Genuine Canon BG-E11...Does it come with batteries?

Hello,

As thread title really. I am looking at ordering a 5d mark III and I can happily take or leave the battery grip. However, if it comes with a couple of genuine batteries then I may well go for it. If it is simply the grip, no batteries then I will give it a miss and just buy some spare batteries on their own.

Thanks in advance, Craig.

Craigstuarthollis wrote in post #15283795
Hello,

As thread title really. I am looking at ordering a 5d mark III and I can happily take or leave the battery grip. However, if it comes with a couple of genuine batteries then I may well go for it. If it is simply the grip, no batteries then I will give it a miss and just buy some spare batteries on their own.

Thanks in advance, Craig.

No battery!

If you really want a grip you'd be better off buying a 3rd party grip that costs around $65-75 and getting a couple of spare batteries to go with it. I've had 3rd party grips and batteries for all my bodies including a 5D3 and they have all worked perfectly.

3rd party vs Canon grips...pros and cos to each. Aftermarket offer a great low cost alternative but any issues between connection with body...Canon will not support, and don't expect much from the grip company. Built quality is a little off but certainly acceptable. Resale value is nil. Canon grips cost more ( often 3X more!), better build quality by a bit, and is serviced as a unit by Canon...which may or may not be important. I try to keep everything Canon for the service ability and higher resale value. All personal I guess.

no batteries

Hah, I wish. But no, the grip is sold alone and batteries separate.

Genuine Canon's have a magnesium chassis to match the body stiffness

Craigstuarthollis wrote in post #15283795
Hello,

As thread title really. I am looking at ordering a 5d mark III and I can happily take or leave the battery grip. However, if it comes with a couple of genuine batteries then I may well go for it. If it is simply the grip, no batteries then I will give it a miss and just buy some spare batteries on their own.

Thanks in advance, Craig.

If you don't want or need a battery grip why would you pay almost $300 for it even if it did come with two batteries (which it doesn't). The batteries can be had at B&H for $57 each with free shipping and no tax if you're out of state. That means the grip itself would still have cost you an additional $175 even if the batteries were included. It still wouldn't make any sense.

The grip material start failing on my BG-E11.... Sent to Canon and they sent a brand new grip.

They can have issues as well, but at least they will cover issues up to a year. My grip failed two months before warranty was up on it.

I have had aftermarket grips as well in the past with no real issues... But the quality is not nearly as nice.

I've used third party before.... didn't like it so I gave it away to a memeber on this forum and got a Canon grip. Couldn't be happier (This was with my 7D)

Thanks for all the prompt replies, most appreciated.

mwsilver wrote in post #15286767
If you don't want or need a battery grip why would you pay almost $300 for it even if it did come with two batteries (which it doesn't). The batteries can be had at B&H for $57 each with free shipping and no tax if you're out of state. That means the grip itself would still have cost you an additional $175 even if the batteries were included. It still wouldn't make any sense.

Well the pricing is different in the UK. If you buy the camera then the grip is £159, batteries on their own are £60. Because I want 2 spare batteries anyway if the grip actually came with them then that would offset the cost basically making the grip only £39. At that price I would take one!

In the end I found the camera elsewhere without the half price grip deal cheaper and bought it with 2 extra batteries, cheers for your help guys

Invertalon wrote in post #15286920
The grip material start failing on my BG-E11.... Sent to Canon and they sent a brand new grip.

They can have issues as well, but at least they will cover issues up to a year. My grip failed two months before warranty was up on it.

I have had aftermarket grips as well in the past with no real issues... But the quality is not nearly as nice.

Based on various comments on many threads it appears that some after market grips and batteries work just as expected. However there are also many reports of defective after market grips and batteries. Given that many users of after market parts are using them with expensive equipment like 5D IIIs and L lenses, it amuses me that any one would suddenly go cheap on items that might not work as well as the Canon parts, and in the worst case could cause damage not covered by the warranty.

mwsilver wrote in post #15287179
Based on various comments on many threads it appears that some after market grips and batteries work just as expected. However there are also many reports of defective after market grips and batteries. Given that many users of after market parts are using them with expensive equipment like 5D IIIs and L lenses, it amuses me that any one would suddenly go cheap on items that might not work as well as the Canon parts, and in the worst case could cause damage not covered by the warranty.

Just because people spend money on expensive bodies and L lenses it does not mean they are not concious of wanting to save money.

I have many L lenses and "expensive" bodies but I use nothing but aftermarket batteries. I see the value in quality glass and quality bodies. But I do not want to spend 50-60-70+ dollars on a battery I can get for 8 dollars and works just as good if not better than the genuine canon.

I buy OEM when there is a significant difference and I buy 3rd party when not.

I personally have genuine canon grips on everything I own. But 3rd party batteries for everything.

Lichter21c wrote in post #15287260
Just because people spend money on expensive bodies and L lenses it does not mean they are not concious of wanting to save money.

I have many L lenses and "expensive" bodies but I use nothing but aftermarket batteries. I see the value in quality glass and quality bodies. But I do not want to spend 50-60-70+ dollars on a battery I can get for 8 dollars and works just as good if not better than the genuine canon.

I buy OEM when there is a significant difference and I buy 3rd party when not.

I personally have genuine canon grips on everything I own. But 3rd party batteries for everything.

I would have to agree with this statement... I'm not trying to spend stupid amounts of money on small stuff like batteries.....

Lichter21c wrote in post #15287260
Just because people spend money on expensive bodies and L lenses it does not mean they are not concious of wanting to save money.

I have many L lenses and "expensive" bodies but I use nothing but aftermarket batteries. I see the value in quality glass and quality bodies. But I do not want to spend 50-60-70+ dollars on a battery I can get for 8 dollars and works just as good if not better than the genuine canon.

I buy OEM when there is a significant difference and I buy 3rd party when not.

I personally have genuine canon grips on everything I own. But 3rd party batteries for everything.

You indicate you use genuine Canon grips. Others here use 3rd party grips even for expensive bodies and make the same arguments for using them that you make for the batteries. I just go a step further and just use the genuine stuff from the outset. I've have been using two Canon batteries for my 60D since the beginning, and just ordered a third. I've had my camera for over a year and a half and both batteries are almost as good as new and I still can get around 700+ daylight shots from each if I limit LCD review time.

I have over 20K actuations. In my book these genuine batteries are not only long lasting but are cost effective and give me confidence that they will not short, leak or die prematurely in the middle of shooting. For me that's worth the extra $35 - $40 over the cost of 3rd party batteries, some of which don't last nearly as long or allow for as many shots per charge.

And while this does does apply to you, why someone would spend $3200 on a body and and then add a $70 after market grip is beyond me.