What Battery Grip to buy for Nikon D7200? I am considering purchase of a battery grip for my Nikon D7200. At $375.00 plus tax for the Nikon brand I am considering the Dolica model at...

Tigger1 Loc: Surrey, BC Canada

I am considering purchase of a battery grip for my Nikon D7200.
At $375.00 plus tax for the Nikon brand I am considering the Dolica model at approximately $100.00. Have any of you had and used the Dolica. I would not use either accessory that much so I am wondering if the Dolica would suffice for safari use, when I do not have access to reliable power supply to charge the camera's batteries?

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

Tigger1 wrote:

I am considering purchase of a battery grip for my Nikon D7200.
At $375.00 plus tax for the Nikon brand I am considering the Dolica model at approximately $100.00. Have any of you had and used the Dolica. I would not use either accessory that much so I am wondering if the Dolica would suffice for safari use, when I do not have access to reliable power supply to charge the camera's batteries?

I have used a couple of after market battery grips and found that after a while, the inset for mounting a tripod comes loose and is not usable and is not repairable. I have changed to Nikon brand and so far have had to problems.

wolfman

Tigger1 wrote:

I am considering purchase of a battery grip for my Nikon D7200.
At $375.00 plus tax for the Nikon brand I am considering the Dolica model at approximately $100.00. Have any of you had and used the Dolica. I would not use either accessory that much so I am wondering if the Dolica would suffice for safari use, when I do not have access to reliable power supply to charge the camera's batteries?

I'm using DSTE brand grips on my D800 & D810. I'm mounting the D800 and 16-35 f/4 on a panorama head with no problems.

Keldon Loc: Yukon, B.C.

I've removed my battery grips from both my cameras. I have found them to be completely unnecessary and in some cases such as tripod use they can be more bother than they are worth. Plus there is also the extra weight if you are doing any great hiking. Sure, it is nice to have the extra battery power but you can have that by just sticking an extra battery in your pocket, too.
Use the money to buy extra cards and batteries instead.

Tigger1 Loc: Surrey, BC Canada

orrie smith wrote:

I have used a couple of after market battery grips and found that after a while, the inset for mounting a tripod comes loose and is not usable and is not repairable. I have changed to Nikon brand and so far have had to problems.

Hi Orrie; would one of those after market grips been a Dolica?
Thanks for your comment. In the end I may just splurge on the Nikon branded unit too.
Garth

Tigger1 Loc: Surrey, BC Canada

wolfman wrote:

I'm using DSTE brand grips on my D800 & D810. I'm mounting the D800 and 16-35 f/4 on a panorama head with no problems.

Thanks wolf man, will check out the DSTE brand before making my final decision.

Tigger1 Loc: Surrey, BC Canada

Keldon wrote:

I've removed my battery grips from both my cameras. I have found them to be completely unnecessary and in some cases such as tripod use they can be more bother than they are worth. Plus there is also the extra weight if you are doing any great hiking. Sure, it is nice to have the extra battery power but you can have that by just sticking an extra battery in your pocket, too.
Use the money to buy extra cards and batteries instead.

You raise good points Keldon although I do not see myself ever mounting the combo on a tripod. In certain instances (gorilla trekking in Rwanda) where fumbling with battery swaps is problematic, I felt the combo would be a big help. Still I take your advice with thanks and will factor your ideas into my final decision.
Best regards,
Garth

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

Tigger1 wrote:

Hi Orrie; would one of those after market grips been a Dolica?
Thanks for your comment. In the end I may just splurge on the Nikon branded unit too.
Garth

I cannot remember the brands, but I do not believe they were Dolica. I would still recommend Nikon, just my opinion, but I believe Nikon for Nikon, and Canon for Canon, will receive better support for the manufacturer than some off brands. if you decide on Dolica, you may want to try to call their customer support and see if they back up their product if it fails to perform.

Tigger1 Loc: Surrey, BC Canada

orrie smith wrote:

I cannot remember the brands, but I do not believe they were Dolica. I would still recommend Nikon, just my opinion, but I believe Nikon for Nikon, and Canon for Canon, will receive better support for the manufacturer than some off brands. if you decide on Dolica, you may want to try to call their customer support and see if they back up their product if it fails to perform.

If I do decide to go Dolica, I will certainly do as you suggest Orrie.

Thanks, Garth

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Keldon wrote:

I've removed my battery grips from both my cameras. I have found them to be completely unnecessary and in some cases such as tripod use they can be more bother than they are worth. Plus there is also the extra weight if you are doing any great hiking. Sure, it is nice to have the extra battery power but you can have that by just sticking an extra battery in your pocket, too.
Use the money to buy extra cards and batteries instead.

I could not agree more.

I went the battery grip route with several past cameras. An extra battery in the pocket is far more advantageous.

Tigger1 Loc: Surrey, BC Canada

joer wrote:

I could not agree more.

I went the battery grip route with several past cameras. An extra battery in the pocket is far more advantageous.

Hi Joer, under most shooting conditions I agree with you too! But on my last trip to Rwanda on a gorilla trekking trip into the rain soaked bamboo jungle I found it difficult to swap batteries when needed as I attempted to remain standing on a 30 degree slope with one hand holding firmly to a bamboo tree. Then using the other hand to manipulate the battery compartment latch, retrieve the spent battery out of the camera, place it in a pocket, retrieve the fully charged battery out of a second pocket and place it into the camera and lock the battery compartment door. All without dropping one of the two batteries into the mud and soaking wet brush at my feet!
Do you see my problem?
As I am returning to Rwanda this coming fall to do a second gorilla trek, I thought I had found a solution to my problem, but then maybe I need to re-think my problem especially as I am 2 years older now (75) and am rapidly loosing manual dexterity in both hands due to arthritis.
Do you have a better suggestion than my battery grip idea?
Thanks, Garth

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

It seems to me that the reason to by a grip is to make it easier to take verticle photos. The extra batterys is a side benefit. Much easier and a whole lot less expensive to carry extra batterys in your pocket. Just sayin.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

boberic wrote:

It seems to me that the reason to by a grip is to make it easier to take verticle photos. The extra batterys is a side benefit. Much easier and a whole lot less expensive to carry extra batterys in your pocket. Just sayin.

read his dilemma, I would go for the battery grip in those conditions every time, even if I were 50 years younger than him.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

Tigger1 wrote:

Hi Joer, under most shooting conditions I agree wi... (show quote)

if this is the only time you are going to utilize your battery grip, go with a third party grip, if you will be using the grip most of the time, go with Nikon. and bravo on your adventure.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Tigger1 wrote:

I am considering purchase of a battery grip for my Nikon D7200.
At $375.00 plus tax for the Nikon brand I am considering the Dolica model at approximately $100.00. Have any of you had and used the Dolica. I would not use either accessory that much so I am wondering if the Dolica would suffice for safari use, when I do not have access to reliable power supply to charge the camera's batteries?

VELLO makes good battery grips also. Check on Amazon, they list several for that camera at your price point. As for me, I always shoot with the brand.