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Fstoppers Reviews 3rd Party Nikon D800 Battery Grip

July 18, 2012 - Article by joe fotosiamo

Nikon MB-D12 Battery Grip

When the Nikon D800 came out, the MB-D12 Battery Grip was released at a staggering price of $600. It was definitely a sticker shock, especially since other Nikon battery grips cost less than $300.

After several months of being out in the market, the price of the MB-D12 Battery Grip has settled down to $400. But now there are also some third-party grips available in the market, including the $101 Pixel Vertax Battery Grip and the $68 Meike Battery Grip.

Pixel-Vertax-Battery-Grip

Lee Morris from Fstoppers.com just reviewed the Pixel Vertax and it looks like that the 3rd party grip can be a decent and certainly cheaper alternative to the genuine Nikon MB-D12. There are some build quality shortcomings, like the dials not feeling as nice as the original, but Lee says that the grip overall is still sturdy. All in all, I think that it’s good to have options, especially given the $300 price difference.

Oh, and before anyone complains about how the “knock-offs” are made in China and are therefore inferior, the Nikon original is also made in China =)





So readers, would you buy or have you bought a 3rd party or knock-off battery grip for you dSLR? What has been your experience with it?

Related posts:

  1. FAKE! Nikon MB-D12 Battery Grips! Replica’s made by a company called “Pixel”
  2. Nikon EN-EL15 Battery Recall for D800, D800E and D7000 Camera Users!
  3. Equipment Review – E1 Hand Strap & BG-E2N Battery Grip
  4. Nikon D800 Earns Gold in DPReview’s Review!
  5. Nikon releases firmware update 1.01 for D4 and D800, fixes lockup issue

About the author

About joe fotosiamo
Joe is a rising fashion and commercial photographer based in Los Angeles, CA. He blends creativity and edge with a strong style of lighting and emotion in his photographs. Be sure to check out his work at www.fotosiamo.com and connect with him on Google Plus and on Facebook
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  • http://www.facebook.com/andrew.christopher.5682 Andrew Christopher

    Unless these other products are claiming to be, or sold as, an official branded product they should be refered to third party or unofficial not fake.

  • http://photokaz.com/ Mike

    I have the Nikon one, it’s good but it doesn’t really help with the overall poor design of the grip. That is of course my opinion, but I thought the D700 grip was better.

  • Ray

    I have had a ‘China Cheapie’ D700 battery grip for more than a year and it works perfectly. It too was a quarter of the price of
    the Nikon equivalent and although it might not feel as nice, I saved $300. I have ordered a ‘China Cheapie’ D800 grip too and I am just waiting for it to arrive.

  • http://www.facebook.com/fattymcfatso Nathan Tang

    I don’t have the D800, but I have a D7000 and I saw the article regarding fake grips for the D7K. It didn’t even cross my mind to buy a third party grip, even though it is substantially cheaper. It didn’t feel right to attach some fake China shit to my baby. And no, I’m not being racist, because I am Chinese. I just hate China for making all that fake shit. So, main point is, I will never buy third party grips or batteries, etc.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1161657585 Ryan Cooper

      I kinda feel like that as well but as he said in the video, if the Nikon was $50 more it wouldn’t be as big a deal but it is clear that Nikon is shamelessly and brutally gouging in regards to the battery grip. A battery grip doesn’t take any expensive RnD to create nor is it super expensive to manufacture. This is just capitalism at work. Nikon overcharges so a competitor comes in at a much lower price point.

  • JP

    Been burned to ofter and learned a long time ago to stay away from the knockoffs.

  • Dano Gruen

    I would rather spend money on excellent glass than over-priced accessories. Buy cheap, buy twice. And you will still save over the life of the camera body.

  • http://twitter.com/tobiassolem Tobias Solem

    Hey Lee, what I’m wondering is how well it attaches to the D800, does it feel as sturdy? Some past grips have been a bit flimsy with the wheel that connects to the camera making you wonder if they will hold tight or not.

  • Glen

    I bought a Phottix battery grip for my D700 a week ago, after installing it i noticed that the locking wheel won’t stop turning,i tried to to remove it but seems like it was loose tread inside already..what a joke!i can’t remove it at all! i don’t know any way how to remove it. I have same brand for my D7000,less than a year now and still working fine..

  • Miles

    I have the Nikon grip. Paid $450 but that being said: I don’t want a $100 knock-off with questionale QC frying a $3k camera. I had a bad experience with a Phottix remote shutter release and that was it for me

  • Jo Fonseca

    I have the Pixel Vertax for the 5D Mk3 at less than half the price of the original, and it doesn’t feel as good, but it does the job. Better than some previous cheaper options for the Mk2 I saw.

  • masterwks

    bought one for my backup camera a D90 a few years ago, piece of junk never did use it the battery door will not stay shut it’s for sale if someone wants it

  • Tu Dong

    I think people should stop calling it fake grip unless it is exact copy of the nikon inside out :). It is third party grip. Otherwise we would call Sigma and Tamron and Zeiss as FAKE lenses lol :)

  • Kenneth

    I have heard it said that some aftermarket grips are only to help with the handling.What one, apart from the Nikon, actually accept extra batteries for  prolonging a shoot ?

  • Rome Wilkerson

    I have been shooting with a D3s and aD700 for a few years now I have a D800 I was think of buying the real Nikon grip but after viewing your video and reading other reviews I will go with the 3rd party one put the other $300.00 to a new lens if not its a great savings

    Thank you
    Rome

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