09/05/2026 3:30 am
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EF Mount Camera & Lens Forum
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Honestly I am so incredibly fed up with this cheap knockoff grip I bought for my 5D Mark IV. I thought I could save a few bucks because the official Canon one is like three hundred dollars which is just highway robbery honestly but man I am regretting it so hard right now. It keeps losing connection with the body mid-shoot and I have to literally unscrew the thing and put it back on just to get the camera to turn back on and see the batteries. It has been doing this Error 20 thing too lately and I am just terrified it is gonna fry my internals or something.
I have a massive three-day wedding gig coming up in downtown Chicago this Friday and I cannot afford for my gear to be glitching out like this while the bride is walking down the aisle. I need something that actually feels solid and wont give me communication errors every twenty minutes. I shoot vertically a lot for portraits so the grip is pretty much non-negotiable for me because my wrist starts killing me after ten hours of shooting without one. Its getting to the point where I am scared to even touch the shutter button on the grip because the whole camera might just shut down.
I have looked at the Vello ones and some other brands on BH but I am so hesitant to buy another third-party one after this nightmare experience. Is the Canon BG-E20 really the only way to go if I want zero issues? Or is there something else that actually locks in tight and has the same weather sealing as the 5D body? I am willing to drop the cash at this point because I am desperate for reliability but I would love to know if anyone has found a mid-range option that isnt total garbage. My budget is around 250 max if I can help it but if I have to go higher for peace of mind I guess I will. Does anyone have a recommendation for a grip that actually works and doesnt feel like cheap plastic or lose connection?
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09/05/2026 4:15 am
I went through this exact same panic last year right before a big corporate event. After some digging, the Vello BG-C14 Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV ended up being my choice and honestly, its been great for the price. Being super skeptical because of the cheap plastic feeling on other brands is normal, but this one actually feels like it belongs on the 5D. It doesn't have that weird flex when you're shooting vertical portraits, which was my biggest gripe with the cheaper ones. My wrist used to ache so bad after just a few hours... having the extra grip changed everything for my workflow. A few reasons why I'm satisfied with it:
- It has a dedicated AF-ON button that actually clicks properly and doesnt feel mushy
- The mounting wheel locks down tight so there isnt any wobble when its on a tripod
- It hasn't given me a single communication error even when using third-party batteries If you are hitting Chicago this Friday, you might want to look at the Vello. Its usually around ninety bucks which fits your budget perfectly and leaves you cash for extra cards or something. One thing that helped me was cleaning the gold pins on the camera and the grip with a tiny bit of alcohol before the first use. Many of those communication errors are just from tiny bits of dust or oil from the factory. It really gives you that peace of mind when you're doing a ten-hour day. Good luck with the wedding, those downtown venues are usually gorgeous but man they are exhausting!
10
09/05/2026 3:31 am
Honestly, I would suggest staying far away from those ultra-cheap knockoffs, especially for a high-stakes wedding gig. You might want to consider just biting the bullet on the Canon BG-E20 Battery Grip because it has the magnesium alloy frame and proper weather sealing that matches the 5D body. I have seen those communication errors lead to actual circuit issues before, so be careful. If you are really trying to stay under budget, the Vello BG-C14 Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV is the only third-party option I would trust even a little. It is decent, but make sure to check the mounting wheel because they can wiggle loose. Honestly tho, for professional work, I would go with the Canon. You dont want to be troubleshooting gear while the bride is walking down the aisle... too risky. Let me know if you need help finding a used one!
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09/05/2026 4:05 am
Man that Error 20 is the absolute worst... it feels like your camera is dying right in your hands. Honestly, I have had such bad luck with the mid-range brands lately too. Its super disappointing because you think spending eighty bucks instead of thirty would get you better quality, but half the time they just use the same crappy internal chips. If you really cant swing the full price for a new one before Friday, here are some technical things to look at:
- The Vello BG-C14 Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV is generally the standard alternative. It actually fits the contour of the body decently well so it doesnt wiggle as much when you are shooting vertical. Wiggle is usually what causes those connection drops because it pulls the pins away from the pads.
- Look at the mounting screw. Cheap grips use plastic gears inside the thumbwheel that strip or jump, so you can never get it tight enough. The Vivitar Pro Series Multi-Power Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV is okay, but honestly, it still feels a bit hollow compared to the real deal.
- The weather sealing is the biggest letdown on third-party stuff. Most of them dont have the rubber gaskets around the battery door or the communication tower. In a city like Chicago where the lake mist or rain can pop up out of nowhere, that is a huge risk for a wedding. Honestly tho, if you have 250 to spend, you should check for a used Canon BG-E20 Battery Grip at a local shop or a site like MPB. You can usually find them for under 200 in great shape. I have learned the hard way that saving money on grips usually ends up costing more in stress... good luck with the gig tho, hope the weather stays clear for you.
