D850 aftermarket battery grips?

[ruley74]

hey there,

Have many of you tried the full aftermarket battery grip with aftermarket EN-EL18 batteries? Do you get the frame rates etc. with the aftermarket systems?

Cheers,

 

[Strodav]

Looking to go to 10fps? Not EN-EL18, but EN-EL15a, the battery that comes with the D850. I couldn't afford a Nikon grip after spending $3500 on the camera and ended up with a Meike grip thinking I would eventually replace it with a Nikon grip. On close inspection, it is identical to the Nikon grip in fit in finish (I am comparing to a Nikon grip I have on my D500). It's obvious they directly copied the Nikon design right down to the texture of covering. The buttons and rotary switches feel very much like Nikon buttons and switches. The Meike grip came with a wireless remote trigger that works very well. So far, I'm pleased with it and don't plan on moving to the Nikon grip. Will probably get the speed boost from a Z7 II when they become widely available.

 

[ruley74]

Looking to go to 10fps? Not EN-EL18, but EN-EL15a, the battery that comes with the D850. I couldn't afford a Nikon grip after spending $3500 on the camera and ended up with a Meike grip thinking I would eventually replace it with a Nikon grip. On close inspection, it is identical to the Nikon grip in fit in finish (I am comparing to a Nikon grip I have on my D500). It's obvious they directly copied the Nikon design right down to the texture of covering. The buttons and rotary switches feel very much like Nikon buttons and switches. The Meike grip came with a wireless remote trigger that works very well. So far, I'm pleased with it and don't plan on moving to the Nikon grip. Will probably get the speed boost from a Z7 II when they become widely available.

Thanks for the feedback on the Meike grip.

Yes I'm looking the FPS and AF bump hence the use of the EN-EL18 battery in the grip with the required BL-5 battery cover.

 

[Oztours]

I have the Meike also and find it to be excellent. I have never worried too much about FPS in the past due to the type of photography I was doing, and since upgrading from my old D90, I haven't been concerned because what I get now is bucket loads faster. But now that I am beginning to concentrate on wildlife and BIF and learning more from @Steve and everyone else here, I am paying more attention to the finer details. OK, now here is my dumb question. How exactly does one measure the FPS on your camera?

 

[DougC]

You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

 

[DRwyoming]

hey there,

Have many of you tried the full aftermarket battery grip with aftermarket EN-EL18 batteries? Do you get the frame rates etc. with the aftermarket systems?

Cheers,

I have the Vello grip with EN-EL18's from Wasabi and the combo works great and delivers 9FPS without problems. All the vertical shooting controls work and are programmable just as they should be. Very happy with this combo.

 

[ruley74]

I have the Vello grip with EN-EL18's from Wasabi and the combo works great and delivers 9FPS without problems. All the vertical shooting controls work and are programmable just as they should be. Very happy with this combo.

Thank you, that's the type of info I'm after, i was looking at the Wasabi batteries.

 

[Pistnbroke]

I have sold dozens of kits of 3rd party grip /en el 18 /BL 5 and dual charger here in the UK and I can tell you some of the grip brands don't give 9 fps and some of the EN EL 18 don't either. You need the right battery with the right grip. The biggest problem is the purchasers don't read the instructions and don't set the camera right to get the 9 fps. Anybody in UK want one I have one left as demand is now very slow.

 

[Oztours]

don't read the instructions and don't set the camera right to get the 9 fps

Or just plain forget they have changed some settings on a previous shoot, pick up the camera and start shooting and wonder why. Guilty as charged. Auto bracketing.

 

[ruley74]

I have sold dozens of kits of 3rd party grip /en el 18 /BL 5 and dual charger here in the UK and I can tell you some of the grip brands don't give 9 fps and some of the EN EL 18 don't either. You need the right battery with the right grip. The biggest problem is the purchasers don't read the instructions and don't set the camera right to get the 9 fps. Anybody in UK want one I have one left as demand is now very slow.

Thanks, I understand you have to change the power settings to use the battery grip as the primary power source to get the result. I'm in Oz but feel free to PM me a kit price sent this way.. grip, cap, battery & charger.

 

[Warren D]

I had the Vello II and while it's performance was ok with the 18 battery I did not like the fit. The attach thumb wheel was tight, very tight yet when the camera was on a tripod (plate on the grip) there was very noticable play between the grip and body. This was my second D850, the first one has the Nikon grip and doesn't have any play in the same scenario. I sold the Vello and bought a second Nikon grip and no more play.

 

[ingweDave]

I have recently bought a Meike grip for my 850. This works fine with the EN-EL 15 battery. I then bought a BL5 battery chamber cap. I have tried using this with the EN-EL18 batteries from my D4 but it will not work. Does anyone know where I am going wrong?

 

[Pistnbroke]

Not all EN EL 18 are equal your D4 version does not have the right chip in it .You need a compatible one

 

[ingweDave]

Not all EN EL 18 are equal your D4 version does not have the right chip in it .You need a compatible one

Thanks for that, that would certainly explain it. Do you know what EN EL 18 battery is needed? Can I assume any new nikon or other make would now be suitable? (Mine are at least 4 years old.)

 

[Pistnbroke]

Not all the batteries advertised are compatible ..I use batteries available in the UK not the same names as in USA .
Best plan is to buy on amazon so you can send it back or enquire of the vender if its ok for a D850 and send it back if it dont work.
Nikon Clearly would be fine but very expensive. You can get a good one for less than $50 ,
Ps just checked amazon usa and they do a DIGI EN EL 18 for $29.99 which says its good for D850. Dont worry about the low price .

 

[KimM]

I have had the Meike and Nikon grip and both worked just fine. Both grips added 9 fps to the D850. The Wasabi batteries were great...for a couple of months and then would not take a full charge. Life out in the field was short. The Nikon 18's have been great after a year of use and last a long time in the field...even in live view mode for landscape shots.