Vertical Grips for Digital SLR Cameras
Last Update: 24 October 2007
Nearly every current digital SLR on the market uses Li-Ion battery packs, with the exception being models from Pentax/Samsung. Looking only at the size issue, it would seem that digital SLRs would be a good fit for AA batteries since the size constraints are not as severe as with compact and ultra-compact models. However there are compelling reasons why digital SLRs are especially ill-suited to AA batteries, including energy density, usage patterns, reliability, gauging, and the power consumption of more powerful built in flash units and the power consumption of the larger motorized lenses.
Unless you are leveraging a large collection of compatible lenses, avoid any digital SLR that does not use Li-Ion battery packs in the body. In order to use Li-Ion packs on a Pentax, you must purchase an after-market vertical grip which enables the camera to use a wide variety of Li-Ion battery packs, or twelve AA batteries. While the vertical grip is a great accessory, it's not something that you probably want to leave attached to the camera all the time.
Many Li-Ion powered digital SLRs can use AA batteries in the optional vertical grip attachment. This is a good solution for those that feel more comfortable when it is possible to use AA batteries in a pinch. Vertical grips are such a popular accessory that even when the camera manufacturer doesn't have the resources to develop one, the after-market is quick to step in and fill the demand. The AA batteries are inserted into a tray which slides into the grip. This eliminates one of the major drawbacks of AA batteries, where the fragile battery door is part of the circuit.
Note that professional level cameras, which are sold only by Canon and Nikon, always have an integrated vertical grip because no self-respecting professional would ever remove the vertical grip if it were separate.
Vertical Grip List (for non-OEM grips I have included a link when available). Only grips that can take both AA and Li-Ion batteries and that can operate the shutter are listed. Some after-market grips use a cable to control the shutter when no connection is available in the battery compartment of the camera. There are grips available that are solely battery grips and that do not provide a shutter release, but these are not listed.
Canon
● 20D: BG-E2 (six
AA or two BP511) or
DX-FBH-C1 (after-market) (twelve AA or a wide variety
of Li-Ion packs)
● 30D: BG-E2 (six
AA or two BP511) or
DX-FBH-C1 (after-market) (twelve AA or a wide variety
of Li-Ion packs)
● 40D: BG-E2N
(also works on 20D and 30D) (six AA or two BP511)
● XT (350D), XTi
(400D): BG-E3 (six AA or two NB-2LH) or
DX-FBH-C2 (after-market) (twelve AA or a wide variety
of Li-Ion packs)
● 5D: BG-E4
(six AA or two BP511) or
DX-FBH-C1 (after-market) (twelve AA or a wide variety
of Li-Ion packs)
Nikon
● D70:
HVPG-D70
(after-market) (six AA) and
DX-FBH-N1 (after-market) (twelve AA or a wide variety
of Li-Ion packs)
● D80: MB-D80
(six AA or two EN-EL3e) and
DX-FBH-N3 (after-market) (twelve AA or a wide variety
of Li-Ion packs)
● D200: MB-D200
(six AA or two EN-EL3e) or
DX-FBH-N2 (after-market) (twelve AA or a wide variety
of Li-Ion packs)
● D300: MB-D10
(eight AA or two EN-EL3e)
Note: there are no grips for the D40/D40x or D50 that can operate the shutter. If you think that you will ever want a vertical grip then do not buy the Nikon D40/D40x
Pentax
● K100D:
DX-FBH-P2 (after-market) (twelve AA or a wide variety
of Li-Ion packs)
● K10D:
DX-BH-P3 (after-market) (twelve AA or a wide variety of
Li-Ion packs). The Pentax BG-2 grip does not support AA batteries.
●
istD-S/L:
FBH-P1
(after-market) (twelve AA or a wide variety of Li-Ion packs)
Olympus
●
E500:
DX-FBH-O2
(after-market) (twelve AA or a wide variety of Li-Ion packs)
●
E510:
DX-FBH-O3
(after-market) (twelve AA or a wide variety of Li-Ion packs)
●
E330:
DX-FBH-O1
(after-market) (twelve AA or a wide variety of Li-Ion packs)
Sony
● A100: DX-FBH-S1 (after-market) (twelve AA or a wide variety of Li-Ion packs)
Fuji
● S5 Pro DX-FBH-N2 (after-market) (twelve AA or a wide variety of Li-Ion packs)
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