18/02/2026 7:02 pm
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I’ve been shooting with my Canon 5D Mark IV for a while now, primarily for weddings and long landscape sessions. The battery life is okay, but I’m really starting to feel the strain on my wrist during vertical shots. I’m looking to pick up a battery grip but can’t decide if I should shell out for the official Canon BG-E20 or if a third-party brand like Vello or Pixel is reliable enough. Weather sealing is a huge priority for me since I often work in unpredictable conditions. For those who have tried both, does the build quality and button tactility on the cheaper versions hold up over time? Which grip would you recommend for the best balance of reliability and price?
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18/02/2026 7:15 pm
I went through this last year. I’ve been shooting with the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV for ages and my wrist was totally shot after long wedding weekends. Tbh, I used to be a total OEM snob, but I couldnt justify the $300 price tag for the Canon BG-E20 Battery Grip at the time. I ended up grabbing the Vello BG-C14 Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV for like $60 instead. Honestly, it was a solid experiment. Technical-wise, the Vello feels okay, but I did notice the buttons are a bit "clickier" and not as dampened as the official one. Plus, the weather sealing on the cheap ones is basically non-existent compared to the Canon gaskets. I’ve used it in light rain, but for real storms, I get sketched out. It saved my wrist and bank account, but I definitely sacrificed that tank-like build for ur budget... gl!
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18/02/2026 7:45 pm
Quick question - how heavy is the rain you're actually dealing with? Tbh, if you're hitting monsoon levels, third-party options like the Pixel E20 Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV usually fail. - Weather sealing: Non-OEM grips often skip the internal gaskets.
- Longevity: I've had buttons literally stop clicking after some moisture. The Canon BG-E20 Battery Grip is definitely more reliable as others said, but tell me more about ur environment first!
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27/03/2026 10:41 pm
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17/03/2026 4:42 pm
Adding my two cents because my wrist literally feels your pain. Honestly, the 5D IV is such a tank that shooting vertical without a grip is basically asking for a repetitive strain injury. It gets so frustrating when you are halfway through a long session and your hand starts cramping up... it is the absolute worst and totally ruins the flow of a shoot. I have been super satisfied with the Neewer Vertical Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV. I know people worry about the weather sealing, and yeah, it might not be a total vault like the official one, but for a fraction of the price it works well enough for most days. The button feel is surprisingly clicky too which I wasnt expecting for the price point. If you arent shooting in a literal hurricane it is a solid way to save some cash for glass instead. No complaints from me so far after several months of heavy use!
