Vertical Battery Grip for DSLR Cameras - Buying Guide

I have been hanging around in camera accessories, and many times I see photographers asking the question "Do I need a camera battery grip/holder?" or "What hand grips are used for?".  So I decided to write this blog post in order to answer this question. Let's start by saying that if you ask yourself  if you need a battery grip, then you probably have to read this buying guide to found out. But because you've probably haven't tried battery grips before, that means that you should at least become familiar with the advantaged and disadvantaged of using a camera battery pack grip with your DSLR camera.

Vertical battery grips are usually demanded by amateur, enthusiast and semi-pro photographers, because they are manufactured to those segment of DSLR cameras. You've probably had a chance to look at a professional high-end digital SLR cameras, and you could see that they have a camera grip (holder), built seamlessly together with the DSLR itself. So professional photographers who have bought the Nikon D3s or Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III for example, don't need to linger with that kind of decision, whether to buy a battery grip or not.

Advantages of Using a DSLR Battery Grip

So why people purchase battery grips anyway? - There are few reasons, or I might say advantages of using a DSLR camera grip:

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  Extra battery (More Power) - battery grips allows photographers to add another battery, along their current battery and get more power to shoot more pictures. If you shoot lots of pictures with your built-in flash, a hand grip will allow you to shoot more pictures. Almost all SLR battery grips allows to hold 2 Lithium ION batteries.
  
  
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  Use AA Batteries - many of today's DSLR grips (from Canon, Sony Alpha, Nikon, Pentax and Olympus for example), allows the use of AA type batteries, some call it "finger" batteries, because of their long "finger" like shape. AA batteries are very common, cheap and you can find them on any Kiosk or grocery store. So many outdoor photographers tend to grab a few packs of AA batteries with them, in case they out of power during long shooting day. Most DSLR battery grips support AA-size batteries (alkaline, lithium or Oxyride).
  
  
• 
  Vertical (Portrait) Shooting - with DSLR grips you can hold the camera in vertical positioning to shoot portrait style photographs, and to it in a much more convenient way. Furthermore,  battery grips (most of the time) have dedicated and identical buttons (shutter button, setting dial, etc) that allows photographers to use them instead of the regular button for convenience
   
• 
  Ergonomics - if you shoot lots of photographs, you will appreciate the built quality and ergonomics of your camera. Some DSLRs are pretty small for large-hands' photographers (have you tried the Canon 550D?). Having a DSLR battery grip makes the camera bigger and more convenient for people with large hands. I remember shooting with my Canon 400D, and my pinkie was always under the camera and it was pretty disturbing, especially if I want to hold the camera steady.
  
  
• 
  Compensate Weight and Balance - DSLR battery grips add weight to the camera. Photographers who use long and heavy lenses without a battery grip, feel unbalanced when holding the camera, like the lens is pushing the camera down. This happens when shooting with heavy and long telephoto-zoom lenses and high-end telephoto prime lenses. For handheld shooting and without a tripod, you will probably want to consider buying a grip. Battery grips also helps you to keep the camera steady, and therefore, shoot with low shooter speeds without getting a blurred image (this is arguable and image-stabilized lenses are always give better results).
  
  
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  The Professional Look - There are photographers that the look is also important factor. I mean, if you are professional photographers, coming to a wedding with a small camera will probably make you look like an amateur. Adding a battery grip makes the camera look more professional for non-photographers. So if you want to look more professional, a battery grip can do the job.
  

As you can see, there are many advantages and reasons for buying a SLR battery grip for. Whether you are shooting with Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Olympus or other DSLR cameras, you will fill the difference at the very first time you connect it to your camera.

Canon BG-E5 Vertical Battery magazines (AA or 2 Lithium Ion Batteries)

"Made in China" Doesn't Mean Cheap

Most of DSLR vertical battery grip packs are made of plastic and they are not the most high-techy accessories I must admit. So you probably asking yourself, why such a "cheap" (mostly) "Made in China" plastic camera accessory costs that much. OK, let's get things straight. Some grips are cheaper and some are more expensive. But why the prices get to be so high?

