Pentax K7 3rd party battery grip

pop4 · 10-22-2011, 05:28 PM

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After about 20 months, my DealExtreme Battery Grip isn't functional anymore: the ISO button stopped responding, and then, not long after, fell out. My solution: just ordered another one from them. Apart from that though, that grip has served me just fine.

Also, I do have a feeling there's two versions of the DealExtreme Battery Grip; or at least they've improved it over time. I've got two of them (for 2 bodies), the first one being the one mentioned above (bought Jan 2010), and the second (bought Mar 2011). The markings on the first one rubbed off a few weeks in, and the plastic is a bit more glossy and shiny.

darrenleow · 10-22-2011, 06:55 PM

Originally posted by pop4

After about 20 months, my DealExtreme Battery Grip isn't functional anymore: the ISO button stopped responding, and then, not long after, fell out. My solution: just ordered another one from them. Apart from that though, that grip has served me just fine.

Also, I do have a feeling there's two versions of the DealExtreme Battery Grip; or at least they've improved it over time. I've got two of them (for 2 bodies), the first one being the one mentioned above (bought Jan 2010), and the second (bought Mar 2011). The markings on the first one rubbed off a few weeks in, and the plastic is a bit more glossy and shiny.

Wow, you've had your grip for a long time. Did you have any problems with the battery door knob lever? Mine bent when I secured the grip battery door, and eventually it snapped and became unusable. Does yours have a similar problem?

bossa · 10-22-2011, 07:45 PM

Originally posted by darrenleow

Wow, you've had your grip for a long time. Did you have any problems with the battery door knob lever? Mine bent when I secured the grip battery door, and eventually it snapped and became unusable. Does yours have a similar problem?

My one has two battery modules and the standard camera battery module has a twister/lever that flops about and won't stay in the recess. I don't really mind though as I stopped using mine with a battery due to camera lock-ups in the middle of a shot. In those cases the only thing that would allow me to switch OFF my camera was to physically remove the grip from the camera as the power switch would not work.

I intend to buy two genuine Pentax grips from B&H soon as I'd really like to be able to power the camera from the grip and I don't want to take any chances from here with these cheapies. B&H sell genuine grips for under 1/2 the local price and batteries at 1/3.

Regarding the paint coming off: The Chinese got into trouble not so long ago for painting kids toys with lead based paints. In the end you get what you pay for, including an assurance of safe materials and consistent standards.

pop4 · 10-22-2011, 09:08 PM

Originally posted by darrenleow

Wow, you've had your grip for a long time. Did you have any problems with the battery door knob lever? Mine bent when I secured the grip battery door, and eventually it snapped and became unusable. Does yours have a similar problem?

Nope, never had a problem in that regard with both grips.

**felixkh** · 10-23-2011, 01:47 AM

Thankfully, my dealextreme grip is serving me well since I got in on March 2011. THe plastic is now super shiny and the marking are all gone but it is still going strong.

Azzy · 12-06-2011, 07:44 PM

Wondering if this is type 2 that everyone preferred / deemed to be higher quality:
DSTE BATTERY GRIP FOR PENTAX K-7 K-5 D-BG4 +2 X D-LI90 | eBay

From the pic it looks like the type 2...have anyone used the 3rd party chinese battery aswell ?

bossa · 12-06-2011, 08:17 PM

Yes that's it.. that's the one I have. It has the metal posts, unlike many of the other units available, and only lacks the rubber weather seals and rubber cushions on the mount surface.

The textured surface is wearing off of mine (the shiny plastic parts only) and I would love to know what materials were used there. I'm starting to think that paying the full amount for the genuine grip would have been a safer way to go given the Chinese history for using toxic materials in their products. They've been known to use lead based paints in children's toys for instance.

pop4 · 12-07-2011, 02:30 AM

Originally posted by Azzy

Wondering if this is type 2 that everyone preferred / deemed to be higher quality:
DSTE BATTERY GRIP FOR PENTAX K-7 K-5 D-BG4 +2 X D-LI90 | eBay

From the pic it looks like the type 2...have anyone used the 3rd party chinese battery aswell ?

