This vertical grip works very well.
The vertical grip has:
a cassette for two batteries
a tripod socket on the bottom
a place to attach a hand strap on the bottom
all the standard buttons for the right hand/finger (m-fn, af-on, af-select/+ */-, scroll wheel)
a switch to turn the vertical grip buttons off
Intervalometer!
LCD w/ clock that's always on (when not showing intervalometer settings)
Button for illuminating/back-lighting the LCD (It's a weak backlight -probably good for preserving night-vision.)
The box also includes an RC-5-like remote.
Overall, the grip and action feels pretty good. Good definition to the half-shutter press. The grip snugs up tightly with the 7d body -no looseness at all.
You can use one battery and leave the 2nd space empty, if needed.
It appears to be powered by a coin-cell battery.
The intervalometer has worked well in my limited testing. I set it to take 1 shot every 30 seconds for 180 shots today -no issues. I even modified some settings in the 7d menu between shots and the sequence kept going.
I found the intervalometer directions to be useless -misleading actually -I had to experiment to figure out how to use it. Here's a quick guide based on my experimentation:
Delay Amount of time to wait before starting the entire sequence (HH:MM:SS)
Long Length of the shooting burst (HH:MM:SS)
Intvl Length of each interval (HH:MM:SS) between each shooting burst
N Number of intervals (maximum 999?)
I usually set "Long" on the intervalometer to 1 sec and the drive mode on the 7d to one frame/single shot -not 3 fps/8fps. This results in one shot per interval. If you use 3fps, you'll get 3 quick shots in that 1 sec.
Update:
After having this intervalometer for a few months now, I've had no real issues with this grip or the intervalometer. The "OK" printing on the center intervalometer button has worn off, but who cares?
If you hold (for three seconds) the */L button (lower left), the intervalometer buttons will be locked, preventing you from accidentally hitting the "play" button and starting your intervalometer sequence at an inopportune time. The duplicated camera buttons will still work, of course. Press again for three seconds again to unlock the intervalometer buttons. I've accidentally started the intervalometer sequence (the buttons aren't recessed), so this lock button is handy.
The grip is a great value.
i contemplated getting the canon grip, but the close to $200 price tag made me unsure.
i ordered this grip expecting a value grip and thats more or less what i got.
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build:
the build quality seems to be fine, nothing close to the 7D or the authentic canon grip(which i believe has a magnesium chasis), but it seems solid enough.
it attaches to the camera securely, although there is a very slight gap in between the grip and body, but i would be surprised if the actual canon grip didnt have this same gap.
also note that the batteries load in from the side as opposed to the back. your camera's battery door is stored on the grip itself so you dont need to keep it in your camera bag and risk losing it.
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grip:
the rubberized grip is a little softer and slightly more slippery than the 7D's grip but its functional.
if your hands are big enough to warrant getting the grip, i doubt you will have the camera slipping out of your hands.
i wouldve like to see something a little grippier, but at $90, its not a deal breaker by any means.
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buttons/LCD:
the buttons are actually decent, although different from the canon buttons.
the shutter button is a little firmer and it has a very well defined half-press. i actually prefer the grip's shutter button to the camera's.
the other buttons are ok as well, although they are "squishier" than the canon buttons.
the LCD was a nice touch. it constantly remains onrunning off its own small coin-type battery.
the backlight is a little weak, but it should be bright enough to do its job in the dark.
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intervalometer:
again, its not something that blew me away, but it is functional.
i've only spent an hour or two messing around with it, but it seems to work fine, although setting it up was a little confusing to me at first.
as other reviewers have said, the directions were a little hazy, so i relied on the reviewer above and his/her directions.
here are the directions from H. Kaiserhahn:
"I found the intervalometer directions to be useless -misleading actually -I had to experiment to figure out how to use it. Here's a quick guide based on my experimentation:
Delay Amount of time to wait before starting the entire sequence (HH:MM:SS)
Long Length of the shooting burst (HH:MM:SS)
Intvl Length of each interval (HH:MM:SS) between each shooting burst
N Number of intervals (maximum 999?)
I usually set "Long" on the intervalometer to 1 sec and the drive mode on the 7d to one frame -not 3 fps/8fps. This results in one shot per interval. If you use 3fps, you'll get 3 quick shots in that 1 sec."
***UPDATE**
also want to add that you can do long exposures as well. set the camera to bulb mode and set the "long" setting to however long you want the shutter to stay open.
