Bangkok1782: March 2010

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Opteka External Flash Battery Pack for Canon 580EX, 580EX II, 550EX, 540EZ, MR-14EX, & MT-24EX Speedlite Flash Units

The Opteka external flash power pack reduces flash recycling time by 60-75%, and allows for longer flash operation. Powered by 6 AA batteries and includes a padded carry case with velcro closure.

Product Details

Brand: Opteka
Model: OPT-FLASH-BATT-CAN

Features

External power source for higher flash capacity
Reduces recycle time by 60-75%
Powered by 6 AA batteries (not included)
Includes padded carry case
Dimensions: 2.71" X 6.22" X 0.98" (W X H X D) Weight: 6 oz (without batteries)

Customer Reviews

Not Bad At ALL!

being someone who's used the Canon version of this battery pack, i have to say that this product is very, very good. i shot a 4 hour event with this battery pack, and one 580EXII, and got over 500 shots with it, at varying ISOs, with absolutely no problem, no slowdown, and no having to change batteries! 500 shots! crazy!

to be fair, the canon product is much more 'solid' feeling, and will probably last longer, but for the price you really can't go wrong.

differences:
-the canon battery pack holds 8 batteries, and this one holds 6.
-unless i'm wrong, the battery pack doesn't 'kick in' until the batteries in the battery pack become necessary. on the canon product, the small red light goes on every time you fire the flash. with this one, the light doesn't come on until the battery pack becomes necessary for the recycle. i don't know if this is supposed to happen, but it does, and that's fine with me.

i like the belt clip with the velcro pouch, and how much lighter this one is than the canon one. remember, that's because it has 2 less batteries. for half the price of the canon one, i really, really recommend this product. hope this helps. [...]
You Get What You Pay For

I thought to myself, why spend $150 for a Canon flash power pack when I can get this one for $50. I'll tell you why. "If you buy something on sale that ends up breaking after one use, you haven't saved a dime". In fact, if you end buying that $150 product anyway, you've actually wasted $50.

That was my experience with this battery pack. As noted by the other reviews, this pack "feels cheap", like if you dropped it the wrong way, it would crack. I thought to myself, if perhaps I babied it, I could probably get a couple years of use out of it. Boy was I wrong. At this point, I would have been satisfied with a couple of months use. After one photo session, a wedding, this pack would no longer latch with batteries in it. It latches fine without batteries, but for some reason the pack doesn't operate without batteries. LOL.

If you still choose to buy this product, understand that you are buying a disposable product, and you may dispose of if sooner than you think. If you're a professional or a serious amateur, you know that manufacturers like Canon and Nikon make a ton of money marking up their products a lot more than they should; but you take solace in the fact that you'll never have to buy that product again. This is not that type of product. If you buy this product, you are trying to get lucky, and unfortunately my luck wasn't so good.

Why give it 2 stars instead of 1, you ask? I try to give credit where credit is due. When this pack was working, it did exactly what it was supposed to do and enabled me to capture the shots I needed to get. If you only photograph weddings outdoors on sunny days in the summer, a battery pack for your flash is non-essential, but if you shoot indoors and occasionally use a flash, you need a flash battery pack to keep up with the moments that would otherwise be missed or turn out underexposed.
Excellent price to value ratio

I used my recent purchase of an Opteka External Flash Battery Pack for the first time on an event with very low light. Most of the pictures were taken on a dance floor where I shot over 400 photos with my Canon 580EX II flash. I never had to change batteries and there is still power left in the unit. It recharges the flash immediately and I had not a single situation where the flash wasn't firing because the photos were take too fast after each other like I experienced without the unit in the past. I am very satisfied with the purchase and the price of less than 60 Dollars compared to the Canon unit with over 140 Dollars is just right.

