Which battery grip is recommended for the Canon EOS R6 Mark II?

Question

So I finally pulled the trigger on the Canon R6 Mark II after saving up for like a year and it is honestly amazing but I am finding that for the way I shoot I really need a battery grip. I do a lot of vertical portrait work during long wedding days and my wrist is already starting to feel that familiar ache from the chicken wing pose you have to do without a vertical shutter. Plus having two batteries in there would just give me way more peace of mind since I am terrified of a battery dying right as the couple is walking down the aisle or something.

I have been looking at my options and I am basically torn between three paths right now. First there is the official Canon BG-R10 which is the obvious gold standard I guess but man that price tag is hard to swallow at like $350. Is the weather sealing and the button feel actually worth the extra 250 bucks compared to the knockoffs? I have got a wedding in late October up in the Pacific Northwest so rain is a huge possibility and that makes me lean toward the official one just to be safe but my bank account is screaming at me.

On the other hand I have seen the Neewer and the Vello grips online for way less. The Neewer one is insanely cheap like under a hundred bucks which makes me wonder if it is just gonna fall apart or worse mess up the electronics in the camera body. Then there is the Vello BG-C18 which seems like a decent middle ground but I have read some reviews saying the dial feels mushy or it loses connection sometimes which sounds like a nightmare during a shoot.

I am trying to keep my total spend under $300 if possible because I also need to buy another couple of LP-E6NH batteries and those things arent cheap either. Is it worth the risk going third party or should I just bite the bullet and get the Canon one so I dont have to worry about it failing on me in the middle of a job...

Colton Wade Price · Accepted Answer

> I have read some reviews saying the dial feels mushy or it loses connection sometimes which sounds like a nightmare during a shoot. ^ This. Also, that connection issue is a huge deal! I’ve seen those ultra-cheap clones fail because the pins dont line up perfectly, and the camera just shuts down randomly. For a wedding pro, thats a total disaster. If you really cant swing the $350 for the official one right now, the Vello BG-C18 Battery Grip for Canon EOS R5, R5 C, R6, and R6 Mark II is definitely the most reliable middle ground. Its way more solid than the bottom-tier plastic stuff and wont flex as much when you have a heavy lens attached. The tech in the Vello is surprisingly decent, but honestly, the weather sealing is the big "if" here. If youre heading into the PNW rain in October, you should probably grab a dedicated rain cover anyway. To save your budget for the grip, look at the Watson LP-E6NH Li-Ion Battery Pack (7.2V, 2250mAh) instead of the Canon brand ones. They’re fantastic alternatives and actually play nice with the R6II battery health menu! A few quick tips for using third-party grips:

Keep the contacts clean with a bit of alcohol

Make sure the mounting wheel is super tight

Check the battery tray lock before you start shooting The Vello buttons are clicky enough, tho maybe not as "premium" as the body buttons. But hey, it beats that "chicken wing" wrist pain! I love using a grip for vertical portraits, it makes a world of difference for your ergonomics! Go for it!

Isabelle · Answer

Honestly, if you are shooting weddings in the PNW rain, you would be crazy to trust a cheap knockoff with your R6 II. One bad seal and your whole rig is toast. If the $350 price tag for the Canon BG-R10 Battery Grip is too steep, I would suggest looking for a used one on a site like MPB or KEH. You can usually find them for way less and you still get that peace of mind. If you are dead set on third-party, maybe look at the Meike MK-R6 Pro Battery Grip. It is a bit more robust than the Neewer stuff, but I would still be careful with it in heavy rain. To save some cash for the grip, you might want to consider SmallRig LP-E6NH USB-C Rechargeable Camera Battery instead of the official ones. I have been using those for a while and they are solid. Just make sure to test everything before the wedding day... you really dont want any connection drops during the ceremony.

matthew.garcia · Answer

I went through this exact struggle and ended up getting the Canon BG-R10 Battery Grip for EOS R6 Mark II. Honestly, I am so satisfied with it. I tried a buddys Neewer Vertical Battery Grip for Canon EOS R6 Mark II and it just felt hollow. Since you are doing weddings in the rain, dont risk it.

Canon has better weather sealing

Buttons match the body perfectly

No connection drops The peace of mind is totally worth it.