Customer Reviews

Opteka Battery Pack Grip / Vertical Shutter Release for Canon EOS 20D, 30D, 40D, & 50D Digital SLR Camera with 2 BP-511 Batteries (4000mAh Total)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I was skeptical about buying a non-Canon product but I read the other gentleman's review and decided to live large. Anyway, I received this exactly as advertised with one exception: This battery grip is of much better quality than I expected-especially for the price. I have a Canon 40D (yep, I am worried about price) and this interfaces with the camera easily and properly. The kit also comes with two more quality batteries. I charged everything up, made the easy connection to the 40D, and headed out to the field to try it out. Naturally, the grip adds to the bulk of the 40D but with a 70-200L lens mounted, I don't really care. One could assume the term "grip" implies that it adds to the users retention of the camera. The grip actually makes the camera easier to carry. I carried the whole assembly on a hiking trip in the JT Ntl Park and throughout the whole trip, I did not have to worry about battery life dispite having the camera on for hours. Overall, great piece of gear for the price. Very happy with it.

I think the Opteka BG-e2 grip is well built and very close in quality to the canon grip after using both for an afternoon.

The battery door is not quite as well built as the canon grip, and the buttons feel like they are of much poorer quality.

My big complaint is however that there is no adjustmetn wheel next to the shutter button as there is on the Canon BG-E2/E2N. This to me is a huge flaw!! The opteka grip for the Rebel XT/XTI has one, why doesnt this one?

Without this wheel when I want to adjust shutter speed or aperture I have to switch back to landscape orientation and make the adjustments and then go back to the portarit orientation. Very frustrating when you just want to make a simple change on shutter speed or aperture.

Before buying this grip ask yourself if your willing to forgo the convience to save a few $$ vs. the canon grip or there is a Targus grip that has the wheel but costs about $30 more.

I've used this grip for more than two years now, first on a 20D, then on a 30D. When I get a 40D or 50D, it'll go on that one instead. It's not terribly pretty, not as graceful looking or feeling as the Canon.

But it just plain works, and at about half the cost. The batteries that come with it are pretty good, too.

I was also a little nervous about buying this handgrip especially since it was not an official Canon brand handgrip but I bought it anyway. It was totally worth the buy! The whole button "issue" that people have is somewhat right.. It's not as audible as the real Canon button but it is still very good. :) I'd buy it again if I needed one

I love this grip. Makes holding the camera much easier on the hands. Added bonus - two high capacity batteries. Love the extra shutter release on the battery grip. Only drawback I can think of is that it does not have an attachment for the hand strap at the bottom.

Here's another non-Canon product that can help you save money in the very expensive world of digital SLR photography.

This Opteka grip works perfectly on my EOS 50D and goes a long way towards enhancing the experience of being a photographer. And since it does everything the Canon-branded grip does I do not see the reason for spending significantly more for that grip just because it has the word "Canon" stamped on it.

The Opteka grip fits beautifully on my camera, obtains a tight fit with the body, is solidly built and looks professional.

The only reason I did not give it a 5-star review is because I believe these grip manufacturers need to start including the "AF-ON" button on their grips for us so-called "back button" focusers. When shooting I typically manually focus (what's the point of owning an SLR if you don't?) and thus my camera's autofocus mechanism isn't triggered by the shutter button; but on occasion I use that "AF-ON" button to let the camera do the work for me. This is easy enough when I'm holding the camera horizontally. Holding it vertically with this grip attached, however, means that if I come across a situation when I want to autofocus I can no longer use the handy shutter release button on the grip because there isn't an "AF-ON" button on the grip. Even the Canon-branded grip doesn't offer that functionality and so this wasn't an oversight just on Opteka's part.

Bottom line, good for the money. You get good batteries, good grip feel, and solid construction. Here is what you do not get, no control dial, and no neckstrap anchor. I purchased the Canon handstrap which requires you have a battery grip that has a neckstrap anchor. The Opteka Grip does not have this. So unless I purchase the Canon Grip, I am unable to use my handstrap. Overall, I am very happy with this product.

This battery grip gets the job done. I was mislead by the product description in that the grip doesnt have a control dial. I debated about sending it back but figured I could live with it for the price. I rarely shoot vertical and it is mainly for accomidating my big hands anyway. The grip fits slightly looser on my 30D than the BG-E2 but no big deal. It also lacks a hook for a camera strap, unlike the BG-E2. If you plan on using an E1 handstrap, you are screwed. The batteries that come in this combo are very good and hold a charge much longer than the Canon ones. Good product, assuming it has good longevity.

A great device, costing less for the same options of the original brand. In addition, two batteries, the best option.

I do miss the scroll wheel on the grip but will live with it. It is all I could afford and works great otherwise.