| Author: | | amateur dirt farmer Registered: December, 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Posts: 41,636 | | Review Date: March 31, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $118.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | better ergonomics, second battery if needed | | Cons: | adds to bulk of camera | |
Excellent piece of kit - this should be on everyone's radar if you ever turn the camera to portrait orientation...
This is such an improvement on the camera body's ergonomics - adding the battery grip should definitely be an option if you buy the body new...
Build quality is excellent and I cannot tell the difference in battery usage between a single in the grip or in the camera body itself...
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2017 Location: Versailles, France Posts: 19 | | Review Date: January 17, 2019 | Not Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: N/A |
| Pros: | Better handling, can hold a second battery & a third SD card | | Cons: | Drain the batteries | |
I got my grip on Amazon with 2 additionnal batteries and an USB charger.
All are very usefull.
But I don't know why, when the grip is attached to the camera body, my batteries are drained very, very rapidly. That's the case even if I use 2 Pentax batteries (1 in the body & 1 in the grip). That makes the grip almost unusable, I have to constantly screw & unscrew it. Even doing that, my 4 batteries last a single day combined (apprx from nine to six).
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: May, 2008 Location: London, UK Posts: 1,697
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 20, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $110.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Works well | | Cons: | Not a lot | |
I bought a used gen grip to go with the used, low shutter-count K3 II I picked up very cheaply (£80 sterling for the grip!) in Spring 2017, and I also have a knock-off DSTE version that I use with the K-3.
Not a lot of difference between the two, although I use neither combo when the weather is "bad" and so I can't comment on the weather-proofing aspect, or in the vertical mode because I don't use that either.
Both work pretty well, so you "pays your money and you makes your choice".
OTOH, nowadays I only use D-Li90s, or DSTE knockoffs thereof - whereas I found that when using the 6x AA battery holders with the K-3 and K-5, the knock-off grips were very poor and the batteries often didn't make consistent contact with each other due to the weakness of the battery clamping springs.
Seems "reasonable" as there are far more inter-battery contact points in the 6x AA holders, and the knock-offs seem to have weaker springs!
| | | | | Seeker of Knowledge Registered: August, 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Posts: 24,581 | | Review Date: February 18, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $7.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Size and design | | Cons: | None | |
B H was running special buy new K 3 II and this battery grip for $7 over price of the K 3 II alone
Bought in Nov of 2017
Deal is still being offered as of the date of this review
| | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: October, 2008 Location: Greensboro,NC Posts: 503 | | Review Date: August 23, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $94.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | WR, better handling | | Cons: | maybe the price, but you get what you pay for. | |
Not really sure what more I can add to what has already been said. I got mine in excellent condition used for $94, which seems to be a good price for the genuine pentax grip. I had the knock offs on my K7 and K5 bodies in the past and they both worked and really don't handle any different than this one (and only cost about $35) but this one has obviously better build quality and WR I can trust.
| | | | | Closed Account Registered: March, 2015 Posts: 8,694 | | Review Date: May 1, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $185.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Improves camera balance, extended shooting time, AA battery cartridge, weather sealed | | Cons: | None for me | |
The D-BG5 battery grip is a great addition to my K-3 IMO. Being the genuine Pentax grip, weather sealing is maintained. When using heavier lenses, the balance of the K-3 is much better. Being able to use AA batteries when unable to recharge the D-Li90 lithium batteries is a very useful feature.The cameras performance is enhanced also, as changing the orientation to portrait no longer makes the camera awkward to use. Having the green button, e-dials, ISO, exposure compensation, AF button and AE-L buttons on the grip is so much more user friendly in portrait orientation than trying to use those buttons on the camera without the grip. The battery grip makes this great camera even better to use. I can highly recommend this accessory.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: March, 2016 Posts: 41 | | Review Date: April 16, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Size | | Cons: | plasticky | |
Nice to use, the battery door is a bit plasticky, should have been metal.
Doesn't come with a battery, major let down.
