Recommended vertical battery grips for Canon EOS 5D Mark IV?

Question

Does anyone know which vertical battery grip I should buy for my Canon 5D Mark IV because I'm in a huge rush and honestly have no idea what I'm doing? Sorry if this is a really basic question but I literally just got this camera and I have a huge event this weekend and I'm panicking a little bit. I'm shooting a wedding for a cousin in Chicago on Saturday and while practicing yesterday I realized my hands get so cramped trying to take vertical photos and the battery seems to drain super fast. I heard these grip things help with both problems but when I looked them up I got so confused by all the options.

Like do I HAVE to buy the official Canon one? I think its called the BG-E20 or something like that? It's like $300 which is crazy because I only have about $80 left in my budget after buying the camera and a lens. I saw some off-brand ones on Amazon like Neewer or some other names I cant even pronounce and they are way cheaper but I dont want to ruin the camera or have it stop working in the middle of the ceremony. Is there a specific one that's cheap but also wont break? I really need something that lets me hold the camera comfortably sideways because my wrist is already killing me and I havent even started the real shoot yet.

Also does the grip come with the extra batteries or do I have to buy those separate too? Everything is so expensive and I feel like I'm drowning in all these technical terms like shutter release and magnesium alloy and I just want the camera to last all day and not hurt my hand. If anyone has a specific brand they trust that isnt the super expensive official one please let me know soon because I need to order it tonight to get it here by Friday. Im really worried about the quality because the camera itself was so much money and I dont want to be cheap but I literally cant afford the Canon brand one right now...

Matthew · Accepted Answer

Adding my two cents since I've been down this road... honestly i was terrified of fried electronics when i first started. @Reply #1 - good point about the Vello, it's definitely the gold standard for third-party stuff, but with an $80 limit including shipping, things get tight. Based on what everyone is saying, you're basically choosing between reliability and cost. I once bought a super cheap generic one for my old rebel and it actually drained my power while the camera was sitting in the bag overnight. I woke up on a shoot day with zero juice. It was a nightmare. If you're looking at specific alternatives:

Neewer BG-E20 Replacement Vertical Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV: This is the budget option. It's usually under $60. It gets the job done for vertical shooting, but the buttons feel a bit clicky and loud.

Meike MK-5DR Vertical Power Pack for Canon 5D Mark IV: I personally think this one feels more solid than the Neewer. The rubber grip texture matches the 5D body pretty well which makes it feel safer in your hands. Just a heads up, these accessories almost never come with power cells included. You'll need to pick up a Wasabi Power Battery 2-Pack for Canon LP-E6N or something similar to actually fill it, otherwise you're just carrying extra weight for nothing. Be careful when you slide it on... if the pins don't line up perfect, don't force it. Good luck with the wedding tho, Chicago is a gorgeous spot for photos...

Harry · Answer

Honestly, take a deep breath, you got this. Weddings are a total grind on the wrists so a grip is a smart move. Since you're on a budget, I would suggest looking at the Vello BG-C14 Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV. I've used Vello stuff for years when I didnt want to drop $300 on Canon gear and it usually holds up way better than the really cheap random brands. Just be careful tho... third-party grips can sometimes have slightly mushy buttons or weird battery drain if you leave them on too long. Also, just a warning, grips almost never come with batteries. You'll need to buy a second Canon LP-E6N Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery to actually fill the tray. If you only have one battery, the grip still works for the vertical shutter, but you wont get double the power. TL;DR: Get the Vello BG-C14 Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV. It's the most reliable budget option that wont fail you mid-ceremony.

Ava · Answer

I’ve been shooting with the 5D series for a long time and honestly, the official Canon grips are great but the price is basically daylight robbery. When I was starting out, I was in the same spot—spent everything on the body and couldnt swing the extra $300. I tried several alternatives and they hold up well if you’re careful. You should know that grips almost never come with batteries tho, so you'll have to grab some spares to actually fill it. In my experience, these are the most reliable budget options:

Neewer BG-E20 Replacement Vertical Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV

Wasabi Power Battery 2-Pack and Dual Charger for Canon LP-E6N Basically, just make sure you tighten the mounting wheel really well so the connection doesn't drop during the vows. The official one is magnesium alloy while these are plastic, but for $50 it gets the job done. Weddings are a total marathon so the extra weight actually helps stabilize your shots... good luck with the wedding.