24/03/2026 4:40 pm
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Ive been using my 5D Mark IV since it launched basically so I know this thing inside and out but I just realized I'm in a bit of a jam. I got hired for this massive three-day wedding event here in Chicago starting this Friday and I just checked my battery health in the menu and its looking pretty grim... most of my LP-E6N packs are down to one red bar of health. I usually just carry a bunch of spares in my pocket but this gig is gonna be high-volume and I really need the extra stability and shutter button of a vertical grip because my wrist is already killing me from the last engagement shoot.
I'm looking at the official Canon BG-E20 but man its pricey and I still need to buy like 4 new batteries to be safe. I have maybe 350 bucks to drop on this right now so I'm debating if I should go for the genuine Canon grip or if those third-party ones like Vello or Neewer are actually trustworthy? I'm worried about the weather sealing failing if it rains or the camera not communicating with off-brand batteries properly. Has anyone had issues with the camera throwing error codes with non-Canon batteries in a grip? What are the best reliable options that wont fail me mid-ceremony...
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24/03/2026 4:41 pm
Honestly, Ive had issues with super cheap grips failing mid-shoot, which is a nightmare. Unfortunately, the official Canon BG-E20 Battery Grip for EOS 5D Mark IV is priced so high it leaves you no room for power. Id grab the Vello BG-C14 Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV and spend the rest on three genuine Canon LP-E6NH 2130mAh Rechargeable Battery packs. Third-party batteries are just not as good as expected. Hope the wedding goes well!
11
24/03/2026 5:45 pm
Coming back to this after checking my gear bag... Unfortunately I had issues with the really cheap grips where the shutter button felt like a sponge and the weather sealing was basically non-existent. It is honestly so disappointing that Canon charges a kidney for their plastic accessories. If you are trying to stay under that 350 limit while getting batteries, you might want to look into the Pixel BG-E20 Vertical Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV. I found it feels a bit more solid than the Neewer stuff and usually communicates better with the body. For the power situation, grab some decent third-party cells so you have a massive rotation:
- Wasabi Power LP-E6NH Battery 2-Pack 2250mAh which usually comes with a charger too.
- Watson LP-E6N Li-Ion Battery Pack 2000mAh is a bit more reliable in my experience but pricier. Ngl, it kinda sucks that non-Canon batteries can be finicky with the battery info screen. Having the percentage jump around mid-ceremony is stressful, but for a wedding weekend, having a pile of those Wasabi packs is way better than running out of juice on one dying OEM battery. Just make sure to test the grip as soon as it arrives to make sure the dials dont skip.
1
24/03/2026 5:15 pm
Agreed on third-party. Just a heads up, some cheap cells wont show shutter counts in the menu, which is a total pain.
- Check Fred Miranda compatibility threads
- Watch that info screen
