What are the best battery grips for Canon 5D Mark IV?

Question

I’ve been using my Canon 5D Mark IV for a few months now, but I’m finding it a bit cramped during long wedding shoots. I really need better ergonomics for vertical portraits and, more importantly, extra battery life so I’m not constantly swapping cells. I know the official Canon BG-E20 is the high-end choice, but it’s quite an investment. I’ve seen some third-party options from brands like Vello and Neewer, but I’m worried about the build quality and whether they maintain that crucial weather sealing. Have any of you found a third-party grip that feels as solid as the original, or is it definitely worth splurging on the official Canon version for the 5D IV?

Simmo Wattle · Accepted Answer

yo, honestly i feel u on the cramped hands. for weddings, you totally need that grip. i've been using the Vello BG-C14 Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV and it's pretty solid for about $90. the build is decent tho maybe not AS tank-like as the Canon BG-E20 Battery Grip. basically it works great for me! TL;DR: Vello for value, Canon if you REALLY need pro weather sealing. 👍

Hoemsp2 · Answer

Coming back to this, I went through this last year while prepping for a long wedding season. I totally get the hesitation about the price on the official Canon BG-E20 Battery Grip. I actually tried a cheaper Vivitar Battery Grip for Canon EOS 5D Mark IV first cuz I wanted to save some cash for glass. It felt okay initially, but basically I noticed a few technical trade-offs that might matter for your pro work: - Weather Sealing: This is the big one. Most third-party grips lack the internal rubber gaskets where it meets the camera body.
- Shutter Feel: The vertical shutter button on my Meike MK-5DR Vertical Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV felt way more "mushy" compared to the body's tactile click.
- Electronics: Sometimes the battery info on the top LCD would glitch out or report the wrong percentage. If youre shooting weddings, that reliability is key. I ended up biting the bullet for the Canon one after a scare in the rain. Idk, maybe the Vello mentioned earlier is solid, but seriously watch those seals! 👍

LuminousLynx · Answer

I'm still pretty new to this, but tbh I was terrified of a cheap grip shorting out my 5D - like, imagine the camera just dying mid-vows! I eventually went with the Pixel Vertax E20 Battery Grip because the community seemed to think it has way more stable power delivery than the really budget brands. My main tip is to just be super careful with the battery tray... it feels a bit more fragile than the rest of the unit and you dont want it jamming or failing when you're in a rush. I mean, it's worked fine for me so far, but I always worry about the electronics communicating correctly with the camera. If you're doing high-stakes pro work, maybe just wait until you can afford the official one for that extra peace of mind?