To grip or not?

With my K20D I had the grip on since I purchased it. It made the camera much more stable.

However with the K7 I got the grip but prefer the camera without it on...

Took the grip off yesterday for 1st time since purchase - wanted to lighten the load taking the camera along "just in case". Did use it. Grip going back on today! 'Nuff said! Reason? Well the day before I bought some gloves just because I saw they were available in XXL size!

I picked up a K7 in a store last week. No way I could use it comfortably...

Can K20D work with only a battery in the grip, none in the body? Anyone tried?

I use the K20 grip in the studio and usually take it off when walking about.

To answer my own question and for the benefit of others: It seems to work. Battery in grip powers entire camera, whether grip switch is on or off, and the Select Battery display correctly shows the body battery location empty.

Saves ~2.7oz / 77gms in weight, and if anything the balance is even better with the weight distributed lower.

I always shoot with a grip, but never put the battery in my camera. Too much like hard work taking it out!

Gareth try it with battery in camera as well it will improve battery life

James

I assumed it would otherwise if the battery drained in the camera before the grip the camera would be rendered useless.

Regards,

John

Having to take the grip off to get at that slot has to be one of the most ridiculous design decisions Pentax have made (well, apart from the "let's not bother building our SDM properly" decision ). With all that hassle it's much easier to put an SD card in a pocket/camera bag!

Why would you take the grip off to get at the spare card? its in the battery compartment, takes a few seconds to get it.


Anyway, put my cheapy Chinese grip on the K-7 yesterday and one of my main reasons for not getting one in the first place has gone away .. much better size and weight.

quote:3496ace15f="MrCynical"]Having to take the grip off to get at that slot has to be one of the most ridiculous design decisions Pentax have made (well, apart from the "let's not bother building our SDM properly" decision ). With all that hassle it's much easier to put an SD card in a pocket/camera bag![/quote]::::

Mr Cynical, I'm not sure I follow you. On the K20D I don't have to take the grip off to get at the spare SD card and remote, a little catch on the side opens a slide out tray that also contains the battery.

I've put grips on all my DSLRs and later model SLRs that I use regularly. For me, they give the camera a better balance o/a as well as giving better field life as I have the second battery fitted in all cases - which isn't a big issue unless you are out and about a lot such that ops for recharging aren't always available. Fitting it in the grip means its always with the camera and not in the bottom of the bag you left behind at home....

Biggest issue with the K7 grip is the loss of a home for the remote. Not even a pouch on the strap which the MZ serries used to have - useful for the flash shoe and the view finder covers.

Have noticed that you need to make sure both "on" switches are "off" though - if the grip switch is left on, it drains the battery and can catch you out as a result.


Steve

The grip (third party) was always on my K100d, it just felt so much better. Needless to say the K10d and K20d are always gripped too.

Are you mistaking the slot where the rubber terminal seal goes for the place where you're supposed to store an SD card?

Erm... move along nothing to see here