350D / 400D mit oder ohne?

[Boddie]

Canon 350D or Canon 400D with or without?

With or without what, I hear you ask.

The grip.

Who owns either of these cameras and has tried it with, or without, the grip?

I have just taken receipt of my new 400D and I can see Matt_XYZ's, and others, thinking. However, as soon as the grip goes on its a totally different animal and more substantial than the 20 or 30D.

If you have not got a grip, go into Jessops, get the 350 or 400 that they will have on the counter, take off the battery compartment, which has a device a bit like that you get on a watch strap, and take it off. Then ask the sales person to get you a grip. Fit the grip, and see the difference. Everything will become clear. Then leave the shop and order a Hahnel grip off Warehouse Express, at a considerably reduced price to that of Canon's.

Anyone who then says the body feels anything other than lovely to hold is probably a Nikon or Olympus user

On first glance I know I am going to love this piece of kit, as I loved my 350D and this is the 350, and some. The first great noticable difference is the 2.5 inch LCD display. Some moan it just means less room in which to cram the buttons in with. What a load of tosh. Some reviewers are being a little precious there I think. I like display too on the LCD, which vanishes when the sensors just below the eyepiece sense proximity.

Theres more focus points. The versatility of the dust cleaning system, gives me greater confidence to change lenses more often. And although the shape is primarily identical the tactility points have some relief, so it feels different to hold.

I can't wait to get out with this properly.

And back to issue in hand.

I have observed many 350 users who have yet to buy the grip and both the manipulation of the camera and their facial expressions share one characteristic. They look a bit effeminate.

So get a grip man, and notice the difference.

[carlj]

Quite agree with the above, Boddie, but the point that most make is why should you invest in the grip just to make the camera useable? Canon know how a camera should handle, ie, the 30D, 5D etc, but seem to think that those on a budget either don't know or don't care what they're missing.

[Boddie]

I see your point. Its almost as though they are trying to build a DSLR / Prosumer, by the original size of it. However, I do feel that this is one of the main reasons people rate the 350 or 400 as they do, and for me its something that is easily rectified.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by carlj

but the point that most make is why should you invest in the grip just to make the camera useable? Canon know how a camera should handle, ie, the 30D, 5D etc, but seem to think that those on a budget either don't know or don't care what they're missing.

Ive not actually hear a canon user make that comment - yeah the camera is a bit small but it still a nice piece of kit which I will be ordering (with grip) as soon as i have the spondoolies.

those who arent canon users certainly dont "know what they are missing"

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by eeyore

Ive not actually hear a canon user make that comment - yeah the camera is a bit small but it still a nice piece of kit which I will be ordering (with grip) as soon as i have the spondoolies.

those who arent canon users certainly dont "know what they are missing"

Maybe I should have added KM and Sony users to my list

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Boddie

Maybe I should have added KM and Sony users to my list

they're probably just jealous - i dont think you can buy a grip for the alpha - mind you if you can it would give you something to hold as you hurled it into the nearest skip

btw is it possible to get one of those hahnel grips you were talking about for the 20D

[carlj]

7D has capacity for BG, but the KM5D is large enough to fit comfortably in a MAN'S hand :P and has the build to sling at Canon owners too!

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by carlj

...and has the build to sling at Canon owners too!

probably all its good for - propper cameras are too valuable to chuck around

[speckled wood]

I have been wandering the lanes using my 400D (minus a battery grip) most of the afternoon I have found it perfectly easy to use, every bit as easy to use as my 300D. I don't think that I will be ordering a battery grip.

[carlj]

Aye, but does real damage on impact, not like the namby-pamby 400d lol

Seriously, though, have never missed a grip option (you can shoot vertically? what's that!) and the battery lasts for several hundred shots without need for charge - never run out yet. Some cameras ergonomics do seem more for Japanese market rather than western markets though. Olympus are another with the smaller-is-better complex.

[Boddie]

I have to add that I bought the grip purely for ergonomics. I agree that the 350/400's are small, but I knew that when I got it. As for vertical shooting the grip is rightly handy. But for me the real benefit is purely for ergonomics. Oh, and twice the battery life

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by eeyore

they're probably just jealous - i dont think you can buy a grip for the alpha - mind you if you can it would give you something to hold as you hurled it into the nearest skip

btw is it possible to get one of those Hahnel grips you were talking about for the 20D

I am not sure about the Hahnel grip for the 20D. I got the Canon one for my 30D.

I just looked on the W.E site could not find them. I see they are still advertising the 400D but when I tried to order they were out of stock

[eeyore]

I had a grip on my 10D (until I killed it) but for me it was having two batteries in for high capacity shooting when covering gigs , sporting events etc that was the main advantage. I have always been able to shoot vertically anyway and having relatively small hands didnt really need it for ergonomics.

Having said that having held boddies 350D I tend to think I would want a grip on the 400

Btw what batteries does the 400 take > - one of the most anoying things about the 350 was that they had changed the battery so it was different to the 10/300/20/30 etc. On long trips I carry anyware up to 10 batts (nearly 200 squids worth) and can do without having to carry two sets.

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by eeyore

I had a grip on my 10D (until I killed it) but for me it was having two batteries in for high capacity shooting when covering gigs , sporting events etc that was the main advantage. I have always been able to shoot vertically anyway and having relatively small hands didnt really need it for ergonomics.

Having said that having held boddies 350D I tend to think I would want a grip on the 400

Btw what batteries does the 400 take > - one of the most anoying things about the 350 was that they had changed the battery so it was different to the 10/300/20/30 etc. On long trips I carry anyware up to 10 batts (nearly 200 squids worth) and can do without having to carry two sets.

The same batteries as the 350D

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Boddie

The same batteries as the 350D

ohhhhh ffffidlesticks - me thinks I will look for a second hand 10D to replace my 300D instead - or a 20D if I get lucky.

[speckled wood]

I have been quite pleased with the battery life, thought it would have been worse due to the lcd panel being on most of the time, bought 4 batteries but up to now only ever needed two.

[Boddie]

I think for females the ergonomics is less of an issue. But as I said I like the grip on the 30 too. Even the 12-24 is a gurt big heavy lens and the 400 feels far more stable with the grip, under heavy load.

[matt_xyz]

I think if/when I use my 400D with a small lens (e.g. wide angle or macro) then I would think about the battery grip. At the moment though I'm only using it with a long lens (400mm) so I don't really take the weight of the camera in in my right hand and so the camera size/shape doesn't really bother me. The only benefit to me at the moment would be to have the 2 batteries onboard, but I've been pleasantly surprised how long the battery lasts on the 400D. I also don't really want to add to the weight.

Having said all of that, I've only had one decent session with my 400D since I bought it as I don't seem to be able to get good weather to coincide with time off work. So maybe I will still decide that a grip would be useful.

Matt

[Ollie]

I use the 350D without the grip, but I always have the bigma lens stuck on the end of it so the size of the camera is not an issue for me. With a smaller lens where you actually hold the camera I agree the 350D is a tad on the small side. Battery life has never been a problem for me, getting around 400 shots per battery before recharging is needed.
Roger

[McLeish]

I never thought about size/grip when I bought my 350 but now having read these posts not so sure.......how much are we talking about? and is it only the look or the weight people are concerned about.
Ian