Opteka Battery Pack Grip / Vertical Shutter Release with Charger, 2 LP-E5 Batteries (3600 mAh Total), Wireless Remote, Cleaning Kit, & Mini Tripod From Opteka

Opteka BG-RXS Battery Grip
Opteka is proud to be allowed to use the same factory and mold as Canon uses for their BG-E5. Opteka is one of the world's leading producers of high-performance batteries and accessories. Opteka believes there is no limit to the potential of portable power, and as a company they will always strive to find innovative and efficient ways to power your life in the future! Holds 6 AA Batteries or 2 LP-E5 batteries. This provides a very extended shooting time. The vertical shutter release also makes shooting with the camera in a vertical position just as comfortable as shooting horizontally. Compatible with the Canon Digital Rebel XSI and T1i (450D & 500D) SLRs only.

This package also includes:
AC/DC 110/220V Rapid Charger
The slim, lightweight, and stylishly designed mini rapid charger plugs directly in to your wall outlet and charges your digital camera or camcorder batteries in approximately 60 to 90 minutes. Its unique flat pin, foldable design allows easy storage and makes it the most compact battery charger on the market. The kit includes a universal 110 to 240V AC power source, plus a European plug for worldwide usage and a car adapter for charging while driving.

The Opteka RC-4 Remote Control makes taking group photos easy by allowing you to take pictures away from the camera. This miniature infrared transmitter operates at ranges of up to 5m/16.4 ft., and may also be used to activate mirror-lock and bulb-shutter functions.

2 Opteka LP-E5 1800 mAh Batteries for maximum shooting time.
The high-capacity Opteka LP-E5 rechargeable lithium-ion 1800mAh battery is a replacement for Canon LP-E5 (LPE5) Battery. It features lithium technology, which ensures maximum battery life and maximum power. It also features no memory effect that lets you recharge partially drained batteries without reducing performance.
Tabletop Tripod
Cleaning Kit

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #1969 in Camera & Photo
Brand: Opteka
Model: OPT-GRIP-LPE5-BAT-CHARG-XSI
Dimensions: 2.20 pounds

Features

Opteka RC-4 Remote Control, Rapid Charger, 2 Opteka LP-E5 1800 mAh Batteries, Cleaning Kit, Tripod included
Vertical shutter release also makes shooting with the camera in a vertical position just as comfortable as shooting horizontal
Buttons for AE lock, AF point selector, aperture value, shutter, and mail dial
Increases functionality and convenience
1 Year Warranty

Customer Reviews

Great Value

As everyone else has said, the battery grip fits great. I actually prefer the shutter release on this to the one on my T1i Camera. The camera feels so much better in hand with this on as well, it gives a place for my pinky finger to rest and with a larger lens (like my 18-200 or 70-300) it evens out the weight a bit more. The Batteries just last, over 1000 photos with average flash usage so far. I have not yet run them all the way down before charging. Love having Two Chargers now so I can charge both batteries at once. Have used the car adapter with this one a couple of times even to make sure my spare battery was topped off. The Remote works as expected, gives you more distance than a Cable Release, but you have to be within angular range of the sensor.
Worth the money

I was a bit skeptical about the price of this package, but I am very glad I took the leap of faith. This would have been a huge expense if I had purchased a higher name brand individually. I have run all of the components through testing and they all pass with flying colors!
Battery Pack Review

I bought the Battery Pack to use for a wedding. Really wanting to be able to shoot a lot of vertical shots. The battery pack looks professional, I got lots of compliments. Easy to put on the camera and take off. I found some issues with taking time to refresh after I had been shooting for about 4 hours solid. Not as great as I wanted. Overall I recommend this product even with it's limitations. The pricing and delivery were great.

Opteka Battery Pack Grip / Vertical Shutter Release for Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR Camera

Opteka is proud to be allowed to use the same factory and mold as Canon uses for their BG-E6. Opteka is one of the world's leading producers of high-performance batteries and accessories. Opteka believes there is no limit to the potential of portable power, and as a company they will always strive to find innovative and efficient ways to power your life in the future! The Opteka BG-5DMKII holds 6 AA or 2 LP-E 6batteries. This provides a extremely extended shooting time. The vertical shutter release also makes shooting with the camera in a vertical position just as comfortable as shooting horizontally. Compatible with the Canon 5D Mark II Digital SLR only.

