What Is A Battery Grip And 4 Reasons You Should Be Using One

A battery grip is an accessory that mounts to your camera and holds another battery.

Here is what a battery grip looks like attached to a DSLR camera:

Table of Contents

• What Does A Battery Grip Do?
• 4 Reasons You Should Use A Battery Grip
  • 1 – Ergonomics
  • 2 – Battery Life
  • 3 – Portrait Shooting
  • 4 – Additional Capabilities
    • Strap Mounting Point
    • Alternative Power Source
    • Side Battery Access
• Disadvantages Of Battery Grips
  • Can Cost A Pretty Penny
  • Increased Size
  • Increased Weight
• Battery Grip Tips & Tricks
  • GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR BATTERY GRIP
    • Single Battery Mode
    • Four Battery Setup
    • Remove Your QR Plates

What Does A Battery Grip Do?

The main two features of a battery grip are that it allows the use of two batteries at once and also acts as a portrait shooting grip. Hence “battery grip”, also just referred to as a “grip”.

Battery grips increase the overall size of the camera body, giving it a larger square shape. For Canon DSLR users, adding a battery grip essentially turns your camera into a 1DX Pro body. Well, at least it will make you feel like you have one. 

Let’s get into why these grips are so useful, and why almost all camera manufacturers offer these for their camera bodies. After reading this, you’ll know why this is the standard form factor for the pro-level $5k+ cameras!

We’re going to reference the Canon 6D Mark II & Battery Grip BG-E21 throughout this article, but these advantages apply to almost all grips! 

If you are considering purchasing the BG-E21, check out our in-depth review.

4 Reasons You Should Use A Battery Grip

1 – Ergonomics

If you feel that your DSLR or mirrorless camera is slightly uncomfortable to hold or causes your fingers to hurt after an hour or so of shooting, a battery grip would certainly help.

The battery grip extends the surface where your right hand rests, allowing more room for your fingers to spread the load across the camera. This results in a much more ergonomic holding position, with a larger area for your palm to rest too.

This is not necessarily only for people with large hands. My hands aren’t especially large and they always used to hurt when using my entry-level Canon EOS T2i for long periods of time.

I could not shoot without my hand cramping up after an hour or so. Simply upgrading to a larger mid-level DSLR felt much better because of the increased surface area to hold. Now, using a battery grip, I have another level of increased comfort that my current camera alone doesn’t have.

Longer and heavier lenses can also be difficult to handle with the bare body.

Your left hand under the lens certainly does more of the tilting and pivoting. However, the larger holding area with a battery grip now allows you to have a little more leverage with meaty lenses.

This splits the workload between your hands more evenly so your left hand isn’t left with all of the weight.

2 – Battery Life

My favorite advantage of using a battery grip is the allowed use of two batteries, effectively doubling the camera’s battery life!

Most DSLRs have pretty impressive single-battery performance. Some might say this is a reason to not use a battery grip, but doubling battery life is always a very welcome feature in my book.

This becomes a huge advantage anywhere battery life is of concern (when is it not!?).

This could help with shooting an all-day event that doesn’t allow much downtime, or simply letting your camera record a longer time-lapse video.

A dual battery setup on a camera that already has superior power performance really makes a camera feel like it has an infinite power supply.

3 – Portrait Shooting

Battery grips come with dedicated controls for shooting in portrait mode. This includes the main few buttons used by your index finger and thumb.

For my Canon grip, these controls include the shutter release, main index dial, AF selection button, AF-ON button, AE Lock button, and thumb AF selection button.

If you find yourself accidentally pressing any of these buttons, there is an On/Off feature for most grips. This switch activates and deactivates the buttons, it doesn’t affect anything with the actual batteries in the grip.

The vertical controls allow you to have the comfort of using a normal handheld shooting position when taking vertical photos. You don’t have to awkwardly rotate your hands anymore, just rotate the camera.

It’s especially helpful that many of the controls are duplicated in this position, so there is nothing foreign about shooting in portrait mode. Your muscle memory will feel right at home.

A side effect of the less awkward shooting position is actually being able to achieve desired portrait mode composition.

I don’t know about you, but when I typically rotate my hands to shoot vertically, my horizons are almost always skewed. Because you are using a normal shooting position for vertical shots with a grip, your composure is much less likely to be affected.

4 – Additional Capabilities

The last reason is actually a bunch of little reasons that don’t really get discussed often but are certainly important benefits0.

