Vello BG-N4 Battery Grip for Nikon D7000

Comments about Vello BG-N4 Battery Grip for Nikon D7000:

Perfect

Comments about Vello BG-N4 Battery Grip for Nikon D7000:

I have used it at 2 sporting events so far and it worked perfect. The grip is well priced versus the Nikon grip (saved over $ ). Very comfortable to use, matches the black body of the D7000.

Comments about Vello BG-N4 Battery Grip for Nikon D7000:

Value for money compared to the real thing...

Comments about Vello BG-N4 Battery Grip for Nikon D7000:

I am a semipro wedding photographer and I wanted a good value grip to shoot portraits. It's much more comfortable to shoot in portrait mode with grip. So far it seems to stay on the camera tight. It looks like it is the oem grip even though it is not. The battery door knob is a little on the cheap side. But it works fine. For the price I am very happy with the unit.

Comments about Vello BG-N4 Battery Grip for Nikon D7000:

This Nikon D7000 battery grip is pretty great. Feels comfortable. What's best about this grip is that there isn't a external wire that connects from the grip to the camera body to use the shutter button from the grip. Some grips that are made for some entry level DSLR's such as the Zeikos grip for the D5100, there is a external wire that hangs from the side of the camera which is pretty ugly. As for this grip from Vello, it's a excellent grip for it's price. The only thing I don't like about the grip is that it doesn't feel very durable.

Comments about Vello BG-N4 Battery Grip for Nikon D7000:

Just as good as the Nikon grip. Very user friendly. The lock switch is great to have. And it makes my d7000 look like a big boy camera. Thanks

Comments about Vello BG-N4 Battery Grip for Nikon D7000:

I really like having the extra battery so you dont have to charge a partial battery before a shoot. It is there are ready when needed. Also, having the alternate shutter button for vertical shots is the real clincher for me. All the controls work just fine and only a little added weight.

Comments about Vello BG-N4 Battery Grip for Nikon D7000:

Vello has really crafted a great unit that perfectly matches my D7000 and works perfectly for about a third of what the Nikon-branded MB-D11 costs. I like the extra battery power this unit provides, but the other advantage is the extra shutter release for use when in portrait mode. Much easier to use the camera shutter in portrait using this second shutter release. The Vello model is well made and you cannot tell that it is not the Nikon brand. This unit (like the Nikon unit) also allows you to use double A batteries as your backup if you are somewhere where you cannot recharge your EN-EL15 Nikon battery.

Comments about Vello BG-N4 Battery Grip for Nikon D7000:

Very useful, well designed and well built. Great price!!!

Comments about Vello BG-N4 Battery Grip for Nikon D7000:

Used the battery once since receiving it for a wedding. It worked great! Very durable, sturdy and batteries lasted me all day. I cant understand why someone would pay so much more for the Nikon brand.

Comments about Vello BG-N4 Battery Grip for Nikon D7000:

Pros: It's cheap

Cons: It's REALLY cheap, the plastic isn't sturdy and it weighs almost nothing which really offsets the goal of adding some balance to the camera with heavier lenses.

Conclusion: Just by the Nikon one, i know its more expensive but how much did you spend on your D7000? You want to cheap out on a body addon? No. Besides resale will go up with the real nikon grip.

However, BH was awesome and let me return it with them paying for the shipping, you guys rock!

Comments about Vello BG-N4 Battery Grip for Nikon D7000:

I've only had this for about two weeks, but it has been great so far. It feels good in my hands. I saw some reviews that you have to tighten up the screw everytime, but I have NOT had to tighten mine up at all. Everything seems to function just as all of the knobs and wheels do on the actual camera. I think I made a good investment in this 3rd party batter grip. This doesn't include a battery, so make sure you get one if you don't already have an extra.

Comments about Vello BG-N4 Battery Grip for Nikon D7000:

Great product for the price !!!

Comments about Vello BG-N4 Battery Grip for Nikon D7000:

Matches the D7000 body almost perfectly. Looks like part of the camera. Fits solid enough to hold my BlackRapid's R-7 camera sling that screws into the bottom tripod socket and holds the BG-N4 grip - and the camera - upside down from your shoulder.

The shutter and command dial work just as they're supposed to.

Comments about Vello BG-N4 Battery Grip for Nikon D7000:

I use this product to have additional power in case the main battery goes out. It also gives a great additional grip that allows you to turn the camera with ease.

