Suggestions for rechargeable AA with this grip? This battery grip is high on my list, but I am trying to decide the best route to take with regards to battery choice. I currently use the D300 as-is and have no problems, but increased shooting life and the ability to use AA is a big plus.For those of you who use this grip, do you use AA or the Nikon batteries? If you use AA, do you use rechargeables, and if so, what kind? I have a set of rechargeable AAs that work great with the SB-800, but the same batteries drain really fast in my wife's compact camera and other electonics.I'm just looking for the best overall performance, and I expect to carry a charger and collection of spare AAs with me, so size and weight do not matter much. Suggestions for rechargeable AA with this grip? This battery grip is high on my list, but I am trying to decide the best route to take with regards to battery choice. I currently use the D300 as-is... » Read More Suggestions for rechargeable AA with this grip? This battery grip is high on my list, but I am trying to decide the best route to take with regards to battery choice. I currently use the D300 as-is and have no problems, but increased shooting life and the ability to use AA is a big plus.For those of you who use this grip, do you use AA or the Nikon batteries? If you use AA, do you use rechargeables, and if so, what kind? I have a set of rechargeable AAs that work great with the SB-800, but the same batteries drain really fast in my wife's compact camera and other electonics.I'm just looking for the best overall performance, and I expect to carry a charger and collection of spare AAs with me, so size and weight do not matter much. « Show Less
221142
With my MB-D200 I carry the charged EN-EL3e as a spare and 6, 12 or more rechargeables (depending the assignment) These are 2500 - 2900 mA NiMH and generally last more or less as long as the proprietary battery. I have not seen much performance difference between expensive and cheap ones, but I guess the cheap ones will just die sooner (well, maybe not...) In the case of the MB-D10 of course, you would have to pack multiples of 8. Anyway, I always carry a box full of charged NiMH's, because I have to "feed" the flashes as well.
343273
Mine has worked perfectly as well since I bought it - no issues or problems at all. Not sure exactly what you mean by 'replacement pack' of batteries - I have only used the Nikon brand batteries in this grip, and like Chad K. posted - stay with the name brand for batteries. You won't be disappointed.
1934107
For me, the batteries lasst long enough on my Nikon S6300. I would only quibble with the mAh rating. The lower rating on the original Nikon battery lasts a little bit longer than the Wasabi batteries. It's no big deal... they last long enough, especially for the price difference between the batteries. I can't buy a Nikon branded battery for the same price as the Wasabi kit, with two batteries, a charger, and an auto adapter. Feels like I got away with something.
666619
HI John,Answer: I use it with my Canon D60 and it works wonderfully! BUT ..it eats the batteries! When not in use it still consumes battery power. Be forewarned, install a new battery and in just 3 days.....it's dead!The trick to this delima is to either remove the battery when not in use or place a small piece of paper between the battery + terminal and the contact (with a small tab that sticks out). When needed, simply pull the paper tab and you can use the Wireless Shutter release. Not a technically advanced system...but I spent more on batteries in the beginning than I did for the Wireless Shutter Release. HI John,Answer: I use it with my Canon D60 and it works wonderfully! BUT ..it eats the batteries! When not in use it still consumes battery power. Be forewarned, install a new battery and in just 3 days.....it's dead!The trick to this delima is to either remove the battery when not in use or place a small piece of paper between the battery + terminal and the contact (with a small tab that sticks out). When needed, simply pull the paper tab and you can use the Wireless Shutter release. Not a technically advanced system...but I spent more on batteries in the beginning than I... » Read More HI John,Answer: I use it with my Canon D60 and it works wonderfully! BUT ..it eats the batteries! When not in use it still consumes battery power. Be forewarned, install a new battery and in just 3 days.....it's dead!The trick to this delima is to either remove the battery when not in use or place a small piece of paper between the battery + terminal and the contact (with a small tab that sticks out). When needed, simply pull the paper tab and you can use the Wireless Shutter release. Not a technically advanced system...but I spent more on batteries in the beginning than I did for the Wireless Shutter Release. « Show Less
1593063
After about 6 months, I started getting the error message. I purchased a NEEWER® Pro Battery Grip for Nikon D5100 EN-EL14 DSLR Camera from Amazon. Now, all I have to do is put the Nikon battery in first, and I don't get the error message. I have yet to completely run down both batteries in one session. Even with over 650 RAW images shot at an air show, there was plenty of battery left. As far as fitting the charger, it has to or it wouldn't fit the camera.
322265
I have 2 different after market chargers (this being one of them) and have used 4 different brands of after market batteries in them and in the Canon charger. I bought dual chargers because I use a battery grip. All of the chargers worked with all of the mixed brand batteries and when I have had an issue with charging a specific battery it has always been the battery and not the charger. Since this is for a 6D (new to the market) I'm assuming that you just purchased this battery and you're attempting to charge it for the first time. I believe your issue is a bad battery and not a quirky charger. Hope this helped. P.S Nice camera, Enjoy! I have 2 different after market chargers (this being one of them) and have used 4 different brands of after market batteries in them and in the Canon charger. I bought dual chargers because I use a battery grip. All of the chargers worked with all of the mixed brand batteries and when I have had an issue with charging a specific battery it has always been the battery and not the charger. Since this is for a 6D (new to the market) I'm assuming that you just purchased this battery and you're attempting to charge it for the first time. I believe your issue is a bad battery and not a quirky... » Read More I have 2 different after market chargers (this being one of them) and have used 4 different brands of after market batteries in them and in the Canon charger. I bought dual chargers because I use a battery grip. All of the chargers worked with all of the mixed brand batteries and when I have had an issue with charging a specific battery it has always been the battery and not the charger. Since this is for a 6D (new to the market) I'm assuming that you just purchased this battery and you're attempting to charge it for the first time. I believe your issue is a bad battery and not a quirky charger. Hope this helped. P.S Nice camera, Enjoy! « Show Less
1584885
Thanks, not really an issue, grip works fine. I just wondered, since both batteries are always in play, why the shutter count for each battery and be different. A nit, really.
