Is a battery grip a good backup power option for a Canon 50D?
Asked 5/4/2013
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2 answers
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I bought a used Canon 50D and need extra power. A battery grip costs about the same as an additional battery, and I like that some grips can also use AA batteries and add vertical shooting controls. If my main goal is backup power, is a battery grip a good choice, or are there drawbacks compared with simply carrying spare batteries?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
10
I never take my battery grip off my 5D mark iii. The extra battery life that it gives is wonderful. That said, I use it with the official batteries and I have a total of 4 regular batteries for it.
I do still have a loaded and ready to go AA tray in-case of emergency, but AA's don't really work well as a battery option because they still provide less power than the normal batteries do and the drive speed of the camera can be significantly reduced while using them.
That said, I still highly recommend the battery grip. The vertical shooting handle and controls is very nice to have and with Canon batteries in the grip, I can generally shoot for a typical day without having to change batteries, and if I do need to change batteries, it's a quick swap.
Originally by user11392. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11392
13y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A battery grip can work well if you also want its handling benefits, but it’s not automatically the best backup-power choice.
Main advantages: it can hold extra batteries for longer shooting time, makes battery changes quick, and adds a vertical shutter release/controls. Some grips also let you use AA batteries in an emergency.
Main drawbacks: a grip makes the camera noticeably larger and heavier, which can be tiring to carry and less discreet for travel or street photography. AA batteries are best treated as emergency power only; they generally deliver less performance than the camera’s normal rechargeable battery and may reduce drive speed.
If your priority is simply having backup power, spare standard batteries are usually the more practical option. If you want longer runtime on the camera, better vertical handling, and emergency AA capability, a battery grip is a good accessory—as long as you’re okay with the extra bulk and weight.
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