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Product Description
From the Manufacturer
The HLD-6 Power Battery Grip, in the same dust- and splashproof construction as the Olympus E-M5 body, is an adaptable, two-part grip that can be used either as a landscape grip for easier handling or as a portrait grip with an additional shutter release. The portrait grip accommodates an extra lithium-ion battery to supplement the one in the E-M5, thus extending battery life.
Product Description
The HLD-6 is an optional dust- and splash proof battery holder and grip created especially for use with the Olympus E-M5. The device can be separated into two parts - one tailored to shooting in landscape orientation and one that's ideal for portraits.
The landscape unit includes a built-in shutter button as well as a dial for locking the grip onto the bottom of the E-M5. The portrait unit includes a molded grip for stable shooting while the camera is in the vertical (portrait) orientation, a built-in shutter button, two built-in function buttons that can be programmed independently of the function buttons on the E-M5 body, a DC-IN jack for continuous powered shooting (requires the optional AC-3 Power Adapter), and a compartment for storing an optional additional BLN-1 lithium-ion battery.
When shooting with the E-M5 and two batteries, you can choose which battery to use first; once it's drained, the camera will start using the second battery for uninterrupted shooting.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
First off at $299 this is a pricy accessory and barely worth the price. There is no way I would pay $399 for this grip.
With that said this is the best grip I have ever owned and makes the OM-D behave like 3 different cameras.
1) Without a grip. Put on the Pani 20mm and you have your go anywhere camera.
2) With first part of grip you get a nice grip on the right side of the camera to help stabilize longer lenses another shutter release and another front control dial which changes either aperture or exposure compensation depending on which mode you have selected. This is the configuration I keep the OM-D in most of the time with the Pani 25mm f/1.4. This is a great combination.
3) With the second part of the grip you now get a portrait shutter release and another front and rear control wheel. You also get 2 more function buttons which can be set independently of the first 2 function buttons. You also get a lock to prevent any of those buttons from accidentally being pressed. Finally, you get a space for an extra battery. Even in this configuration the camera is neither heavy or large. This set up is fantastic for the event photographer and portrait photographer. This setup makes this a fantastic professional camera for many many many situations. M4/3 has arrived into the working professional ranks with the OM-D and this grip.
There are 3 main drawbacks to this grip. The first is the first part of the grip blocks off the battery compartment on the camera. So you have to take the grip off to recharge the batter. The second is on the second part of the grip the tripod lug is well to the right of the camera. I am really not sure what Olympus was thinking here. The 3rd and largest right now is the fact Olympus does not sell the BLN-1 yet.... Read more ›
With that said this is the best grip I have ever owned and makes the OM-D behave like 3 different cameras.
1) Without a grip. Put on the Pani 20mm and you have your go anywhere camera.
2) With first part of grip you get a nice grip on the right side of the camera to help stabilize longer lenses another shutter release and another front control dial which changes either aperture or exposure compensation depending on which mode you have selected. This is the configuration I keep the OM-D in most of the time with the Pani 25mm f/1.4. This is a great combination.
3) With the second part of the grip you now get a portrait shutter release and another front and rear control wheel. You also get 2 more function buttons which can be set independently of the first 2 function buttons. You also get a lock to prevent any of those buttons from accidentally being pressed. Finally, you get a space for an extra battery. Even in this configuration the camera is neither heavy or large. This set up is fantastic for the event photographer and portrait photographer. This setup makes this a fantastic professional camera for many many many situations. M4/3 has arrived into the working professional ranks with the OM-D and this grip.
There are 3 main drawbacks to this grip. The first is the first part of the grip blocks off the battery compartment on the camera. So you have to take the grip off to recharge the batter. The second is on the second part of the grip the tripod lug is well to the right of the camera. I am really not sure what Olympus was thinking here. The 3rd and largest right now is the fact Olympus does not sell the BLN-1 yet.... Read more ›
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
1. I'm make this fairly short and sweet:
a. I have (used) the E-P1, E-P3 (along with the E-5 and a ton of other cameras) and although the pen cameras were (are) great cameras, the ergonomics was always something that really limited the functionality of those units.
b. Fast forward, the E-M5 looks bigger than the E-P3 but in reality it's not much bigger and the grip is really not better. However, with the E-M5, you now have the ability to add this grip and unequivocally this is an awesome unit. 100% of those who are going to use the E-M5 along with the standard 4/3 lens must have this grip; no question about that. 90% of traditional camera folk who are going to use the E-M5 with the m4/3 lens are still going to want to have this grip because it really improves the overall comfort / grip / ergonomics of this camera.
