Camera Battery Grip – Useful or Not?
Are you looking to invest in a Camera Battery Grip? If yes, do you know the advantages of using a battery grip? If you are not using one, I recommend going through this guide to know the benefits of using one. I will also cover the disadvantages of a battery grip. This guide will help you decide whether the camera battery grip is for you.
What is a Camera Battery Grip?
A Camera Battery Grip is an additional camera accessory you can connect to the DSLR/ Mirrorless camera and can help to increase the battery life. The more the battery life, the more the number of shots.
It gives you the provision to attach two camera batteries to a camera and provides an additional shutter press button. Some battery grips also come with the option of inserting standard AA batteries along with one regular camera battery.
Advantages of Camera Battery Grip
Now, let us see what a camera battery grip is capable of doing. How can it help you in your photography? Why should you use one?
1. Additional Battery Life
Of course, getting an additional battery life is the main intention to buy a camera battery grip.
If you feel that you are not getting enough battery life in the field, especially when you are out for long photo sessions, then you should consider investing in one.
2. Shooting in Portrait Orientation
When you capture pictures in portrait orientation, you may find it difficult to press the shutter button.
It is because the camera comes with a single shutter button, located on the top right side of the DSLR camera, in most cases.
So, use a battery grip to get the additional shutter button advantage, which is well-positioned to trigger the camera in portrait orientation.
You no longer have to take the awkward pose to click your photos in portrait mode.
Consider reading, Landscape Vs Portrait Orientation mode, If you want to know more about portrait and landscape orientation.
3. Higher Burst Mode Rate
Not all manufacturers support this feature of the increased frame rate in Burst mode.
Some camera battery grip models from Nikon come with the enhanced frame rate feature whereas Canon does not have this feature.
So, you will only get an increase in the number of shots if you are a Nikon user using a Nikon battery grip.
4. Better Balance with Heavy Camera Lenses
If you use heavy lenses like the prime telephoto lenses (500mm, 600mm, and 800mm.) with an APS-C camera body like Canon 5D Mark IV, the body will look small when attached to the telephoto lens.
It will also result in minor balance issues. You can correct the imbalance problem, if you are facing any, by attaching a battery grip to your camera body.
5. Reduce Battery Change Time
It allows you to attach two camera batteries to the camera at the same time.
Thus, you don’t have to change the batteries often.
6. Good for Video Recording
Video recording consumes battery life like anything. When you shoot videos, the battery drain will be faster.
In such cases, the battery grip can be useful. It allows you to shoot long-duration videos without a battery change, provided you have enough memory in the camera.
7. Useful for Long Exposure Photography
Long exposure photography demands lots of battery life.
You need to ensure that you have enough charge in your camera batteries during the shoot. In most situations, you will capture multiple long exposure shots.
So, a single fully charged camera battery might not be sufficient.
In such cases, it is better to use a battery grip to avoid the battery change and concentrate on your photography.
8. For Time-Lapse
Recording time-lapse drains the battery like anything. Here, you are recording video by capturing multiple frames of the scene at a predetermined time interval.
So, it is equivalent to a video-recording scenario. A good battery grip will ensure that your time-lapse video doesn’t get stopped in between due to lack of battery power.
9. People with Big Hands
If you have big hands, you may find it difficult to operate the DSLR/ Mirrorless camera shutter button and hold the camera in the camera grip part.
A battery grip would be a good choice in such a situation. The extra portion in the bottom of the camera will be a perfect fit for grip for people with big hands.
10. Useful at Low Temperatures
If you do photography in winter or in places where the temperature is very low, the battery drain will be more.
A good battery grip will be extremely useful in these situations.
Disadvantages of a Battery Grip
1. Size and Weight
When you attach a battery grip to your camera, you are increasing the size and weight of your camera.
Thus, the camera would become bulky.
Most photographers don’t prefer to increase the camera weight. Therefore, a battery grip is not a good option if you plan to reduce the camera gear weight.
2. Additional Cost
You need to invest more money to buy a camera battery grip. So, go for it only if it brings some value to your photography.
Otherwise, make use of this money to buy some other useful camera accessories.
If you don’t have enough budget then better not to go for a battery grip at all.
Final Thoughts
Now, you know the pros and cons of using a camera battery grip. So, use one only if you find it useful. The above factors can help you to decide, whether to buy one or not.
If you plan to buy one, go for the model recommended by the camera brand. You can also get battery grips from third-party vendors for a lesser price. But, the performance of the third-party camera battery grips will not be that great.