I got one from Hong Kong via Ebay for $95 delivered to my door including 2 battery's. I use it a 50D for the past 12 months. It has never missed a beat. In a nut shell best $100 spent.
GM
Many buy non genuine and seem to have great success. I have 2, the one on my 450D is non genuine, the one on my 50D is a genuine Canon. There is no comparison, the genuine one beats the non genuine hands down. The non genuine started playing up firstly with the shutter button, now the roller wheel. Personally, I'd never buy non genuine again no matter how many times I was told the cheaper versions are just as good. That is just my personal experience anyway.
Lloyd
Canon 5D2+40D+L+Σ+S100
Never make the same mistake twice, there are so many new ones, try a different one each day
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My 2c - I'd go for the genuine
I've had 2 non genuine grips on my d700... But I now have the mb-d10, I'd never go back to the non genuine now, the mb d10 I find much more comfy than the other 2 I had
Living the dream...
good tips
Be happy, life is beautiful, even through a humble point and shoot camera
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I have had a cheap e-bay grip on my 400d for well over 30,000 actuations and have never had a problem.
Keith.
Was going to buy the non Canon grip ($100 - $150 ish), but shopped around and got the gen unit for $150.00 from my local pro camera shop. It functions like you would want, buttons and wheels do what they should, came with AA battery craddle aswell. Go the Gen and dont look back. With the two Camera batteries, it lasts and lasts.
They call me "Blue" it's a red head thing.
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Canon Bodies - 1DMk2N + 50D - Lenses - 17-35mm F2.8 L - 24-70mm F2.8 L - 70-200mm F2.8 L - 300mm F4 IS L - Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 - Sigma 10-20mm - DJI Mavic Pro Platinum
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I bought a non gen Canon grip on ebay from China (isn't that where everything is made??) & never had a prob with it...paid $35 & that included postage...rather spend my money on genuine Canon L lenses quite frankly. Oh & I managed to get 6 batteries non-gen for $1.99 each including post, had them all nearly a year & they are fab no problems at all.
Last edited by Gemini2261; 27-11-2010 at 12:11pm.
guys just remember that if the camera is weather sealed/resistant ala the 50D, 40D, 5D2 etc - a non genuine grip will not provide the same sealing as an official Canon one, something to keep in mind if you are in rugged areas and conditions.
The fastest way to a man's heart is through his chest with a sharp knife
Canon 50D, Tamron 70-200 f/2.8, A very bright light, EF 50 f1.8, Tamron 17-50 f2.8
no the 40D, 50D, 5D2 and so on do offer weather sealing but not as comprehensive as a 1D body - its more so referred to as environmental sealing, much better resistant to dust and water etc to other models but not on the same level as the 1.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/CanonEOS50D/page31.asp
Do you know the subtle difference between a BG2 and BG2N grip for Canon?Like its predecessors the 50D sports a well built magnesium body that now features improved environmental sealing. Canon has also had more than eight years to optimize the camera's handling and it's done a good job.
If so, Canon sould not advertise their (N) grip as weather proof/resistant, thats why I went that path "Canon Battery Grip BG-E2N
Battery Grip BG-E2N accommodates an additional BP-511A battery pack for extended shooting time without re-charging. The BG-E2N also has increased dust and water-resistance on the battery compartment's cover for added durability."
Compatible with the following Canon DSLR cameras:
EOS-20D / 30D / 40D / 50D
I surpose "Weather Resistance" is their wording of choice.
Yup, thats why I asked you, refer to roosta's post above. You DO NOT LOSE any weather/environmental sealing once you add a grip - as long as the grip is still sealed ala the BG2N and the screw is tightly compressed it offers the same protection. Otherwise what is the point of Canon releasing an N model???????
Same reason a 580EXII exists over the original 580EX, its sealed, amongs some other changes.
Some combat correspondents and journalists in my field have used the 5D2 and grip to great effects in the Middle East attached to operational units in the field for filming and docos, and the SEALING protection of the 5D2 and grip makes it last just a little bit more longer than something without it. This was before the 1D4 came about, and now most have switched over to that due to a better all round sealing protection.
I dont know why you would argue otherwise when it is pretty well known that cameras such as 40/50D/5D2 offers a level of sealing protection - same for their accommodating grips.
Back that opinion up please.You lose any weather/environmental sealing once you add a grip
http://canonfieldreviews.com/7d-1-weather-sealing/
Oh look, its a 7D with a battery grip on it and covered in snow! Pretty sure the photographer there didnt lose any sealing when he was using the battery grip.
Quoting said photographer:
Oh look, the 5D2 has sealingThe big surprise was the 5D Mark II. I used this camera as hard as (but not as much) the 7D and it performed superbly. I didn´t use any protection from rain or snow. The camera was used without the battery grip, which might have helped. The 5D Mark II has been on 2 expeditions to Svalbard (Arctic – 80° North) and one recent expedition to Antarctica without problems, so the weather sealing is robust enough for most conditions.
I'd be happy to post up recent pics of my 5D2 performing in the Gobi deserts in Mongolia with a lot of dust and sand debris flying around, with a grip too.
Last edited by JM Tran; 27-11-2010 at 8:07pm.
I am not sure of the internal electrical risks. One would presume it would pretty hard to short out the camera, from a grip, but I would rather have the real article at this end of proceedings. Historically, and I am happy to be corrected, some old flash guns when connected to a hot shoe did awful things. Yeah - so I would be a touch careful as to what I was attaching to an expensive bit of kit. I by some 35dollar bits, but not much, and things attached to the camera are generally things designed for them by teh manufacturer or recognised thrid party purveyors.
Berni
""The most important piece of camera equipment you will ever own sits between your ears...."
From my understanding those old flashes use a high voltage when they trigger, they were designed for old technology film cameras. I had to measure my sigma st flash before I put it on my 50D.
But those third party grips are only providing the voltage coming from the batteries that were designed for that specific camera so the danger of the grip frying the camera seems very very low.