Just a quick initial review of a Targus battery grip...

[Reeforbust]

UPS just pulled in and dropped off my Targus TGBG20D battery grip.
I figured this thing would be cheap looking and junky But to my surprise, its not!

It has a very nice feel to it and doesn't look "cheap" at all. Don't have my camera with me so I'll have to try the fitment out tonight but my first impressions are that it was money well spent!


Also, I bought from a place I have never heard of but their shipping was very fast.........
http://www.digitalfotoclub.com/product-features.asp?id=964701849


Just a quick *first impression* of the Targus battery grip.......

[Reeforbust]

Just got home and installed the Battery grip!

I can't believe I didn't do this sooner!!! This made the camera feel so much more balanced and comfortable in my hand.
It fits snug up to the bottom of the camera and works perfectly, none of the problems I've read about with the Opteka and early BG E2 grips with intermittent power problems!

I really thought this might make the camera feel heavy and awkward but it actually made the camera feel lighter in a sense..... With the 70-200mm lens on the camera, it always felt front heavy and was pulling my hand down.
NOW with the grip installed, its more balanced so there is not so much strain on my hand and seems like it will be easier to stay steady during a shot.

You can see in the pics that the texture is not as "course" as the camera body but its very close and no big deal really....The only thing is that I wish they would have textured the back some.

This is a very reasonably priced grip and I rate it an A for fit, finish and function!

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d89/reeforbust/MISC/IMG_3928.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d89/reeforbust/MISC/IMG_3925.jpg


Tried to light the grip better with my little P&S....:lol:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d89/reeforbust/MISC/IMG_3922.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d89/reeforbust/MISC/IMG_3939.jpg


This little review was done because I could not find any info on the Targus grip so I figured I might help the next guy......:)

.

[SnlpeR]

i tried an aftermarket one for the 40d
im not sure if it was a targus or something else...

but the thing had to much play on the body for my liking

and how did you get the 70-200F4 to balance like that??? amazing!
haha

[Reeforbust]

and how did you get the 70-200F4 to balance like that??? amazing!
haha


:lol::lol::lol:...... I ran the strap over the edge and under some books to pull on it... I edited the strap out but not very good. :lol:

[amironsi]

i have the original Canon grip and it looks much better.
how much did this one cost?

[simwells]

i have the original Canon grip and it looks much better.
how much did this one cost?

Link at the top says $103.95

[amironsi]

i would get a used canon one. or add 20 or 30 US$ and get a new canon still for my 350D

[Reeforbust]

You can get this on Ebay for $65 but I wanted to get it from a company that I could work with if it was junk, so I spent a little more.

I like it and it works and feels perfect! Might not be "the Canon" but it does a good job.

[dekalbSTEEL]

You can get this on Ebay for $65 but I wanted to get it from a company that I could work with if it was junk, so I spent a little more.

I like it and it works and feels perfect! Might not be "the Canon" but it does a good job.

how do you know which ones on ebay are the Targus brand?

[Reeforbust]

how do you know which ones on ebay are the Targus brand?

Most say the brand... If not you can click "ask a question" and just ask them what brand it is...

[dekalbSTEEL]

I found one (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=370015561701&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=024) advertised as Targus, but it was $97 shipped. i don't think the $65 ones are this brand at all...

[Reeforbust]

I found one (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=370015561701&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=024) advertised as Targus, but it was $97 shipped. i don't think the $65 ones are this brand at all...

Hmmm... I emailed one of the cheap ones on Ebay. It was around $65 plus shipping and it was Targus?? It was about 2 weeks ago??
Let me look..........

[Reeforbust]

http://cgi.ebay.com:80/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180207481998&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123

This company says there product is the exact same thing as Targus from the same factory... just goes by another name?!?

Still waiting on a few more replies.....

[LightRules]

I recently purchased a non-OEM BG-E2 grip to put on my 20D. It is the well-known eBay seller "etefore" and this is the one ($80 shipped to my door in about 5 days) http://cgi.ebay.com/Battery-Vertical-Grip-for-Canon-20D-30D-40D-BG-E2-New_W0QQitemZ200180767286QQihZ010QQcategoryZ50512Q QtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

My old OEM BG-E2 that was on my 20D went on my new 40D, and so the 20D now has the new "etefore" grip.

The short of it is that I don't notice hardly any difference between the two, and I've been using the new grip quite a lot. The Canon OEM grip has the obvious Canon labeling on the front, and the battery tray inserts a little differently, but for all practical purposes, they are identical in function. In fact, I like the non-OEM better because the part where your last three fingers go (in vertical orientation) is much more "grippy and rubbery" than the Canon OEM one, which is more plasticky-feeling with little "grip" to it.

It's $80 well-worth spent IMO. There's my 1 cent review.

[dekalbSTEEL]

the reason I asked is there is an asian sourced one for sale in the classifieds, but the seller hasn't tested it or let me know what brand it is.

Can anyone identify the box in this picture?

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=4475139&postcount=1

[AC_Photo]

Reeforbust;
That isn't the same as the Canon grip. Note that the batteries in the ebay version mount in a tray that slides in from the narrow end. The Canon grip has a door along the back of the grip that takes the batteries by themselves and side by side rather than end to end.

[Reeforbust]

Reeforbust;
That isn't the same as the Canon grip. Note that the batteries in the ebay version mount in a tray that slides in from the narrow end. The Canon grip has a door along the back of the grip that takes the batteries by themselves and side by side rather than end to end.

?? ??
Well, I'm not worried which way the batteries "slide" in.... I never said it was the same as Canon??

[AC_Photo]

http://cgi.ebay.com:80/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180207481998&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123

This company says there product is the exact same thing as Targus from the same factory... just goes by another name?!?

Still waiting on a few more replies.....

Oops, same as Targus, not Cannon. My bad.:oops:

[Headcase650]

I think most of the 3rd party XXD grips are probably exactly the same just badged according to the distributer. I bought an Opteka last feb and It seemed to work just fine but the wife didnt like it and took it off. I put it back on when I went to the Chili Bowl earlier this month and the locked up a few times.It was still under the 1 year warranty so I Emailed Opteka and they said to send it back to 47th street Photo and it wouild be replaced under warranty with their newly designed one that isn't suppose to suffer from lock ups like the original canon 20D grip. 47th street photoo was reluctant to take ity back but gave in, they should have it on wednesday along with a $9 money order I had to send them for the shipping. Hopefully all goes well.

[jt168]

Just curious since the entire backside is smooth.

[Reeforbust]

Just curious since the entire backside is smooth.


Slides in from the side edge.... just a long tray that holds both batteries.