20D Grip vs. 10D Grip

Is it just me or did the 10D battery grip have much nicer contours and generally look

better attached to the 10D than 20D BG-E2 grip looks on a 20D?

 

The BG-E2 seems too bulky to me, design-wise. I know I know, function over form, right,

but with the poor reviews this thing has gotten. I really want to buy one for the extra

battery life alone, but taking all the factors into consideration...

 

Has anyone bought one recently? I saw some more recent reviews on various reseller sites

(amazon, etc) that suggest the quirks may have been worked out by Canon on newer

shipments.

If you only want extra battery life it doesn't take very long to switch batteries over and it doesn't add extra bulk.

 

I have the BG-E2 for the improved ergonomics in portrait orientation. I never experienced any electrical connection failures with mine but found the connection between the base of the BG-E2 and the base of the camera too flexible for me to be comfortable using it on a tripod (Canon eleminated the central post connecting the tripod socket on the base to the tripod screw on the top in order to accomodate the AA adaptor). I added an L plate from Really Right stuff which eliminate the flexing.

Have you ever tried one on the nikon BP's? Now those really suck..

Hi Jonathon,

I bought a 20D grip new from B&H last week.

 

It's defintely not as sturdy as the 10D grip and doesn't seat as snugly to the body. I

haven't had any problems with excessive wobbling and losing battery contact with the

body like early users reported.

 

I find the ergonomics to be fine. I do wish it a rocker switch in portrait orientation,

but that's not a big deal. There's room for improvement, but it does its job

adequately.

 

-b

Yes, the 10D grip is far better in design than the new one for the 20D. The latter seems a squeesh'd version of the old one, modified to fit the smaller base of the 20D.

 

I also read many complaints about the fit and battery drain issues which apparently have been verified (but not fixed) by Canon.

I love the way the 10D w/ the grip handles and looks, but looking at the grip for the 20D, I'm not sure I'd want one. I've just been hearing too many complaints about it. Think Canon will revise it anytime soon? I hate the thought of shooting w/ out the grip because I like it so much... man I wish I could afford a 1D mkII :)

Do you own cameras to look at them or shoot with them?

I'll throw my 2 cents in on this one. I bought a 20D and the BG-E2 in early December. I have tripod mount the combination with an attached 24-70L lens. Although the whole thing looks a bit precarious, it does not appear to be flexing significantly. I also have not experienced any loss of power through the connections. Overall, I am quite pleased with this setup.

 

As for camparing it to the 10D and its battery grip, I, unfortunately have never handled that combination (this could also be fortunate, as I may not know what I'm missing).

I have both the 10D w/ grip and the 20D w/grip. I was very disappointed in the quality of the 20D grip. I have not had any problems yet though.

 

I do want to ask those of you that have the 20D grip - does the battery door "click" on yours? It is almost like it does not shut tightly enough. But it is functioning OK. Is this just mine or is this standard?

 

I expected better quality from Canon after how great the 10D grip was...

I have no problems with how close the grip fits on the camera and the flex I mentioned in my post is due to a redesign to accomodate the AA adaptor and was only a worry on a tripod.

 

The electrical contact problem is actually caused by pulling the adaptor away from the body rather than any and actually concerns a tiny microswitch. It is easy to fix yourself and I would not be surprised if Canon has fixed it on newer shipments.

 

I would buy it again because I much prefer shooting in portrait orientation with a grip.

 

I did not buy it as a cosmetic accessory and the shape is essentially determined by the size of the camera and the 2 batteries. The weight distribution with batteries in the grip is very good

I read at FM the newest grips have been stiffen by the addition of a washer, supposedly

fixing the flex problem.

Fact. The 20D grip isn't up to the 10D's. Never mind the looks, I find that the batteries tend to unclip themselfs when inserting them. So closing the cover is a task and a half! Apart from that, the power consumption sucks. I have mixed feelings about swithing from 10D with Grip to 20D with grip. What happyness the 20D gave, the grip took away...

I don't own the 20D, but do have a photographer friend who bought one and sold me his 10D w/grip. He admitted he preferred the 10D's ergonomics and design, but the resolution of the 20D better matched his 1D mk 2. I had owned the 300D w/ grip and thought the 20D's grip looked very much like it-- which makes sense for canon from a manufacturing point of view. I must say the 10D was wonderful coming from the 300D...

JURY NEL pretty much summed it all up reflecting the views of the majority of photographers I talk(ed) to which use the 20D with the new grip.

 

I believe it will be known as the GRIPE grip ;P

 

The new 511 battery and the 20D make it un-necessary to have two batteries however, those looking for a vertical shooting grip and/or better ergonomics may be in for a not so pleasant surprise.