so im honestly just fed up with these cheap knockoffs failing me at the worst possible moments. i bought this random off-brand grip from amazon a few months ago for my canon 5d mark iv and it just keeps disconnecting mid-shoot which is literally a nightmare when im trying to get shots of the bride walking down the aisle. like i have a wedding in chicago this coming saturday and i can already feel the panic setting in because the battery door keeps giving me that no battery communication error even though the batteries are full. i spent way too much on the body to have it bricked by a fifty dollar piece of plastic but the official canon bg-e20 is just so expensive brand new and i dont know if i can justify the cost right now or if there is a middle ground that actually works. i need something that wont lose power if i accidentally bump it or change my grip to vertical mode. i have maybe 150 to 200 dollars to spend if i can find a reliable one by friday. does anyone have a recommendation for which battery grip actually works best with the canon eos 5d mark iv without it being a total piece of junk? is the oem canon one the only real option or is there a third party brand that you guys actually trust for professional work?
> is the oem canon one the only real option Like someone mentioned, it's OEM or Vello so far. I'd add the Phottix BG-5D Mark IV Battery Grip as a pro-grade alternative. I used one for years and it was totally reliable.
TL;DR: Vello BG-C14 Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV is a decent middle ground. I started with a Neewer NW-5D Mark IV Battery Grip tho the Vello felt more secure.
Ive been through this nightmare too many times. In my experience, for a pro gig like a wedding, you just cant risk a knockoff failing.