Product Description

BG-E4 BATTERY GRIP F/ EOS 5D NS

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #45750 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Canon
• Model: 0297B001AA
• Dimensions: .71 pounds

Manufacturer's Description
Canon is a leader in professional business and consumer imaging equipment and information systems. By developing innovative, high-quality business solutions Canon makes it easy to create, manage, and share images and information better, faster, and more efficiently.

Customer Reviews

Very useful add-on
I have had a BG-E4 for some time now, and it is very useful. As well as the ability to carry two battery packs it also has an additional shutter release and input wheel positioned for use with the camera in a vertical position. The additional controls are, IMO, more important than the battery options.
It attaches with a bolt that screws into the tripod socket, and has a part that goes up inside the handgrip of the camera in place of the original battery. Despite being attached by just one screw it seems pretty solid and I've never felt that it might come loose. There is a neat storage space for the battery compartment lid, which is a good detail otherwise that lid is likely to be lost.
The only issue I have is that the grip is quite large and square. This is necessary if it is to hold 2 BP511s or 6 AAs, but it does make it less sculptured than it could be to fit the hand. In some ways a slightly smaller version which held only 1 or 2 BP511s (without the AA option) might be nice as the BP511s might be able to go length wise and make the grip a little slimmer. However... that is how it is. The point is, I suppose, if you have small hands it might be worth trying this grip for fit and and feel. I have fairly large hands and so the issue is not that important, and I would not be without this battery grip.

Turn your 5D into a tank
I bought this without first inspecting it when I was buying my 5D. Mistake. I did this based on previous experiences with other Canon camera battery grips but am a little disappointed with this accessory due to the simple fact that it is very large.

I have quite large hands but the grip really is a significant size, required in order to house the two large batteries used by the 5D. Having so much juice stored in your camera is very handy, particularly when travelling but realistically, is it really that tricky just to carry a spare battery, it would certainly take up less space overall.

The additional shutter release button is the main reason for my purchase and given that this is the only battery grip available I am still happy with the purchase in so much that I would rather have one than not. I just wish that it was slightly more streamlined like some of its predecssors.

My advice, test before you jump in headfirst and if you can live without the additional shutter release button then question why you really need this add on.

Big & Beautiful...
The key advantages that this offers are...

Double the battery capacity of the standard 5D
Additional shutter and selection wheel controls for shots taken in portrait rather than ladscape orientation.

The key disadvantages are...

Additional weight
Additional bulk - makes the camera a little unwieldy (particularly for thos with small hands)

The battery grip is a very useful addition to the 5D *IF* you regularly undertake long shoots where stopping to swap batteries would be either inconvenient or would mean that you miss shots, or if you regularly use the camera in portrait orientation. I find that using the camera with a battery grip, I can shoot an entire wedding without needing to swap batteries.

Personally, I have a battery grip on all of my cameras and find the benefits outweigh the negative aspects (this is also helped by the fact that I have big hands and the additional bulk & weight makes the camera feel more comfortable in my hands). As suggested by one of the other reviewers, it may well be worthwhile finding somewhere that you can have a play with this prior to purchase.