Pentax BG2 Battery Grip for Pentax K10D and K20D DSLR Cameras by Pentax
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Our Price: $115.00 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Digital Camera See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Pentax BG2 Battery Grip for Pentax K10D and K20D DSLR Cameras
Digital camera Review: Excellent, Robust Battery Pack - Convenient Storage Device
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been using the Pentax BG2 Battery Grip attached to a K20D camera body for about 4 months and find the device a joy to use and indispensable. From the MB-2 days on the old Nikon F2 of the 1970's, the Pentax BG2 battery pack and grip is by far the best price to function battery pack that I have ever owned. That also includes other battery packs that I have owned and used from Nikon, Cannon, Pentax, Olympus and Konica. What do I like about the BG2? Many things.
First, I like having the extra power available from the second battery inside the BG2. With the second battery installed, I have not once had to recharge my batteries after a heavy weekend of shooting over 32 GBs in photos. I do have to share that I only use the AF on the K20D about half the time and use an external flash.
Second, the ability to adjust the camera exposure setting while holding the camera body in a portrait orientation is very handy. Some of the lens I shot with need additional exposure compensation. The extra means in which I can accomplish this task helps speed up my transition time when changing lenses.
Third, the presence of an extra shutter release button. Although I just assume to have an extra shutter release on any integrated external battery pack, the fact that there is this extra release button is nice to write about. I use the extra shutter release on the BG2 about half the time I am shooting in portrait mode.
Forth, the internal storage slot for a spare SD memory card. This extra memory card storage slot is very handy and clever on the part of the Pentax engineers. Hence, now I never go on a shot without a spare SD card and on several occasions have found having the spare SD card with me very helpful. Sometimes I will switch memory cards according to the subject I am photographing and not having to deal with an extra memory case or storage device for the SD card is great. It makes for one less thing to lose in the field and helps minimize the time it takes me to replace the SD card in the camera.
Fifth, the internal storage slot for the Pentax wireless Remote Control F unit. I use the wireless remote when I travel and or when taking images requiring a high degree of camera stability and or near zero vibration. Having the remote packed inside the BG2 at all times takes one extra item off of my mind. The Pentax engineers, with the ability to internally stow the wireless remote in the BG2, for all practical purposes has fully integrated the Remote Control F with the K20D camera body system. Fantastic.
The addition power on switch on the BG2 is a feature that I rarely use, but still a nice feature to have incorporated into the battery pack.
Sixth, the additional mass a BG2 adds to the K20D camera body (see photo). When shooting a K20D mounted to large refractive optics, the BG2 battery pack helps to balance the combined camera/lens assembly by moving the center of gravity (CG) more towards the physical longitudinal midsection of the mated assembly. This is very helpful when mounting a K20D and large optics to a tripod as moving the CG more towards the physical midpoint reduces hysteresis in the supporting mount or tripod head and quickens the time needed to dampen out vibrations.
Last, the construction and build of the BG2 is very good. The fit and finish of the external and internal plastic parts, control switches and buttons is excellent. Although the battery pack is not incased in a metal exterior housing, the choices of the materials used feel robust, moisture and impact resistant. I have bumped the battery pack against a few hard things already and have left very little scaring to the battery pack's exterior.
In conclusion, the BG2 battery pack attached to a K20D body makes for a very versatile, highly functional and long endurance DSLR camera body system. The price to value for the BG2 is very good if not excellent. With the addition of extra battery power, extra SD memory card storage, redundant shutter release and exposure camera controls along with storage for a Pentax remote control F, the engineers at Pentax have produced an accessory that most every K20D user should not be without.
I highly recommend this product.
Digital camera Review: Pentax grip
Summary: 5 Stars
Received exactly what I had ordered in an expedious way at a fair price. I had another of this product already. I bought both through Amazon because of the customer confidence I have in them. Pentax BG2 Battery Grip for Pentax K10D and K20D DSLR Cameras This grip makes handling the K20D much better plus you have an extra battery compartment and remote trigger device storage inside the grip. I recommend this grip.Digital camera Review: Good option for extended shoots.
Summary: 3 Stars
It's a good accessory for those who need to have two batteries online all the time. For those of us who aren't heavy with the shutter, just get a second batter and throw it in your bag. The grips on the K20D don't really require more gripping surface.
I've been to sporting events where this is a really handy option, when you really need the extended shooting time, but this might be 3 times a year. Normally, it's no issue to just plug in a spare for the main.
Don't know that I'll ever use the additional buttons on it either. Up to you for preference I guess. I find it useful for the additional memory storage as well as longer shoots when I need it. Otherwise, it's off the camera, in my bag. A K20D with the grip won't fit in the Pentax slingbag without fear of ripping the zipper.
Overall, good quality, no issues figuring it out, and found some worth, but you may want to consider the spare and putting the $130 into a DA lense you might be fawning over.
Digital camera Review: Not much grip.
Summary: 3 Stars
I bought the Battery Grip to help better hold the Pentax K20D when I would hold the camera in the verticle position. The storage tray slides out the left side of the grip and the remote, battery & memory card fit neatly on the tray. Then you push it back into the bottom of the grip. I don't have a remote to store inside. I have yet to put the extra battery in it or an extra memory card. There is a metal twist lock tab that locks the tray in place. The grip also has two metal pins that engage in two holes in the bottom of the camera base when the grip is screwed into the tri-pod socket. There is a second tri-pod socket on the bottom of the grip.
See my grip photo's posted up above.
The grip area where your fingers go could be a little bit wider and have more of a roughness in the rubber. I can't grip it as well as I thought I would be able to. Someone with small hands or fingers may or may not have a problem. It be nice if the grip contour was shaped like the right side of the camera's grip. The bottom of the grip is flat and sits nice and flat on a table without rocking.
The grip does give the camera a large stance, thus making it look like an expensive unit. Its very light weight and really doesn't add any noicable weight to the camera, at least I don't think it does.
Besides the shutter release button the grip also has a Green Mode button, AE-L button, Front & rear E -Dials and the + - Exposure button. The mirror flip up button for Live View is built into the power switch just like the body control switch.
Overall, I'm happy with the purchase. I plan to use an old fashioned flash bracket on the camera to help better steady it and so I can have a better grip for my left hand.
Digital camera Review: Vertical grip not that great
Summary: 3 Stars
I ordered this but returned it as I found the vertical grip to be too narrow for a comfortable hold. I have fairly big hands so that might have something to do with it. If Pentax could add some bulk to it then it would be perfect. It did however make the horizontal hold quite a bit more comfortable (especially with large heavy lenses).
Otherwise the build is great (just like the K20D I tried it on) and it's well designed. The "green" button is placed a bit off from its position on the camera and since I use it very often I found it a bit hard to get used to. The extra battery and remote/SD card storage are good to have as well.