planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

I just got my first battery grip yesterday to go with my new camera (used a99ii) and haven't even unwrapped it yet. I bought it because I've missed a lot of shots at airshows (a majority of my pics) and was told by some that with a big lens in front the balance would be better. My biggest lenses are a Tamron 150-600 G2 and a 70-300. I usually handhold, but do have a tripod and monopod. I'm a little concerned about a postcard I found in the box...basically begging for a 5-star rating about the product and a detailed explanation of why not if given a lower rating. It's a Vello grip because it's a fraction of the cost of Sony's grip.

DennisC. Loc: Antelope, CA

I have had a battery grip or motor drive on every Nikon camera since 1980, from my FM2 film camera to the D850 digital camera. Now that I shoot Sony I have a third party battery grip on the A9 and A7rIV, no issues yet and they have been put through a lot. As others have said it makes the camera easier to handle with telephoto lenses and extends battery life. Some cameras get a frames per second boost with the grip.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

FWIW: my first grip for my Nikon was a Neewer grip, it looked ok, it fit ok, but it soon began to have electrical issues - never stopped working, but caused the activity light on the camera to go on and off with the camera sitting powered off - like a battery was just inserted...

I soon bought an OEM Nikon grip, and problems went away. Perfect look, perfect fit, no issues. Since then I have switched to Canon, and when I decided to buy a grip I had no doubt about buying a Canon grip. Great look, great fit, no issues.

Have no experience with Vello, but liked that the OEM grips had a full metal internal skeleton, like the cameras, where the non OEM were all plastic.

xt2 Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Gosh...we are so bored (with Covid isolation) that we are actually discussing whether “a lot of us use a battery grip,” really?

Cheers!

NJphotodoc Loc: Now in the First State

Enjoy the grip. It's certainly a worthwhile investment. I work a lot of airshows as a pilot volunteer and know how great these photos can be, especially the old warbirds. When I'm not moving planes around I use a tripod as well with a Tamron 100-400 and get great shots.
A lot of sellers live on their 5-star ratings and if you like the grip and you got it on time, etc, then you should consider giving the seller a good rating and most likely, he'll give you 5-star rating as a buyer so you both win.

gwilliams6

I own battery grips for both my Sony A9 and my Sony A7RIV. I like having the extra battery and yes it can help with balance when using a long lens. That being said there are times when I do not want that extra weight, so I like the option to shoot without the grip. I used to shoot with Nikon D4s and Canon EOS 1DX MKII. Both of those cameras had an integrated battery grip that you could not remove. I much prefer a removable battery grip camera, so I can choose when to carry all that extra weight.

https://www.facebook.com/GSWilliamsPhotography/

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I agree with most of the reasons above, but I have yet to hear my personal main reason. Given the bodies I own, using a grip allows me to use the same battery across the board. Makes things simpler and easier for me. Best of luck.

RickL Loc: Vail, Az

I use a Nikon Battery grip on my D850. Weight is hardly an issue, about the weight of two batteries. With batteries that match the camera I get increased frames per second. It also balances the camera when using long lenses. The grip matches the camera and makes it easy to handle and the controls on the grip work well with the camera. It takes about 15 seconds to change the battery. I see no down side to using one. Stick to name brand, a little more money, but we'll worth it.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I use a grip on every one of my cameras that has option to fit one.

There are a number of advantages...

1. The additional battery doubles the number of shots I can take between battery changes. This is probably the LEAST important reason I use grips.

2. The grip also provides secondary controls that are very helpful when shooting portrait/vertical orientation. Probably the MOST important reason I use them.

3. The grip also adds some weight and mass, which helps the camera better balance with larger, heavier lenses. Also an important reason I use them.

4. It doesn't apply to my current cameras, but in some systems the auxiliary grip can allow the camera to shoot at faster continuous frame rates. This may require or be further enhanced by fitting higher performance batteries to the grip.

Some cameras have built-in grip, such as the Nikon D5 and D6 or the Canon 1DX Mark III. Personally I don't care for that design. I'd rather have a grip that's removable, should I eve wish to do so to reduce the size and weight of the camera, perhaps while traveling or hiking with my gear. I really don't remove the grips often, but like having the option to do so if I wish.

I've been using grips... or winders, or motor drives, or power boosters... for all these reasons since the 1980s. Today, five out of six of my "daily users" are fitted with grips. The only one that's not is a compact mirrorless that doesn't have option of fitting one (which I would do in a heartbeat... if it were possible).

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Would you prefer a discussion whether or not to use a UV filter as "protection"?

Or, how about "Mirrorless versus DSLR"?

Or, maybe "full frame vs APS-C vs M4/3!"?

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

A grip does 3 things: 1) Makes the camera heavier 2) will let you shoot vertical holding the camera the same as a horizontal shot , with the grip controls 3) will give you an extended battery life for more pictures or using the screen to view you shots.
Is it good? sometimes
Is it in your way? sometimes
I have one I use it sometimes

Dean37 Loc: Fresno, CA

I've been using the motor drives, since the Nikon FE & MD-11. The added weight gives me more stability, not to mention the balance and faster frame rate. The Nikon D100 & MB-D100 started my use of the hand grips immediately when I was able to find one.

Like I said stability, balance and frame rate. The added weight along with the heavier long lenses are no problem to carry even at 83. I like the long lenses because I can't move as easily as I used to and the zoom lenses can get me as close as I need to.

Pumble

I enjoy using a grip, for me it's just easier to hold the camera for a portrait orientation. I always had a Vello and enjoyed that they embedded a wireless shutter trigger into the model I had for my Canon 7D MKII.

Oddly enough though the only grip available for my EOS-R is the overpriced Canon one. I've waited and waited for Vello or anyone else to make one, but even though the camera has been out for over a year now, there's nothing on the horizon for it. I find that strange.

Toment Loc: FL, IL

Trying one out now on a Sony A7Riii. Holds two batteries for more practice, learning, fiddling. Works well, has same buttons as camera for several functions.
Mine’s a Neewer, works well
Have fun!

Siemienczuk

Wow I never thought about weight balance with gimbal. I used to use a grip in the film era when I was a Canon guy. I find now that since I look at images on a monitor it's a bit of a pain to reorient the monitor to portrait, so I'm shooting less shots in portrait orientation. But I've been pining for a gimbal to use with a D7200/200-500 rig. Would that setup benefit in the balance sense from a battery grip?