Opteka is proud to be allowed to use the same factory and mold as Canon uses for their BG-E2N. 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 50D/ 40D/ 30D / 20D grip holds 6 AA Batteries or 2 BP-511 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 EOS 20D, 30D, 40D, & 50D Digital SLR's. This kit includes 2 Opteka 2000 mAh BP-511 Batteries for Maximum Power (Also accepts AA)
Impressive.
I was skeptical about buying a non-Canon product but I read the other gentleman's review and decided to live large. Anyway, I received this exactly as advertised with one exception: This battery grip is of much better quality than I expected-especially for the price. I have a Canon 40D (yep, I am worried about price) and this interfaces with the camera easily and properly. The kit also comes with two more quality batteries. I charged everything up, made the easy connection to the 40D, and headed out to the field to try it out. Naturally, the grip adds to the bulk of the 40D but with a 70-200L lens mounted, I don't really care. One could assume the term "grip" implies that it adds to the users retention of the camera. The grip actually makes the camera easier to carry. I carried the whole assembly on a hiking trip in the JT Ntl Park and throughout the whole trip, I did not have to worry about battery life dispite having the camera on for hours. Overall, great piece of gear for the price. Very happy with it.
Okay but no control dial!!
I think the Opteka BG-e2 grip is well built and very close in quality to the canon grip after using both for an afternoon.
The battery door is not quite as well built as the canon grip, and the buttons feel like they are of much poorer quality.
My big complaint is however that there is no adjustmetn wheel next to the shutter button as there is on the Canon BG-E2/E2N. This to me is a huge flaw!! The opteka grip for the Rebel XT/XTI has one, why doesnt this one?
Without this wheel when I want to adjust shutter speed or aperture I have to switch back to landscape orientation and make the adjustments and then go back to the portarit orientation. Very frustrating when you just want to make a simple change on shutter speed or aperture.
Before buying this grip ask yourself if your willing to forgo the convience to save a few $$ vs. the canon grip or there is a Targus grip that has the wheel but costs about $30 more.
Why spend more for a Canon name plate
I've used this grip for more than two years now, first on a 20D, then on a 30D. When I get a 40D or 50D, it'll go on that one instead. It's not terribly pretty, not as graceful looking or feeling as the Canon.
But it just plain works, and at about half the cost. The batteries that come with it are pretty good, too.
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 BP-D40 holds 6 AA or or 2 EN-EL9 batteries. This provides a extremely extended shooting time. Compatible with the Nikon D60, D5000, D3000, D40 & D40x digital SLR only. This package includes 2 extended EL-EL9 1200mah 7.4v Batteries
OPTEKA Battery Grip for the NIKON D5000
I did a lot of research before I purchased this item, however; there were no reviews on it as it relates to the D5000. The only thing I could ever find is the manufacturer claiming that it fits the D5000 or someone elses review of it for a different camera (D40/D60.)
I'm just getting back into the SLR frame of mind for photo's and I knew a battery grip was one thing I wanted. The lack of a NIKON grip for the D5000 nearly kept me from purchasing the camera but the D5000 was really a great entry into the dslr arena, so I bought it and the OPTEKA battery grip.
The OPTEKA grip does fit the NIKON D5000 but it's not a perfect fit. The "tray" that the bottom of the camera is nestled in when they go together is just "slightly" larger than the bottom of the camera. A person who isn't a camera entheuiast probably wouldn't notice and from a small distance it's not noticable but things like this usually bother me! Don't get me wrong, it's not a loose fit, the grip fits tight and there is no slop, it's just that the small raised lip around the top edge of the grip is "slightly" larger then the bottom of the camera! It's not really an issue but consumers need to know this because this may bother some people! The outer demensions of the grip are virtually identical to the outer demensions of the camera and the look and finish of the grip are pretty much spot on!
When you hold it, it feels similar to the D5000. It appears to have a similar build quaiity to the camera body. It doesn't add any significant weight to the camera except for you now have two batteries instead of one. This product also comes with a battery cradle that holds six double A batteries so if you get in a pinch you can buy new batteries virtually anywhere! I havn't tried this out yet!
I was also worried about taking off the cameras battery door to install the grip but that was very easy, it just snapped right out! They even have a slot in the grip for you to put the battery door in so you don't lose it!
