Customer Reviews

Opteka Battery Pack Grip / Vertical Shutter Release for Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi & Rebel XT with 2 NB-2LH Batteries

5 star:		(131)
4 star:		(40)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I bought the Opteka Battery Pack Grip for my Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi, and was a bit leary about the considerably lower price than the Canon brand battery pack grip. I am pleased to report that the Opteka grip has met my expectations.

PROS

The grip fits extremely well on the Rebel XTi. It even comes with a convenient place to store the battery compartment lid (which must be removed to insert the grip into the camera. Removing the lid is an easy procedure).

Attaching the grip is quick and easy, with a large, serrated wheel to tighten the grip against the camera bottom.

The finish on the grip is different than that on the Canon-brand grip. The Opteka has a thin, rubbery, texturized non-slip insert layer over the front, bottom and back. The Canon grip's rubbery insert is smooth and looks more "finished." My only concern about the Opteka insert is that it shows signs that it may not stay perfectly attached to the grip, and will likely need a touch of cement in the future. Not a big deal, though.

The vertical shooting buttons on the grip (exposure bracket, A-E lock, Auto Focus point selection, selector wheel and shutter release) are, as far as I can tell, identically placed like those on the Canon grip. All work like they are supposed to.

The grip comes with an "On-Off" slide so you can turn off the vertical shooting buttons when they are not needed. This prevents accidentally activating one of the buttons or taking a picture if they are inadvertently pressed while shooting horizontal.

The battery compartment in the grip is very easy to remove and insert batteries. Although I haven't used it yet, the optional AA battery insert looks easy to use, and is good to have in emergencies.

The two NB-2LH batteries that came with the grip seem to be OK, and charged up just fine. With the battery that came with the camera, I now have 3 batteries to use. More than enough for the number of pictures I take during a typical shoot.

The grip certainly improves the handling and feel of the XTi, which comes with a too-small grip for many hands. Personally, I like the additional heft and mass the Opteka grip gives the camera, although some may object to the additional weight.

CONS

This is a very minor point, but worth pointing out. The shutter release button on the Opteka grip is a bit "mushy." What I mean is that it is not always easy to tell when you have pressed the shutter releae halfway down to activate auto focus or metering. There is a noticable tactile difference between pressing the shutter release down on the camera, and the shutter release on the grip. It's as if the spring underneath the camera's shutter release button is a bit stiffer than the one for the grip. However, if you use the viewfinder to determine whether you have achieved focus or not, then the little bit of mush in the grip shutter release won't make no never mind.

BOTTOM LINE

Would I recommend this grip to a friend? Yes.

Would I buy another one if the need arises? Yes.

I have both the Canon version of the grip and this version. They are identical. I have two Rebel XTs and they work great. I like them for the feel it gives holding the camera. The camera was small in my hands and this makes it perfect. If you are thinking of buying accessories for the Rebel XT, this should be one of them. The grip holds two batteries, which gives you way more shooting time. I highly recommend this!

This is my first Amazon review. I cannot recommend this product enough. I have tried it in professional settings (the XTi is my backup camera) and it has NEVER let me down. Don't waste your money on the original CANON grip. Save your $$$. Remember, just as with the original grip you can store the XTi's battery door inside the grip so you will never lose it. I got the version that came with two batteries. The supplied batteries are excellent and never seem to run out. You will not be sorry you got this. I hated the feel of the XTi till I added the grip. I dare those who say the materials are cheap quality to submit to a blind (folded?) test. If you are one of those people who likes to buy a brand for the sake of it, don't get this grip. But if you own an XT/XTi and actually use it then don't think twice.

Like one of the previous reviewers, I am also experiencing intermittent contact issues with the battery grip resulting in loss of power. Specifically, when using the lithium battery magazine, there isn't a snug fit even when the lock knob is engaged. That is, there is clearly some movement possible between the battery magazine and the grip. After inspecting the contacts inside the grip, this appears to be sufficient to break the connection resulting in the power loss. When holding the camera with the grip (that is, rotated 90 degrees), this essentially guarantees that the camera will not power up.

Inspecting the unit further, I think it was a combination of a misaligned latch for the lock knob allowing the movement between the grip and battery magazine, and a poorly positioned brush contact inside the grip.

In addition, when testing the AA battery magazine, one of the contacts fell out.

