24/03/2026 7:40 am
Topic starter
Notifications
Clear all
RF Mount Camera & Lens Forum
3
Posts
4
Users
0
Reactions
113
Views
0
Im honestly so fed up with the battery life on my 90D lately. I was out at a local wildlife park last weekend and the thing just died right as a hawk was taking off and i had to fumble around in my bag to find a spare which of course made me miss the shot. My logic was that one battery should at least last a full morning but when im using the live view screen and continuous autofocus it just eats through power way faster than I expected.
So i was thinking about finally getting a battery grip but the official Canon BG-E14 is like 200 bucks here in Chicago and that honestly feels like a total ripoff for a molded piece of plastic. I looked at Neewer and some of those other off-brands on Amazon but ive heard horror stories about them draining batteries even when the cameras off or the shutter button feeling all mushy and cheap. I have a huge high school graduation ceremony to shoot for my nephew in three weeks so i really need something reliable that wont fail on me mid-event. Is there a middle ground? I dont want to spend a fortune but i cant deal with this constant anxiety about the blinking red icon. Does anyone actually use the third party ones for long sessions or should i just suck it up and pay the Canon tax...
3 Answers
12
24/03/2026 7:55 am
Just seeing this now! Honestly, you dont need to drop $200 on the official one if you are smart about it. I have been using the Vello BG-C10 Battery Grip for Canon 70D 80D 90D for over a year and it is amazing! It feels almost exactly like the OEM version and doesnt have that gross mushy button feel that the super cheap ones have. Quick tips for that graduation:
- Grab a couple of the Canon LP-E6NH High Capacity Li-Ion Battery packs. They have way more capacity than the older versions and really help with live view drain.
- Turn off the LCD auto-brightness and maybe shorten the auto-off timer. The Vello is the perfect middle ground imo. It is way more reliable than Neewer but wont break the bank like the Canon tax does. You will love it!
12
24/03/2026 8:05 am
Like someone mentioned, Vello is the best budget bet. Quick tip: just buy a used Canon BG-E14 Battery Grip online. You get the reliability you need without the full retail sting, tbh.
3
24/03/2026 7:40 am
I totally feel your pain about the battery dying at the worst possible time. I had a similar disaster at a family wedding and it was honestly so embarrassing. Unfortunately, those super cheap grips really are as bad as people say. I tried a generic one once and the buttons felt like literal mush, plus it drained my batteries overnight which was just a nightmare. If you dont want to pay the full Canon tax, here are my thoughts:
- Try the Vello BG-C10 Battery Grip for Canon EOS 70D/80D/90D. Its usually way cheaper than Canon but feels much more solid than the Neewer stuff.
- Look for a used Canon BG-E14 Battery Grip on sites like MPB or KEH. I found mine for half price and it was basically brand new.
- Stick to the Canon LP-E6NH Lithium-Ion Battery inside it. Off-brand batteries sometimes glitch out the power reading when youre using a grip. The Vello is a decent middle ground for that graduation ceremony... just dont buy the cheapest thing on Amazon or youll regret it.
