Battery Grip for Canon Xti

[sinitry23]

The canon battery grip for the XTi on B&H does it come with extra batteries or do I need to purchase it seperatly? How many batteries will I need?

[ihs]

I'm not sure about B&H, but mine from Amazon did not come with extra batteries - it'll hold two of the Canon batteries or 6 AA's (the route I took).

[Riff Raff]

Batteries not included, as usual. You can use either two of the NB-2LH type batteries or six AAs.

[sparcd]

It would be double the price if it came with batteries!

[sinitry23]

Batteries not included, as usual. You can use either two of the NB-2LH type batteries or six AAs.

You guys recommend using the NB-2LH batter or 6 AA's?

[Just Be]

You guys recommend using the NB-2LH batter or 6 AA's?

NB-2LH will weigh less.

[Livinthalife]

sterlingtek batteries are a fraction of the price, and I haven't heard any complaints.

[Familiaphoto]

If you buy the Canon grip you'll get no batteries. If you buy an Opteka grip you can get one for under $100 with two generic batteries. Up to you but be aware that you get what you pay for. I would go with the Canon grip, I had the Opteka one and it lasted 4 months before coming apart.

[showngo]

The AA's will not last very long, will hardly allow you to fill a 2gb card before they die. Go for the SterlingTeks I have them in my XTi with the battery grip, very nice set up.

[nutsnbolts]

Here are some resources for your grip needs:

Experience with the Canon Grip (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=314523&highlight=canon+grip)
Experience with the Canon Grip #2 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=289716&highlight=canon+grip)
Experience with the Canon Grip #3 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=155138&highlight=canon+grip)

AA Battery Usage in a Grip? (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=149109&highlight=canon+grip)
AA Battery Usage in a Grip #2? (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=374045&highlight=canon+grip)

Information regarding the batteries that you will need (POTN) (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=79584)

Mixing Sterlingtek batteries with Canon Batteries? (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=385540&highlight=xti+battery)

This should give you enough information to make a decision.

[Riff Raff]

The AA's will not last very long, will hardly allow you to fill a 2gb card before they die.

I have no idea why people say this. Either they haven't actually tried it, or they've used low-capacity AAs. One of my reasons for getting the grip with the XTi was so that I could continue using my existing rechargeable AA batteries, chargers, etc. I've taken up to 8.5GB worth of photos on a single charge, and the camera was still doing fine... I had just run out of room on all my CompactFlash cards. That was around one thousand photos as I recall. I have yet to discover the limit on AA battery usage with the grip. This is using 2700 mAh rechargeable AAs.

P.S. I am planning to try out the Canon batteries next month after I order a second charger and some batteries from SterlingTek. They're certainly lighter, at least. We'll see how that goes.

[sf1]

Bought the Canon grip a few weeks ago and it is great and does not come with the extra battery. I must have taken 600 plus shots and its still showing full life. The extra shutter button is fantastic.

I would just order a couple of Sterling batteries.

[Captain Mantastic]

use sterlingtek batteries. i have 4 of them, and they are awesome. no problems mixing them in with my canon battery either. i have the canon grip. why i need 5 batteries? no idea as yet i haven't even burned through two of them in one shoot, but it is nice knowing i have the back up and the wife bought them for me, so i can't complain. and i can't comment on the AA's usage as i have never had to go that route.

www.sterlingtek.com. great service, great batteries and 1/4 the price of the canon ones. I will never buy a real canon one again.

[Jethro790]

I bought the battery grip and an extra battery when I got my IS lens becasue I figured it would drain the batteries more. Truth is I can shoot for an entire weekend with one battery. The XTI is an amazingly effecient camera. Of course it helps that I don't let people review pictures on the LCD like my wife does with the P&S camera. I just review quickly and move on.

[tunin]

Any way you go buy the CANON model, do not go with the other companies as that will result buying both.

[Marnault]

When I bought my battery grip it came with one extra canon battery... but I think thats because the camera store forgot to take it out before they sold it to me. :)