Canon 400d Battery Handgrip and Sigma 18-200mm DC OS

Greg

Greg

Greg

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Save making two threads, I thought i'd combine the two! :)

1)Canon 400d Canon BG-E3 Battery Handgrip (for EOS 400D/350D)

What are peoples thoughts on this? Are they of any use? I have large hands, and up till now, I've had no problems, though, I just think it might become useful?! Just after peoples ideas and opinions!

2) Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS

I've been looking at getting a lens that will do me for every day walk around shooting. I've currently got the standard kit lens, and to be honest, its quite frankly a bit pants for what I now use! I've read the thread further down about the non Optical Stabalisation one, and the OPer seemd quite content with his purchase.

I've been looking at the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM aswell, but that is quite a bit more expensive. I've not actually picked up any of these lenses yet, but i hear the canon is a little more plasticy than the sigma.

Just after opinions,

Ta

GReg
 
Hi,

I have the 350d with grip and it makes it so much easier to hold. Adds a bit of weight but makes it feel a bit sturdier imo :)

Jon
 
Greg said:
Save making two threads, I thought i'd combine the two! :)

1)Canon 400d Canon BG-E3 Battery Handgrip (for EOS 400D/350D)

What are peoples thoughts on this? Are they of any use? I have large hands, and up till now, I've had no problems, though, I just think it might become useful?! Just after peoples ideas and opinions!

2) Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS

I've been looking at getting a lens that will do me for every day walk around shooting. I've currently got the standard kit lens, and to be honest, its quite frankly a bit pants for what I now use! I've read the thread further down about the non Optical Stabalisation one, and the OPer seemd quite content with his purchase.

I've been looking at the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM aswell, but that is quite a bit more expensive. I've not actually picked up any of these lenses yet, but i hear the canon is a little more plasticy than the sigma.

Just after opinions,

Ta

GReg
Click to expand...

I have the official battery grip on the 400D and I say its a must tbh. battery life will more than double and it feels nicer in the large hand. Also easier to take portrait shots now as you get an extra set of buttons.

I have the canon Ef-S 17-85mm and it certainly isn't plasticky?
I am happy with it completely but other people here will mention the tamron and the sigma which are available for similar price but have a F2.8 aperture and no IS.

sid
 
sid said:
I have the official battery grip on the 400D and I say its a must tbh. battery life will more than double and it feels nicer in the large hand. Also easier to take portrait shots now as you get an extra set of buttons.
Click to expand...
I bought the battery grip for my 350D for going on holiday with and it was well worth the money. I managed to take ~750 shots without needing to recharge the batteries (none using the onboard flash -- wouldn't have managed that many if I did), and the extra weight made it a lot more stable. The best bit though was the extra buttons for taking portrait shots.
 
Don't forgot you can get knock off battery grips from china which might do the job for you. although I bought the official one.
 
I purchased a Phottix grip for my 400D and it's great. Cost me ~£30 if that, and I've yet to have to even charge it from when it was delivered, and have taken a good 300 or so photos and it's still showing 2 bars of battery life!
 
sid said:
I have the official battery grip on the 400D and I say its a must tbh. battery life will more than double and it feels nicer in the large hand. Also easier to take portrait shots now as you get an extra set of buttons.

I have the canon Ef-S 17-85mm and it certainly isn't plasticky?
I am happy with it completely but other people here will mention the tamron and the sigma which are available for similar price but have a F2.8 aperture and no IS.

sid
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the prompt replies. I'll seriously consider getting one now!

As for the lens, well, I've read a few reviews of *** canon and its generally alright, but the images are soft between 17 and 24mm. I assume that its going to be better than the current kit lens that i have? I just thought that the Sigma would be a better all overall lens?

i supose i really need to try them out for myself? bah, its so hard! :(

thanks

Greg
 
Greg said:
Thanks for all the prompt replies. I'll seriously consider getting one now!

As for the lens, well, I've read a few reviews of *** canon and its generally alright, but the images are soft between 17 and 24mm. I assume that its going to be better than the current kit lens that i have? I just thought that the Sigma would be a better all overall lens?

i supose i really need to try them out for myself? bah, its so hard! :(

thanks

Greg
Click to expand...


Yeah the kit lens on the canon is poor tbh. enough to get you started but you'll hit its limitations soon enough.

I seriously doubt the sigma lens is going to be that good, it goes from wide to zoom so its going to be a 'compromise' lens.

Are you sure you want it? the whole point of the DSLR is different lenses for different situations. If you wanted to use 1 lens then perhaps a bridge camera would have suited you better.

sid
 
I've got a battery grip for my 350d.... Can't say I even use it. Have never been in a situation where I couldn't just swap over to a second battery, I have to stop to change memory card around a similar time anyway, so changing a battery isn't a problem to me.
 
sid said:
Yeah the kit lens on the canon is poor tbh. enough to get you started but you'll hit its limitations soon enough.

I seriously doubt the sigma lens is going to be that good, it goes from wide to zoom so its going to be a 'compromise' lens.

Are you sure you want it? the whole point of the DSLR is different lenses for different situations. If you wanted to use 1 lens then perhaps a bridge camera would have suited you better.

sid
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well, the reviews of the sigman come out very well, I think at the moment I'll just have a look at them, I'll see what I though.

Yes, I've very sure that I might want it, and of course, its useful having the flexibility of being able to change lens. But if I've a single lens that will suit the majority of my 'walk about' needs, then there is nothing wrong with that?

I've had bridge cameras before and I don't like them. I've had my 400d for nearly 2 years now, its not as if i'm a DSLR n00b!
 
Whether the grip improves handling naturally depends on what lenses you use. 400D + grip + 50 1.8 = silly; 400D + no grip + 400 2.8 = equally silly.
 
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robmiller said:
Whether the grip improves handling naturally depends on what lenses you use. 400D + grip + 50 1.8 = silly; 400D + no grip + 400 2.8 = equally silly.
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I have to disagree rob but perhaps thats my hand.

without the grip I have nowhere to put my pinkie finger so i'm holding the camera with 3 fingers which is awkward.

Also as previously mentioned, the grip gives access to extra buttons when held in portrait mode (using 50mm) which makes it much easier to operate.

sid
 
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