To add to the point above: honestly its kinda a bummer how pricey the official gear has gotten lately. I tried going cheap with the Neewer NW-5D Mark IV Vertical Battery Grip for a bit and it was super disappointing. The plastic felt hollow and the buttons were way too mushy. For a 10-hour wedding in that Austin humidity, you really want proper weather sealing. Unfortunately, most clones skip the gaskets entirely which is risky. If you're trying to stay under $150, skip the new knockoffs and just grab a used Canon BG-E20 Battery Grip for EOS 5D Mark IV from a site like MPB or KEH. They usually go for like $110-130. It's magnesium alloy so it matches the body and wont drain your batteries overnight like my old Vello BG-C14 Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV did. Buying used is the move if you want it to actually last.

Re: To add to the point above: honestly its... totally get the frustration with prices. Wedding gear adds up so fast its basically ridiculous. If you are doing a 10 hour day in Austin heat, you really dont want a cheap piece of plastic failing on you mid-ceremony while you are trying to catch the first kiss. I have been shooting for a decade and my go-to trick for staying under budget is just avoiding brand new gear. You can usually find a used Canon BG-E20 Battery Grip for EOS 5D Mark IV on sites like MPB or KEH for around $110 to $130. I am super satisfied with mine and it has survived rain and dusty outdoor shoots without a single hiccup. The weather sealing on the official one is definitely superior to the third party stuff. If you really want something new tho, here is what I would look at:

• Vello BG-C14 Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV - this is probably the most reliable budget brand. The buttons feel way less mushy than the really cheap ones.
• Used OEM grips from reputable sellers. Honestly the build quality difference is huge. I would steer clear of the super cheap ones for a wedding. When your hands start getting sweaty and you are tired, having that tactile click of the shutter button on the grip is worth the extra 50 bucks. Just grab a used official one and you will be happy you did... the peace of mind is worth it.

I think my old knockoff for the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV acted weird once.

• Mushy buttons
• Thin seals Not sure if the official version is worth it, but IIRC it is tougher tho.

TIL! Thanks for sharing

> Is the build quality on the official Canon really that much better or am I just paying for the name? I dont want it to fail on me during the ceremony... Honestly, after years of shooting events, I can tell you the build quality difference is massive. The Canon BG-E20 Battery Grip uses magnesium alloy and actual rubber gaskets that match the 5D body weather sealing perfectly. If you are shooting a 10 hour day in Austin, that humidity is no joke and cheap electronics will glitch out if they get damp. I have used the Vello BG-C14 Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV as a backup before. It is definitely better than the real cheap stuff and fits your budget, but it feels hollow and the mounting screw can loosen up over time. The buttons dont have that tactile click you need when you are moving fast. In my experience, its better to just find a used Canon BG-E20 Battery Grip from a reputable gear reseller. You can usually find them for $120 to $140 which is right in your sweet spot. Better to have a used pro tool than a brand new toy when your reputation is on the line during a wedding.