What is a Camera Battery Grip and Why Do I Need One?

You know the feeling. You are out sightseeing with your camera and can’t believe all of the amazing photo opportunities you have been lucky enough to capture today. With plenty of daylight left to enjoy, you notice the low battery symbol flashing on your camera’s LCD screen. The panic sets in; “Did I remember to recharge my spare battery?” What if we told you there was an easier way to enjoy extended shooting times. Enter the world of the camera battery grip.

As a camera battery grip allows you to hold an additional battery to the one already in your camera, it extends your shooting times so you can take more photos and videos. While a battery grip is handy for any photographer who wants to get the most out of their camera, it is a must-have for professional photographers. After all, you have a limited time with a model or at an event, so you must capitalise.

Apart from extended shooting times a battery grip offers additional advancements to your camera. A battery grip will generally include an extra set of key camera settings, including a shutter button, mode select buttons and more. Why would you need these additional buttons and dials? While modern mirrorless cameras are ergonomic and comfortable for full-featured shooting, this is usually best experienced in the horizontal orientation. Once you turn the camera to shoot in the vertical or portrait orientation, things get a little harder. Thanks to the additional settings offered by a battery grip, you can feel just as comfortable and confident to shoot in any orientation.

One of our favourite compositional tips is to experiment with different perspectives and angles. This is easier to manage with the stability provided by a battery grip.

A camera grip, like a battery grip is an accessory designed to enhance your photography experience, but serves a different purpose. A camera grip is primarily for comfort and stability, providing a more ergonomic way to hold your camera, especially for extended shooting sessions. It often features a textured surface and a comfortable shape to reduce hand strain and is usually made for smaller format cameras that don’t have a pronounced grip. A camera grip does not have space to store an extra battery or additional camera settings.

Does a battery grip increase battery life? Absolutely! And while you can achieve longer shooting times by packing a spare camera battery, a battery grip holds this spare for you, making it easier to remember and saving you the time and effort of pausing to reload.

How Many Batteries does a battery grip hold? With space to store an additional battery, a battery grip allows your camera to house two camera batteries in total.

Are battery grips universal?  Unfortunately, there is not a one-size-fits-all option when it comes to battery grips. Not all cameras accept the same battery, and cameras feature different body shapes.

Can you use a battery grip with only one battery? Yes, you can use a battery grip with only one battery. This is useful when one battery needs recharging but you want to continue shooting.

A battery grip is a valuable accessory for any photographer who wants to shoot for longer periods without worrying about running out of battery. Whether you're searching for a Battery grip Canon or Sony, there's a battery grip out there to suit your needs at Ted's.

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