Not bad overall and improves an otherwise too small K3ii
| | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2015 Location: Iasi Posts: 14 | | Review Date: April 11, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $205.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | built like a tank, ergonomics | | Cons: | hard to remove, no safety pin for battery holder | |
Built quality is Pentax standard, no surprises there. This grip is built like a tank.
Good ergonomics, I love the safety latch on the battery door (as well as on the camera), but the battery holder has no safety pin, so if the battery door is open the holder and battery will fall out, unless your hand is in the way.
The grip balances the camera very well, I now love shooting my DA* 300/4.
Maybe it's just me, but I've been struggling every time to get this grip off the camera, in order to remove and recharge the camera battery. I've finally figured out a perfect portable accessory to help me do that on the go, since it is absolutely impossible to unscrew it using only my fingers.
All in all, a must have accessory
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: February, 2008 Location: UK Posts: 34 | | Review Date: April 7, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Improved Grip for Sports and Wildlife when using bigger lenses | | Cons: | NONE (other than adding additional weight) | |
Solid and very well made, Was very expensive when first released but now very affordable and worth every penny. I use it on My K3 with the DA* 300 f4 which i only use for wildlife and occasional sports events involving family and friends.
It's Great having the ability to use another battery but also having the backup of the AA adapter in case of emergencies.
With the Grip added it balances bigger lenses excellently but also adds a great deal of extra weight which can become heavy if walking around with it.
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: September, 2013 Posts: 62 | | Review Date: February 7, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | vertical frame control, double power, better grip for big hands. | | Cons: | not detected | |
very high quality and stiff thing, as a camera itself.
easy to attach and to remove.
than grip is removed, camera still hold the battery to power on.
in case of using pentax D-Li90 battery we have double power. (2x13 = 26Wh)
in case of using D-Li90 in camera and 6x2.5Ah Ni-ME battery, we have 13+18=31 Wh
in case of using one OEM D-Li90 and one NOT OEM D-Li90, what usually 9-10Wh, it is still about 21-22 Wh energy capacity...
lithium battery insert also store spare CD card, so You can store small Eye-Fee or Flu-card inside and use it when needed.
but I need this for grip and vertical frame shooting.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2011 Location: Vaasa Posts: 818 | | Review Date: November 2, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $179.00
| Rating: 9 |
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I have always wanted a battery grip. Now that I got a K-3. I got one for myself.
No issues except one. I find it strange that I have put turn on the power on the grip before the shutter button works. Even if the body switch is turned on.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Posts: 12,285 | | Review Date: January 1, 2015 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | WR, Portrait dedicated buttons, SD storage, extra battery | | Cons: | Offset tripod mount | |
My wife bought me a K-3 that came with the Grip & Flucard included - hence no price listed. I've lived with a grip on my K-5 & K-5iis for several years and can't conceive of using them without one. When my K-5 grip developed a fault and had to go to CRIS for service (great job, excellent turn around time, fixed the first time) I bought a knockoff grip (not bad) because the camera just didn't feel right without the grip. So, I'm glad she got me the combination of camera and grip because if it were just a body only purchase I'd be out trying to find a bargain on a grip.
The Pros are pretty long:
- Adds AA battery support to the K3 increasing its versatility in the field
- Improves ergonomics for Portrait orientation dramatically
- Improves shooting time dramatically
- Comes with drawers for both Pentax and AA batteries
- Well constructed
- Slots for the pin covers built into the grip
- SD Card holder for the Pentax battery drawer
- Selectable source for battery (grip vs camera 1st)
- Wider base than camera base, thereby adding stability when put down
- Excellent replication of the camera body's button and wheel placement but in the vertical!
- Can turn off buttons on grip when shooting in standard orientation
The Cons is a fairly short list:
- Cost
- Off-set tripod attachment point
The option of AAs also give me an added level of security in the field because you can get AAs nearly anywhere in the world. I'm a huge fan of AAs and Eneloops.
| | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2014 Location: Plaisir Posts: 2 | | Review Date: November 24, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $250.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Handling, choice between batterie AA and battery pack | | Cons: | no add SD Memory, just storage of the card not use | |
This GRIP must be with the K3.
Your life, your handle change and it's better !
