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According to some of our very best sources Panasonic will announce a new battery-grip for the new GH2. The sources could not share us any specs but I was told that the grip should be announced within a few months (February?).
Editors note: The picture on top shows a reworked [shoplink 17581 ebay]grip for Panasonic cameras sold on eBay[/shoplink].
39 Responses
I really hate portrait grips. They make a bulky and ugly thing from a nice, small camera.
The really good solution would be a square sensor which would make possible shooting both protrait and lanscape w/o roatating the camera.
This may increase the size of mirror mechanism but would be an ideal solution for mirrorless cameras…
It is released for battery life reason mainly I think…
I hate them also 🙂
Not to mention I’ve choosen MFT system for it smaller sizes. But anyway probably there is a lot of customers who needs it.
yes, I am one of them
I don’t think the cost of a square sensor would be worth it, plus many would never use it
BIG ISSUE
A square sensor would also more then likely render MANY lens hoods incompatible with the lens once the sensor orientation changes
since the most hoods are shaped to fit a rectangle type view,
simply turning the camera would be much more suitable IMHO
cant wait until it announced with specs!
@kesztio: Agreed. Might make sense if you have a 1Ds or D3s with a 70-200/2.8 or 85/1.2 lens, but on a micro four thirds camera? It’s not as if we have any decent portrait lenses anyway, and certainly not any that would require a sure grip to use (the ME45/2.8 is pretty petite).
They should add portrait orientation into their multi-aspect sensor instead.
You don’t have to use it everytime. But since m4/3 cameras aren’t evented only for small size but at least equally importantly for live view integration, the grip is a nice optional accessory, which shows that Panasonic is developing their system constantly further, opposite to Olympus, where we haven’t seen any refreshing ideas since the EP-2.
m43 users don’t only use panny’s lenses you know. One of the main reasons m43 is so popular is because you can use almost any lens out there with a adapter… and many are BIG
I have a 35-100 from oly and would love to use it on a gh2 but it is to small.
This is the best news I’ve heard since GH2 was announced, at least for me. It will help with video alot.
I wouldn’t mind portrait orientation in the sensor but never at the expense of a vertical grip. I don’t think the extra cost for a sensor to do that would be worth it. More then 50% of people would never use and those who do occasionally shoot portrait photos would find it much easier to just turn the camera then have to change some settings…
And what about the EVF? they would have to make that a square also? or suffer a small view.
anyways I’m sure we can agree that a grip will have a host benefits other then shooting portraits, Quick buttons, dial(s), and the extra battery life, ergonomics (for some like me). A LCD would not surprise me but I can live without one
cant wait till it comes out
Thanks admin, you just sealed my GH2 purchase
Will you change your nick to Angry Panny Owner?
Coolness! I’m sure the official one would be smaller than the pictured one. I hope this is the beginning of the expansion of m43 into a better system. Now we need some slightly redone flashes. Namely a compact bounce flash to replace the FL220.
wonder if it fits the GH1…
Admin, is this the ‘hot new stuff’ you were going to write about yesterday (before the E-PL1s was announced)????
You mentioned at least 2 new cams and 3 new lenses. Awaiting your post anxiously…
If I may guess:
E-m630 (replaces 4/3 mid-level; €899)
E-P3 (RF-style with built-in EVF; €699)
8mm f/4 FE
12mm f/2.8 pancake
50mm f/2 macro
No it isn’t.
You really like keeping us in the dark don’t you…
🙂
Heck, tell us something, please. Post it as FT1 or FT2 but that’s better than nothing!
Please?
Such grip, but only with doubled at least thumb wheel and few buttons can be very nice for studio work, where little bit extra bulk isn’t important, but better grip is.
Well, I hate huge grips for DSLRs, wich are obviously intended for Conans, Terminators and other huge handed people.
But I have seen experimental data, how much less DSLR camera shakes during exposition with grip. Well, GH2 is not DSLR camera.
Nobody iz making nice, small grips like Olympus OM era cameras had.
Generally, grip has two functions:
– more energy
– batter holding of the camera in vertical position
To try to see in future – I guess grips will get additional functionality in system cameras. Adding wireless modules, GPS units etc. into grips would mean camera can still be small, but you can upgrade functionality (in grip) if you need it.
Great news. I will buy one immediately it becomes available. I love my GH1 (soon to be a GH2) but my only dislike is I find it a bit small. I know one of the main advantage of MFT is the small size (and I do lime that) but for me the continuous live view and the vari-angle screen are the most important features. A battery grip will undoubtedly be designed to complement the camera and give me something a bit bigger to hold onto.
NB.
Just had notification from Amazon UK that my 100-300 lens has been despatched.
Why is it so big? It should be proportional to the size of the camera.
This looks like it came from a full size DSLR.
It is just a photoshop mockup using the after-market Ansmann grip for the L-10.
Actually, my mistake. It is a reworked Ansmann grip for the L-10 that someone in Germany is modifying for the G & GH series. Odd.
