Which battery grip works best with the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV?

Question

I just bought this camera used and honestly I have no idea what I am doing, sorry if this is a super basic question but I really need some help. I am shooting my sister's wedding next month in Chicago and I'm terrified the battery is going to die right in the middle of the ceremony.

Someone told me I should get a battery grip so I can hold two batteries at once and also hold the camera better when taking vertical photos. But when I look online I see the official Canon one which is like super expensive, and then there are all these third party brands like Neewer and Vello that are way cheaper.

Since I spent almost all my savings on the actual camera body my budget is really tight right now. I dont want to buy a cheap one if it's gonna break or ruin my camera, but the Canon branded one is just so pricey. Is the official one actually worth the extra money or can I get away with a cheaper brand?

Katie · Accepted Answer

I bought a cheap third-party grip for my 5D IV to save cash, but unfortunately, the dials lagged and the battery door felt incredibly flimsy. For a wedding, you cant risk that. You really need the official Canon BG-E20 Battery Grip because of its magnesium alloy build and weather sealing. Look for a used one on KEH to save money, because the cheap knockoffs are just going to disappoint you.

Aaron · Answer

> Is the official one actually worth the extra money or can I get away with a cheaper brand? Late to the party but unfortunately, third-party grips often suffer from voltage drop issues that mess up the camera's battery percentage reading. I had issues with the Neewer BG-E20 Replacement Battery Grip not communicating properly with OEM cells. Are you planning to use original Canon LP-E6N Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery packs or cheap generics? That makes a huge difference for reliable power delivery.

lookatme · Answer

Just saw this and wanted to throw in another option if you are on a tight budget. You can actually get away with the Vello BG-C14 Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV instead of the pricey first-party one. It has decent build quality and replicates all the essential buttons pretty well without breaking the bank. One quick tip though. Whatever grip you end up buying, dont cheap out on the actual batteries. Use genuine Canon LP-E6N Lithium-Ion Battery packs inside it. A lot of the issues people face with third-party grips, like sudden power loss, actually stem from cheap knockoff batteries not delivering consistent voltage. Good luck with the wedding, you're gonna do great.