I really dislilked the shape and feel of the Smallrig grip. I'm a huge fan of the Japan market Nikon grip. Really comfortable, even with my 70-200/2.8, 135 plena and 24-120.
I’m really curious what my impressions will be once I get the camera. Did anyone try Sugru to deal with grip issues? When I had the Sony A9, I basically built half a new grip on top of the too-small existing grip using Sugru. A bit sticky, but at least I didn’t accidentally detach my lenses anymore. Or gaffer tape over the slick part of a grip?
This one actually looks more promising than the first for a few reasons. The only review is an "I've tried em all and this one wins" which bodes well!
Oh boy, this one is pretty decent for handholding. My only gripe so far is that I wish it was just a SHADE taller towards the front command wheel to REALLY catch my middle finger. The leatherette feels 90% like the camera's. The tapering is very comfortable.
Now, the big caveat...they didn't dovetail far enough on the backside to allow the lens to be centered on the tripod head. I didn't notice this when ordering, because the dovetail extends almost all the way to the grip on the FRONTSIDE. However, on the backside, it stops too short and the lens is to the right of center, meaning your center of gravity/weight is not directly down onto the tripod head. This is a wild fail...there is PLENTY of room in the design to have avoided this. The Smallrig even has a nice little marker on the dovetail to help you center it.
The solution here would be to add something like the Peak Capture to the bottom for tripod work but that totally defeats the purpose of having a dovetailed grip/plate.
I'll be sticking with the Smallrig for the functional dovetail, but for those that only handhold, this one is worth a try.
RoamingScott wrote:
...
Now, the big caveat...they didn't dovetail far enough on the backside to allow the lens to be centered on the tripod head...
Thanks much for taking one for the team! I was going to give this grip a try after seeing the full length Arca dovetail on the front side. Pity that they screwed up so monumentally. The classic question: What were they thinking?
I'm still waiting for a new grip, wider than any other, with nice fabric and thumb rest.
Like Smallrig v2 - thicker and wider, with better quality fabric and thumb rest, like on Nikon's grip.
The offset arca seems to be rampant in 3rd party grips. It's going to almost impossible to tell if any particular will center properly without ordering it, but at least some make it obvious they won't.
RoamingScott wrote:
Interesting! $99 is a lot cheaper than a $220 japanese import. The lack of dovetail is disappointing at that price.
When I bought mine, there was no shortage of them for like $140-$150 shipped. Not terrible, but certainly $100 is nicer. And the GR1 does indeed have an Arca Swiss dovetail. I think the grip is on the slick side with the aluminum, but before I had a Z8 it was plenty of grip to make sessions with the 70-200 comfortable. And it certainly feels premium, almost more premium than the actual camera.
RoamingScott wrote:
Interesting, their product photos are so dark I couldn't see it. Doesn't look like it extends much past center.
The GR1 dovetail runs the entire length of the grip from the battery compartment to the end. It doesn't extend beyond the battery compartment in the front like the Smallrig, but it's of little matter. You can certainly center the camera on a tripod head (you don't ever need the ENTIRE clamp to cover dovetail at all parts....there's tons to grip in a centered configuration.
Also, the GR1 is a bit thicker than most others on the bottom, which makes it taller, but does allow for the dovetail to be used even if using the version 1 F to Z adapter.
I have installed a grip, but you still can't hold the camera in a normal fashion and hit the shutter button, correct?
The grip allows me to hold the camera, in a nicer fashion, when not shooting, more comfy, sure.
The proper grip for the Zf is the middle finger over the top of whatever accessory grip you have installed, and the ring and pinky around the front. This puts your index finger directly over the shutter. I have no issues at all holding it in this way.
Dj R wrote:
I have installed a grip, but you still can't hold the camera in a normal fashion and hit the shutter button, correct?
The grip allows me to hold the camera, in a nicer fashion, when not shooting, more comfy, sure.
but when you pull up to shoot, still not "right".
That's why I haven't really taken to any of the grips. It looks more like a typical camera grip and it certainly hangs in the hand better, but the release isn't in a typical spot.
Have you tried a soft touch shutter button? It doesn't put the button in the usual spot, but it does make it generally easier to access.
