Name: Vivitar PG-5DMIII Deluxe Power Grip for Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Brand: Vivitar
SKU: VVPG5DM3
Price: 59.95 USD
Availability: Discontinued
Rating: 3.67 (9 reviews)

Vivitar PG-5DMIII Deluxe Power Grip for Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Vivitar PG-5DMIII

Vivitar

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Camera Accessories

Battery Grips

Vivitar Battery Grips

Vivitar PG-5DMIII 

Buy: Vivitar PG-5DMIII Deluxe Power Grip for Canon EOS 5D Mark III Accessory Type: Battery Grips, Compatibility: Canon 5D Mark III

The Vivitar PG-5DMIII Deluxe Power Grip for Canon EOS 5D Mark III holds 2 LP-E6 batteries, providing twice the power. It also includes an adapter that allows you to place 6 AA batteries for extended shooting time. The Power Grip provides a vertical shutter release button and easy power on/off switch. This option makes shooting with the camera in a vertical position just as comfortable as shooting horizontally. The Power Grip attaches through the tripod mount on the bottom of the camera.

Grip

Not reliable at ALL!

The good: Inexpensive, fits great, good texture.

The bad: The buttons are very sensitive, throws my setting off at the lightest touch.  But even that I can live with.  The worse is that, every time I charge the batteries, I have to make absolutely sure that the camera's top wheel doesn't freeze (turns fine, but does nothing, doesn't change my aperture settings).  Most times I have to remove the battery case, switch the batteries around, and even then it is touch n' go if it works.  Sometimes I have to detach the whole grip from the camera to make it work.  And even worse, many (MANY!) times, the wheel stops working right in the middle of a shoot.  Look, I thought I got a defective unit, but I have two of them, on two different cameras, and both are doing the same thing.  And it is getting worse and worse!

Time to get OEM.  Sorry, I really wanted to like them, but this is unacceptable.

Save your money, get something else, even if it is not OEM.

First time using a grip. So far so good. Button lay out is great. Like the fact that when shooting  portrait style you don't have to reach around the top of camera. Love the dual battery  capability and that if by some chance you run out of battery life you can use AA batteries.

First time using a grip. So far so good. Button lay out is great

Works perfectly, fitment required a few attemptes to seat properly.  Joystick works fine but feels a bit soft with little feed back.  Over all it's worth the price paid and has not come off my 5D since purchase.

Great for the money but has its quirks

The reason I say this is a quirky item, is that it would fire the shutter but I have my 5D3 setup to focus from the rear button not as part of the shutter release, as many of us do.  none of the rear buttons were working.  I was getting ready to return the grip when I decided to do something else.  I checked the batteries to make sure they were seated correctly, and they were, I then slammed them into the grip several times & locked them in.  And magically all buttons worked.  I had read online that somebody had to do this with another manufacturers 3rd party grip to get it working.  I believe the tolerances are just off a little at the contact points.  I tested for a week with no problems, and have now used it in over 60 hours of professional level shooting and NO problems.  I was even got in a mild to heavy rain, worked just fine.    The one thing I did find better than the Canon version was the feel of the grip when in vertical orientation seems better.  I have very large hands and Vivitar version is molded slightly different.  Just feels like more to hang onto.  When I switch back to my other 5D3 with a Canon grip, I feel as though it's less substantial.  Good luck with it, cause for the money it makes you think Canon is sticking it to you somewhat, and I'm huge Canon Guy with over $70,000 invested in their gear over the years.

Good for the Money, but Quirky

I put this on my camera and out of the box the main dial has dead spots in it. For example in Av, each click of the wheel should move me up or down one f- stop. It does for the most part, but there are 2 dead spots; one that takes three clicks to move to the next and one that takes 2. Not something I want happening if I'm shooting an event and need to get my settings right quickly. If you want a grip that works in all functions, save your money and buy the Canon.

Don't Buy

I use this product for all kinds of events: Weddings parties, Studio Portraits, etc;;
This is built better than the original; construction is miticulously done with top of the line materials. On the technical sides, it performances 120% . Electronically great and satisfying and never miss a shot.
There is no negatives about this Vivitar Battery Grip

5 Times Better Than Canon

Don't blow your money on the Canon brand battery grip. This one is identical. It DOES have the thumb joystick and all the functions are the SAME as the Canon.
It does NOT say Vivitar ANYWHERE on it so no one will know it's not the Canon brand. Save your money, buy the Vivitar. I did and I used the money I saved toward a used Canon 40D as a back up camera to my 5D Mark III. Win/Win

Just as good as Canon

I bought this grip expecting a lightweight and somewhat durable build. I was pleasantly surprised when I picked it up and it had some heft to it and felt really well constructed. I like that I can snap the Canon battery door onto it and not have to worry about losing it. The texture of the grip is actually a little bit more grippy than the Mark III's grip. I can fit my hands around the battery grip and it feel comfortable. In order to use the grip it has an ON/OFF switch. I'm not sure if it drains the battery if you leave it on but I always turn it off when I'm done. The shutter release button, I think, is actually better than the Mark III's. The Mark III's doesn't really have defined levels of between autofocusing and releasing the shutter, but the grip does. There's a small click between each function and you can feel each level when you press down. Also, the autofocus point selection toggle is easier to use than the Mark III's I think too. The only issues I have with the grip is that the shutter speed dial is clunky feeling and the AF-ON and the other buttons don't feel like the Mark III's but they work just like they're supposed to. Also, trying to move your thumb over to adjust the aperture is kind of a stretch if you're holding the grip. But I'm sure this would be a similar issue if it was the Canon brand grip. I really like this grip though and am happy that I bought it.