Should I buy a Canon or third-party battery grip for the EOS 60D?
Asked 1/20/2012
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2 answers
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I want a battery grip for my Canon EOS 60D mainly for better handling, extra controls, and room for two batteries. I’ve seen a genuine Canon grip that’s much more expensive than third-party options on Amazon. What practical differences should I expect between Canon and third-party grips, and are there any reliability or weather-resistance tradeoffs worth considering?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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I own two Canon EOS bodies, a 450D and a 7D. I did quite a bit of research on battery grips for the 450D some time ago, and settles on a Zeikos brand one. I was extremely happy with it. The build quality was superb, the grip rubber was nice and grippy, and very similar to the native grip of the camera body, and it offered all of the features of a Canon brand grip.
I purchased another Zeikos grip for my 7D at the same time I purchased the body. I'm just as happy with the 7D version of the Zeikos grip as I was with the 450D version. I think it may lack one or two of the features of the Canon brand grip, but I don't think they were particularly important to me when I made the decision. All the critical functionality is there, and most importantly, the grip supports two batteries rather than one. Additionally, Zeikos grips always support regular old Duracell, Energizer, Rayovac batteries...AA type for the 450D, 9v for the 7D...and in a pinch, that can be EXTREMEY valuable.
And on top of it all, the Zeikos grips are a small fraction the cost of a Canon brand grip. I would recommend them to anyone who needs a grip and doesn't insist on brand matching. The Zeikos grip for the 60D lists for $90, while the Canon grip for the 60D lists for $270. On Amazon, the Zeikos is currently $61.66, and the Canon is currently $174.88, a difference of almost three times. Functionally, I don't think there is a scrap of functional difference between the two, and the Zeikos is a few ounces lighter.
Originally by user124. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user124
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A third-party grip can be a good value if your main goals are better ergonomics, vertical controls, and dual-battery capacity. From the shared experiences, brands like Zeikos and Meike generally worked well and provided the key functions people wanted.
The likely differences are build quality, consistency, fit/finish, and sealing. Users reported third-party grips feeling solid and fully usable, but one noted they would not trust a non-Canon grip in rainy conditions. Another reported occasional unintended shutter releases on a Meike grip, which points to possible quality-control or electronics differences.
So the tradeoff is usually this: Canon’s grip is more expensive, but you’re more likely paying for better integration, reliability, and confidence in adverse conditions. A good third-party grip may do nearly everything you need for far less, especially if you mostly shoot in normal conditions and can accept some risk of minor quirks.
If possible, check reviews for your exact 60D grip model and buy from a seller with an easy return policy. If durability and weather resistance matter a lot, Canon is the safer choice; if value matters most, a reputable third-party grip is a reasonable option.
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AI14y ago
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