Actually I missed battery grip from day one on my G1. If they made one for all Gs (well, except GF), it would make life easier.
For those who need/want either the vertical grip or extra power, at least they’ll have the option now. And if it also allows one to use standard AA batteries for extra power that would be really great!
+1
I have the Ansmann battery grip for my L10’s which I use at weddings, was using the GH1 at a wedding last week when the battery flashed low, so this is good news 😀
Huh? Only use a battery grip if taking portraits?!?? I can’t figure out why someone would say that? Battery life on the GH1 is terrible so a battery grip will be fantastic. It also add some much needed bulk to the camera, making it far more comfortable to use for long periods of time.
I am not going to buy as I am happy to change batteries and I like the compact size. I am pleased to hear this though as it shows continuing investment and development and will continue to broaden the appeal of mft.
“Buy a GH2”
No my GH1 is fine
“buy a GH2”
I must resist
“Buy a GH2”
Please make the voices go away!!!!
Great news about the grip.
I’ve wanted a grip for the G1 from day 1. Not necessarily a battery grip–longer battery life is nice, but having a taller camera that allows me to grip it with ALL of my fingers is even nicer.
I made a wooden one for my old E-510 and may do the same for my G1, but I’d prefer something designed and made by somebody with some skills.
The “Handgriff für Panasonic” on ebay mentioned in the initial Post looks like a decent product. I might buy one. But it doesn’t match the profile of the G-series cameras. Anyone know if the German-Language ebay seller has an English language storefront?
That looks like a horrible fit.
It would bé great if the grip allows u to use AA battery. I used to hate rechargeable AA until Enerloop comes about.
I hate this stuff, and I don’t understand why they exists (even when I was using my already too heavy film SLR). Looking at the comments here, I guess there is market and interest for them, so fine!
But I really don’t understand: the camera is already big enough, IMO. If you need more battery, just switch the battery (or use power supply, if you so prefer).
If that’s the future of micro four thirds, I’m really disappointed 🙁
I want:
– a better GF1 (e.g. with GH2 sensor, which panny don’t want only because of marketing, they are dumb!)
– a serious wide prime, at least 12mm, better if 10mm, possibly pancake or at least small (no need to be really-tiny like the 14mm)
– a serious portrait prime, about 40-50mm at least f/1.7 (better if f/1.2) with fast AF *without* macro. (note, the leica f/2.8 is crap for portrait work, which need something more “soft” with better bokeh, faster AF). Possibly cheap and light – which means I’m daydreaming, at least if I expect it from panasonic (Mega OIS means it’ll be heavy and expensive).
So far only the 20mm f/1.7 is something I’m really happy with… I was so excited when micro four thirds came out, I can’t believe how things are going…
I actually can’t believe also, how m4/3 is going. I expected from Olympus a high-end grade body with tiltable screen and large build-in view finder, still to no avail. To me m4/3 bodies should not get smaller, there are already at the edge of being usable.
For video, this could be a major benefit. Since a lot of video is shot using a tripod, changing batteries can be a major hassle if the battery goes flat in the middle of a shot. While I’m not sure if it would use it for handheld work, it’s on my “to-buy” list for tripod use!
> if the battery goes flat in the middle of a shot
Then, you don’t need this grip. You need the external power supply (DMW-AC8+DCC8), which makes a lot more sense, especially for tripod usage.
Ridiculous
A very good new, not for battery life, in my case I only use one battery on grips, I can see the battery level and charge them one by one so I never go to the street with both batteries at 1/6 of charge.
The main reason for a grip is to be able to use heavy lenses, a simple Hexanon 135 f2.5 needs a grip, so it´s up to you to decide which day do you want portability or which one grip.
As someone with normal adult hands who finds the micro four thirds cameras to be cute but not terribly useful for photography, it is about time. Hopefully this grip will also work on the GH1 and others.
Sorry “juavel” but a grip doesn’t help the body handle heavy lenses, that is a limitation of the body and the mount. Until Panasonic comes out with a semi-pro grade body, we’ll have to stick with the light weight lenses or suffer camera damage.
I learned this the hard way when I mounted a 3 lb Nikon 80-400 on a Nikon D80, it warped the mount just from carrying the lens on the body. Of course while shooting, I was holding it by the lens.
The solution for now is to only buy heavy lenses which have tripod mounts and then use something like a Black Rapid strap mounted to the lens and no neck strap. Works like a charm.
have to try the gh2 with grip, to small for me without, and that is more about ergonomics than size.
Bill, that depends of the definition of heavy lenses, I wasn´t speaking about bazookas, aka very long lenses that they are not meant for hand-held shooting.
For example in my E620 the difference between using the 12-60 or the Konica AR Hexanon 135 f2.5 with or without grip is night and day.
Wow- so what happened to this vaporware?
It’s been 11 months since the last comment.
Searches don’t seem to reveal an actual product
was ever introduced. Kind of surprising, given
the GH-2’s popularity.