Customer Reviews

Opteka Battery Pack Grip / Vertical Shutter Release for Canon EOS Digital Rebel Xti & Rebel XT

5 star:		(68)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

Ever since I purchased my EOS 350D (Rebel XT) last summer, I have been trying to build the perfect "kit" for my camera. You know... lenses, remote, extra batteries, etc... but the one accessory that I neglected was a grip. I just couldn't see paying $150 for Canon's glorified battery holder since changing batteries was no big deal.

After joining several forums and reading more about the camera, It seemed that everyone recommended a grip as a "must have" item, much like the Canon 50mm f1.8 II lens (which I love!) But I still couldn't justify spending $150 on a grip when I could put that towards a lens.

Well, I came across the Opteka grip while reading a Canon forum and the $60 price was just too low to pass up. Yes, I was a bit skeptical and I still didn't think that I really *needed* one since the camera already felt comfortable in my hands (so I thought!) But for $60 it was now worth the gamble.

I ordered the Opteka grip from Amazon.com (it's actually $10 more expensive if you buy it directly from 47th Street Photo even though they're the ones selling it here) and it arrived a few days ago. My first reaction was the excellent build quality. The grip is "rubberized" so it has a nice feel to it. It fits the camera perfectly and is snug and tight. Once it's attached it looks like it's a part of the camera. I was pleasantly surprised.

Originally I was planning to use the grip only on those special occasions where I would need the extended run-time of two batteries, so I was actually trying to make a separate compartment for it in my bag. But once I started handling the camera with the grip attached, well, I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT IT! The grip makes the camera much easier to hold and gives your pinkie finger something to grab on to. The camera feels much more balanced and camera shake is greatly dimished for me. I took the grip off just to see if it was my imagination and suddenly the camera felt naked without it. I went from being a skeptic and "knowing" that I didn't really need this accessory to being a true believer! It really is a case of "ignorance is bliss" because had I known what I was missing... well... you get the idea!

If you own a Canon Digital Rebel XT (350D), listen to what the others have said about a grip. It truly is a "must have" item for this camera (so is the 50mm 1.8 II lens!) If you've been dragging your feet because of Canon's high price, then get the Opteka. It's inexpensive and is very nicely built (did I mention that it comes with an AA battery tray so you can use regular AA batteries in the event of an emergency?)

So, if you don't own a grip for your XT, I highly recommend that you stop what you're doing and buy one right now. You won't regret it.

I just received mine today. I don't think it is the same exact mold as the OEM one, as I just had the factory one and recently sold it.

Here is my take on this Opteka grip:

1) The grip is rubberized but is of a coarser grain than the factory one. (+0)

2) The dual battery sled is actually tighter than the BG-E3, my BG-E3 had a little plan after it was latched into place, this one is very tight when closed. (+1)

3) The rotary dial is much looser, and does not have that hard well-defined click/click you get on the BG-E3 or on the camera itself. Actually makes changing settings easier in my opinion (+1)

4) The shutter button needs more pressure to push, almost uncomfortably so. Not really pleased with this. Others on dpreview have noticed this too. This is the sole reason I did not give 5 stars, the shutter button will be the most used button, and does not perform quite on par with the BG-E3 grip. (-1)

5) The grip does not marry up to the body as flush as the BG-E3 in my opinion. It seems to have a more defined gap between the camera and the grip, but not necessarily bad if you didn't know what the OEM grip looked like. (+0)

6) Price, well half of what you can get the BG-E3 new at, so excellent in this department. (+1)

7) No logo whatsoever, where the BG-E3 has the usual Canon and part description painted on the front lip. (+0)

8) Yes, it comes with the second AA cartridge. It also comes with directions, HOWEVER, if you want to buy an E-1 strap, the BG-E3 directions come with how to install the strap, not so with this grip's instructions, something to watch for. If this was to be the definitive aftermarket, they should have directions on how to put on the strap, since the E-1 does not come with any. (-1)

So, I find this grip has more pros than cons at half the price. I would say you are getting about 85% of the quality and perfection of the BG-E3 at 50% of the cost. Hope this helps folks decide!

