Certainly point taken about the vertical grip, especially with heavy lenses.
David,
I start a job on Tuesday -- two solid weeks of ads, and every image is 8.5x11 vertical for print. Every frame, vertical. On location.
I challenge you -- imagine it's you shooting verticals for two weeks, twelve hour days. Handheld. Go get an H2 and stick a 100 on it, and hold it vertical for three minutes. Then go get a 5d2 with a vertical grip on it, and hold that vertical for three minutes. Not on a tripod. Be honest -- tell me how it feels after three minutes in your hands. Imagine trying to keep the horizon straight, when you arms are in that position after a half hour.
The H system has been out for how long? And it's still incomplete. For even the most basic of things for an advertising photographer. Yes, it's got a wonderful pop up flash for grandma's f'ing birthday, but where is the Vertical Grip? It just drives me nuts when I think about it -- all this money spent on a great camera, but what do I reach for when it comes to really using it hard? Canon.
Magazines are not dead (yet). There are still verticals to be shot.
The H system is so close, but when push comes to shove, in the real world, the empty facets of your system are driving photographers to Canon and Nikon. (At least it is for me).
I'd *love* to shoot this job on the H, but it's just not going to happen. I just needed to say that to you out loud. I asked that question originally in March, and still, no real answer why it does not exist. It is a GAPING HOLE in your system. The H is perfect for advertising, but it's simply a DRAG to handhold it in vertical position. Think how many verticals are still shot with the H.
There: I feel better. Hope you're doing well.