Strap Mounting Point

First, battery grips come with a strap mounting point that allows a side-hand strap to be used. Side straps hold your palm snug onto the camera, and enhance your hold on the camera without having to do much gripping with your fingers.

Without a battery grip, the tripod screw would have to be used to attach this type of strap, which then strips you of tripod plate functionality. A side strap with a battery grip is a heavenly hold on a camera as long as you’re okay with the increased weight.

Alternative Power Source

This next feature can be a game changer. Some battery grips allow the use of AA batteries instead of your camera’s native batteries!

This is an incredible advantage that can easily save you if you’re in a power pinch. AA batteries are so universal that most people have some lying around the house.

Also, so universal that you most likely have other gear in your camera bag that use them, such as flashes or radio triggers. Your extra set of AA batteries in your camera bag can now help you power your DSLR.  

Without an AA-capable battery grip, you’re done shooting when your batteries die.

Side Battery Access

This last point is more minor but still worth mentioning.

Battery grips have a tray or “magazine” that holds the two batteries. Instead of the single battery being inserted from the bottom, the magazine is inserted from one side of the battery grip.

This allows the batteries to be replaced while the camera is upright. It doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it’s convenient when you’re mounted on a tripod or if you have a large base plate attached to your camera that would normally obstruct the battery door.

Disadvantages Of Battery Grips

Now I have to admit, as much as I love battery grips, they do have some downsides. As with anything good, there is a trade-off.

Can Cost A Pretty Penny

First off, the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) models are very expensive. You do get what you pay for though.

The build quality and materials will be superior to third-party options. Button feedback and textures on an OEM grip will be near identical to the camera itself and will feel like a natural extension.

If you’re tight on a budget, try out third-party options and see how you like it. If you are fine with the third-party build quality and function, you just saved a ton of cash.

Here’s an example of the cost trade-off with OEM vs. third-party brands. 

At the time of writing, this BG-E21 battery grip is going for $199. The Neewer version below that only goes for $46 at the time of writing. Pretty big cost swing.

Increased Size

Battery grips are comfortable due to their larger size, but the large size is not a plus in every way.

If you originally chose a bag that was sized perfectly for your camera’s profile, then the installed battery grip won’t like the confined vertical space and may not fit.

My grip adds about 1.75” of height to the camera, which is pretty significant. You can always remove the grip, but the process of removing and re-installing your battery door can be annoying.

Increased Weight

Now comes the main enemy of battery grips: the increased weight.

My 6D Mark II body and one battery weigh about 1.7 lbs. The added battery grip with two batteries is about 2.7 lbs in total. That’s almost a 60% increase in weight without a lens!

Anyone who tells you a pound isn’t a big difference with handheld shooting over a long period of time has not shot handheld for a long period of time.

With that being said, the real question is: does the added hold comfort outweigh the increased weight discomfort? The best way to find out is to head to your local camera shop and try one out.

Everyone will have a different experience, so the best way to find out what you prefer is to experience it yourself.

Battery Grip Tips & Tricks

Even with these downsides, I still highly recommend battery grips as the numerous features can let you shoot longer, more comfortably, and generally be more efficient with composition changes.

If you do plan on getting a grip, I have some tips and tricks that will help you get the best experience.

GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR BATTERY GRIP

Single Battery Mode

If you like the ergonomics but aren’t a huge fan of the increased weight, use the battery grip with only one battery installed.

On my 6D Mark II, the weight increase goes from +60% with both batteries to +47% with only one battery. This is pretty much the only way to shave off some weight while maintaining all functionality, and it might just make a difference for you.

Four Battery Setup

Have four batteries in total in your camera bag. Keep two in your grip, and keep two charged up in your camera bag. This way you can swap out a full dead magazine with a complete set of freshly charged batteries. Keep the long life going!

Remove Your QR Plates

If you’re like me, your tripod quick-release plate lives on your camera. However, if you plan to utilize the portrait orientation grip handheld, I highly recommend removing your tripod plate from the grip.

I use the Manfrotto 200PL quick-release plate, and when it’s attached to the grip, portrait shooting mode ergonomics go out the window. Your palm ends up resting on a metal protruding plate rather than the smooth face of the grip itself.

This is not only uncomfortable for your palm, but it distances your fingers from all of the dedicated vertical controls. Do yourself a favor when you plan on shooting handheld vertically, and remove your tripod plate.

If you made it this far, I hope you learned something today and can make a better-informed decision on whether a battery grip is right for you! Again, the best way to find out what works best for you is to try it out for yourself. Happy shooting!