Author: | | Veteran Member Registered: February, 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 1,251 | Review Date: June 28, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $199.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | Build Quality, AA battery Option, Weather Resistance, e-dials are handy | Cons: | It felt a little bit light compared to k-7, Expensive | | Pros:
This is an excellent accessory for the k-7 (also k-5).
It has a good build quality, with no apparent "flimsy" bits.
The AA option (although I have yet to need it) will come in handy when I got away on trips.
Weather resistance. It's a must since the k-7 is WR.
E-dials are handy when shooting portrait saves a lot of fiddling around.
Cons:
Price is the biggest con and the only reason its not 10/10. Coming in at $200 US (or locally in Australia for $430) its pretty steep for what it is. If i didn't require the WR I would probably have settled for a flea bay job.
On the fence:
I also feel that it doesn't feel as weighty as the k-7. Sure it helps keep excess weight down, but i prefer that weighty feeling in my hand.
| | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 10 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: May 18, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $229.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | Very supportive and comfortable grip | Cons: | Front dial is too exposed - can easily be moved accidentally | | Compared to the D-BG2 I had for the K10D, this one is so much more comfortable.
The D-BG2 was just awkward to hold in portrait mode while this one has a much deeper grip that is almost as comfortable as holding it in landscape. The shutter button is also less likely to be pressed accidentally than the old grip.
Other things I liked:
- slot to hold the rubber seal AND the pin cover (nice!)
- tray for 6 AA batteries (probably won't be using it, but nice to have)
- SD Card holder
- Not nearly has heavy has I thought
- Large base surface area makes the camera more balanced when placed on a flat surface.
What I didn't like:
- no remote control slot (D-BG2 had it!)
- off-center tripod mount (they really need to correct this for future designs)
- Very expensive for what it is
| | | | Senior Member Registered: March, 2010 Posts: 114 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: March 7, 2011 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | Great fit | Cons: | Have to remove to get body battery out | | Great fit on the K5. Wished they had both batteries in the grip and none in the body, but thats me. Otherwise, it fits the body like a glove, and the camera becomes much more "holdable" for me. Highly recommend it. | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2010 Location: Kamloops bc Posts: 2 | Review Date: December 3, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $270.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | sturdy, AA and D-L190 | Cons: | cap for pins does not stay on | | i bought the battery grip because i was going on safari and would not have the luxury of a plug. the insert for AA battery's real saved the trip allowing me to go the full 5 days with out charging the camera. the weather sealing did a great job of stopping the dust from getting in, the added shutter release button make it a very comfortable to shoot vertical shots.
now the down side is that the grip dose make it bigger for carrying around and traveling. also the grip did add some weight to the setup. the cap meant to cover the pins when not in use, once taking of seems not to like to stay on any more, forcing me to use tape.
all in all the ability to be so versatile with your power choice or using both to extend it is well worth the investment, especially for trips with limited charging options. the problems were a little inconvenient but nothing to get in the way.
| | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2010 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2 | Review Date: September 5, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $189.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | Well built, weather sealing, improves handling | Cons: | Pricecy | | I had purchased the Bower unit from B+H earlier. Reasons: Cheaper & it comes with a 3-year warranty. But it arrived DOA. I returned it and decided to buy the Pentax unit instead.
Though pricey, the Pentax unit it very well made, the buttons have a positive feel and I feel that it improves the handling of the K7 & gives it better balance when using with the 55-300mm lens & also to shot macro with attached close up lens handheld. Used with Pentax prime lenses, the extra weight of the grip actually helps me to stabilize the camera better. I have tried switching off the SR and the shots still come out Ok.
I have not tested the weather resistant function yet, I only have one WR lens, the 18-55mm kit lens and will post an update after I try it.
Compared to the Bower unit, though it costs almost double, the Pentax grip is made better, there is a real feeling of quality when holding it & finishing is first class. The two battery holders are made better, not as flimsy as the Bower unit. I believe the price will come down if Pentax decided to phase out the K7. | | | | Forum Member Registered: November, 2006 Location: Sweden Posts: 218 | Review Date: July 27, 2010 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | Build, balance, weather sealed, flexible batteries | Cons: | Lacks the card holder of the BG-2 for K10D/K20D | | I ordered the BG-4 grip with my K-7 as I had used the BG-2 grip for both my K10D and my K20D and liked the balance it gave with most lenses and as I figured that the K-7 was a bit smaller also...
It was a good choice! I love it as it has better layout of even more buttons and give great balance and grip also for vertical framing. The only flaw (which is a small one is that it lacks the holder for a meory card... | | | | Veteran Member Registered: February, 2007 Location: Freehold, NJ Posts: 856 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: May 7, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $195.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Well Balanced, AA battery option | Cons: | None | | I waited to buy my k7 till I could afford this grip (and a spare battery). The build seems much better than my grip on my k20. It balances the k7 well and adds heft to the slightly small design of the camera. The option to use AA batteries is an enormous improvement over the k20's grip, as well.
| | | | New Member Registered: January, 2010 Location: Fresno, Ca Posts: 13 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: March 26, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $200.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Excellent build, weather sealing, AA batteries or D-L190 | Cons: | cant find additional battery holders, remove to acess camera's grip battery | | A well balance to the K-7. Overall I would recommend this to anyone who owns a K-7. Not only do you gain the vertical grip, but the ergonomics are nealy the same with a vertical or horizontal position. Pentax supplies two battery holders with the grip. One for the D-L190, which also holds a spare SD card, and a AA holder which holds six AA's. Load it with six 2400 maH NiMH AA batteries and it lasts forever. Only problem is Pentax doesn't offer secondary battery holders to do a quick changes. When attatched to the K-7 you can also have a spare D-L190 inside the camera grip which is convienient until you have the charge it. Gotta take the BG-4 all the way off to get the battery out. With D-L190 in the camera if the accessory grip batteries die the camera can transfer power to the camera's battery a nice feature. If you have a K-7, buy one you will like it.
| | |