I am seriously about to lose my mind trying to find a solid battery grip for my Canon 90D. I spent like four hours yesterday hiking up around the Isle of Skye and the wind was absolutely brutal, freezing cold, and of course my battery just tanked way faster than it usually does. I was trying to get these long exposures of the coastline and having to swap batteries with frozen fingers while the tripod is shaking is just a total nightmare. I really need that extra juice and the vertical shutter button because flipping the camera sideways on a ball head for those tall landscape compositions is such a pain in the butt without the extra grip surface.
I did some digging online and I keep seeing the official Canon BG-E14 being recommended but it is so expensive for what is basically a plastic box. Then I see these third-party ones like Neewer or Vello for like forty bucks and people say they are fine, but then other reviews say the weather sealing is non-existent. That is my biggest worry. I am constantly out in the mist and light rain and I dont want some cheap knockoff shorting out my entire camera body just because a little moisture got into the battery door. I read one forum post saying the 90D is picky with third party batteries inside the grips too which just adds another layer of annoyance.
Here is what I am looking for:
Is there any middle ground here? Like a high-quality third party brand that actually cares about build quality or should I just bite the bullet and buy the overpriced Canon one so I dont ruin my gear? I am just so tired of reading conflicting reviews...
I spent a week in the Faroe Islands last year and the humidity was just relentless. I learned the hard way that when the wind is whipping salt spray everywhere, your gear is only as strong as its weakest link. I once tried a generic grip on my old 70D and the vertical shutter button started firing randomly because moisture got into the contact points... total nightmare. You really dont want that happening when you are trying to capture a sunrise in the Dolomites. Since you are worried about the weather sealing but hate the retail price, here is how I see the options:
Ive been shooting with the Canon BG-E14 Battery Grip for EOS 70D/80D/90D for a long time and I am very satisfied with how it handles harsh environments. > I am constantly out in the mist and light rain and I dont want some cheap knockoff shorting out my entire camera body Youre right to be cautious. Cheap grips like the Neewer NW-80D Vertical Battery Grip use thin plastic and lack the gaskets found on official gear. They also tend to flex when mounted on a tripod, which can cause micro-vibrations in your long exposures. Since your budget is $120, I suggest buying a used Canon BG-E14 Battery Grip from a reputable dealer. It fits your price point and the weather sealing matches your 90D exactly. No creaking or power drops, and the joystick is much easier to use with cold fingers than the third party alternatives. Its just safer for those Dolomites hikes...
Good to know!
I completely agree with gramercy parkgoer. Moisture is honestly the worst thing for these cameras. I have had issues with third party electronics failing in the fog before and it is just not worth the risk of shorting something out. It is super disappointing that the official ones are so pricey but the build quality is usually night and day compared to the cheap stuff. Talking about the Dolomites tho, I was actually looking at flights there last summer but ended up in the Swiss Alps instead. The trains there are just incredible, like totally on another level compared to what we have here. I spent hours just staring out the window while eating a really expensive sandwich from the cafe car. This guy next to me kept trying to show me photos of his cat on his old flip phone for like an hour... it was super weird. Anyway sorry lol realized I went totally off topic there.
Are you using official batteries? Ive had issues with third-party grips losing connection in the cold...