Opteka Battery Pack Grip / Vertical Shutter Release for Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi & Rebel XT with 2 NB-2LH Batteries
by Opteka
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List Price: Category: Digital Camera See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Opteka Battery Pack Grip / Vertical Shutter Release for Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi & Rebel XT with 2 NB-2LH Batteries
Customer Review: Battery Pack Grip Canon Digital Rebel
Summary: 4 Stars
I am pleased with the additional surface area that this battery grip provides me with to hold the camera. The camera felt too small/awkward before. Added battery life is one less headache too. I'm glad there is a screw hole in the bottom of it so I can still attach it to my tripod without having to disassemble the battery pack to access the original screw hole.
It is easy to use the battery pack buttons to adjust and take pictures.
One issue, however, is my tendency, when taking vertical pictures, to curl my finger in front of my flash. I have remember to put my finger elsewhere.
A second issue is that I bought a Nikon AH-4 leather handgrip so I could hold the camera without being paranoid it was going to slip out of my hand. With this handgrip on I cannot use the vertical shutter release because it is obstructed. And the handgrip doesn't snap on/off quickly. I prefer the security of the handgrip to the vertical shutter release capability.
Finally, I also have the rubber "Camera Armor" skin that fits snugly over my Canon Digital Rebel Xti. (This armor is my second safety feature --I have never owned a camera I didn't drop.) This skin fits great on the camera, but not when you use the battery pack grip. I had use my hobby knife and make some serious cutbacks so I could still use this skin with the battery pack grip.
Despite these issues the battery grip is well worth it, especially at this price.
Customer Review: Works as advertised
Summary: 4 Stars
Seems good so far. Instructions might seem a bit sparse for some, but there's not much to it. Do make sure you turn on the battery pack before turning on the camera, or the camera may lock up. It's also OK to leave the grip switched off, but you'll not have use of its buttons. The camera does get power from the batteries in this case so it's workable. Quality seems a little brittle but the armor helps to dampen the feel. Screwed it on tight and all's well. Overall pleased.
additional note: i've just now had to switch out the batteries for a recharge after 800 shots. i didn't count the number of shots on the first charge but it was probably similar. it's on the AA battery pack now. reloading is quick and easy... if you believe you'll need to do it quickly, practice a bit and make sure that the tab is out, in the new set, so the tray slides in all the way.
edit: after nearly two years in service, it's still going strong. i've been quite pleased with most every aspect of this unit except minor nits like the vinyl or rubber texturing tearing. but this has powered 10,000 photos, been on several domestic and a couple international trips, been in light rain, and it's still working exactly as well as day one. i never turn it off, and would recommend you do the same. i'm eager to buy the one for the t2i, whenever it's released.
Customer Review: Stop Looking At This, And Click BUY NOW. Really.
Summary: 5 Stars
Seriously. read this and buy it. if you have an XT or an XTI, you really really want one of these. i didn't think i needed one, but i got my tax return and decided that based upon the reviews here, i'd check it out, and see if it lived up to the hype. i've been shooting for about a year, and i'm just starting to get the hang of it. i have a 20D at work, for which we bought the canon branded battery grip(also awesome). this 3rd party grip is NO different, in my opinion. it has the same function, and is only missing the canon logo. the fit is perfect, aesthetically. it fits every nook, cranny, and looks all kinds of professional. the battery inserts are great and easy. the vertical shutter release is amazing, and i don't know how i lived without it. i'll never not use this product. i shoot handbags a lot, and the vertical controls let you change the focus point on the fly, which is super handy. honestly, this product is perfect, and you really really should be buying this for your XT or XTI. it'll change the way you shoot. NOTE: to get the battery cover off your XTI, open the door and look for the tiny phillips head screw on the swivel part of the door. push this to the side with a small flathead or something, and the door comes right off. this was the only challenge i faced in installing it. the battery door fits right in the battery grip.Customer Review: Got what I paid for. . .
Summary: 1 Stars
I knew the chance I was taking when I purchased this item. I knew people had experienced some problems with it but the majority of reviews were good. So I decided to give it a try. I should have known better.
The first time I tried to take a shot the camera just died like the plug was pulled.
I thought.. . "Huh, maybe my batteries were dead. . ." Then I remembered, "Noooo. . just charged them (they were both canon batteries)."
It took me 5 minutes to get the camera to power back up with the grip on. So a little experimenting led me to discover that the battery compartment does not fit snugly into the holster and if it moves even a little bit the grip looses contact with it and the camera looses all power. Peace of c. ..
So now I'll have to pack back up the batteries it came with and pack back up the grip and somehow convince the company I bought it from to give me a refund. Considering how long it took for them to remember to send the grip out to me to begin with I'm not expecting this to be a fast process.
So for anyone who is considering this. . proceed with caution. And don't be surprised if you are the next review saying "I should have known better".
I'll stick with Canon from now on. I WAS warned.
Customer Review: Solid Value
Summary: 5 Stars
I was significantly concerned about ordering this item, and, as you can tell by my overall rating, am pleasantly shocked. This thing, even though it is made entirely of plastic, feels solid and well constructed. The removable battery compartment locks in place firmly and a hand wheel screws into the camera's tripod socket. Once installed and tightened the camera is significantly heavier, but the whole unit feels solid and is very pleasant to use. Nothing rattles, or bends, or creates an uneasy feeling. The tripod socket repeats at the bottom of the battery grip, so all of it is usable on a standard tripod. Yea! The controls on the battery grip itself are a nice touch, but situated in such a way that they are only pleasant to use when the camera is vertical (in portrait). Any other time, a slider switch turns the battery grip controls off, so that buttons don't get pushed accidentally. What a nice touch! This thing is well thought out. Even the outer surface is not just plain plastic, but feels rubbery and provides a firm grip when the whole unit is lifted by the pack handle. It even includes its own wrist strap mount. The battery compartment comes in two flavours: One fits 6 AA batteries. Hello NiMH rechargables, and 15-minute chargers!!! The other fits two 2LH batteries, providing the