Product Details

Brand: Opteka
Model: BG-5DMKII

Features

Holds 6 AA Batteries or 2 LP-E6 batteries
Vertical shutter release also makes shooting with the camera in a vertical position just as comfortable as shooting horizontally
Buttons for AE lock, AF point selector, aperture value, shutter, and mail dial
Increases functionality and convenience
1 Year Opteka Warranty

Customer Reviews

Good Product

Recently purchased it for my 5D Mark II and works great. Got up to 2 hours of video record time with the 2 batteries. One Major flaw though is that the camera doesn't read the product and cant measure how much battery is left.

Opteka Battery Pack Grip / Vertical Shutter Release for Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR Camera with 2 LP-E6 Batteries (4000 mAh Total)

Product Details

Brand: Opteka
Model: OPT-5DMKII-GRIP-2LPE6-KIT

Features

2 Equivalent Ultra-High Capacity 2000 mAh LP-E6 Batteries included
Vertical shutter release also makes shooting with the camera in a vertical position just as comfortable as shooting horizontal
Buttons for AE lock, AF point selector, aperture value, shutter, and mail dial
Increases functionality and convenience
1 Year Opteka Warranty

Opteka Battery Pack Grip / Vertical Shutter Release for Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS, Digital Rebel XSi, & Digital Rebel T1i

Opteka is proud to be allowed to use the same factory and mold as Canon uses for their BG-E5. Opteka is one of the world's leading producers of high-performance batteries and accessories. Opteka believes there is no limit to the potential of portable power, and as a company they will always strive to find innovative and efficient ways to power your life in the future! The Opteka BG-RXS holds 6 AA Batteries or 2 LP-E5 batteries. This provides a extremely extended shooting time. The vertical shutter release also makes shooting with the camera in a vertical position just as comfortable as shooting horizontally. Compatible with the Canon Digital Rebel XS, XSi, and T1i (450D, 500D, & 1000D) SLRs only.

Product Details

Brand: Opteka
Model: OPT-BG-XSI

Features

Holds 6 AA Batteries or 2 LP-E5 batteries
Vertical shutter release also makes shooting with the camera in a vertical position just as comfortable as shooting horizontal
Buttons for AE lock, AF point selector, aperture value, shutter, and mail dial
Increases functionality and convenience
1 Year warranty

Customer Reviews

Awesome

I have used this grip for almost a year and I can find nothing to complain about except the rubber grip is coming loose in one place due to wear, but it can be fixed easily with a little glue. This grip is a great addition to my Rebel Xsi.
great battery grip

This battery grip works very well with my Canon EOS Rebel T1i (500D). I have had no problems so far. It is comfortable in my hand and very grippy and adds more space for my fingers to hold onto when I take regular horizontal shots. It can be used with just one battery if you don't have a second one. It makes taking portrait shots easier and more comfortable so you aren't twisting your arms around causing your arms to be unstable. The buttons function as they should, and the shutter release button on the grip almost feels exactly the same as the one on my Canon and can be pressed halfway down for the autofocus. It makes my camera look a lot more professional and it makes things so much easier. Anybody thinking about buying one of the more expensive ones like the Canon BG-E5 should try this out first. Like it says in the description these were made with the same mold as the canon version.
Love it, Changed my life.

This battery grip, tho not the actual Canon brand model, has changed my life as a photographer. The ability to carry two battery packs in the camera at once and not having to worry about running out of power in the middle of a shoot is an amazing feeling. Also, the freedom it provides in doing portrait shots (i.e. Senior photos, models, etc.) makes being a photographer just that much more enjoyable. Not to mention the fact that having the extended battery grip makes your camera look a whole lot beefier and in turn you look more professional and like you know what you're doing. It changed my life!

