consider owning a camera without a grip. Had a Canon T90 years ago - ergonomics were brilliant. K5-II with a grip is the nearest I've come to it. It just balances things so nicely, even with just a 50/1.4 lens on it. Put a 60-250 f4 and it just handles sooo much better. I also like the idea of the extra battery and card being in there. Also, it is useful to have AA batteries as an option.

Nearly bought a K30...but it doesn't take a grip.
Love the K5-II though.

See your buying the original grip...

Hopefully