Canon, Nikon, Pentax and other DSLR manufacturers (and even in other market niche), need to make money, that's the nature of every business, No money - No business (for us, no Cameras). They are not greedy, it is just the nature of business to sell  related products in higher prices, because consumers need them. I am not sure that this is the best example, but look at the printers' market. You but a printer at 200$ and you pay third of its price for one ink cartridge (of course its depends on the model and Ink type). So if consumers need it, they will pay for it. Apple does it with they overwhelming amount of iPhone and Mac accessories and other companies do it to.  So that's the nature of business, so don't get over excited about it.

Before we continue, lets see a Battery Grip YouTube video buying guide/review of the Canon 7D battery grip BG-E7:

3rd Party (off-brand) vs. Genuine

A very popular question among photographers, "Should I buy a genuine or 3rd party battery grip?", "does anyone use a third part battery grip?". As we told you earlier, grips are simple accessories to manufacture, and you don't need to be Canon, Nikon or Pentax to manufacture this kind of photography gear. There are many third party battery grips for Canon, Nikon, Olympus and Pentax DSLRs, which are a very good and cheap alternative to the original and more expensive ones. Of course, some are so cheap, that don't last long. So I recommend asking photographers on forums, in order to get a recommendation and a positive (and negative) opinion on thirds party grips. I know some third party grips that are being sold at 1/3 price compared to the original, so it is pretty attractive and probably a smart buy to consider buying a third party grip, especially if you are on a tight budget.

Canon Genuine BG-E5 Vertical Battery Grip

Targus is a very popular company who also who manufactures camera accessories, bags and laptop cases, but also battery grips for Canon and Nikon DSLRs, so I think that it will be a wise choose querying about their product on forums and blogs. Also check out Zeikos, Opteka grips.

Connectors

Overall, there are two type of connectors.

The first one is a battery-shape connector, that in order to attach the grip to your DSLR, you will need to detach the battery compartment seal (battery door) prior to attaching the grip into the battery slot. After you attach the grip, you then need to take the battery and slide it inside the grip itself (of course you can add an extra battery for more power as we mentioned earlier).

The second type of battery grips, also less common, are ones that you can attach to the camera, without the need to pop off the battery slot door and removing the battery.

Pentax D-BG2 Weather Sealed Battery Grip (image credit: PentaxImaging)

Weather-Sealed Grips

Some grips like the Pentax D-BG2 Battery Grip (compatible with Pentax K10D and K20D DSLRs - see above image) are weather-sealed, and gos together with a weather-sealed camear body and lenses as a perfect match for outdoor photography in difficult weather conditions.

Every Thing Else I Need to Know?

Vertical battery grips names are usually short: BG-E3, BG-E5, D-BG4, LP-E5, VG-C90AM, BG-E8, NB-2LH, MB-10, etc. If you have a Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Olympus, Panasonic, Sony or Leica DSLRs, you are sure to find 3rd party and genuine hand-grips available on eBay, Amazon,  B&H Photo, Adorama, Best Buy, ButterflyPhoto and other online stores on the Internet.

Probably good to mention that some grips add special functionality to the camera, like an infrared detector for a remote control. Some have an extra DC connector for connecting a power cord at the side or bottom of the grip. Furthermore, all grips have a tripod adapter thread at the bottom, replaces the one that the grip covers. When buying a grip, make sure that you get the rights AA magazine if you intend to shoot with AA batteries too. Oh, and don't forget to buy those high capacity (1800 mAh or more recommended) rechargeable batteries and a good charger (Read this Battery charger buying guide for more information. I personally recommend the La Crosse Technology BC-9009 AlphaPower, though maybe there is a new version by now).

So if have decided to buy a new (or upgrade) SLR battery grip, I recommend comparing prices online, reading reviews, asking questions about specific models on forums and of course test it at the shop before you buy. Vertical grips are among the most popular accessories for enthusiast and semi-pro photographers who need the extra grip to hold the camera steady, get enough power to shoot all day long and get that great "Professional photographer" look (of course you can be a professional photographer without it). I think that once you have tried a vertical battery grip, you won't go back shooting without it. Hoep you enjoy my battery grip pack buying guide, Good luck.