The grip looks quite similar to the DealExtreme one, so is quite possibly the type 2 one; can't comment on the battery though.

darrenleow · 12-07-2011, 02:44 AM

Originally posted by bossa

Yes that's it.. that's the one I have. It has the metal posts, unlike many of the other units available, and only lacks the rubber weather seals and rubber cushions on the mount surface.

The textured surface is wearing off of mine (the shiny plastic parts only) and I would love to know what materials were used there. I'm starting to think that paying the full amount for the genuine grip would have been a safer way to go given the Chinese history for using toxic materials in their products. They've been known to use lead based paints in children's toys for instance.

I'm going to buy a genuine grip soon and retire the DX grip to backup. As affordable as it is, I've always felt that it lowered the overall tactile experience of the camera when it was mounted because of the hollow shiny plastic, loose dials and mushy buttons.

**fewayne** · 12-07-2011, 09:10 AM

I have 3 el cheapo batteries in addition to the Pentax one that came with the K-7. One the fast-talking sales guy at Abe's of Maine up-sold me, and the other two came with the 3-party grip. I haven't done anything quantitative, but certainly haven't noticed a big problem with any of them. One is going on 2 years old, the others were May 2010. So I've used all three reasonably heavily (we're talking maybe a few thousand shutter clicks and an hour or two of video time, here).

Filip Latka · 02-07-2012, 04:19 AM

Yesterday received my grip from ebay, :/ im pretty happy for what I paid, 33 pounds ! In UK original DBG4 cost you 200 pounds ! Good value for the money, we will see for how long this will last.

legacyb4 · 02-07-2012, 09:33 PM

Didn't seem to have the issue on my K20D with 3rd party batteries, but with the K-5 and a 3rd part battery, the camera "hung" as the battery was getting low. Ended up having to pop the battery out to bring the camera back around; scared the crap out of me as I was on a work-related outing and forgot that battery was in there...

Originally posted by fewayne

I have 3 el cheapo batteries in addition to the Pentax one that came with the K-7. One the fast-talking sales guy at Abe's of Maine up-sold me, and the other two came with the 3-party grip. I haven't done anything quantitative, but certainly haven't noticed a big problem with any of them. One is going on 2 years old, the others were May 2010. So I've used all three reasonably heavily (we're talking maybe a few thousand shutter clicks and an hour or two of video time, here).

mamonmon · 02-08-2012, 02:47 AM

i use Phottix brand battery grip for Pentax K7 and its great!

**DizziPixel** · 06-18-2012, 07:33 PM

Thanks for everyone's input on the 3rd party battery grips. After weighing many (not all) of your posts, I will order an OEM grip for my week old K5. My main reason for getting a battery grip is if I should ever be in a spot where all I had access to were AA batteries, this would be a bacon saver. I really don't want to hose up the best camera I've ever owned....and the posts here give me serious doubts as to the safety of the knockoffs. Update 10/17/12 - Still haven't bothered to buy a battery grip. I had my K-5 firing away for 100s of shots and the battery has help up just fine. Did buy a spare battery, just in case. Am still very happy with this camera.

p38arover · 06-19-2012, 04:59 AM

I may have to buy an aftermarket grip. Pentax Australia list the D-BG4 at A$399 (that's just over US$400). If it was under A$200, I'd probably buy the genuine article.

Now, should I guy one with a pair of batteries? Those worry me more than the grip.

