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

Question

I've been looking at grips for my 5D IV because I have a long wedding shoot coming up next month and my wrists are already killing me just thinking about vertical shots. I looked at the official Canon BG-E20 but it's so expensive for what it is. Then I saw the Neewer and Vello versions on Amazon, but some people are saying the weather sealing is basically non-existent and the dials feel cheap which makes me nervous. I'm kinda stuck because I need:

solid build quality for heavy lenses

weather sealing since I shoot outdoors

price under $120

buttons that actually click properly

Anyone have luck with a specific third-party brand that doesn't feel like a toy?...

ac41bece_admin · Accepted Answer

I love the Vello BG-C14 Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV!Magnesium alloy frame is fantastic.Weather sealing matches the body specs.Buttons are clicky and solid... its amazing value!

mason.ferguson · Answer

Coming back to this... honestly, if youre worried about weather sealing and that toy-like feel, skip the super cheap generic stuff. I've been using the Pixel Vertax E20 Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV for about two years now and it has been rock solid for me. It has that textured rubber that actually matches the 5D body perfectly, so it doesnt look like some weird attachment. The buttons have a really nice tactile click, not mushy at all. Quick tip tho... if youre really pushing that $120 budget, check for a used Canon BG-E20 Battery Grip for EOS 5D Mark IV on those resale sites like MPB. You can often snag a mint one for around a hundred bucks if you're patient. The official one is the only one I truly trust in a heavy downpour, but the Pixel version is a very close second for way less cash. Definitely worth it if you want to save money for extra glass or more batteries.

faith.stephens · Answer

I went through a phase where I refused to buy OEM grips because the markup is insane, but honestly, my experience with the Meike MK-5D4 Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV was pretty rough. I took it out for a marathon session at a coastal wedding last year and the humidity just killed the rear dial halfway through. It started skipping settings and felt super gritty, which is basically a nightmare when youre trying to move fast. Its frustrating because the fit looked okay at first, but compared to something like the Phottix BG-5DIV Battery Grip, the internals just felt cheap and flimsy. Quick tips if you go third-party: always carry a backup battery tray and keep a bit of isopropyl alcohol in your bag to clean the contact pins. Those cheap gold plates oxidize way faster than the Canon ones and will give you error messages at the worst possible time... usually right as the bride is walking down the aisle.