Product Review: Phottix Battery Grip For Canon's Digital Rebel Cameras

Batteries are the bane of a photographer's existence. Just when you need your digital camera most you discover your battery is dead or dying. While some cameras run on regular AA batteries, many have a proprietary power cell.

Canon DSLRs run on Canon batteries. For the shutterbug that wants a longer power source Canon sells battery grips. The unit connects to the bottom of your camera with a tripod thumbscrew, and provides a longer shooting time. The grip looks a lot like an old-school motordrive. The Canon grips hold two batteries. The drawbacks include purchasing two batteries for the unit, and needing to charge them both before inserting them into the grip.

There's another option. Photographic equipment maker Phottix has released a battery grip for the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT and Rebel XTi (350D and 400D respectively). What's innovative about this after-market gear? The batteries are internal. The grip can be plugged directly into a wall socket, anywhere in the world, to charge.

The 3600 mAh unit boasts five times more battery power than original batteries. The Lithium Polymer cells, says Phottix, can take up to 2000 photos on a charge. Best of all, Lithium Polymer batteries do not suffer from the memory effects that plague other power cells; you don't have to completely drain them before recharging. Phottix specs state the grip recharges in four hours.

Canon's grip, the BG-E3 for the EOS Rebel XTi, is a pricey unit. Online retailers sell the grip and two Canon batteries for $149.00 The Phottix grip is available online for $13.00.

Battery life isn't simply dictated by the number of photos you shoot. Flash use, autofocus, LED screen previews, and image stabilization (IS) lenses also drain power. I tried the Phottix grip on a recent outing. I shot all day without any battery related problems. More than 400 photos, a lot of LCD previews, and an IS lens.

The grip installed easily. The spring-loaded door on the Rebel XTi had to be removed. The grip, with a stalk that inserts into the battery compartment, was then screwed in place via the tripod connector. The remaining power level is determined by the press of a button. Green, you're good to go, red, recharge soon.

As I mentioned in my Canon EOS Rebel XTi review, the camera body is a little small and difficult to hold. The Phottix grip bulks it up, giving shooters with larger hands something more to hold onto. The Rebel XTi with a grip in place feels substantial and good in your hands.

Of course, the Phottix grip doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the Canon BG-E3 battery grip. The Canon unit offers a number of controls on the grip, including a vertical shutter release, an AE lock/FE lock button, an aperture/exposure compensation button, the main dial control wheel, as well as an on/off switch. The Canon grip also has a connection for attaching a handstrap, something the Phottix grip lacks. This can be remedied with a strap attachment that slings under the Phottix.

The Canon BG-E3 also offers an attachment for running your XT or XTi on six AA batteries, a good backup option. Extra controls aside, this is the only feature missing from the Phottix grip.

A professional might scoff at the $13 Phottix grip. For me, it's a great addition to my gear. Given that I travel all over the world, I love being able to plug this grip and recharge anywhere I am. For the serious amateur or semi-pro I highly recommend adding this unit to your collection of tools.

Phottix makes the same grip for use with the Nikon D40/D40x and the D80. I bought the Phottix grip from HK Supplies in Hong Kong. The EBay store is widely respected within the photographic community and ships world-wide.