Installation was a breeze. You just gently remove the camera battery door (instructions come with grip) and slide the electronic contacts (male) into the battery receptacle (female.) Then you turn a thumbwheel that turns a bolt (1/4") that screws into the area on the bottom of the camera where you usually attach a tripod and you're done. It's a tight solid fit and it all feels like one piece! The grip also has an area on the bottom of it where you can attach a tripod (1/4".) It all feels very good in my hands!
After about a month of use I highly recommend this product for anyone who has a D5000. Overall the benefits of this product far outweigh the fact that it may actually have been produced and intended for a "slightly" larger camera. It is a wonderful product that I am very happy with and it adds to my enjoyment of my D5000.
I can't comment on the vertical shutter release as I personally have no interest in this feature as of yet.
fit..............................9 of 10
looks.........................10 of 10
ease of assembally.......10 of 10
operational value.........10 of 10 (don't have to change betteries as often.)
value for the $..........10 of 10 (if NIKON made one it would cost much more.)
hope this helps someone.
sincerely..... Mike R.
Great for D40, D40x, and D60 when used with a heavy lens
I must say that I am quite happy with this item. It fits well onto my D40, the finish is excellent, and it gives the camera a whole new "personality". I have the Sigma 18-200mm lens, which is much bigger and heavier than the 18-55mm kit lens. This makes the camera more awkward as the center of gravity is now different. This causes my wrist to tilt forward instead of keeping the camera balanced. I have an ongoing issue with my wrist, due to a prior injury, and noticed that with the heavier lens the camera had to be gripped in a way that was a bit painful to me. With this battery grip I am able to grip the camera much better! The weight of the batteries in the bottom of the grip plus the change in the center of gravity makes it much easier for me to hold the camera properly.
I do not like the vertical shutter function at all, but I blame this on the D40 itself and not the grip. Hey, at least Opteka tried, it just doesn't work well for me. I had issues with getting the shutter to release, but I have had the same issue with the wireless remote so I don't blame the grip for this.
The option of using AA batteries with this grip was important to me as well, as I like the flexibility of having multiple power options.
Here are my rankings (1-10):
Appearance: (8)- Certainly gives the D40 a much different, more pleasing and professional look.
Fit and finish: (8)- The "crackle" finish is perfect, and even in bright sunlight looks exactly like the finish on the D40. The color is slightly off; it's slightly lighter in color than the D40. It is not a HUGE difference, but it is detectable. My grip fit slightly crooked, with the right side a few millimeters lower than the left side. Again, this was very minor but detectable.
Ease of installation: (9)- Very simple, the hardest part was taking off the battery door (I didn't want to break it) but this is a D40 issue, not the battery grip issue. The grip fit into the battery compartment and attached to the tripod mount perfectly. I would have preferred some better markings on the cartridge that holds the two batteries, but they fit well and the cartridge slid into the grip with ease.
Ease of use: (9)- The vertical shutter button is not an easy feature to use, but this is more the fault of the D40 than the battery grip. Once the grip is in place it feel like a natural extension of the camera.
Comfort: (7)- The grip feels good in my hand, although I can feel the vertical shutter button on my palm, which is minor annoyance to me.
Value: (7)- For a $100 item I would like to have seen a charger included for charging both batteries at once. I feel that a lot of the cost was for the vertical shutter option, which I won't use often, if at all.
Overall: (8)- Overall this is a very good item and I would recommend it for someone who wants longer life between battery charges as well as the flexibility to use AA batteries. I would also highly recommend this product for users who have a heavy lens on the D40 as it makes the camera much easier to hold properly. I would not suggest this item exclusively for the vertical shutter feature as it doesn't work very well, although this is a D40 issue and not an issue of the battery grip.
Works great on my D40 !
This puppy works great with my Nikon D40 , it fits perfectly and looks great on the D40 . Comes with 2 batteries it also has a normal battery adapter if you need to use store boughts to get by...
I have a 55-200mm Lens and with the battery grip it has a nice feel and loads of battery life.
The side (portrait ) button only works in conjunction with the infrared sensor , so while it does work .. its not like the main button....
The grip slides in nice and matches the D40.
