Canon BG-E4 Battery Grip for EOS 5D Digital SLR Camera Reviews

• A must have

  
  By A36G5OTCIKYTMB on 2006-03-21
  I am really quite glad I got the grip along with my 5D. It is everything the camera is - sturdy, functional and works flawlessly. The extra battery life has already proven useful on an extended shoot.
  
  The one downside is that it shares another trait with the camera - the price. I'm not sure that this grip is worth $100 more than the one I previously had for the digital rebel. Regardless, I would still purchase the grip again.
  
  
  

• A good accessory, but could be better.

  
  By A3LPRX34C6R60L on 2006-07-16
  If you need a battery grip for your 5D, this is about the only choice. There may be some cheap knock-offs floating around out there, but I haven't seen one.
  
  The problem I have with this product is that it feels flimsy and cheaply constructed. It's way over-priced. Functionally I've had no problems, but to be honest, I don't leave it on the camera and it sits most of the time. I've read reports of owners having minor troubles with the grips causing the camera to behave improperly, but I haven't experienced this. Get it if you need it, but it's not really a necessity of life if you own a 5D.
  
  

• No US Warranty

  
  By A2N7G9AM5RIZYA on 2006-05-16
  Careful - this item, if purchased from Ace Digital Club does not come with a US warranty. Same unit but no US warranty.
  
  If not from Ace Digital Club, check with the provider before purchase.
  
  

• Looks like a must have but watch out for caveats.

  
  By A2TIXUOOFQVRRB on 2006-08-03
  It is a good addition to my Eos 5D because it adds extra finger room when shooting horizontal, additional shutter and buttons when shooting vertical, and more battery autonomy.
  
  However, it is way too expensive especially compared to the BG-E3 and BP-50 battery grips I previously owned.
  
  - While Japan made and heavy, it is poorly build: one can see though it at the cam/grip junction as well as through the mounting screw. Also the battery door looks more than fragile and I am counting days before it breaks open.
  
  - Its design is bulkier compared to the elegant bottom of an Eos 1D Mark III: thicker, less comfortable and the mounting screw is awful.
  
  - Update: ended up in trouble with mine: it's shutter button is not reliable. Cleaned the contacts, checked the connection to the body, shipped it twice to the Canon Service Factory but they were unable to repair it :(
  
  Bottom line: it's a must have but ONLY if you often shoot vertical and get a reliable one. I wish I could remove at least 2 rating stars but Amazon doesn't allow me to do this.
  
  

• the extra cost is what not looking like a jerk costs

  
  By A1U7O8AYFVXN2W on 2007-01-05
  I use this with my 5D and have had no problems with it. This is pretty much a must have if you make a living taking pictures. It might be a touch expensive but, how much would it cost me to lose a shot because my power is low?
  So, spend the money, use the grip and get back to work.
  
  
• Great unit with a hidden Bonus
  By A23ONMGKEWDG4M on 2008-01-06
  All the other 5 star reviews are correct. But, there's a hidden bonus that Canon is not sdvertising and no one has mentioned. A significent aid to holding and carrying the 40d is Canon's Hand Strap E-1. This aid is basically for right handers but can not be used on the 40d (or XTi either without Canon BG-E3) without the BG-E4. The battery pack has the necessary strap attchment anchor point on the right/bottom side of the battery pack and that, along with the right side camera strap anchor point on the 40d body, allows you to use the hand strap. I find the hand strap a real help when carrying the camera with one hand.
  
  
• An Essential Accessory
  By A3EDWDU1H1Q7YU on 2007-03-11
  This grip makes the camera much more balanced and easier to hold onto.
  
  
• Okay
  By A2Y9V67501F7S6 on 2007-04-10
  Good when you photograph a lot vertical and need more energy.
  It's a little bulky and the pricetag slightly to high for what you get.
  
