Thinking of buying an aftermarket battery grip? Think again

[Restomage]

This is why you don't buy cheap aftermarket battery grips. I bought my grip from an online company hoping to save some money, but the buttons and command dials stopped working after a while, and the wheel that lets you take off the grip broke and was stuck on. So I had to use a dremel and some precise cutting to get it off.

 

[Overread19]

Flickr: Discussing First Disappointment with Canon in Canon DSLR User Group

To be fair official ones have plastic cogs in them and its a well documented fact that if you overtighten the screw the grip will get stuck on the body (as is the case with my grip on my 400D*); that said own brand and good quality 3rd party grips shouldn't have the buttons die on you.



* that said I use a wrist strap and - never have any need to want to take the grip off anyway so its no problem for me

 

[sm4him]

Wow, you're a braver sort than I to use a Dremel that close to your camera body...but then, I have a hand tremor...

 

[D-B-J]

My brand-name grip works great!

 

[480sparky44 43]

Wow. I didn't realize OEM grips have a perfect track record.

 

[MLeeK]

Guilty! I have 2 aftermarket grips and (KNOCK ON WOOD) I have never had a problem with them. I use them rarely. Being female it makes my cameras so big and bulky without any major lens, then add my 70-200's and it's painful. I keep one on the 7D because I seem to have a battery eating problem there with an IS lens on it.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

My 2 aftermarket grips have been flawless, but maybe by me posting this i just jinx them

 

[Overread19]

Guilty! I have 2 aftermarket grips and (KNOCK ON WOOD) I have never had a problem with them. I use them rarely. Being female it makes my cameras so big and bulky without any major lens, then add my 70-200's and it's painful. I keep one on the 7D because I seem to have a battery eating problem there with an IS lens on it.

Actually I think the 7D also drains batteries faster because of its viewfinder which requires constant trickle power to be usable (take the batteries out and get a shock when you look through the viewfinder!). I've certainly noticed that thought light use my 7D with 2 batteries still drains down faster than my 400D.

 

[MLeeK]

Guilty! I have 2 aftermarket grips and (KNOCK ON WOOD) I have never had a problem with them. I use them rarely. Being female it makes my cameras so big and bulky without any major lens, then add my 70-200's and it's painful. I keep one on the 7D because I seem to have a battery eating problem there with an IS lens on it.

Actually I think the 7D also drains batteries faster because of its viewfinder which requires constant trickle power to be usable (take the batteries out and get a shock when you look through the viewfinder!). I've certainly noticed that thought light use my 7D with 2 batteries still drains down faster than my 400D.

Glad I am not the only one. I have had people think I am insane for saying that! It's the same battery as is in the 5D2 and the 5D2 doesn't drain them that fast. Or at least I don't think it does... I don't use it as much or in as demanding circumstances, so... Maybe?

 

[Overread19]

I'm not sure and with all the gadgets inside a DSLR its hard to guess - but I'd suspect that whilst IS does put more drain on the batteries, something in the 7D puts a bigger drain; if its not the trickle power for the viewfinder I'd then say that it could be that highly advanced AF system that might be drawing more power.

 

[Markw]

Hmm..I've used off-brand grips on both my D90 and D300s. Neither of which ended badly. If I don't jump to a camera with one built in, I'll probably use one again on my upgrade, whatever it is. Sorry to see your experience.

Mark