12-07-2011, 09:10 AM	#220
fewayne Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 115	I have 3 el cheapo batteries in addition to the Pentax one that came with the K-7. One the fast-talking sales guy at Abe's of Maine up-sold me, and the other two came with the 3-party grip. I haven't done anything quantitative, but certainly haven't noticed a big problem with any of them. One is going on 2 years old, the others were May 2010. So I've used all three reasonably heavily (we're talking maybe a few thousand shutter clicks and an hour or two of video time, here). Last edited by fewayne; 12-07-2011 at 09:21 AM.

06-18-2012, 07:33 PM	#224
DizziPixel Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: DFW, TX Posts: 25	Thanks for everyone's input on the 3rd party battery grips. After weighing many (not all) of your posts, I will order an OEM grip for my week old K5. My main reason for getting a battery grip is if I should ever be in a spot where all I had access to were AA batteries, this would be a bacon saver. I really don't want to hose up the best camera I've ever owned....and the posts here give me serious doubts as to the safety of the knockoffs. Update 10/17/12 - Still haven't bothered to buy a battery grip. I had my K-5 firing away for 100s of shots and the battery has help up just fine. Did buy a spare battery, just in case. Am still very happy with this camera. Last edited by DizziPixel; 10-17-2012 at 09:53 AM. Reason: Incomplete content

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10-22-2011, 05:28 PM	#211
pop4 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: YMML Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,879	Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. After about 20 months, my DealExtreme Battery Grip isn't functional anymore: the ISO button stopped responding, and then, not long after, fell out. My solution: just ordered another one from them. Apart from that though, that grip has served me just fine. Also, I do have a feeling there's two versions of the DealExtreme Battery Grip; or at least they've improved it over time. I've got two of them (for 2 bodies), the first one being the one mentioned above (bought Jan 2010), and the second (bought Mar 2011). The markings on the first one rubbed off a few weeks in, and the plastic is a bit more glossy and shiny.

10-22-2011, 06:55 PM	#212
darrenleow Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chicago Photos: Gallery Posts: 541	Originally posted by pop4 After about 20 months, my DealExtreme Battery Grip isn't functional anymore: the ISO button stopped responding, and then, not long after, fell out. My solution: just ordered another one from them. Apart from that though, that grip has served me just fine. Also, I do have a feeling there's two versions of the DealExtreme Battery Grip; or at least they've improved it over time. I've got two of them (for 2 bodies), the first one being the one mentioned above (bought Jan 2010), and the second (bought Mar 2011). The markings on the first one rubbed off a few weeks in, and the plastic is a bit more glossy and shiny. Wow, you've had your grip for a long time. Did you have any problems with the battery door knob lever? Mine bent when I secured the grip battery door, and eventually it snapped and became unusable. Does yours have a similar problem?

10-22-2011, 07:45 PM	#213
bossa Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Adelaide Posts: 4,546	Originally posted by darrenleow Wow, you've had your grip for a long time. Did you have any problems with the battery door knob lever? Mine bent when I secured the grip battery door, and eventually it snapped and became unusable. Does yours have a similar problem? My one has two battery modules and the standard camera battery module has a twister/lever that flops about and won't stay in the recess. I don't really mind though as I stopped using mine with a battery due to camera lock-ups in the middle of a shot. In those cases the only thing that would allow me to switch OFF my camera was to physically remove the grip from the camera as the power switch would not work. I intend to buy two genuine Pentax grips from B&H soon as I'd really like to be able to power the camera from the grip and I don't want to take any chances from here with these cheapies. B&H sell genuine grips for under 1/2 the local price and batteries at 1/3. Regarding the paint coming off: The Chinese got into trouble not so long ago for painting kids toys with lead based paints. In the end you get what you pay for, including an assurance of safe materials and consistent standards.

10-22-2011, 09:08 PM	#214
pop4 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: YMML Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,879	Originally posted by darrenleow Wow, you've had your grip for a long time. Did you have any problems with the battery door knob lever? Mine bent when I secured the grip battery door, and eventually it snapped and became unusable. Does yours have a similar problem? Nope, never had a problem in that regard with both grips.