Opteka LP-E5 1800mAh Ultra High Capacity Li-ion Battery Pack with AC/DC Rapid Battery Charger

The Opteka LP-E5 rechargeable lithium-ion 1800mAh battery is a replacement for replacement for Canon LP-E5. It features lithium technology, which ensures maximum battery life and maximum power. It also features no memory effect that lets you recharge partially drained batteries without reducing performance. Includes a Rapid Battery Charger with 12 V Car Adapter, And European Travel Adapter

Product Details

Brand: Opteka
Model: OPT-LPE5-BATT+CHARGER

Features

Ultra high power True 1800mAh, Lithium Ion 7.4v
Extended shots - Up to 25% more then original
Rapid Battery Charger with 12 V Car Adapter, And European Travel Adapter
Universal 110-220V for World Wide Use
Brand new, 2 Year Opteka performance warranty

Customer Reviews

Opteka LP-E5

Bought this as an additional battery for my Canon Xsi, the extra charger was just a bonus but a bonus that turned out to be even better then expected, not only is it an AC charger but also comes with the vehicle charger adaptor as well as the universal charger adaptor for over-seas.
Works great

I bought this for a new Canon T1i and it works great. The car charger is a nice touch. I can't say that it lasts twice as long as the Canon battery, but it lasts at least as long.
Perfect battery clone!

Holds the charge for ever. Fits the Canon Rebel XSi perfectly (just like the original batter). Excellent option over the pricey Canon one.

Opteka EN-EL3E 2000mAh Ultra High Capacity Li-ion Battery Pack for Nikon D700, D300, D200, D100, D90, D80, D70, D70s, & D50 Digital SLR Camera

The high-capacity Opteka EN-EL3e rechargeable lithium-ion 2000mAh battery is a replacement for Nikon EN-EL3e Battery. It features lithium technology, which ensures maximum battery life and maximum power. It also features no memory effect that lets you recharge partially drained batteries without reducing performance. Beware of low quality knockoffs, they can often damage your camera. Opteka Batteries are Guaranteed.

Works for the following: Nikon D700, D300, D200, D100, D90, D80, D70, D70s, & D50

Product Details

Brand: Opteka
Model: OPT-EN-EL3E

Features

Ultra high power True 2000mAh
Extended shots - Up to 25% more then original
Memory free for maximum performance
Lithium Ion 7.2v
Brand new, 2 Year performance warranty

Customer Reviews

Quality replacement

I wasn't too sure about this particular brand battery since there were no reviews for it, but I decided to give them a try and see what I ended up with. First they look and feel (weight wise) exactly the same as the Nikon batteries. The only difference is the labeling. Even the color is exactly the same. I have shot a large number of pictures with my D200 since and have seen virtually the same performance out of these as my Nikon batteries, maybe even a little longer lasting if you want to be nit picky. Maybe they wont last as long, but time will tell. Just remember with lith ion batteries re-charging is best done early and often. If you do that your batteries will last you a good long time. I can't vouch for other Nikon camera models, but these DO work in the D200. I hope this helps out some of you out there wanting to save a little money on your batteries like me. Good luck and keep shooting!!!
Didn't work with my D90 and didn't look like the advertised battery

Like several other folks that purchased this battery for their D90, it didn't work for me either. I am guessing that it is either the camera firmware that is preventing it from being recognized, or the battery is somehow different than advertised. The actual color of my arriving battery was plain grey, not gold like show in the product picture via Amazon. Also please note that these non-Nikon batteries don't have the little golden microchip that communicates with the Nikon camera on battery information. Perhaps that is why it doesn't work on mine???? I am returning for a refund and sticking with Nikon branded batteries from now on.
Same as Nikon

I got this so I would have an extra battery for my Nikon D90. It looks and feels just like the Nikon battery; just a different color and lower price (and I did get a cover with mine). I used it after I charged it up overnight in the Nikon charger and it took over 400 pictures with an auto-focus, vibration-reduction lens and still had a little power left over. I recharged it and it did not get hot while recharging. I can't say it is better than a Nikon battery, but I will say it's just as good. Shipping was quick and the packaging was adequate. I can recommend this battery.

