Should You Use a Third Party Camera Grip?

I am a fan of camera grips especially on my Nikon D90. It’s an accessory that I like to use for shooting portraits or for longs days when I don’t want to change the battery. After extended use, however, I have found that they have some advantages and disadvantages.

And a recent experience taught me a very important lesson.

Pros of Using a Third Party Battery Grip

Shot with the Grip on in NYC on a photowalk

Cost – The cost of a third party grip tends to be much cheaper than one from the camera manufacturer. For my Nikon D90, a third party battery grip will run around $60 while the Nikon MD-D80 will run you over $100.
Functionality – A battery grip adds more functionality to a camera by giving you a vertical shutter release and therefore allowing for easier portrait shooting due to the ergonomic advantages. It also provides better stability. The grip can also work like a stand for the camera allowing you to sit the camera down on a level surface with the lens raised enough to get the right shots.
Battery – The grip houses a second battery which essentially doubles the battery life. Battery grips sometimes feature a tray that holds 6 AA batteries which come in handy when chargers are not available.
Look- Some people think the battery grips gives the camera a cooler look. The D90′s grip gives it a similar form factor to that of a Nikon D3X

Cons of Using a Third Party Battery Grip

My Grip - R.I.P.

Bulk – The grip adds size and weight to your camera. If your are keeping the grip on, you have to use bigger bags.
Kiss discreetness goodbye- With a battery grip on, you’re not hiding the camera. The extra size makes the camera more visible. It may not be the best choice for street photography.
You get what you pay for – The build quality of the third party grip just will not completely measure up to that of the OEM’s version. You do run the risk of the grips buttons not working correctly or the plastic being cheap. The screw that attaches it to the camera can break or the battery compartment could stop working, or both.

This Comes From Experience

I bought a third party grip. For a while, it worked very well. I got some great portrait images till that fateful day when the screw did break. Lately, the battery compartment has been acting weird and when one battery dies, the camera just shuts off. I also had to take a trip this year and I needed the camera. So I had to take it grip and all. I don’t regret buying the grip. It served me well, but I would not wish the issues I had with it on anyone. If you are going to buy a third party grip make sure you get it from a reputable store like B&H or Adorama because they can be held accountable.

Avoid buying battery grips on EBay or Craigslist because you’re rolling the dice there. If your are truly in doubt, buy it from the OEM. They specifically build their grips for their camera.

Please Support The Phoblographer

We love to bring you guys the latest and greatest news and gear related stuff. However, we can’t keep doing that unless we have your continued support. If you would like to purchase any of the items mentioned, please do so by clicking our links first and then purchasing the items as we then get a small portion of the sale to help run the website.

Tagged as: Cameras, comparison, d90, dslr, ergonomics, nikon, Photography, tips

http://profiles.google.com/zscho2 ZS Chow

I have used a phottix brand grip for my D90 for the last couple of years I’ve used the camera. Other than the fact that I damaged one of the battery holder tabs and the wording is wearing off, I feel that it’s actually quite resilient and it’s quite close to the feel of a real MBD-80. I blame the D200 grip for that though. The MBD-10 is another story all together. That one’s worth every cent!
Helen Oster

Thanks so much for the Adorama mention; just FYI in addition to the warranty which comes with every item sold by Adorama, you have a full 30-day returns period if an item is unsuitable for your needs!

If you ever need advice or after-sales support with any item that you order from Adorama Camera I’m only an email away: Helen@adorama.com

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador.com
- http://twitter.com/gservo The Servo
  
  I had the battery grip for about a year when it got stuck on my D90, it served me well in that time, I called your support, they could not help with the issue as it was. The grips on my desk as a reminder. I still love Adroama, Iam just a little soured on battery grips.
  - OSAM
    
    You should be soured on NON-OEM battery grips: I had the MB-D80 on my D80 and sold it to a friend for her D90 (when I moved to a D300s). It’s still working perfectly and looks almost like new.
Pingback: Should You Use a Third Party Camera Grip? | shootplex
http://www.facebook.com/yura.alexandrov Yuri Alexandrov

I use analog of mb-d10 on my d300. On the market there are many options starting from 40$. The cheapest has no joystick, poor plastic, etc. There are just a shutter release button and possibility to use the regular AA batteries. I’ve chosen the most expensive for about 75$, the full analog of mb-d10 – all buttons, joystick, great rubber (maybe even better than on the d300) and it still cheaper than original Nikon – about 300$ in Russia. All prices for new grips. I think it is possible to buy not original grips with the same quality, just don’t try to save more on it.
- http://www.facebook.com/bjorn.lubetzki Björn Lubetzki
  
  No, you can’t get them with the same quality. Maybe a similar quality, but the MB-D10 is a complete magnesium grip, which has the same weather sealing as the camera. You won’t get this with ANY other third party grip….But you pay for those things.
Winterman

“Bulk – The grip adds size and weight to your camera. If your are keeping the grip on, you have to use bigger bags.Kiss discreetness goodbye- With a battery grip on, you’re not hiding the camera. The extra size makes the camera more visible. It may not be the best choice for street photography.”

That has nothig to do if it is a third party or a original battery grip.
- Anonymous
  
  I rarely come on the site and say this, but are you on crack? It has everything to do with a grip.
  
  Chris Gampat,
  Editor in Chief
  The Phoblographer
  - http://martoscbox.wordpress.com/ Martosc, [Gm]
    
    I think what Winterman meant was that it has nothing to do with “Third Party vs Original/OEM battery grip as the title suggested…
    
    Sure, it has everything to do with a grip — but OEM and Third Party will all have the same problem in regards to bulkiness and discreetness.
    - CritMass
      
      Yeah, that’s what he meant. Clear as day. Not sure why Chris decided to jump on him like that. happens to be the second time in as many days I’ve seen him post in that vain :/
Pingback: iPhone 4S already the second most popular cameraphone on Flickr | Qatar Gadget
Csy690

Hi, Nikon does not offer all models with power grip, I have no choice but to buy a third party grip for my D5000, if there is one from Nikon, I mostly will go for it instead. Again you save big on buying the third party grip. Another option is to buy a used Nikon grip from ebay. You could get a barely used one for half the price.
Pingback: Should You Use a Third Party Camera Grip?
Joe

Full of shit.. Grip from ebay $25 from adorama $100 why would avoid ebay? By the time i replace the ebay grip i will prob own another camera. Perhaps you work for adorama now
http://www.facebook.com/bjorn.lubetzki Björn Lubetzki

I use a Blackrapid on my D700, with an original MB-D10. Wouldn’t trust the tripod mount of any other third party grip to hold the the camera, the lens and the grip. But I don’t have any concerns using the original to hold all of this.