  
• canon battery grip
  By A36ZTM4U6G6BIL on 2007-05-14
  This is a must have if you are a simi or pro shooter. It gives you the power to shoot from am to pm. Very cool is the hidden holder for the battery door you remove so you dont lose it.With this you also have a extra button to shoot vertical, nice.
  
  
• Significant power improvement for the 5D
  By A362ZCUZ2TNAHP on 2007-05-07
  The BG-E4 provides an improved way to manage the power requirements of the 5D. It's versatility allows for the use of either two of the dedicated batteries BP-511/511A/512/514, or 6 AA cells. My choice was the AA cells, due to capacity, availability, costs, and increased flexibility in battery maintenance. In the instructions, Canon warns that use of the AA cells may result in reduced energy availability, as compared to the dedicated batteries. I have been using 2700 mAh NiMH GE-Sanyo AA cells and maintaining them with a LaCross BC-900 and alternatively another "smart" charger V-6988. (I prefer the LaCross, but the other charges 10 cells simultaneously as opposed to 4 in the LaCross, so when time is a factor, both are used.) I have not observed any shortfall in capacity. Quite the opposite has been my observation. (You do the math.) Canon appears to compare the Alkaline AA cells to their 1390 mAh Li-ion dedicated batteries (BP-511A), which may explain their conclusion. (Perhaps they would like to sell more of the dedicated cells?) Use some AA cells with larger capacity, and you'll get a much different result. The battery grip does add to the size and weight of the 5D, and some have said that Canon has it overpriced, but nevertheless, I can recommend it as a useful option. Only the cost stopped me from giving it 5 stars. I've seen an aftermarket competitor with an LCD display for sale in Europe, which may be a good alternative, but availability seems to be limited.
  
  
• Good price-great item
  By A3IZ9XP7XWB0OS on 2007-09-27
  This battery grip is a great help for increasing the number of pictures you can take without having to stop to recharge you batteries as often. I like the increased solidity of the combination with camera body and the fact the weight helps me keep the camera more steady. I have had battery grips for all of my Canon bodies. This one is a little more expensive for the same features. Amazon had the best price I could find and sent it out quickly, packed well. The grip is not necessary to get great pictures with the 5D, but for me, it increases the "keeper" shots and gets me through a photo shoot without having to worry about batteries.
  
  
• Canon Battery Grip for 5D
  By A17DY2XOF5R4RC on 2007-12-17
  This add on makes the camera look a lot meaner...awesome addition to my body. I just wish that the wifi battery grip comes out already....
  
  Though on the pricy side, like all Canon equipment I still love it.
  
  Darn you Canon for being so good.
  
  
• Must have accessory!
  By A2PYSLR6VBKX3 on 2007-12-22
  My battery grip stays on my camera 100% of the time. It hasnt come off since I got the thing. Having 2 batteries lets me shoot all day without ever having to worry about running out of power. Also the fact that it also gives you a vertical shutter release and wheel is perfect for portrait shooting. A must have accessory!
  
  
• Unfortunately, you must have this grip.
  By A5KMMY627T3W on 2008-01-05
  I say unfortunately because at $2-$3K (was $3K when it first came out) for the 5D you would hope that it would have the grip built-in like the 1D/Mark series. You pretty much have to get the grip for this one. I can not get a decent handle on this camera without the grip. I have tried and tried with different lenses, and every time the grip is necessary. It's strange, really. I don't know what accounts for this. I don't have the same problem at all on the 40D or other Canon DSLRs. In fact I even sold the 40D grip because I didn't need it. On here it is a must.
  
  Unlike the other Canons I have used, this grip matches the lines and contours of the 5D perfectly (a little too perfectly, actually--it is as if Canon purposely sawed the 5D in half in the design stage to sell this separately to make extra money even though it should have been built-in like the 1D/Mark series) and looks like it is part of the camera. It makes the 5D look like a 1D/Mark body. Again, this is great--but I wish I didn't have to pay $200 on top of a few thousand to make it happen.
  