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remote:
the remote works and thats about it. not much more to say about it.
i tried using the remote to trigger the camera w/o grip and it did work(as it should), but it seemed to work better with the grip attached.
i havent tested the maximum range yet, but from about 5-10 feet it worked for me.
keep in mind that its an IR remote, so it has to be line of sight.
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overall:
this is a pretty nice grip. dont expect ferrari performance at a honda price, but theyll both get you where you need to go.
the features are great and the intervalometer is a nice touch. The only reason id still contemplate getting a canon grip would be because of the superior build quality.
i mostly shoot outdoors, so the fear of dropping the cam and damaging the grip is a real one for me. not to say that the grip feels cheap, but it's obviously not going to be as solid as the 7D body or the canon grip with its magnesium chassis.
im giving the grip 5 stars because its such a great value.
all of the concerns about build quality and such are justifiable since it is only $90.
obviously the canon grip will be better, but for those who can't justify the $200, this is a great alternative.
*** UPDATE***
as of now, the grip is not showing any problems with power drainage when being left on over time.
ive left the grip in the on position, camera off, for a few days now and the batteries are still at the same level they were at the start.
using genuine canon batteries so the battery meter is accurate.
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I received this grip a few days ago, so far everything is ok, the rubberized portion of it has better grip than the camera does, it niceley fits the camera, the buttons feel the same as the camera ones, the quartz display is what it is, a simple quartz display... the intervalometer buttons are a bit tiny (I have big hands)sometimes I end up using my nails but that might be 'cause I'm kinda chunky, It has a metal screw for holding it to the camera (I was worried about this because I read in the web that there are some battery grips with plastic screws).
I would recommend it if you are looking for the intervalometer function.
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This is not the Nikon brand grip; that's clear if you directly handle both. However, at less than 1/3 the price, it's not bad. It mounts securely and all of the features operate well. Grip is rubberized and feels substantial. It's only the buttons that tell you that this is not top end.
It comes with a AA battery tray and a tray for a second Nikon battery if you have two. I am an amateur photographer and for what I'll use this grip for, it will do the job.
No comment on the remote. I'm sure it works fine, but I already have a Nikon IR remote and a cable shutter release, so I won't use it.
The five star rating takes into consideration the value this grip offers. If it were priced identically to the Nikon, I'd give the Nikon grip 5 stars and this one 3 stars.
Update: After using this grip for 11 months now off and on (probably 20 times), the "key" that is used to lock the battery tray into the grip broke. This is clearly a weak link as the key is made of plastic and with the amount of torque you apply twisting it to lock, it should be metal. I can still lock it, but it's not as easy. Otherwise, the grip still works fine.
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This Polaroid grip was a sight for sore eyes with the price tag of $90 when compared to the Canon BG-E6 grip which runs $235 on a good day. Tactile rubber on the front feels good when carrying a 5d mark II portrait. However, the grip has a slightly less ergonomic shape than the Canon BG-E6 grip. The only other thing I've noticed is that when I mount the grip to a monopod, and adjust the fluidhead, the grip and the body have some play, even tightened all the way. It is very slight, not as meaningful when the pricetag is less than half.
The Polaroid grip is made of plastic, but with 2 batteries it adds a considerable weight to the body, which can be fatiguing when handling a long shoot. This is a drawback with any grip. Some find it more convenient to carry another battery and just change it. I have larger hands, and find that it adds more real estate for me to grab onto the camera. It does however, take some getting used to adjusting the thumb wheel as the grip (same with Canon one) puts the thumb wheel of the 5d mark II barely within reach... might even make it difficult to use one handed. These are again commentaries on grips in general as it applies to both the OEM and the aftermarket version.
Overall, it was a good investment especially with the built in intervalometer, eliminating the need to carry another accessory. It offers no weatherproofing, so be careful of using it in any damp conditions or splashes. You'd be better off just taking it off and using the normal body as it is. Again, were it not for the bit of wiggle room between the grip and the body when moving around on a fluidhead (pretty minute detail), it would have deserved a better star rating, but it is not perfect. With that being said, I cannot see a huge benefit to buying another else if you really want a grip, even if price was not an issue. This is a great buy for anyone WANTING a grip. You may not like it, but i bet it is probably because a grip might not be for you.
Product functioned as advertised. Took a couple of tries to find the right refresh rate @59Hz. There was nothing in the instructions that told us to check the output rate. Once we got it set up, it's been great to have.
