mrfisher77 Loc: Mayfield Heights, Ohio

Why are you yelling about it?

It's OK to properly use the Shift key and not use Caps Lock for everything typed...

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Most likely didn't know about the great rule.

boomer826 Loc: Florida gulf coast

What is Nikons gripe about ?

mrfisher77 Loc: Mayfield Heights, Ohio

Well played Dave...well played!

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Hey,it's only a game!

BigGWells Loc: Olympia, WA

I have never bought a Nikon Battery grip, nor will I. I have bought 7 Vello Battery Grips and everyone has worked just fine. Fit is great. They cost around $80.00.

Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

Snr:

I bought a Vello battery grip for my d7100. Here is my story. The battery grip would not come off. From what I learned from our club is the two metals don't work well together. When it finally loosed up I bought anti-freeze oil to put on both threads. Don't make the same mistake I made.

On my d500 I ordered a Nikon battery grip. Instead of paying $400.00 I bought one from Amazon like brand new, they call it open box. It works just perfect.
I hope this helps.

dosperros

I agree with Snr. I bought the Vivitar for my d7200. It works fine and gave me a better grip. I would not be without it now. As with everything, buyer beware,but I like mine.

BigGWells Loc: Olympia, WA

That is strange. Not sure I can buy the idea of the metals being different. But then I am not a metallurgist. I do know that i have been using Vellos for close to 6 years, never had one stick, always come off clean. I have never put any liquid on. Things that make you go ummmmm

carl hervol Loc: jacksonville florida

Bought screws are chrome plated sound like it was to tight.

Jim Bob

Yeah, but you are in the starting line up. Many of the others are lucky to be sitting on the bench rather than in the stands where they belong.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

It works with rechargeables.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

I am pretty sure that the only grip that works with the EN-EL18 - which is the reason I purchased the MB-D12. I have a client that needs 12 hour time lapse videos, and other that the AC power supply thing that would work, as long as I have access to power (and I may not always), the Nikon grip was the best solution. It's best, when the client offers to pay for it, as was the case with the grip, battery and charger.

The best way to evaluate if a third party grip (or anything else), is to read the 1 and 2 star reviews. Aside from the people who could never be happy with anything even though the problems they experience may be entirely of their own making, things like the grip making inconsistent contact with the camera, the grip not reporting full charge with a freshly charge battery, the plastic wheel stripping making it impossible to remove the grip, movement between the grip and the camera due to poor fit, buttons not working correctly or smoothly, etc etc etc. The bad reviews in some cases are enough to cause anyone to approach with caution. You can usually tell from the quality of the writing whether the issue is real or the result of someone with 10 thumbs trying to use something that he/she shouldn't be using under any circumstances.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

The most compelling argument in my humble estimation for going with a Nikon product here is reliability... It's never an issue with a Nikon grip however there are countless incidents with off-brand knockoffs... If you actually shoot commercially it's a no brainier... Gear failure simply can't be a variable in the equation... ever!

That said for hobbyist who don't have a client in the mix? You pays your money and takes your choice... Craig's List is full of bottom feeders competing for "retail" clients... They have no "brand" to protect and many don't even have professional liability insurance... So living on the edge is a given for them...

Ok, my main concern here is mounting a body/grip combo on a tripod with a heavy lens (sans tripod foot) on it... the rotational force vector is real on the female "quarter/twenty" threads embedded in the grip and there have been documented cases of the cheap plastic in off brands experiencing catastrophic instantaneous failure... Having that 2 lb 24-70mm f/2.8 IF ED Nano glass decelerated against the hard pavement is not a comforting concept... Kit lens? No worries... Heavy Pro Glass hanging off the front of your tripod mounted body with knockoff grip? Are you serious?

btw, the neat thing I like about the Nikon MB-D15 Multi Battery Power Pack is it fits both my D7100 & D7200 and allows me to pack in six eneloop Ni-MH batteries into the grip gaining a weight advantage for mounting the D7200 on my AF-S 200-400mm IF ED VR so I can center it on my Wimberley WH-200 Gimbal Tripod Head for shooting sports & BIF. Here the single EN-EL15 lithium-ion battery doesn't allow perfect centering without an extra long lens plate... No worries with my D3x and the 200-400mm as it is considerably heavier, fits centered in the Wimberley like a glove...

Edit: As Gene mentioned above "grip not reporting full charge with a freshly charge battery" My MB-D15 on either the D7100 or D7200 doesn't report charge status / number of shots when using eneloop Ni-MH batteries... Minor issue but did want to alert folks to it...

Hope this helps or is it least food for thought...
btw, penny wise and pound foolish comes to mind, enough said...

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

Not true, I had gear failure with a Nikon grip, read my past comments.