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Question: I assume you must turn the grip switch to on to use buttons (* and focus point selector). Does that disable camera's buttons?
Document: Moreover, you can still see glue residue on the Canon logo and on one corner of the grip, the glue residue had immortalised someone's fingerprint on it. The big round knob that you turn to tighten onto your camera is VERY plastic-ly unlike the genuine BG-E2N, it rattles louder too and does not sit flushed on the bottom of the camera. There are also inconsistencies in the firmness of the buttons; AE lock button does not sink in as far as the AF point selection button; The shutter button does NOT have a noticeable focus click before taking the shot.
I could have gone generic but this at ~$150 I couldn't pass up getting the authentic Canon accessory. Battery life is superb and the grip adds that extra touch to handling the camera. It feels like a real camera and not a toy. I swapped the functions of the '*' and the 'AF-ON' buttons so I can use the '*' to focus independently on the grip.The grip attaches firmly to the camera with no play whatsoever. The battery compartment hides away inside so you don't lose it.Must have accessory.
Another nice thing is that no matter where you go, if there is a convenience store or gas station you can usually find AA batteries.In addition to this it will have a focus button on the bottom corner of the boot for vertical pictures. This way when you rotate your camera for the vertical shot the focus button is on the top of the grip where you are used to having the focus button. The shot feels just as natural as a horizontal one There is also an on/off switch to turn on/off the focus button.
I just leave it on all the time. I can see turning it off if you put the camera into the camera bag, but switching the switch in a crucial picture moment would be bad. So, I just leave it on.Overall I would say the added extra weight is acceptable considering the ability to use AA rechargeable batteries in the camera. The added vertical shot focus button is a nice addition too. I just know that I will never own another camera without one.
It only has the '*' and the AF point select buttons. So as it stands, if you have the AF-ON button set to activate autofocus, there's no way to autofocus when you're holding the camera vertically, unless you ignore the vertical grip buttons and reach your hand over as if the grip was never there.There is a workaround, where you can set '*' to be the AF activation button. Since the grip has the '*' button on the vertical side, no problems. But then when you're reviewing images on the LCD, pressing '*' (normally zoom out, a feature you probably use all the time) will actually blank out the LCD and force you to re-enter review mode.
I have been wanting to purchase this attachment for years, but I could never bring myself to spend the money. When I saw this used version for half the price, I jumped at the offer and I am glad I did. I don't have to change my batteries as much and I love the fact you can turn your camera and still use the secondary buttons to take the picture.
No reason to ever want to take this off of my canon 40D. Sturdy, locks great and vertical grip is a must. I have read that this grip does not auto focus. Well my does just fine. Give my camera a massive look along with my 70-200mm f/2.8 is lens and 580ex II flash. I love my new setup. Sell what ever you can to buy this setup. I'm happy!Love firefighterphotojunky
Canon battery grip have always been high quality with a durable construction. I believe they are a must have for portrait and wedding photographers. Having a vertical shooting grip allows for better stability which in turn produces sharper images.
I bought my first DSLR a few years back and liked it. It worked just fine and then, looking for new accessories, I picked up a Battery Grip.I didn't really need the extra battery life, but figured I might at some point and gave it a shot after seeing the high reviews.Turns out, it's a "must have" accessory and I make it a point to purchase one of these with each new DSLR I get. The thing is, it's not really about the extra battery life..
Just bought a new Canon 50d and bought the grip recently. I have had canon grips in the past and they prove to be invaluable. Placing 2 batteries in the grip allow shooting for all day sessions. Battery encourages portrait-style photos. Only downside is that the back focus button is not on the grip when you want to use the custom functions. Highly recommended and adds some heft to the camera..
Answer: No, it does not. The on/off button only affects the switches on the grip itself. Even when set to off, it still supplies power to the camera.