10-23-2011, 01:47 AM	#215
felixkh Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,201	Thankfully, my dealextreme grip is serving me well since I got in on March 2011. THe plastic is now super shiny and the marking are all gone but it is still going strong.

12-06-2011, 07:44 PM	#216
Azzy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 201	Wondering if this is type 2 that everyone preferred / deemed to be higher quality: DSTE BATTERY GRIP FOR PENTAX K-7 K-5 D-BG4 +2 X D-LI90 \| eBay From the pic it looks like the type 2...have anyone used the 3rd party chinese battery aswell ?

12-06-2011, 08:17 PM	#217
bossa Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Adelaide Posts: 4,546	Yes that's it.. that's the one I have. It has the metal posts, unlike many of the other units available, and only lacks the rubber weather seals and rubber cushions on the mount surface. The textured surface is wearing off of mine (the shiny plastic parts only) and I would love to know what materials were used there. I'm starting to think that paying the full amount for the genuine grip would have been a safer way to go given the Chinese history for using toxic materials in their products. They've been known to use lead based paints in children's toys for instance.

12-07-2011, 02:30 AM	#218
pop4 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: YMML Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,879	Originally posted by Azzy Wondering if this is type 2 that everyone preferred / deemed to be higher quality: DSTE BATTERY GRIP FOR PENTAX K-7 K-5 D-BG4 +2 X D-LI90 \| eBay From the pic it looks like the type 2...have anyone used the 3rd party chinese battery aswell ? The grip looks quite similar to the DealExtreme one, so is quite possibly the type 2 one; can't comment on the battery though.

12-07-2011, 02:44 AM	#219
darrenleow Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chicago Photos: Gallery Posts: 541	Originally posted by bossa Yes that's it.. that's the one I have. It has the metal posts, unlike many of the other units available, and only lacks the rubber weather seals and rubber cushions on the mount surface. The textured surface is wearing off of mine (the shiny plastic parts only) and I would love to know what materials were used there. I'm starting to think that paying the full amount for the genuine grip would have been a safer way to go given the Chinese history for using toxic materials in their products. They've been known to use lead based paints in children's toys for instance. I'm going to buy a genuine grip soon and retire the DX grip to backup. As affordable as it is, I've always felt that it lowered the overall tactile experience of the camera when it was mounted because of the hollow shiny plastic, loose dials and mushy buttons.

02-07-2012, 04:19 AM	#221
Filip Latka New Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: London Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 14	Yesterday received my grip from ebay, :/ im pretty happy for what I paid, 33 pounds ! In UK original DBG4 cost you 200 pounds ! Good value for the money, we will see for how long this will last.

02-07-2012, 09:33 PM	#222
legacyb4 Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Tri-Cities, British Columbia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,784	Didn't seem to have the issue on my K20D with 3rd party batteries, but with the K-5 and a 3rd part battery, the camera "hung" as the battery was getting low. Ended up having to pop the battery out to bring the camera back around; scared the crap out of me as I was on a work-related outing and forgot that battery was in there... Originally posted by fewayne I have 3 el cheapo batteries in addition to the Pentax one that came with the K-7. One the fast-talking sales guy at Abe's of Maine up-sold me, and the other two came with the 3-party grip. I haven't done anything quantitative, but certainly haven't noticed a big problem with any of them. One is going on 2 years old, the others were May 2010. So I've used all three reasonably heavily (we're talking maybe a few thousand shutter clicks and an hour or two of video time, here).

02-08-2012, 02:47 AM	#223
mamonmon New Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Philippines Posts: 16	i use Phottix brand battery grip for Pentax K7 and its great!

06-19-2012, 04:59 AM	#225
p38arover Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Western Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,084	I may have to buy an aftermarket grip. Pentax Australia list the D-BG4 at A$399 (that's just over US$400). If it was under A$200, I'd probably buy the genuine article. Now, should I guy one with a pair of batteries? Those worry me more than the grip.