Top recommended battery grips for Canon EOS 6D Mark II users?

Question

Hey everyone! I’ve been shooting with my Canon EOS 6D Mark II for about a year now, and while I absolutely love the full-frame results, I’m starting to run into some ergonomic issues during long event shoots. My hands get pretty cramped when I'm constantly switching to vertical orientation for portraits, and I’m also finding myself swapping out batteries way too often during day-long gigs. I’m looking to pick up a battery grip to improve the handling and double my shooting capacity, but I’m stuck in the research phase.

I’ve looked at the official Canon BG-E21, but the price tag is a bit steep compared to third-party alternatives like Vello or Neewer. My main concern is the build quality; the 6D Mark II has decent weather sealing, and I’m worried that a cheaper grip might be a weak point in terms of dust or moisture. I’ve also heard some horror stories about third-party grips having 'mushy' shutter buttons or losing connection with the camera body mid-shoot. Since I rely on this setup for professional work, reliability is key for me, but I'd love to save some cash if the performance is comparable.

For those of you who have used both, is the OEM Canon version worth the extra investment for the build quality, or is there a specific third-party grip that you’ve found to be just as reliable? What are your top recommended battery grips for the 6D Mark II?

MetaMinds · Accepted Answer

sooo i get the struggle, but honestly... for pro gigs? I wouldnt risk it. I've been realy happy with the Canon BG-E21 Battery Grip cuz it actually maintains that weather sealing. I tried a cheaper Vello BG-C14 Battery Grip for Canon 6D Mark II and it felt kinda flimsy. Idk, maybe check with a pro shop, but I'd play it safe with OEM. TL;DR: Get the official Canon grip for reliability.

Bryanmuh · Answer

Basically, sealing protects internals from moisture... this matters cuz water damage is fatal!! Before I suggest the $45 Mcoplus Vertical Battery Grip for Canon EOS 6D Mark II, do u shoot in rain often?

ElmerWex · Answer

Basically, I totally agree about the sealing being the dealbreaker - especially since the 6D2 is actually rated for it. From a technical standpoint, the biggest issue with the cheaper clones isnt just the mushy buttons, it is the internal wiring gauge and the quality of the contact pins. If those pins arent exactly aligned, you get that annoying power-cycle bug mid-shoot which is a nightmare for event work. If you are set on skipping the official one, here are a couple of others I have looked into:

The Pixel Vertax BG-E21 Replacement Battery Grip is often cited in technical teardowns for having better solder points than the really bottom-tier stuff.

Check out the Vivitar Professional Battery Grip for Canon EOS 6D Mark II - it usually comes with a remote too, though the ergonomics are a bit chunkier than the Canon version.

Keep an eye on the battery door latch on third-party units - they often use a plastic spring instead of metal which can fail after a few hundred swaps. It is definitely a tough call between saving a hundred bucks and risking a total failure during a wedding or something tho (at least thats how I see it).