Canon BG-E11 Battery Grip for Canon SLR Cameras (Black)

by Canon

• Large capacity battery grip designed for the EOS 5D Mark III, ideal for high volume and easy vertical shooting
• Powered by up to two Battery Pack LP-E6, six AA-size/LR6 batteries or optional AC Adapter Kit ACK-E6
• Improved ergonomics for comfortable holding
• Features a variety of operating controls: shutter button, Main Dial, multi-controller, AF point selection button, AE lock/FE lock button, AF start button, and multi-function button.
• Kit Includes: Battery Grip with Protective Cover; Soft Case for Battery Magazine; Instruction Book; Warranty Card

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4 x 6 x 5 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B007FH1FZ0
• Item model number: BG-E11
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 1, 2012

Product Description

The Canon BG-E11 Battery Grip is an optional battery grip with improved ergonomics designed specifically for the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. It allows users to load a choice of one or two LP-E6 battery packs. With two packs, the already-impressive battery life is doubled, compared to using a single LP-E6 pack in-camera. This is especially useful when taking advantage of the camera's movie mode or Live View mode - operating modes that use more power. In addition, with the included battery magazine, you can also run the camera off six AA batteries. The BG-E11 also provides full vertical shooting controls, which can be independently turned on or off as the photographer needs to enhance camera handling, especially for shooting vertical pictures. It has a large number of operating controls as well: shutter button, Main Dial, multi-controller, AF point selection button, AE lock/FE lock button, AF start button, and multi-function button.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good but Canon missed the opportunity to make it great... June 19, 2012

By Barry F. Shaffer

Amazon Verified Purchase

First off, this is the first Canon made battery grip I've purchased, all my previous grips have been knock offs made by Zeikos, which I feel offered a better value than the canon grip. So what made me change my mind this time and shell out the bucks for Canon's priciest grip to date? Two things - first, the construction - this grip is made of the same magnesium alloy as the 5D's body where the previous ones were made of plastic. Second, Canon changed the orientation of the batteries to load from the side instead of the rear. So now the palm of your hand rests on the solid metal portion of the grip vs. the battery door on the older models. This brings a much more solid, one-piece feel to the grip and brings it in line with the MarkIII's upgrade in construction over the MarkII - It's nice not having the battery door creaking under your palm as you squeeze.

The side loading batteries *should* have allowed Canon to improve the ergonomics of the grip to be more like the 1D series cameras too, but this is where I think they missed the mark. The old, rear loading grips were always a bit thick because they had to be as wide as the batteies are long. Because of this, the rear the grip where your palm would rest, would protrude in addition to the forward grip area. This made the grip thicker feeling than a 1D and was a bit much for those with small hands. So now with the batteries loading from the side, just like a 1D, the grip should now be able to be dimensioned just like a 1D grip - but it's not. This version still protrudes as much in the rear as the old models. I absolutely love the vertical grip on my 1D and was really hoping this new grip design would bring my 5D to the same level but it doesn't.

So is this a bad product - absolutely not. Extra battery life and improved vertical shooting ergonomics and controls are still there and the much improved quality of construction has made me comfortable with the decision to go with the Canon branded version. Most should be very happy with this grip.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent but... a couple of things June 14, 2012

By Angela

Amazon Verified Purchase

I am a pro photographer shooting weddings, and other busy events in addition to studio stuff. Battery life is priority number one and ease of vertical shooting is number two. On number two, as usual and as I was used to having the same on the 5D Mark II's grip before I upgraded to the 5D Mark III, the vertical stuff is done well. I can see that the buttons will not be well located for everyone's hands.. my hands are small and I suppose I have a completely different experience form someone with large hands.. nonetheless the happy medium Canon found seems to work.

However, I have an issue with my priority number 1: the battery life. I have had the battery grip on my 5D Mark II for a long time and using two batteries (the same batteries as for the 5D Mark III!) I could shoot an entire wedding completely and still had juice left over. Then for some time I did not have the grip because Canon was delayed so I used the 5D Mark III without the grip and I was completely impressed how long the battery lasted!

I suppose the 5D Mark III's new processor sees light where there is little and is thus in need of way less energy to get the shot than the 5D Mark II was. And that was on 1 battery. Now comes the battery grip and I am using 2 of those batteries.. and I seem to be getting less power out of the two than I got out of one! I wil have to have this checked with Canon service.. maybe something is not working the way it is supposed to be working. But battery life with 2 in the grip is not as good as with one without the grip...

Otherwise the feel is great, feels sturdy and massive--and it is also VERY heavy now.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth it for the real deal. July 29, 2012

By Romanos

Amazon Verified Purchase

I was one of the lucky ones who had a 5dmkiii within 3 days of their release. Ever since that time, I have been pining for the battery grip but was reticent to spend the money. Two weeks ago I finally just 'bit the bullet' and got one. I decided on the canon because I knew it had a magnesium framework, and that it was perfectly matched to my camera. I am so very glad I did. Frankly, I didn't want to spend three-and-a-half grand on a camera and then chimp on the accessories. This is built to the same exacting standards as the camera and the grip is quite nice. Even with after market batteries, the camera can still communicate with them via the grip. The extra controls are very worth it and so is the double battery life. (not to mention the fact that people accord you more respect as a photographer by simply seeing your impressive body...) I will say the two things I wish were different: a.) I wish the vertical grip had the same ergonomics as the built in camera grip. It does not. This is mostly the result of the fact that the batter tray that slides in necessitates a certain shape, and therefore, the grip is more square. It is rounded at the corners, but not to the extent of the native camera grip. b.) a minor thing really, but I wish the dial that screws the grip on was a little sturdier. I want to make sure the two are paired together nice and tight (they fit together perfectly, with NO give by the way) but sometimes I wonder if I could damage the grip dial by tightening it too much since it is plastic. Really a minor thing though and I'm not worried there will be any problems. If you are on the fence about whether or not to order a grip at all, I highly encourage it. It is interesting to say the least and even if you don't use the vertical grip itself, the larger extended grip of the camera still makes for much more stable shooting. Just be sure to get a neck strap because you'll hurt your wrist if you simply try to carry this around in your hand.

UPDATE as of 8/19/12
I have had the grip for over a month now and I have come to love it so much I do not take it off of the camera. In fact, my camera feels strange without it. It is very reliable, very sturdy, and after using it every day for a month, there still isn't the slightest bit of give or wiggle in the connection. It is truly built to the standard of the camera. The buttons are also as responsive as the camera's.

Also, I came to realize that I am very happy to have gotten the official grip made out of a metal alloy core like the camera for an unforeseen reason: some cheaper grips that might have a metal tripod mount thread in them, will still have the thread mounted in plastic. This thread is mounted in a metal body that matches that of the camera making for a much more secure connection I am sure. I do not remove the grip at all, even when on a tripod, so I appreciate not needing to worry about the threads popping out of a plastic shell because my camera weighs 5+ pounds.