[kjphilippona]

I purchased a clone D-BG4 Battery Grip for my K5ii and am not happy with it. All the buttons are not smooth when pressed and are noisy. I have rubbed a blister on my thumb turning the back wheel in just one time outing. My question is, is the Pentax OEM Battery Grip $55 better than this one? I only paid $20

[newmikey]

Yes, I switched a few months ago to the original DBG4 from an aftermarket grip I though was OK - the difference is really huge.

[Scorpio71GR]

When it comes to grips I always stick with the Pentax ones. I don't trust the 3rd party ones. I bought one of those 3rd party battery adapters for my K50. The stupid thing got so hot I was afraid it would melt in my camera. I ordered the Pentax one, the difference in build quality was night and day.

[JohnX]

Aftermarket grips are great if all you want to do is increase the size of the camera to better fit your hands.

That said, some here seem quite happy with them in normal use too, but in this instance I always buy Pentax if I want to use the controls on the grip and to ensure the continued WR of my camera body. Aftermarket aren't WR.

[Scorpio71GR]

I shoot in portrait mode quite a bit. I can not imagine not using those extra controls with a long lens on. I would only trust the weather sealing on a Pentax grip. Normally I just buy the grip with the body.