18/03/2026 1:40 am
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So I finally bit the bullet and grabbed the R5 Mark II for my wedding season up here in Seattle but man the battery life is giving me anxiety already. I have a huge shoot coming up in three weeks and I really need that vertical grip feel. Im torn between just sucking it up and buying the official BG-R20 even though its like $560 which is insane or trying to see if my old BG-R10 from the original R5 will actually work without losing features? I've seen mixed things online about the cooling vents. Also saw some generic ones on Amazon but I dont want to fry my new toy. Is the official one really worth the extra $300 for the cooling and ethernet or should I just go cheap?
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18/03/2026 1:41 am
Congrats on the R5II! Seriously, that thing is a beast for weddings. I totally get the anxiety tho because weddings are stressful enough without worrying about juice. Honestly, I strongly recommend sticking with the Canon BG-R20 Battery Grip. It is absolutely fantastic for keeping those frame rates high without the camera body overheating during long ceremonies! Here is why I would go official for this specific body:
- The new vents align perfectly with the internal cooling system of the Mark II.
- You get full support for the high-speed Canon LP-E6P Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery which is crucial for the new sensor.
- Third-party grips often have wonky button tension that feels cheap during a vertical shoot. I know 560 bucks hurts but your old Canon BG-R10 Battery Grip will actually limit some of the newer video features and high-speed modes. The ethernet version is total overkill unless you are shooting sports for a wire service. Stick with the standard R20, you wont regret it when you are 10 hours into a 12 hour day!
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18/03/2026 2:25 am
You might want to consider a different route for your Seattle shoot. I would suggest an Anker 737 Power Bank PowerCore 24K for high-speed USB-C charging during breaks. For that vertical feel without the 500 dollar price tag, a SmallRig L-Bracket for Canon EOS R5 Mark II works wonders. It adds enough bulk for a better grip and makes vertical tripod swaps instant, which is basically a lifesaver during hectic wedding ceremonies.
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18/03/2026 2:05 am
> Is the official one really worth the extra $300? Building on the earlier suggestion, the Canon BG-R20EP Cooling Fan Battery Grip adds active cooling. Be careful tho, the older Canon BG-R10 Battery Grip might bottleneck your burst speeds tbh.
