Customer Reviews: Read 127 more reviews...
 Almost Necessary for Large Hands May 21, 2005
T. Clark (AL United States)
161 out of 163 found this review helpful
This is a well-made accessory that makes the Rebel XT or XTi very comfortable to hold, either horizontally, or especially, vertically. Several camera controls are replicated on the grip (shutter release, AE lock button, AF point selector, AE compensation, and command dial) for ease in shooting vertical formats.
I'm used to the Digital Rebel, which fits my hand almost perfectly. I found the Rebel XT to be a bit too small. It felt OK with a 50mm 1.4 lens, but I found it hard to hold steady with a 70-200mm f/4 "L" zoom, or with a Canon 420EX flash attached. The battery grip adds extra room for holding the camera, and helps balance the lens or external flash by moving the center of gravity down and towards your hand, making the combination much more comfortable to hold and steady.
The grip works great with two NB-2LH batteries. I was more intrigued with its ability to use 6 AA batteries. Canon advises this option is for "emergency use" but after reading the supplied literature, the explanation for this worrisome statement became clear: Canon expects fewer shots from 6 AAs than from 2 NB-2LH batteries. You may try different AA combinations. With 6 just-charged, 2200 mAh PowerEx, the camera ran fine, but I immediately got a partial battery life indication. I believe this is because the 6 AAs, in series, provide 6 x 1.2v = 7.2v, vs the 7.4v of the NB-2LH. I tried 4 AA NiMH rechargeables with 2 AA Energizer lithiums (steady 1.5v) and the camera showed a full battery indication after shooting over 40 shots and reviewing the LCD each time. The hypothetical voltage of this combination is 7.8v, but is probably slightly less due to internal resistance, battery contacts, etc. In comparison, 6 disposable alkaline AA batteries should deliver 6 x 1.3v under load = 7.8v, so I believe this voltage is safe for the camera. In Canon's literature, they state the battery grip can use AA alkaline, NiMH, or lithium batteries.
I plan to leave my grip on the camera all of the time. I probably will use it most with two NB-2LH batteries, rated up to 1200 shots, but like having the option of using the included AA battery holder. In that case, I'll use 4 NiMH and 2 lithium AA batteries in it.
An actual must have accessory July 11, 2005
L. Wimberley (Berea, OH USA)
76 out of 77 found this review helpful
When I bought the XT, I had pre-ordered it like so many other people, which meant I hadn't had a chance to test it out before it arrived from Amazon. I knew it was a small camera based on the reviews and size descriptions but I didn't REALLY know until I got it in my hands! It felt alright in my hands, but I knew it could be better once I got the battery grip, and I am so glad I did.
The grip is great for extended battery life since it takes two of the lithium Canon batteries. As for the battery life itself, I shot an ENTIRE wedding, the bride getting ready, the pre ceremony shots, the actual ceremony, the post ceremony formal group shots, the entire reception, and the battery level never came on low. And you can imagine how often I had to use my 420EX flash! There was enough battery to last the car trip back while I looked at each picture on the cameras LCD screen, over 700+. That, in it of itself, is worth the purchase. To be able to have the peace of mind that you can just keep shooting and shooting and not have to worry about running out of juice is a godsend.
The added weight is great too. The camera feels more secure in my hands, especially when I have my telephoto lens on it.
I love the vertical shooting as well, I don't have to compromise my hand positions just because I am shooting vertically, because there is a shutter button on the bottom along with aperture & shutter length controls.
This really is one of those 'must have' accessories that if you are buying the camera, you might as well go ahead and buy this too, along with a few extra batteries. I can't say anything bad about it! If you were thinking of skipping over the XT because of the smallness, ask your camera shop to fit it with this grip and give it a shot, its a great camera and with a great grip, you can't go wrong!
You can use one battery only and reduce the weight. January 2, 2006
Haibing Zhang (Arlington Heights, IL USA)
54 out of 57 found this review helpful
Others said everything I need to say, but this is something they missed. In most situations, you don't really need two batteries. It is good that you can use only one battery for this grip. It is a feature, not a bug. Enjoy yours.
Great accessory for the Digital Rebel XT September 16, 2006
Wolf (Southern California)
22 out of 22 found this review helpful
I tried this product out at local camera store before I was sold on the idea. The two main things I was concerned about were how does it attach and does it add too much weight to the camera.
The attaching to the camera was a little concerning, I was worried that it may damage the camera. But, after watching the guy at our local camera shop put one on a Rebel I was sold. Basically you remove the door to the battery compartment. Which comes off a lot easier than I anticipated. The grip slides in like a battery and you screw it on the bottom of the camera. Don't worry their is another hole on the bottom of the grip for the tripod.
The grip does add weight but its not that significant and I noticed it adds a lot of stability while holding it. Since the grip adds height to the camera its easier to hold the camera in one hand. Much like holding one of the more expensive models. It also adds battery life since the grip holds two batteries.
If you hold the new grip to take pictures with the camera on its side. You will be pleasantly surprised to see a duplicate set of buttons and the scroll wheel added on the new grip just for that purpose. It is now a permanent attachment and I am glad I decided to buy it. The buttons work just as well as the camera even at 3fps.
Another note is that the quality of the Canon grip is much better than the cheaper version.
 Fine, But Batteries (Securing Magazine, Removing One, Knowing NiMH Life) Are Frustrating June 24, 2005
ReviewerWhoPrefersToBeAnonymous (California)
20 out of 21 found this review helpful
Overall, this is a fine product. I agree with the May 21, 2005, review that the BGE3 enables you to hold the camera securely in a vertical position, and that it gives a longer battery life than the single NB2LH lithium ion battery that you put into the Canon Digital Rebel XT (EOS 350D) body. It comes with magazines for both lithium (BGM-E3L) and AA (BGM-E3A) batteries, can be used with optional AC adapter kit ACK-700, and anchors one end of optional Hand Strap E-1 for horizontal photos. At about 1 pound (454 g) when you insert your 6 AA batteries, it's not too heavy.
But several aspects of the batteries are frustrating. First, when you're in a rush, it's easy to slide the magazine into the grip and twist the knob to try to lock the magazine into place, only to find a few seconds later that the magazine is not actually secure because it wasn't pushed all the way into the grip. The designers should not have allowed the knob to rotate when there is a 1 mm or larger gap between the grip and the magazine.
Second, if you use 6 AA batteries, it's difficult to remove the far right one. You can push the other five out easily by putting your finger through the holes in the plastic magazine, but the hole for the far right battery is too small.
Third, as noted in the previous review, when you insert 6 fully-charged AA nickel metal hydride batteries, you see a "battery level is low" symbol on the camera's LCD display. That isn't very useful or accurate.
Finally, the six-AA Ni-MH battery life is not stated on the instruction sheet. Instead, you get only the specification of 300 shots for alkaline batteries at 20 degrees C with no flash which drops to 220 shots with 50% flash. (Apparently, the camera won't work with alkalines at freezing temperatures, as it's rated for 0 shots at 0 degrees C.) I did not do a formal test, but without flash it seemed that six 2300 mAh NiMH AAs lasted perhaps a thousand shots (comparable to the 1200 shots claimed with two NB-2LH lithium ion batteries in the grip).
If you can tolerate its idiosyncrasies, purchase this item (UPC 013803049770) from Amazon.com!
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