Opteka 1800mAh 7.4v Digital Camera Battery, Equivalent to Canon NB-2LH & NB-2L

Product Details

Brand: Opteka
Model: OPT NB2LH

Features

Ultra high power True 1800mAh
Extended shots - Up to 25% more then original
Memory free for maximum performance
Lithium Ion 7.4v
Brand new, 2 Year performance warranty

Customer Reviews

Better than OEM

It seems that people usually make the supposition that "a battery, is a battery, is a battery". Not so. Beside size, quality and capacity are the two most important attributes of a product. The batteries are not only quality made but have a capacity of 1200ma, much greater then most that are on the market. Additionally, they come with a 2 year warranty. The price cannot be beat. I bought two, as photography is one of my hobbies, and always want to be sure that I have spare batteries and CompactFlash cards. These batteries work fabulously in my Canon Rebel XTi. I do recommend them.
Customer service is a joke at 47th street photo

The title of the product says 1800 mAH battery. My ordered was incorrectly shipped as 900 mAH. Customer service at 47th street photo sent replacements even those were incorrect.
When I called customer service, the guy was absolutely rude. All he wanted to tell me was that they did not have the batteries and I should not be complaining and that I will get refund. Since they did not carry the product, I asked them to get the add off of Amazon so future customers are not deceived. The answer: 'I Dont think that is the problem.'
Is that the typical customer service culture at 47 street photo? Similar experiences have been had by a few of my co workers and family with 47thstreet photo.
I am a professional photographer and have bought from other stores like amazon, bhphotovideo, ritz camera. but I have never experienced this kind of pathetic customer service.

Please be aware before buying from 47street photo.

Good Price not longlasting enogh.

The price is excelent for this pruduct but the operation time was poor 1800mAh??? dont think so....compared with the 750mAh.. Almost 400 Shots V.S. 320 with the original battery pack. as you can see there was not a big difference and the mAh is more than the doble. Anyway a dont regret this purchase.

Opteka Battery Pack Grip / Vertical Shutter Release for Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS, XSi and T1i with 2 LP-E5 Batteries (3600 mAh Total) Opteka Battery Pack Grip / Vertical Shutter Release for Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS, XSi and T1i with 2 LP-E5 Batteries (3600 mAh Total)

Product Description

Product Details

Brand: Opteka
Model: OPT-BG-XSI-KIT

Features

2 Opteka Ultra-High Capacity 1800 mAh LP-E5 Batteries included
Vertical shutter release also makes shooting with the camera in a vertical position just as comfortable as shooting horizontal
Buttons for AE lock, AF point selector, aperture value, shutter, and mail dial
Increases functionality and convenience
1 Year warranty

Customer Reviews

One of the best accessories for your Canon Rebel XSi (450D)

Many will tell you that the best accessory you can buy for your camera is a flash while some would say a remote. When it comes to battery grips, questions such as "would I really need the comfort to shoot in portrait for macro photography?" would come to mind. Often times, it's what deters us from buying a grip... the uncertainty of whether we will need it or not. Not sure which specific field in photography I'm getting myself into, I was hesitant. But after going to Hawaii for my honeymoon, it turns out that shooting comfortably in portrait for any type of photography was very important.

In this package, having two battery packs is just a bonus. Having an option to hold your camera in portrait position without getting a CTS (carpal tunnel) is the very reason why I bought one.

And so, my research for the ideal (or as close to perfect as possible) battery grip began. Everywhere I looked, reviews pointed to the Canon and the Opteka grips. The quality for both grips seemed to be unrivaled. Then there are others with LCD displays along with other fancy schmancy features. All their reviews seemed to conclude that crappy, thin plastic with plastic (non-rubber) grips couldn't compensate for the price or the features. The annoying play on the shutter button and scroll wheel was where many drew the line. So for me, it was Canon vs. Opteka.