I won't even get into the merits of having a battery grip for your Rebel XT, aside from saying that it's a must-have accessory if you use the portrait orientation often!
Comparing this brand to Canon's BG-E3, it does look identical, branding aside. However, another reviewer said that they're functionally identical, which is not the case. The shutter button is much softer, and doesn't have a distinctive click when fully pressed, compared to the audible click on the Canon. Same goes for the On/Off switch, but that's easy to overlook. I'm pretty sure the I can get used to the tactile feel of the shutter button, but would prefer the Canon, all other things equal. But since Canon's costs more than twice as much, I think I would rather pocket the extra money and live with the soft shutter button.
Just don't be fooled into thinking that this is exactly the same as Canon's!

I was hesitant to purchase the battery grip from Opteka at first. I knew I wanted the Canon BG-E3, but found the cost to be rather high. When I did the research I found that most users rated the BGRXT from Opteka just as high, if not higher than the BG-E3 from Canon.
I took a chance and ordered it and I am thrilled to report that the Opteka battery pack grip is every bit as good as the Canon. Although I don't know for sure, I'd have to guess that they are made in the same facility using the same materials and plans. Even the graphics around the controls are the same. The only difference I can see is that the Opteka doesn't say "Canon" or "BG-E3" on it, and I actually like that better.
As for performance, this is a strongly recommended accessory if you are using a lot of flash or larger AF lenses. It takes more power to turn those large lenses, so doubling your battery capacity is a definite advantage.
I find the extra controls for taking photos in the portrait position to be interesting and fun, but not essential for my use. One bit of advice: If you do plan to shoot in the portrait position using the extra controls, this will require you to turn the large "ON/OFF" switch to the ON position. I often forget to turn it back off and find myself with two drained batteries overnight. I rarely use this feature, so I rarely have to power up the controls. I simply use it for extra battery life, increased camera weight for steadier shots, and for my larger hands, a more ergonomic grip.
I have come to think of this item as a must have for my photographic hobby.

For those people looking to add a battery-grip to their Canon ESO Digital Rebel XT, without breaking the bank, the Opteka BG-E3 is the answer! Like the genuine Canon BG-E3 grip, this Opteka grip offers the same featureset (additional buttons for shutter release, focus-point selection, AE-lock), and the same battery compartments.

The Opteka comes with two different battery-holders:
(1) 6-AA holder
(2) twin Lithium NB-2LH holder

The Lithium holder works with either 1 Lithium battery (the one that comes with the Rebel XT), or you can add a second battery for longer camera-usage (between recharge.)

Pros:
Half the price of Canon's BG-E3 grip
Same solid feel to the grip's construction (except for shutter-button, read below)

Cons:
The Opteka's extra shutter-button doesn't feel the same as the genuine Canon BG-E3. Mine has more 'slack' between half-press (focus) and full-press (shutter release.) It doesn't bother me because I rarely shoot vertically, but if you plan on operating the camera vertically for extended periods of time, you'll have to get used to the Opteka's "different feel."

I've read about other buyers getting slightly misaligned part: i.e. the Opteka grip isn't flush when mounted on the camera. My grip did not have this problem, it fits snugly.

I have had this product and got 3 or 4 months of use from it and initially loved it. It worked as advertised and was much cheaper than Canon's model. A month ago, it stopped working. The issue is at the top of the base, the plastic has separated keeping the battery module from inserting correctly. Opteka has no listed service number to call. After sending multiple e-mails to the service e-mail that they have listed on their Internet site with no response, I have all but given up hope to have it serviced. What good is a year warranty, if you can not contact the company to have it honored? I would caution anyone from purchasing an Opteka product because IF you have trouble with it, you WILL have trouble getting it fixed.

This battery grip is the best thing I have bought for the camera yet! The price is right. Dont let the bargain scare you away from getting it, the quality is pretty good. It is not quite Canon quality, but 99%. Lets just say that for the price it is close enough to 100%. I did not notice the wobble of some other reviewers, even on a tripod.

Pro: fits large hands better - MUST Have for big hands. Battery pack lasts forever, and it looks great (I am picky about that.) Good for small hands too because it balances out larger lenses.