Comments about Vello BG-N4 Battery Grip for Nikon D7000:

Like most people going the third party route, I was turned off by the more expensive Nikon, despite the confidence and peace of mind such a purchase would entail. After reviewing several third party options I settled on this one from Vello, which seems to have across the board positive reviews with no negative comments like the others. Also the fact the B&H features a video promoting this brand (is Vello their house brand?) and B&H's reputation brought me around as I would assume they wouldn't promote bad products in that fashion.I literally got it in via FedEx this morning (shipped overnight) and only had a few minutes to mess with it before work, so I expect to update this as time goes on and I use it more, but everything seems to work the way it should. Unlike some other third party options which seem to reverse the dials on the grip, Vello does not, which is huge. I was also able to program the AE/AL button to act as the focus lock (AF/ON) on the grip as well.So far all is fine with it, and I love how it makes the D7000 feel less like a toy and more substantial; most people might think of a battery grip as just being for more battery power, but just as importantly is having a proper portrait grip, especially when shooting with a telezoom like a 70-200 2.8. The grip also provides more balance and stability when shooting landscape, especially with a front heavy lens like the 17-55. Minor caveats are that it seems less sturdy than I imagine the Nikon brand would be; the grip feels slightly loose even when tightened all the way but nothing severe. Holding it portrait in one hand you can feel it "give" when you give it a little shake (but why would you do that except to see???). Holding with both hands corrects this. Also, the buttons and knobs feel cheap(er)...but for [$] that's nothing to complain about. So for now I'll leave it at that. My main concerns going forward are the grip ceasing to work abruptly or properly, which seems to be a complaint with some of the other third party grips. I'll update this review as necessary. But for now, I would definitely recommend this to anyone wanting to save money over the Nikon brand.

Comments about Vello BG-N4 Battery Grip for Nikon D7000:

awesome sturdy grip with the convenient shutter/fstop, on off and AE AF buttons. best part is the option between another camera battery or AA's that have there own slot piece holder. Its nice that they thought ahead too and put a little cutout on the top of the grip so you dont lor the rubber piece you need to attach the camera.

- Great for night shots when your using allot of battery with long shutters, flashes and good for day time sports whether your shooting quick frames or video. A good back up battery is always handy, and thats why this battery should be in your hand soon!!!

Comments about Vello BG-N4 Battery Grip for Nikon D7000:

so far,so good.would buy it again. functions the way it should, though at first, i find it a little heavy but got used to it now

Comments about Vello BG-N4 Battery Grip for Nikon D7000:

Sure...the Vello BG-N4 Battery Grip may extend camera use, is more comfortable when taking vertical shots, a lot cheaper than the Nikon equivalent and it makes the camera look more professional but do you know that it can also save you money the more you use it?

Before I purchased the Vello Battery Grip for one of my Nikon D7000 cameras, if I was going to use my camera and the battery level indicated less than half, I would normally recharge the battery.

Rechargeable batteries have a lifespan. Let's use a scenario, a camera battery is estimated for 100 re-charges. If you use 75% of the battery power and then recharged it...you now have an estimated 99 re-charges even though the battery still had 25% of the power. Basically that 25% would be wasted. This adds up in the long run. Basically after 100 charges, you actually got the equivalent use of 75 batteries with 25 batteries thrown away.

Now I use a simple technique to maximize efficiency. I would have a well charged battery in the camera and use the partially charged battery in the Vello BG-N4 Grip. The camera is set to use the battery in the grip first then switches over to the battery in the camera automatically when power is low.

This allows me to deplete the battery more efficiently. If I am using the camera casually, I would just use it as is and at the next outing I would switch out the batteries placing the partially used battery that was in the camera into the Vello BG-N4 Grip and the freshly charged battery placed in the camera.

If I was using the camera extensively for example, taking videos or long photo shoots, the only adjustment I would make is to use the battery in the camera as a temporary backup until it is convenient to quickly change the depleted battery in the Vello BG-N4 Grip as needed.

If you like changing batteries (like changing magazines in a gun), then place an EN-EL15 battery in the camera as backup and use rechargeable AA batteries in the Vello Battery Grip with the AA battery holder. AA batteries do not last as long as the EN-EL15 battery....it might be fun and you would not skip a beat to get the shot.

I should point out that side access to the battery grip is quite beneficial. I use tripods, monopods and flash brackets regularly. When the camera is connected directly to these items (without grip), getting to the camera battery was a problem. With the Vello Grip, I can access the battery compartment without detaching the accessory.

Comments about Vello BG-N4 Battery Grip for Nikon D7000:

the fit is not solid.there's a bit of wiggling.plastic feel of the dials.whatch out for the rubber!you pay the price for the quality and quality for the price...