We have choice between 6x AA batteries and battery pack Pentax.
You must buy this accessory ! 
Just perfect !
| | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2013 Posts: 5 | | Review Date: March 7, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $274.94
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | handling of the K-3, WR, buttons/dials are good, fits 100% | | Cons: | pricey, plastic build (but solid), shutter button pressure point, off-center tripod mount | |
First at all I bought this grip in germany and yes I had to pay 345USD equal to the EUR currency. Wow that is eypensive and yet the same pile of money you had to ring up for the K-5's D BG-4.
Consequently I expected it to be just "perfect".
The Pentax description and specifications are correct so there is nothing to add.
Personally coming from an K-5 where I had to adjust myself to the "loose" shutter release button (meaning that the spring or the travel way of your thumb for half way shutter press is not that tight).
Well the new K-3 also (in my oppinion) has the "problem" with a "loose" shutter release button, at least for the half way press AF (while the pressure point for shutter release is more defined compared to my Nikon D7000).
On occasion I am using the half way press for AF, but mostly the dedicated AF-button on the back.
Speaking about the battery grip ... I am not sure if I got a faulty example, but compared to the K-5 or K-3 shutter button there is absolutely no resistance operating the half way shutter press. This said, even a mosquito could autofocus the camera with the grip. It is so "loose" my finger is wondering, if the well defined pressure point of the BG-shutter button is reached.
Good thing, the BG can be switched off (which should be done not using the cam in portrait modus). As an addition there is also a dedicated AF button, which is in my case (I have big hands) not perfectly to reach with my thumb.
The screw for attaching the grip to the camera has the same issues as the D BG-4 ... a wobbly plastic wheel that is not fixed tight with the screw.
Altogether it is again plastic build, but with a good feeling for your hands. I would love to see the grip in alloy/magnesium bringing a little more weight to the camera so that it wouldn't be dragged down by the weight of the lens (when putting it on a table or so).
You can still put the plastic covers from the contacts into the grip's moulds. Still the 6AA battery mount and the D-LI90+SD-card mount are deliverd.
Weather resistance was not tested, but I am wondering if the little foam rubber sealing can withstand this stuff.
Summing up I give it 8 stars (I am a fanboy and never compared it to the china crap...sorry ), because:
negs:
- pricey
- plastic build (more a neutral position, because all grips were made of plastic)
- the shutter button AF-press thing really bugs me
- tripod fix point is not in optical axis (I am wondering, if that could be realized in terms of design and functionality)
- fixing screw wobbles (man this grip costs a fortune)
pros:
+ WR, but not tested ... still I had the grip on my K-5 (now K-3) always attached cause of better handling so why risk a damage by a not sealed grip
+ build quality in general (still it is plastic, but it fits 100% and feels comfy)
+ at least on my unit, all the other dedicated buttons have very good pressure points
+ dials work perfectly are not loose in any way
+ increases the handling of the camera with large tele primes (and the long desired AW TC)
neutral:
~ I am a bit afraid of the little mechanism known from the D BG-4 and so on, which is used to lock the battery mount, while I never had any issues with the old bg
~ forget about easy access to the battery inside the camera while the grip is attached but hey ... it is a robust, weeather sealed grip
edit: congrats on your awesome BH-photo store in the U.S. and their unbelievable kit offers (K-3, grip, prime lens) WOW wish they would have done such offers in GER
EDIT (april 2014):
I changed the review to 9 stars of rating, because recent issues with the high price have been solved. In the Pentax EU online shop the retial price was set at 199 Euros (274.94 USD) compared to 249 (345 USD) Euros at the distributors. Wee, after some emailing I got a refund from my awesome distributor (tekade in germany) and have been told that there were some issues regarding the pricing of the grip.
Additional information:
I heavily used the BG with cheap/bad batteries (even so calles "photography" AA cells) but they all kinda sucked. The voltage dropped really fast and then I had the problem with a flapping mirror. As soon as I replaced the batteries with original D-LI90 cell or black eneloops the problem was solved. Also the endurance is way better.
So far nothing further. | | |
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