c. Re: Quality of build: excellent.
d. Re: Ease of use: it's a no brainer. Screw on/ screw off. Note, you'll have to screw off each time you want to access the battery (a minor hassle, but there's nothing they could have done about it).
e. Re: Flexibility: excellent. I don't need to shoot vertically (or rather use the vertical shutter) and thus just attach the first part. If you want the whole deal, then just attach both units. Again, it's up to you.
f. re: use with standard 4/3 lens. I'll comment more on this in my E-M5 review, but although this does not replace the DSLR (the E-5 is still better in re: ergonomics when using the 4/3 lens), this is a quantum leap forward in re: using standard 4/3 lens on the m4/3 cameras.... Read more ›
a. I have (used) the E-P1, E-P3 (along with the E-5 and a ton of other cameras) and although the pen cameras were (are) great cameras, the ergonomics was always something that really limited the functionality of those units.
b. Fast forward, the E-M5 looks bigger than the E-P3 but in reality it's not much bigger and the grip is really not better. However, with the E-M5, you now have the ability to add this grip and unequivocally this is an awesome unit. 100% of those who are going to use the E-M5 along with the standard 4/3 lens must have this grip; no question about that. 90% of traditional camera folk who are going to use the E-M5 with the m4/3 lens are still going to want to have this grip because it really improves the overall comfort / grip / ergonomics of this camera.
c. Re: Quality of build: excellent.
d. Re: Ease of use: it's a no brainer. Screw on/ screw off. Note, you'll have to screw off each time you want to access the battery (a minor hassle, but there's nothing they could have done about it).
e. Re: Flexibility: excellent. I don't need to shoot vertically (or rather use the vertical shutter) and thus just attach the first part. If you want the whole deal, then just attach both units. Again, it's up to you.
f. re: use with standard 4/3 lens. I'll comment more on this in my E-M5 review, but although this does not replace the DSLR (the E-5 is still better in re: ergonomics when using the 4/3 lens), this is a quantum leap forward in re: using standard 4/3 lens on the m4/3 cameras.... Read more ›
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
It's not cheap, to be honest, I've never bought a battery grip before, so maybe I'm wrong in regards to the price.
But it's really worth it, specially if you have 4/3 lenses that you want to use with the EM5.
I have for 4/3 14-54 MK1, Leica 25 1.4, 9-18 and 70-300, all of them for the 4/3 mount, so I've been using the MK2/3 adapter and the grip makes the handling great.
For the 70/300, I still do my best to support most of it's weight using my left hand, but having the extra grip, makes a huge difference.
Specially for manual focus/macro.
Having 2 extra fn1 and fn2 and one additional battery (you have to buy, not included), is a big plus.
I have them setup different from the ones one the body.
fn1 = zoom
fn2 = AEL
record= Aperture preview
grip fn1 = ISO
grip fn2 = Manual focus/single focus switch.
It provides better customization depending on the type of photography and lenses you use.
I have two non-CAF (MK1 and 35mm 3.5)lenses that really benefit from the way I have it setup.
Yesterday on my trip to the statue of liberty I drained the battery on the grip and half of the body, you don't even notice when it happens, You will see the battery indicator flashing, and after a while you will see it going back to green when the second battery kicks in.
I have an aftermarket on the grip, and the genuine on the body.
I would highly recommend, makes a huge difference.
But it's really worth it, specially if you have 4/3 lenses that you want to use with the EM5.
I have for 4/3 14-54 MK1, Leica 25 1.4, 9-18 and 70-300, all of them for the 4/3 mount, so I've been using the MK2/3 adapter and the grip makes the handling great.
For the 70/300, I still do my best to support most of it's weight using my left hand, but having the extra grip, makes a huge difference.
Specially for manual focus/macro.
Having 2 extra fn1 and fn2 and one additional battery (you have to buy, not included), is a big plus.
I have them setup different from the ones one the body.
fn1 = zoom
fn2 = AEL
record= Aperture preview
grip fn1 = ISO
grip fn2 = Manual focus/single focus switch.
It provides better customization depending on the type of photography and lenses you use.
I have two non-CAF (MK1 and 35mm 3.5)lenses that really benefit from the way I have it setup.
Yesterday on my trip to the statue of liberty I drained the battery on the grip and half of the body, you don't even notice when it happens, You will see the battery indicator flashing, and after a while you will see it going back to green when the second battery kicks in.
