Story time: I compared:
- Canon RC-6 Wireless Remote Control (wireless)
- Canon RS-80N3 Remote Switch (wired) The RC-6 is pretty handy for self-portraits!

Just sharing my experience: i went through this last year. I compared GGS Larmor Glass Screen Protector for Canon 5D Mark IV vs cheap film—the glass stays clear and doesnt peel. Also tried Peak Design Slide Camera Strap vs the stock one. PD is pricey but way more comfortable for heavy kits honestly. TL;DR: Glass protection and a solid strap are total game changers for ergonomics!

I totally agree that sticking to just one brand can really limit your options, especially with how the market is right now. Honestly, when I was looking at kitting out my setup, I spent way too much time comparing 'pro' tier stuff against the 'enthusiast' brands. Some of the third-party gear is basically identical to the name brand stuff for half the price, but then you've got the build quality risks, right? To really narrow down the best path forward, I’ve got a couple of questions:
- Are you planning on shooting in pretty harsh environments for your landscapes, like near salt water or in heavy dust?
- How much extra weight are you actually willing to add for the sake of utility? There's such a huge gap between the high-end boutique brands and the mass-market stuff lately. It's basically a full-time job just keeping up with the reviews. It's kinda tricky to find that sweet spot between 'cheap' and 'reliable' tho.

Following this thread

sooo i totally feel u on this. when i first picked up my 5D IV, i basically blew my entire savings on the body and had like fifty bucks left for accessories... talk about a facepalm moment lol. i spent weeks hunting for budget hacks so i could actually use the thing for my landscape trips and weekend portraits without going broke. honestly, i recommend not getting sucked into the 'Canon only' trap for extras. for batteries, the official Canon LP-E6N Lithium-Ion Battery is great but costs a fortune. In my experience, I've been running the Wasabi Power LP-E6NH 2-Pack with Dual USB Charger for years and they work almost as well for about $35. seriously, the 5D IV eats power—especially if ur using the GPS or wifi—so having extras is a MUST. for the grip, the official Canon BG-E20 Battery Grip is like $300... which is insane tbh. i went with the Neewer Vertical Battery Grip for Canon EOS 5D Mark IV for around $55 instead. it’s not quite as weather-sealed but for portraits it does the job perfectly. for storage, i skip the overpriced CF cards and use a SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO CompactFlash Card (160MB/s) paired with a Kingston 128GB Canvas Go! Plus SDXC UHS-I V30 for backup. lesson learned? spend the big bucks on the glass, but for the bits and bobs? the third-party stuff is lowkey just as good most of the time. peace 👍

Just seeing this now and honestly, I've had some pretty frustrating experiences trying to build out my kit lately. Unfortunately, I found out the hard way that spending top dollar on name-brand accessories doesn't always mean better results in the field. I've had issues with gear that felt solid at first but just didn't hold up after a few months of heavy use, which is super annoying when you're trying to be practical about your spending. I really want to help you avoid the same headache because that camera is a beast once you get it sorted properly. I want to give you some better advice but it really depends on how you're using it day-to-day. Are you planning on doing more run-and-gun handheld stuff for those portraits, or is it mostly gonna be locked down on a tripod for the landscapes? Also, do you already have a set budget for these extras or are you just looking for the top-tier stuff regardless of the price tag?