I have a pair of D7000s and have been contemplating adding a grip. I realize there is no boost in FPS, I don't need the extra battery life because they already seem to last forever, and I don't desire the extra weight for "balance"....my question is: does the battery grip really help for framing images in vertical/portrait orientation? I notice that when I am shooting action stuff and focused on capturing a moment, I often badly tilt the horizon. Probably doesn't help that I am right handed but left eye dominant, but would having the battery grip really help for properly framing and composing shots on the go when shooting vertically? I have never shot a battery grip so curious to hear how nice it is for that reason. The only other draw for me is that I guess having AA batteries as a backup could be nice for long trips. Thanks all -L
I was in the same boat as Loren E and I decided that since the grip didn't add any FPS and I didn't need the extended battery life that I would buy a third party grip. I figured I would only buy the grip to add a bit of size to the camera to help with my pinky slipping off when switching between portrait and landscape framed shots.
The brand I bought was Meike I believe. The grip was entirely plastic but fit spot on and the finish was IDENTICAL to the nikon branded grip. Compared side by side (Which I did in store) you could not tell. The only thing I noticed was that all controls were backwards. So using the built in dials to adjust aperture and shutter speed worked fine, but when I tilted the camera and used the grip as a shutter release all dials were backwards meaning sometimes I would decrease my shutter speed when I meant to increase it, or vice versa. Other than that (which you can get used to ) it was a great purchase for ~$50 and beats the hell out of spending ~300 for the nikon branded grip.
I found that battery grips definitely help with levelling portrait oriented shots. I'd buy one if you do a ton of portraits, but otherwise, you could just shoot a bit wider and tilt/crop the shot in PS later. $200 is a big chunk of money.
grip is definitely nice if you shoot a lot of vertical; and I also believe the extra weight (especially with all the AA's in it), helps to improve handheld camera steadiness
I am going on a month long float down a remote river in Argentina in 2013 and so now thinking that having the option to go with AAs will be sweet for if there are generator problems for battery charging, so I might have to get one! I will go with the Nikon version for the weather sealing..too bad they are a lot more expensive!
If I'm going to shoot a lot of portraits I put mine on otherwise it stays of. I haves small hands so prefer although when at all possible. I think all the aftermarket brands have the dials reversed for some stupid reason. I do have a Nikon knockoff I'm sure China made but its dials are correct so good enough for me. When I say Nikon knockoff I mean its labeled Nikon and everything, just not the real deal even though they came closer.
I have the Vello aftermarket grip on mine and don't take it off the D7K. The controls are the right way around which would drive me nuts if it wasn't. It is all plastic but reasonably solid and fits well. I can't imagine that it is any where near as solid as the Nikon but I could buy three and still spend less then the Nikon.
I primarily shoot sports in landscape orientation 80% of the time (to fit website dimensions) and I have smallish hands yet I still couldn't live without the grip. Much better feel and balance IMO. I got the Bower grip (since it comes with a battery pack) and the dials are just fine.
At weddings I carry on me my d700 without grip and my d7000 with grip, everybody just drools over my d7k and nobody looks at the d700 so if bling is what you are after then et the grip