  Another "pro" is that you now have the ability to use (4) AA lightweight lithium batteries (or 4 heavy rechargeable ones if that is your bag, man) on a shoot. This is invaluable since you can keep a box of them in your bag and be guaranteed never to run out of battery power even after thousands of shots.
  
  
• Great Accessory, But....
  By A1W0WP6WGN6TIC on 2007-08-05
  This is a great accessory but has some drawbacks. It does add weight and bulk which are both problems for me in the field. The weight is obvious, you want to minimize the weight you drag around all day. The bulk makes it more difficult to find a case that properly fits the camera.
  
  In addition to those drawbacks, with the grip attached to the camera and a 70-200mm lens attached, the grip interferes with mounting the lens on a tripod with a quick-release. The lever for locking the quick release does not allow the camera body to be lowered enough to actually mount the camera.
  
  On the plus side, it is great to have all of the controls where you expect to find them when shooting in portrait orientation. It helps you to keep your hands in a more natural position and thus provide more stability for the camera.
  
  
• Get a Grip on the semi-pro 5D
  By A1UUEPXY2R0JE0 on 2007-09-01
  The 5D is an awesome camera with superior capability, slapping the battery grip on to it gives you a much better hold on the camera, a natural vertical working platform, and some extra power. It definitely transforms the 5D from a pretty camera that your neighbor the photo bug might carry into a serious photo machine. You definitely get the respect all photographers richly deserve (!). When I carry the 5D with some fat L glass and the grip attached, I don't even have to show a pass to get access to events, the rig speaks for itself.
  
  On the downside, you would think that with two OEM batteries running you would get boatloads of long-lasting power, but it ain't so. It's better, but I'd say it gives the camera Viagra but not Cialis. The pro-level bodies have longer lasting batteries than the two dinky batteries you can slip to the grip. Expensive but worth it.
  
  
• Pricey but worth it
  By AX7QAYY5WXOZ4 on 2008-03-26
  Product is made of the same magnesium shell as with the 5D body. The grip will forever change the way you hold and use the camera. Using the body without the grip just doesn't feel right anyway.
  
  
• necessary
  By A3RJ5PHQQ2287N on 2008-04-07
  This grip is very usefull. It gives a better overall photoraphing experience expecially if you have medium to big hands. Makes shootig vertically easier. Increases the shooting capacity but you will need an additional battery otherwise the grip will not be well balanced.
  
  
• Handy (pun intended)
  By AHWBKTWFD46UI on 2008-04-15
  This "handy" grip adds functionality with an extra battery pack, and helps balance vertical shots. Heavy? A little. But, you're not going to whine about that when you can shoot twice as long, review to your heart's content, and hold the camera confidently, right?
  
  
• Too boxy, needs better ergonomics
  By A7X6SPYT0YMZI on 2008-05-07
  I loved the vertical grip with my Nikon D200 so I thought the BG-E4 + 5D would be a no brainer but I find the Canon grip too bulky. Ergonomics could be dramatically improved if Canon shaved off just a few millimeters making it less boxy, and gave it a finger indentation. As it is, I leave it off camera 95% of the time and only use it on the rare occasion I need the intimidation factor shooting certain events/clients. With the battery grip, the 5D is quite a bit bigger than the 1D bodies.
  
  If you're buying the grip to extend battery life, consider that carrying extra batteries in your pocket is simple, cheaper and keeps your 5D trim and lighter to carry.
  
  
• Useful
  By ALS9O6L34LJBB on 2008-05-09
  Although I don't find myself using this too often, I do not regret buying it. I will use it at my next wedding. I read other reviews about it feeling cheap and did not feel the same - it feels fine and works great - it just adds extra weight. I have not yet expired one single battery, so I really don't have a use to store 2 in there.
  
