Buying aftermarket accessories

[birrew]

Hi all

I'm looking to buy a battery grip for my canon 550D after a friend recommended it to help taking portrait photo's but I'm wonder if its ok to buy Aftermarket accessories or I'm better to buy a genuine canon one?

Thanks

 

[Nod]

First, try a camera with a grip fitted - some people (myself included) don't get on with it at all, how hard is it to cock your wrist for a few seconds? Aftermarkey ones seem to get good press, while IIRC, some of the genuine Canon ones have problems with the grip rfusing to unscrew from the body - the plastic thumb wheel disintegrates (again, IIRC). I've used 3rd party batteries in my D70, D200 and compacts wit no problems BUT I would avoid e-Bay sourced ones like the plague, unless you know the company selling them well.

 

[Oscellaris]

I have the BG-E8 on my 650d and it's been fine for the last 4 months with no issues whatsoever.

The batteries I use in the grip are Hahnel found on Amazon and half the price of Jessops.

 

[birrew]

Ave held one with a grip fitted and it felt ok but didn't take any photo's with it and the weight difference isn't major so I can cope with that

the reason I ask is that as a fan of car as well I have had problems using 3rd party part on car and didn't know if I would have problems or not

I'm weary of Ebay anyway would rather using Amazon for this kind of thing, seen a battery grip at £25 for 3rd party one but the canon one is £110

 

[Oscellaris]

I saw the cheaper models too but a tog friend of mine told me to avoid Ebay owing to cheap chinese copies etc.

Tbh I didn't find the £109 I paid too bad when compared to lens prices etc.

 

[birrew]

yeah I normally buy things out of shops within the UK that way I have some come back if there are any problems

 

[Pmc2011]

normally with the aftermarket stuff its life that you sacrifice i.e it wont last as long as the canon version, there are some great examples of aftermarket models working better or equal to the canon counter parts. for example yongnuo flash guns and nissin flash guns.

 

[birrew]

That's would I'm worried about it not lasting very long but still on the same fact can't bring myself to pay £109 for the grip not yet anyway

 

[Sausages]

I bought one of these just over 2 years ago had no issues ...sure I paid more at the time http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&...vpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&ref=pd_sl_48sa3yprsj_b

 

[birrew]

yeah that's the one thought it was a really good buy even if your were getting the batteries...but just didn't know what like the quality was considering the massive price job to the canon one

 

[Georges]

I bought the hahnel 60d http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hahnel-HC-6...M06C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1349426003&sr=8-1

from Amazon and it has been working perfect for 2 years now. All for 90 quids

 

[modchild]

I've had aftermarket grips on all my Canon bodies. I bought my 550D grip off ebay and it worked flawlessly from day 1 and in fact it now resides on the wifes 650D and is almost 2 years old now and still working perfectly.

I've also used aftermarket batteries in the grip for the 550D/650D without any problems whatsoever. I've also had grips and batteries for a 60D, 2 x 7D's, a 5D2 and now a 5D3. I'm using a Vertax grip on my 5D3 at the moment and once again, it has worked flawlessly since I bought it. The most expensive grip I've had was around £56 including a couple of batteries for a 7D and the cheapest was £36.95 including 4 batteries for the 550D/650D. I've saved enough by buying the first 3 grips (550D, 7D and 5D2) to buy a Canon 70-200 f4 L non IS lens.