Overall, this seems to speak to variability in quality that buyers should be aware of. This was my first experience with Opteka and likely to be my last. The price of the Canon grip may be higher but I would not underestimate the value of a better manufacturer.

Although I wanted this grip to work well and was optimistic, I was unable to get the camera to remain turned on because the connection must have been a little loose. Although it was installed properly and tightened completely, the camera kept turning off while I was shooting unless I squeezed the grip onto the body with my hands. Obviously this is not going to work in the long haul and I will have to return it. I re-installed the grip twice more, but still had the same problem. It's too bad because otherwise I like the grip and it's a good value if it works correctly.

I read rave reviews about the Opteka battery grip being manufactured to the same specs as the Canon grip but at a fraction of the price, so I knew I couldn't go wrong with it. It came with two 3rd party batteries as well for only $20 more, so what did I have to lose?

Let me start off by saying I have experience with 3rd party batteries and they are usually a waste of money as they are horrible from a performance standpoint. Not these however, I have taken a few hundred pictures with about 20% flash and the battery meter is still full. Great value overall.

The grip really does balance out the small size of the Rebel XT and always stays on my camera. It does add considerable weight to the camera however, but nothing overbearing.

This review is aimed at the power 2000 batteries that come with the grip. The batteries failed after only two charges. The grip is fantastic (5 stars) and continues to work with Canon batteries. Buy the grip without batteries and add the saving toward Canon or other higher rated batteries.

I'm one of those people that tends to buy the 'name brand' of things because from my experience the slightly higher cost seems to lead to higher quality and better customer service. Needless to say I was hesitant about buying anything other than Canon, but the raving reviews here convinced me otherwise.
I'm happy to say the grip is as everyone says: basically exactly the same as the canon version. As another reviewer mentioned, the button is a bit "mushy", but it works fine and for 1/2 the price and two extra batteries, I'll live with this minor shortcoming.
The 'flaw' I mention is the original design of the grip from the get go. It fits snuggly to the camera but having been a film photographer for many years, I'm used to a grip that seems to hug the camera body better and become a more integral piece of the body as a whole. I'm not sure that this really matters in the end but I have to say asthetically I am a bit disappointed. It would also seem to offer a bit more protection from the elements in this manner but who knows.
Overall, a worthy alternative to the canon version.

I know it sounds too good to be true, I've read too many reviews where people say that "I never knew how I ever took pictures without this grip," but it's the truth. The first thing I noticed was the vertical handle, it's amazing. You can shoot vertical shots with one hand! All of the buttons you need are on the grip, the shutter button, wheel, and the two buttons on the top right of the XT.

Installation, it's a joke, don't even read the manual. You have to charge the batteries, but in the mean time you can put in your regular Canon battery, or 6 AAs because this comes with a AA shell.

Think of it this way, the XT is a baby...it's easy to hold if you have small hands; I don't, I knew the camera was small, and I decided to buy this really so I could have a better handle on it, the extra battery life was whipping on the cake.

I really don't know how I could stand to hold the camera without this grip. Don't spend extra money on Canon's model, this one is perfect!

First let me say I've read every review on this product before I bought it. The first thing I learned is you can't please everyone and some people just nit-picked this product apart. Since I could'nt afford a genuine Canon grip and then buy 2 batteries to go with it this seemed like a great deal. Other reviewers said the buttons seemed mushy. They are but not so much that I did'nt get used to it rather quickly and it does'nt bother me in the least bit now. They said the dial does'nt click for each position, mine does, not as much as the one on the camera but it does'nt bother me either. Some said the batteries did'nt last long. I shoot something every day and on weekends I shoot quite a bit. Did not have to recharge the batteries for the first month. Just don't leave the grip turned on all the time and shut your camera off when your done shooting. I have never had a problem with it losing power when in the vertical position as some have said they have. Most everyone complained about the grip material coming off, they made it sound like it was peeling off completely as soon as it came out of the box. Yes it was coming up on the very edge on the back side, NOT falling off. I took a little brush and some super glue and solved the problem in less than 5 minutes. The Opteka Battery Pack Grip fit my xti perfectly. I have'nt taken it off yet and do not plan to. Would I reccomend it? YES. Would I buy another one if I bought a backup camera? YES. Am I satisfied with the price and performance of this product? YES YES YES. Best accessory other than lenses I have bought for my Rebel xti. I highly recommend the Opteka Battery Pack Grip.