Nikon MB-D18 Battery Grip for D850: Now that the Nikon D850 actually exists, what about the battery grip, the MB-D18? A month after it's announcement, the only information I can find...

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Now that the Nikon D850 actually exists, what about the battery grip, the MB-D18?

A month after it's announcement, the only information I can find is the price ($399), it's the only way to bump up the D850 fps from 7 to 9, and it takes the $150 D5 battery. Any more information out there? Is there even a rumor about the availability date?

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

B&H is selling the grip for $396.95. Availability is unknown for the moment. You can submit your email to B&H, and will notify you when they will be in stock. I know someone who owns a Nikon D810, who has a buyer for it, and is awaiting his D850. He says he will pass on the grip because of its high price. As I discovered from a uhh member on a previous post, it could total out to about $750, for everything needed to get those 9fps.

boomer826 Loc: Florida gulf coast

That's a whole lot of money for two frames a second !!

crazydaddio Loc: Toronto Ontario Canada

boomer826 wrote:

That's a whole lot of money for two frames a second !!

Agree with that !
...although I must say going from 4.5 to 7 fps is the difference between getting the shot and missing it in most of the sports photos I have taken....and I never remeber the ones I missed so its really about keeper %. I wonder if the same can be said about 7-9 or 9-12 ?

I guess it comes down to how much you are willing to pay to increase the likelihood of getting that perfect shot.

Being a GAS addict, I probably would pay :-)

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

The grip is critical if you are a sports action shooter. It also makes it much more comfortable when shooting vertical. One other wonderful thing about the grip is that it allows the use of the same battery for all three of my bodies, D5, D500 and D850. I also believe you are able to use the standard battery, and perhaps AAs if this turns out to be as others before it have been. Of course the faster speed will require the larger battery. I'm waiting (im)patiently! Best of luck.

BebuLamar

But getting the grip to get higher fps is the only reason to buy the grip that makes sense to me.

Haydon

boomer826 wrote:

That's a whole lot of money for two frames a second !!

That's an astute observation. In reality with the BG & batteries & the charger you are adding on close to $1000.00 for 2 fps. Seems like the norm now. The OEM BG is 10% the cost of the camera.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Haydon wrote:

That's an astute observation. In reality with the BG & batteries & the charger you are adding on close to $1000.00 for 2 fps. Seems like the norm now. The OEM BG is 10% the cost of the camera.

In my case, it's only $ 400 as I already have the charger and the batteries. When shooting sports action 2 fps is a big deal! There is absolutely no requirement that any one buy the grip. Look at it another way. By not having it integrated into the camera body, you just saved $ 1,000.00. Be happy about that!

19104 Loc: Philadelphia

well the grip for the 850 like the grip for the 800 will take the en-el15(a) or the en-el18 or 8 AA batteries. i love using the grip on my 800E especially for vertical shoots.

Haydon

cjc2 wrote:

In my case, it's only $ 400 as I already have the charger and the batteries. When shooting sports action 2 fps is a big deal! There is absolutely no requirement that any one buy the grip. Look at it another way. By not having it integrated into the camera body, you just saved $ 1,000.00. Be happy about that!

I'll have to remember that. Buy a D5 to reduce the cost of the D850's accessories:)

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Who knows? Meike or Vello, etc, just might come up with an aftermarket version, that would be half the price of the OEM, if you truly don't want to pay the higher price. I don't use battery grips, but I know a couple of photographers who use aftermarket battery grips on Nikon DX cameras. They are satisfied with them. But lack some quality. Expected.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Haydon wrote:

I'll have to remember that. Buy a D5 to reduce the cost of the D850's accessories:)

You don't have to remember anything, if you already have one. I also use the same battery in my D500! Hey, aren't you a Canon Guy? If so, why are you commenting on Nikon gear? Nothing to do? Buy whatever you like. Don't buy what you don't want or don't need. Finally, if you're a sports action photographer, the D5 is an excellent choice. What the equivalent Canon is, is something I have no knowledge of. I'm both very happy and comfortable with my choices. Hopefully, so are you. Best of luck.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

As expected, no one knows anything, including the local Nikon reps.

I've agonized over this since it was announced. The D850 is already spendy and the grip adds to that, pushing the total north of 4K.

I passed on the D500 grip, since it only extends shooting time. I don't do video, I can change batteries in the time it takes to light a cigarette, and now birds in Oregon think smoke is a natural occurrence. But with the D850, you don't get use of all the features until.....unknown. Poor planning by Nikon.

Haydon

cjc2 wrote:

You don't have to remember anything, if you alread... (show quote)

Hey I can comment, I own a pair of Nikon binoculars :)

Bill_de Loc: US

OddJobber wrote:

Now that the Nikon D850 actually exists, what about the battery grip, the MB-D18?

A month after it's announcement, the only information I can find is the price ($399), it's the only way to bump up the D850 fps from 7 to 9, and it takes the $150 D5 battery. Any more information out there? Is there even a rumor about the availability date?

The D4s battery is the same, if you happen to have one. Even so, you still might have to buy the cap for around $40. And lets not forget the charger. Somebody showed the package with grip and accessories for the higher speed ... $900+

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