Is your K1 "gripped"

I've "gripped" several of my previous Pentax DSLR bodies for certain types of shooting, and love the extra battery capacity and "portrait" shooting angle - but with slightly bigger bulk of the K1 I'm not sure whether I find it more of a hinderance than a help - how do you get on with yours ?

Mine came with the free grip.. But at first I didnt use the grip. As I thought it was just extra weight and I could change the battery very quickly so I didnt really use it.. But after using it to shoot The Open last week. Its very true what they say. That it balances out the weight when using long lenses. The batteries coped well for a full days shooting with many many images taken. Its a heavy camera to start with, so the extra weight isnt that much of an incovenience. If that dosnt sound stupid... Needless to say I'm now converted and use it all the time..

I use it with the 150-450 aand 70-200. I find that it improves the balance..

dave k

I wouldn't be without it. Right through from my Z1p (Which didn't hold batteries) to my *istD- K10- K7- K5iis-K3-K3ii-and now my K1. I have hands like baby steam shovels and without a grip cameras feel like little toys. Even when I had my 645 it left my little finger doing nothing underneath the camera.
To each his own. Nuff said.
CHEERS Vic.

I stopped using the one on the K5 due to the weight and I simply carry a spare battery for the K3. I hadn't thought about the balance angle with heavier lenses. I will try it.

Fully agree,

Yep - see the general point now, same conclusion I came to when I first got a grip for the K5 and was using the DA* 60-250. I haven't really used my longer lenses on the K1 as yet, still enjoying the benefits of FF designed wide angle and portrait length lenses with which the grip doesn't really do much for the overall balance

Using a gripped K-3 with the FA77 looked and felt extremely weird. Imagine using a gripped K-1 with the same lens (or a hoodless DA70). I won't ever need a grip, even for larger lenses.

One small thing. The battery grip does get in the way of the release lever. When I use my monopod attatched to my Sigma 70-200 lens mount... Have to uncouple the lens or the battery grip to remove it..

I've never used grips and can't say I've missed not having one.

Can you say you haven't missed one if you haven't used one :

I just did, so presumably I can say it!
I've always preferred the cameras being as compact at possible and have laughed at some of those monster Canikons often seen on news bulletins. That's what made me an ME fan, I could carrry two of those quite easily. Unfortunately one got stolen along with my K 20mm and a Tamron 70-150 and a few other bits. I'd accidentally dinged the camera top plate and had a replacement on order to be fitted after that holiday so that never happened. I don't really miss that ME, just the K 20mm. It's out there somewhere and its stolen property!

Do you not use a QR head of any sort ? not had this problem with a K1 and the same lens, I do use a manfrotto QR head and plate on the monopod thou

Yes Chris.. I use the Manfrotto 234 RC2 head..

I can only assume you mount the plate side on.. Or I'm doing something very wrong....lol Wont be the first time...!! It was the first time out with this set up....

Hi Stu,

Oh..... that might be it, I'll check