  
• 5d Battery extension Grip
  By A1APVPB7A2IF30 on 2008-05-09
  This turned out to be invaluable during my trip to India. I did not have to worry about recharging my batteries. During the 15days in extreme heat it worked great at the end of my journey I replaced the batteries, Shot close to 2000 photos. Also the controls being moved to grip was especailly handy for the shots taken in portrait mode.
  
  
• Must have accessory - marginal quality
  By A3EYC77AD57AEU on 2008-05-12
  This battery grip is absolutely necessary for any application. It functions flawlessly.
  
  This is my second BG-E4 and without a doubt, the materials quality of the unit is marginal at best. My camera was on a tripod and took a short spill and the minor impact cracked the grip casing in two places. Bad job on my part for being careless, however the grip should have survived the short-distance, minor impact.
  
  
  
• necessary, but it is Canon and you pay for the name
  By A2K6CDQ9HZ359G on 2008-05-18
  I think the grip is a necessity. It changes the whole feel and balance of the camera for the better. You also have the advantage of running off of two batteries with twice the shoot time without changing. Over $200 for a glorified battery holder with 50 cents worth of electronics is tough to accept. There are Chinese knock-offs that are half the price but I guess if you are going to spend over 2 grand for the 5D camera another couple of hundred for the Canon name (quality?) should not even be a concern..
  
  
• Canon BG-E4 Battery grip for EOS 5D Digital SLR Camera
  By A3HD6R94BM86ZD on 2008-06-13
  Ergonomically its superb for vertically composed shooting. Feels solid and sturdy. For travel in remote areas where power outlets are scarce the 6 AA battery option addresses that issue, this is the main reason I purchased the grip. As far as ruggedness goes, I'm taking it back to Alaska this summer and down to Nicaragua so I'll update this post after I return. The camera feels significantly more sturdy and "balanced" with the grip attached when used with the 24-70mm f2.8L and 70-200mm F2.8. For situations where discretion is required, the extra size can be initimidating for you potential subjects. The price seems a little steep.
  
  
• 5D grip
  By AIG2OJ4KIEEHY on 2008-07-12
  When I had the 20D I bought the grip. Now that I bought the 5D, I had to get the grip again. along with the canon leather strap, this makes a very handy and usefull accessory when shooting weddings.
  
  
• Canon 5D Battery Grip
  By A5CEDII1LP45U on 2008-07-23
  Before I bought this Canon BG-E4 I succumbed to a less expensive knockoff. MISTAKE!!! I became unhappy with the knockoff after only a few days of shooting pictures of my granddaughter. I then purchased the Canon Battery Grip and it was a world of difference. The Canon grip is actually much easier to use. I like having double battery power, and an extra shutter button on the grip. I have found that it also seems to give my 5D a more balanced feel, and a more secure feeling when I am holding it. This accessory completes a great setup for the 5D. Bob Pavelsky -- A Thousand Words -- www.athousandwords.name.
  
  
• A Must Have
  By A2Y75QJH0XU9W5 on 2008-07-25
  I never carry my 5D without this grip. It allows me to shoot all day and to go vertical with the controls at the proper location. I keep one on my secondary camera as well. If you plan to do some all day shooting, this is a must have.
  
  
• Canon BG-E4
  By AJYXPBF1OK7KO on 2008-08-18
  As always, the Canon Brand battery/verticle grips are well made and top notch. This is the 6th one I have owned between various Film and Digital SLRs. I ounce tried a third party grip on a 30D...will never try that again.
  
  
• A must!
  By A1BT2UD2Z8W78S on 2008-08-18
  It's a must for any serious and almost serious shooter! Giving you the flexibility of having the extra battery and also of having a regular AA size battery holder for those times when you forget to recharge your Canon batteries, the BG-E4 also extends your ability of shooting in portrait mode. It also adds the benefits of camera stability when shooting slower speeds than 1/30. I have shot up to 1/8 of a second handheld with good results.
  
  

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