Naturally, the next criteria was the price. After all, who doesn't want the cheapest of the best grips. While Canon's is well over the $100 mark, the Opteka which is said to be the closest to Canon-quality is only $65! As an added bonus, it includes two batteries for only $80 ! Not only are the two batteries included for only an additional $15, they are 1,800mAh as opposed to the 1,080mAh OEM battery. The next step didn't take much thought --I ordered one.

Upon receiving the item, I can tell you that the build is indeed very "OEM-like". Though I have never owned the Canon grip, it doesn't take a genius to compare the materials used on the grip to that of the camera body. It's no wonder people say it's no different from the Canon one. The grips are virtually cut from the same sheet of rubber. The thickness of the plastic also seems very much like the camera body. Aside from the Canon/model branding, there is probably no other difference. And to my surprise, the package also came with an extra battery pack for AA's! Let me say that no matter how professional of a photographer you are, two 1,800mAh batteries will last. Think how long your current OEM 1,080mAh battery lasts (provided that it was broken in properly). Now imagine how long two (not one, but TWO) 1,800mAh would last. But if for some reason you went on a vacation, you forgot to charge, forgot the wall charger, but happen to bring the AA battery pack, just buy six AA's and you're back in business. It's an unlikely situation but that extra option given to you just makes you feel that much more special when buying this product.

But back to the grip... the width is very wide compared to the XSi grip. Opteka's grip feels like a 50D as opposed to a 5D/1D, but it still makes your camera feel like a professional, full frame camera. The shutter button is placed perfectly and has zero play. The scroll wheel is a little shallow and tricky to turn but once again has no play whatsoever. Overall, the grip feels solid and well built. I have no regrets. I even keep the switch on the bottom grip on "ON" all the time so that I can shoot in portrait on the fly.

You won't regret this purchase.
Great Addition to The XSi

Having been a long time owner of the Opteka Rebel XT grip, I figured I'd give this a shot to accompany my new EOS XSi. The grip has the same shape, feel, and functions as the Canon brand (at a fraction of the price), and I am pleased to report that the Opteka XSi grip has exceeded my expectations.

The grip offers primarily power management advantages along with improved camera handling options at the cost of some weight and bulk. With two of the standard rechargeable batteries in the grip, recycle times for the flash are noticeably quicker. It also adds the option of accepting AA batteries in a pinch.

The two LP-E5 batteries included with the grip are high-capacity and of good quality.

I would recommend this grip to a friend.
Excellent alternative to the original Canon grip

I was hesitant for quite awhile, whether to get Canon original grip or Opteka's. Decided to give Opteka grip a shot. I literally loved it as soon as I mounted it on my XSi. Very good build quality, all the buttons and the wheel work great (actually I like the feel of Opteka wheel better than camera's). On the tripod it is absolutely solid. Long story short- every single aspect of it is screaming: Save money without quality compromise!

If you considering canon vs. opteka grip (as I did), think no longer! You've found it!

Opteka Battery Pack Grip / Vertical Shutter Release for Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi & Rebel XT with 2 NB-2LH Batteries (3600 mAh Total) Opteka Battery Pack Grip / Vertical Shutter Release for Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi & Rebel XT with 2 NB-2LH Batteries (3600 mAh Total)

Opteka is proud to be allowed to use the same factory and mold as Canon uses for their BG-E3. Opteka is one of the world's leading producer of high-performance batteries and accessories. Opteka believes there is no limit to the potential of portable power and as a company they will always strive to find innovative and efficient ways to power your life in the future!

The Opteka BG-RXT holds 6 AA Batteries or 2 NB-2LH batteries. This provides a extremely extended shooting time. The vertical shutter release also makes shooting with the camera in a vertical position just as comfortable as shooting horizontally.

Compatible with the Canon Digital Rebel XT and XTi SLR only. This package includes 2 Opteka NB-2LH 1800 mAh Batteries for maximum shooting time.