Cons: Yes, the portrait button does not have the feel of the Canon BG or the top button, but I found myself getting used to it quickly and it works fine.

If you plan to use the portrait button exclusively, then either get used to it, or spend the extra cash. For the price of the Canon BG, I got this, a 50mm 1.8 with a filter, and an extra battery. Buy a third party battery - the price of the Canon is too much.

Also, I thought the Canon Hand strap was way overpriced - so I took an old neck strap and cut it shorter and used that = free.

ROUND 2 - UPDATED 11/2007

The latch that holds the battery cover closed broke.. :( It does not work without being latched closed. Good news - the latch from the AA tray can be removed and put on the other tray with a small screwdriver. Better news - I emailed Opteka Customer service and bought a new tray from them for 23 bucks incl shipping! now it works like a champ again.

Bottom line, I still love it after almost 2 years!

This Opteka grip is a MUST-HAVE for ALL Digital Rebel XT owners!

Don't be swayed by the generic brand name; this grip is nothing compared to generic products you may have experienced in the past. It works FLAWLESSLY, and has all the buttons and feel of the Canon brand grip at half the cost!

Some concerns about the shutter being a bit soft have been going around the web. For me, I don't find it much of a problem. It has a softer feel than the shutter on the Rebel XT's body, but you can still tell the difference between half-press and full-press. There are solutions for this minor inconvenience around the web, which usually involves a trip to Home Depot and buying a small, round, rubber stopper.

The grip part is real rubber, not some etched design on plastic - great feel and handling.

The grip also attaches to the Rebel XT closely, no major gaps can be seen and it fits quite snuggly. I feel confident that the grip wont fall off if I hold on to just the grip, which is a major plus.

I believe the greatest asset of owning this grip is its overall impact in your camera's looks and handling. For those who have complained about the XT's size and holding issues, this battery grip solves it all. With the grip attached, it's MUCH easier holding the camera - you have a longer edge surface to grip. Since the XT has a small grip already, being able to move your hand lower increase the surface area where you can actually hold the camera. Having the grip attatched also makes the camera feel more robust, sturdier, and gives the camera more of a 'professional' look.

All in all, I believe all XT owners should buy this grip. It seriously makes up for the XT's small size, helps you tremendously when holding the camera, helps increase battery life, and has everything you can expect from the Canon brand one (except the logo) at HALF the cost. Buy it, you definitely won't regret it!!

For 1/2 the price of what Canon charges, it's definitely a good buy. Just don't get a bad one.

The most common problem is Opteka drops the voltage of a fully charged battery. So the battery indicator shows 1/2 empty even though the battery is not. If the same battery is inserted directly into the camera, it'll show fully charged.

Mine happened to be one of the bad ones.
The reason I rate 1 star is because Opteka's service. They do not respond to my email request even though I still have 8 more months of warranty.

To be fair to Opteka, I also heard of similar problem with Canon's. But I am sure their after-sales is more responsive.

The grip has a nice look and feel to it. It is very useable for handholding and makes portrait orientation much better. The controls are laid out nicely and function as expected. The grip adds some needed bulk to the camera and gives it better handling for handheld use. If you shoot handheld and feel that the 350D is a bit small, then I suggest that you will really like the grip. For tripod use it is a mixed bag (see below for details). I did encounter two issues with this grip, which may or may not be a problem for someone.

1) When using AA batteries, I found that Ni-MH batteries show half power on the camera's bettery indicator. I don't know if Alkaline cells do this, but suspect it is because the grip accepts both Ni-MH and Alkaline, which have different voltages. The grip may favor the higher voltage of the Alkaline cell. This shouldn't be a problem because one would generally use AA cells only as a backup.

2) There is a small bit of flex between the grip and the camera body. This is not noticed when shooting handheld, but I found it annoying when shooting on a tripod. When using a lens with a tripod mount this was a non-issue because the lens is supporting the camera. However, when the camera is mounted on the tripod it is noticeable and makes the system feel less solid. This is probably more so with a larger and heavier lens. I was using the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8, which weighs in at about 20 oz.