Its honestly a shame Canon skipped the internal contact pins on the R8. It sucks. Because of that, even the Mcoplus Vertical Battery Grip for Canon EOS R8 feels like a major compromise with that messy shutter cable. The build quality disappointed me tbh. If you're desperate for your Chicago shoot, it works. Just grab an Anker 737 Power Bank 24000mAh 140W PD 3.1 for USB-C power. That 140W PD 3.1 spec is way more reliable.

TL;DR: Get the Neewer Vertical Battery Grip for Canon EOS R8. Canon didnt make one but this third-party gear is amazing! It holds two batteries so you double your runtime immediately. You just plug in a tiny cable to the side to make the vertical shutter work. It makes the R8 feel much more pro and balanced during those long shoots!

i was pretty scared to try non-canon stuff after a cheap charger almost melted on me once. honestly i would suggest being careful with how the grip connects. the Viltrox Vertical Battery Grip for Canon EOS R8 is a decent alternative if you really need it for your chicago trip.

• make sure you dont force the vertical shutter cable into the side port.
• id actually recommend getting a few extra Canon LP-E17 Lithium-Ion Battery packs instead just to be safe. non-oem electronics can be sketchy imo.

Ok adding this to my list of things to try. Thanks for the tip!

Huh interesting. I had no idea. The more you know I guess 🤷

Building on the earlier suggestion, I have to say I am pretty disappointed with the third-party grip options for the R8 so far. Those external shutter cables are just not as good as expected and honestly feel like a massive trip hazard during a busy session. If you are looking to stay on a budget for your Chicago shoot, I would actually suggest a DIY power rig instead of those clunky grips.

• Pick up a SmallRig Cage for Canon EOS R8 4212. It gives you that extra height for your pinky and better balance without the electrical headache.
• Use a Gonine LP-E17 Dummy Battery Power Adapter to bypass the tiny internal batteries entirely.
• Connect it to a Baseus Adaman Power Bank 20000mAh 65W which you can keep in a pocket or strap to the tripod. I tried the Mcoplus route and it just felt cheap tbh. The dummy battery setup is much more reliable for long portrait sessions even if it looks a bit industrial. You wont be swapping batteries every 45 minutes and it saves you a ton of cash compared to buying five or six official Canon packs.