I have an aftermarket on the grip, and the genuine on the body.
I would highly recommend, makes a huge difference.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By G. Lee
I won't repeat too much what others have already said. It's way too expensive, but it's a nice grip. I keep on conning myself to think this is made by Leica to justify the cost... I use mostly the grip plate only. It makes the camera handle a lot better without adding too much bulk. 5 star for features, -1 for the price.
What I do want to point out is the little nooks you can store the rubber covers for the electrical connectors. It's a nice thought so if you decide to change the configuration in the middle of your trip you will always have the rubber covers there and not somewhere buried in the camera bag or at home.
I am supportive of the design of keeping one battery in the camera and the other in the grip. Judging by the battery size, having two in there will make the grip a lot longer relative to the camera body. If I were the designer I would had made it this way too. After all, the point is not having to change batteries as often. How many of you really have 4 BLN-1 batteries in the field? Also, the grip's battery WILL operate the camera without having a battery in the camera body. This is an advantage because you are more flexible. (Say for example you only have 3 batteries, one spare + one in the body and one in the grip. They both run out and you can just replace the one in the grip and continue.
Also, not having a D-pad on the grip doesn't bother me that much. I did not buy the OMD to have another DSLR-sized camera. There is really no space on the grip to add another set of D-pads without accidentally pressing on the buttons while holding the grip. It doesn't hurt me to reach over another inch to the D-pad on the camera body.
What I do want to point out is the little nooks you can store the rubber covers for the electrical connectors. It's a nice thought so if you decide to change the configuration in the middle of your trip you will always have the rubber covers there and not somewhere buried in the camera bag or at home.
I am supportive of the design of keeping one battery in the camera and the other in the grip. Judging by the battery size, having two in there will make the grip a lot longer relative to the camera body. If I were the designer I would had made it this way too. After all, the point is not having to change batteries as often. How many of you really have 4 BLN-1 batteries in the field? Also, the grip's battery WILL operate the camera without having a battery in the camera body. This is an advantage because you are more flexible. (Say for example you only have 3 batteries, one spare + one in the body and one in the grip. They both run out and you can just replace the one in the grip and continue.
Also, not having a D-pad on the grip doesn't bother me that much. I did not buy the OMD to have another DSLR-sized camera. There is really no space on the grip to add another set of D-pads without accidentally pressing on the buttons while holding the grip. It doesn't hurt me to reach over another inch to the D-pad on the camera body.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome grip, if you need it.
I was a little skeptical before ordering this, a $300 (now $224) grip... a grip!, does not even bring batteries with it. Read more
Published 8 days ago by Uncle J
2.0 out of 5 stars
How does this not come with the extra battery?!?!
Yeah, it makes one-handed shooting much more comfortable and stable. Sure, the vertical grip is really nice to have. Read more
Published 28 days ago by H. Edwards
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent!
Olympus did this one very well. I thought, as I was putting it on for the first time that it was going to be a little flimsy, but experience using it has shown it is well made and... Read more
Published 2 months ago by fangleman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Much needed for OM-D owners
Changes the handling characteristics of the OM-D E-M5 significantly. The none vertical portion of the grip makes the camera feel like a DSLR. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Pen Name
5.0 out of 5 stars
This Grip Is Excellent But Pricy !
I use both pieces but but one on first. I understand someone else in aftermarket might make one where you can access the battery in the camera.
Published 2 months ago by Alloveramp
4.0 out of 5 stars
Could be better
grip works very well and I'm happy with it but Olympus designers might be a bit clever and make possibility to use also battery pack without grip. Now it is impossible. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Robert Iniarski
3.0 out of 5 stars
It is overpriced
The best feature is the lock switch for the buttons as it is very to hit the buttons by accident. It works well and provides for a better grip and shutter release for vertical... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Herman Moulden
5.0 out of 5 stars
Olympus HLD-6 Battery Holder
work perfect on OM D E5.
Intruction and manual coma with it very short and barely provide info.. Read more
Intruction and manual coma with it very short and barely provide info.. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Vic_PDX
5.0 out of 5 stars
Convert your OM-D E-M5 in a 3 in 1 camera
Convert your OM-D E-M5 in a 3 in 1 camera!!!
The battery holder is made with very resistant materials. Read more
The battery holder is made with very resistant materials. Read more
Published 4 months ago by MRMD
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very well made
I just received this battery grip for the Olympus OM-D. Like the camera it's well made, small but has a quality weight to it. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Sais