Product Details

Brand: Opteka
Model: XT Grip Kit
Dimensions: 1.10 pounds

Features

2 Opteka 1800 mAh NB-2LH Batteries included
Holds 6 AA Batteries or 2 NB-2LH batteries
Vertical shutter release also makes shooting with the camera in a vertical position just as comfortable as shooting horizontally
Buttons for AE lock, AF point selector, aperture value, shutter, and mail dial
Increases functionality and convenience

Customer Reviews

Very Good Value for the Money

I bought the Opteka Battery Pack Grip for my Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi, and was a bit leary about the considerably lower price than the Canon brand battery pack grip. I am pleased to report that the Opteka grip has met my expectations.

PROS

The grip fits extremely well on the Rebel XTi. It even comes with a convenient place to store the battery compartment lid (which must be removed to insert the grip into the camera. Removing the lid is an easy procedure).

Attaching the grip is quick and easy, with a large, serrated wheel to tighten the grip against the camera bottom.

The finish on the grip is different than that on the Canon-brand grip. The Opteka has a thin, rubbery, texturized non-slip insert layer over the front, bottom and back. The Canon grip's rubbery insert is smooth and looks more "finished." My only concern about the Opteka insert is that it shows signs that it may not stay perfectly attached to the grip, and will likely need a touch of cement in the future. Not a big deal, though.

The vertical shooting buttons on the grip (exposure bracket, A-E lock, Auto Focus point selection, selector wheel and shutter release) are, as far as I can tell, identically placed like those on the Canon grip. All work like they are supposed to.

The grip comes with an "On-Off" slide so you can turn off the vertical shooting buttons when they are not needed. This prevents accidentally activating one of the buttons or taking a picture if they are inadvertently pressed while shooting horizontal.

The battery compartment in the grip is very easy to remove and insert batteries. Although I haven't used it yet, the optional AA battery insert looks easy to use, and is good to have in emergencies.

The two NB-2LH batteries that came with the grip seem to be OK, and charged up just fine. With the battery that came with the camera, I now have 3 batteries to use. More than enough for the number of pictures I take during a typical shoot.

The grip certainly improves the handling and feel of the XTi, which comes with a too-small grip for many hands. Personally, I like the additional heft and mass the Opteka grip gives the camera, although some may object to the additional weight.

CONS

This is a very minor point, but worth pointing out. The shutter release button on the Opteka grip is a bit "mushy." What I mean is that it is not always easy to tell when you have pressed the shutter releae halfway down to activate auto focus or metering. There is a noticable tactile difference between pressing the shutter release down on the camera, and the shutter release on the grip. It's as if the spring underneath the camera's shutter release button is a bit stiffer than the one for the grip. However, if you use the viewfinder to determine whether you have achieved focus or not, then the little bit of mush in the grip shutter release won't make no never mind.

BOTTOM LINE

Would I recommend this grip to a friend? Yes.

Would I buy another one if the need arises? Yes.
A Must Have /Same as Canon Version

I have both the Canon version of the grip and this version. They are identical. I have two Rebel XTs and they work great. I like them for the feel it gives holding the camera. The camera was small in my hands and this makes it perfect. If you are thinking of buying accessories for the Rebel XT, this should be one of them. The grip holds two batteries, which gives you way more shooting time. I highly recommend this!
Just get it.

This is my first Amazon review. I cannot recommend this product enough. I have tried it in professional settings (the XTi is my backup camera) and it has NEVER let me down. Don't waste your money on the original CANON grip. Save your $$$. Remember, just as with the original grip you can store the XTi's battery door inside the grip so you will never lose it. I got the version that came with two batteries. The supplied batteries are excellent and never seem to run out. You will not be sorry you got this. I hated the feel of the XTi till I added the grip. I dare those who say the materials are cheap quality to submit to a blind (folded?) test. If you are one of those people who likes to buy a brand for the sake of it, don't get this grip. But if you own an XT/XTi and actually use it then don't think twice.