Opteka Battery Pack Grip / Vertical Shutter Release for Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS, XSi and T1i with 2 LP-E5 Batteries (3600 mAh Total)
by Opteka
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: OptekaModel: OPT-BG-XSI-KIT
Product features:
- 2 Ultra-High Capacity mAh LP-E5 Batteries included
- Vertical shutter release also makes shooting with the camera in a vertical position just as comfortable as shooting horizontal
- Buttons for AE lock, AF point selector, aperture value, shutter, and mail dial
- Increases functionality and convenience
- 1 year warranty
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Opteka Battery Pack Grip / Vertical Shutter Release for Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS, XSi and T1i with 2 LP-E5 Batteries (3600 mAh Total)
Customer Review: Started out as "wow", ended up as "do yourself a favor and skip it"
Summary: 2 Stars
Inital review (follow up a year later below):
First let me say I'm a skeptic. I really never like believing what I read unless I can read it in many different places. For product reviews I like to hear it from reasonably independent sources like magazines that test product. When I bought my first Canon DSLR in December 2005 I bought the Digital Rebel XT. I quickly found I was running out of battery life while shooting photos of my kid's ski team (downhill racing, often in 20°F or colder weather). I researched it and ended up buying Canon's battery grip and another Canon battery. I was and am absolutely satisfied with Canon's product. It's been VERY solid and reliable and has lasted through ~50,000 photos in just about 4 years.
I just upgraded to the new Canon T1i camera and knew I'd need another battery grip, but after remembering and confirming what the Canon grip costs when combined with additional Canon batteries [...]based on Amazon pricing today) and combined with the almost universal glowing reviews here I decided to give the Opteka a try.
While I've not had a chance to really hammer the batteries to see if they last as long as the Canon OEM, the grip itself is ABSOLUTELY perfect. Its look and feel is at least equal to the BG-E3 for the Rebel XT and the overall impression is the Opteka is a solidly built product well worth ANY T1i owner's consideration. I'll be dragging the T1i onto many ski slopes over the winter months and just can't afford to have a cheap imitation on my camera. The Opteka is certainly NOT a cheap imitation. Some have said this unit is made in the same factory as Canon's and while I don't see that mentioned on [...]site, I can certainly believe it given it's look, feel, and design.
The only thing that isn't good with this battery grip is the plastic covers the manual says are designed to prevent shorting of the batteries if the unit is stored out of the grip do not stay in place like the ones for the BG-E3 do. I'll just store it in a snack-size zip-lock bag to prevent that.
One other thing, the batteries that come with this do NOT come with protective covers so if you store them outside the grip you should take care not to short the contacts or get dirt on them. I'll just store them in separate snack-size zip-lock bags as well. Small price to pay for such a high quality product at such a fair price.
Finally, Opteka's site shows excellent prices on lenses and filters. At those prices, reflected here at Amazon, I think I may just give Opteka other chances to continue to prove to me they make great products at reasonable prices.
Well just about a year has past and I've been through 2 of these under warranty. The first had the tripod mount screw come loose from the grip making the use of a tripod impossible. 47th Street had me buy a new unit and send the old one back for credit. The 2nd unit came and two things are wrong. First, the fit/finish of the 2nd unit is NO WHERE near the quality of the first unit. The "glued" on rubber antislip sections were coming off when I took it out of the box. No amount of rubber cement would hold it in place.
Second, when the Opteka battery grip is in the "on" position (enabling the vertical camera controls) the camera's controls no longer work. I know they are supposed to work because 1) they work on the BG-E3 on a previous Canon worked, and 2) the original Opteka battery grip allowed them to work.
I decided to cut my losses and buy the Canon BG-E5. It is of much higher quality in both fit and finish AND both the grip's and camera body's controls work while the Canon grip is "on". Do youself a favour and buy the Canon grip. Yes, it's a bit more than double the price but in this case you get what you pay for. Granted I've only owned the Canon BG-E5 for a short time, but given my past experience with an almost 6 year old BG-E3 I expect the E5 to last as long. Multiple Optekas didn't make it past a year.
More Opteka Battery Pack Grip / Vertical Shutter Release for Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS, XSi and T1i with 2 LP-E5 Batteries (3600 mAh Total) reviews:
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Description of Opteka Battery Pack Grip / Vertical Shutter Release for Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS, XSi and T1i with 2 LP-E5 Batteries (3600 mAh Total)
Opteka is proud to be allowed to use the same factory and mold as Canon uses for their BG-E5. Opteka is one of the world's leading producers of high-performance batteries and accessories. Opteka believes there is no limit to the potential of portable power, and as a company they will always strive to find innovative and efficient ways to power your life in the future! The Opteka BG-RXS holds 6 AA Batteries or 2 LP-E5 batteries. This provides a extremely extended shooting time. The vertical shutter release also makes shooting with the camera in a vertical position just as comfortable as shooting horizontally. Compatible with the Canon Digital Rebel XS, XSi, and T1i (450D, 500D & 1000D) SLR's only. This package includes 2 LP-E5 Batteries for Maximum shooting time.Digital Camera Accessories
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