405969
I have a 3200 not a 3100, however suspect the same as far as battery goes? I seem to remember I had to use the genuine Nikon battery as one of the two to get it started. From then on it has worked with non genuine batteries in both spots. I did read once that the bios upgrade for the camera would prevent any aftermarket batteries from working, si I haven't upgraded mine. I love mine and esp. the shutter release on the grip for when holding camera in vertical or portrait position.
844893
That's a helpful post, Tyrone, thanks. My FlipHD has horrible battery life on the rechargeable batteries, but I've yet to try regular alkaline AAs. Will do that and see if that helps things.
2282812
I think an "oblique" answer might do you the most good. The battery, an EL 12, can be bought at stores like Best Buy or online through Amazon. I have a number of Nikons and fortunately most use the EL 12. Once you say that, then you keep THEM (not IT) charged with a wall charger, so the camera is always ready and not tethered. Your camera is superb. It hopefully gets a lot of use. Two (or more) batteries and a wall charger keep you up and running fulltime.
893451
So far as the grip is concerned, the only time you use AC power is to recharge the batteries when they are out of the grip. . All accessory connections plug into the side of the 5D Mark III, except the AC adapter that goes into the same slot as the grip itself. If you use the AC adapter that is shaped like a battery and goes into the camera, you'll take off the grip and insert the adapter battery in the bottom of the camera. The grip provides 2 batteries, and long battery life, many exposures. Of course, you only need one AC adapter and you can have access by the simple removal of the grip from the camera. I don't use the AC adapter. I want my camera free as possible and I like the button placement and size of the grip, so it is always in place. If you have 2 chargers for your batteries or perhaps 2 chargers and a spare set of batteries as well, you'll find the grip works quite well and the AC adapter is not required (unless you have a very specific industrial or other application for the camera). I know of no photographers who use anything other than the grip--no one I know who uses the AC adapter. I don't like cords in my way. Good luck.
946664
My experience has been very good... Over Christmas for example, I had a battery last me for a few days, and that's with shooting probably 20 photos and a little video each day. On trips where I'm doing a lot of shooting I may go through a battery each day and recharge at night. Since I have two batteries I just cycle them through and am never lacking a charged battery. When I got my camera, a firmware update made battery life significantly better... Could be the same for you. Best of luck!
1055173
My experience has been very good... Over Christmas for example, I had a battery last me for a few days, and that's with shooting probably 20 photos and a little video each day. On trips where I'm doing a lot of shooting I may go through a battery each day and recharge at night. Since I have two batteries I just cycle them through and am never lacking a charged battery. When I got my camera, a firmware update made battery life significantly better... Could be the same for you.Best of luck!
2104518
Hi Ann! Well the main differences are that the 25 uses AA batteries and the 30 requires a proprietary battery. This means that if you run out of battery power with the 30 you either have another (expensive) proprietary battery or you wait until the battery recharges( a couple of hours) before you get to shoot again. With the 25 you just pop into your local convenience store, buy a set of AA's and you are back shooting again. Me, I carry three sets of hybrid rechargeable batteries so it is unlikely I will ever run out of power, but if I do... The RAW option is good if you like spending hours and hours behind your computer screen making the "perfect" picture. I do not so I opted for the 25( I have had three cameras with RAW and have learned that shooting and tweaking is more fun than the drudgery of manipulating and converting RAW files). The only other difference is that the 30 has a slightly larger viewfinder which would be nice if I did not have to buy the extra proprietary battery(nearly 25 percent of the cameras purchase price each-and I would need three total i.e. and extra hundred bucks) instead of the three sets of set of four hybrid AA's(way less than the price of one of the 30's batteries). So if lots of extra work-time, extra expensive back-up batteries to make sure you never run out of power on a shoot and a slightly bigger viewfinder are worth it to you then the 30 is the better camera. Oh, did I mention the 30 also costs thirty percent more to buy than the 25? So the Hs25EXR is the choice for a fun camera that will do 99 percent everything the HS30EXR will do AND it will do it for less money to buy, be less work( i.e. more fun!), cheaper to power(I get 500 plus shots per set of fully charged Hybrids-mostly using the eye-level finder). The HS25EXR is the one I bought for all those reasons and more. Either way they will both be fun and that is after all the whole point of a Super duper super zoom, right?
1451639
The grip attaches to the bottom of the camera. The camera body retains it's own battery and the grip holds a second. The grip will take either a duplicate of the D7100 Nikon battery or a multiple AA batteries by switching out the battery sled. With both batteries inserted, your battery life will essentially double. Now, the grip is not perfect. Mine, at times, looses connection with the camera. But, for the cost, you do get an extended grip and the means to shoot vertical with the extra shutter button.
1070112
You can put 2 batteries on the grip but The grip use one battery at the time and when this battery is power empty the grip uses the other battery. The grip has no switch. The grip is functional with 1 battery if you want. I have big hands and the grip is perfect to have my camera in my hands, ita feel better holding the camera with the grip on. You need a charger for each battery if you want to charge the 2 batteries at the same time. I charge one first and then the other because i have just one charger.
2089823
I am using Sony AA rechargeables. No reason Nikons won't work as long as they are AA's