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SAR reader Fred (Thanks!) noticed that there is a new battery grip for the A7/r/s sold by [shoplink 31001 ebay]Camdiox on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. That’s the second non Sony original grip alternative after the also just launched Meike grip on sale on Amazon US (Click here) and [shoplink 30140 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
This is the Camdiox Product Description
The is made by third party, as same as original Sony VG-C1EM battery grip. It is not from Sony, but almost same as original grip. This Power Grip is both powerful and versatile. Doubling the amount of shots that these SLR cameras can take on a single charge, the Power Grip also offers the flexibility of a secondary shutter release button for vertical shooting. It retains the tripod mounting thread as well, keeping the important ability to stabilize the camera during critical shoots.
This grip for Sony α (Alpha) iLCE-A7 / A7R / A7S completely replaced Sony original VG-C1EM Vertical Grip. This Vertical Grip also can hold two NP-FW50 Lithium batteries – effectively doubling your shooting capacity. It provides improved flexibility, not only helps steady your hand in both vertical and horizontal positions, but also provides a stable platform for shooting portraits, still-life shots and other subjects requiring vertical format.
This battery grip also provides additional controls for key functions and a shutter release that is located right at your fingertips when using the camera in the vertical position – eliminating the need for the contorted balancing act often required accessing the camera controls when shooting vertically.
– Vertical shooting
– Battery capacity doubled
– AF/MF and AEL
– User-defined C1
– Front rear control dial
– Perfect matching with camera body
Features:
1. The best choice for portrait photographs.
2. Provide a vertical grip shutter button, the shutter-lock switch, AF-lock button, AE-lock button, completely supports auto function.
Compatible With
Sony Alpha A7 / A7R / A7S
Package Included
Vertical battery grip for Sony A7 x 1
User Manual x 1
Retail Package x 1
23 Responses
I have both the Sony version and the Meike and can comment on their merits.
By far and away, the biggest advantage, as with this one, is the increased battery power. It allows sufficient use for even the longest events without a break, so can’t be faulted on that score.
When it comes to handling, I do prefer the balance with them attached, but that is as far as it goes. There is an unfortunate issue (and this incarnation is no different) in that, when turned on and used in the normal landscape way, the heel of your hand can easily press the second shutter button. This can cause mis-focus, as the camera can be aiming in the wrong place as you bring it up and you don’t notice the AF being activated by your right hand. Given that the grip has so few replicated buttons and no exposure compensation dial (why on earth not?) the best thing is to turn it off. As the camera is small there is no trouble using the normal shutter release in portrait mode (sorry Admin, there’s no contortion!).
In terms of relative build, the Sony is clearly the more substantial, but the Meike is perfectly adequate and the feel is almost identical in any case. The Meike has a better latch mechanism on the battery door, yet a rather odd way of inserting the batteries; one slides, one tilts and drops.
The most curious difference is that the Meike comes with a radio remote for the shutter (it is also an intervalometer). I can only assume there are contacts within the camera to allow it to work, so I have no idea why there isn’t a similar device sold by Sony!
Given that the Meike is barely more than a quarter of the price of the Sony, it is by far and away the best option. Unless this Camdiox comes with a remote, or is half the price again, the Meike wins for me!
Thanks that’s helpful! The Camdiox is $90 US btw.
I never remove my Sony grip from the a7 and have not had the inadvertent exposure issue. I have large fat chunky hands, so my complaint about the ‘A’ series and grip should be solved with the new A7II. The camera depth is so shallow that it makes it very uncomfortable to handle. I was hoping that the grip would make this more tolerable but it doesn’t.
I also have the Meike … bought it specifically for the remote / intervalometer which I think is one of the biggest missing pieces of functionality from all Sony camera firmwares (as well as timer delayed bracket shooting). The Meike feels and works great. A big disappointment with any of the grips is that you CAN’T charge the battery via the USB interface! Frustrating.
Someone should make a grip that’s shorter and is itself a battery (instead of taking batteries) for compactness. It can be shorter if the camera body battery door is removed.
Then it’ll be hard to charge, that’s the problem.
Uhh, wobble of cheap China grip counter wobblyness of wobble mount? If yes, good news for A7 owners, no need for buy wobble sensor A7 II
Hulk brain wobble smash?
HULK not understand what you want say but know your mama understand needs of HULK
As I said before, the size difference has all but disappeared with this model, and I expect the A9 will increase even more. Add a grip and now you’ve got yourself a chunk o’ camera! Nothing wrong with that, of course, if you like the other stuff from the line. But I think that the argument that the A-series Sony is smaller and lighter than a DSLR is academic at this point. We’re talking a few grams and a few millimeters here and there.
http://j.mp/1uSxe58
nice try, look at this then, or is you camera 2D?
http://j.mp/1Flun5G
Then again, the size difference is not the whole point of a mirrorless camera. It’s the lack of mechanical parts, more precision, EVF. Lower price, weight and size are just nice to have…
I don’t know, do you use your camera without a lens? As I said, if you like the other characteristics of the line, great. And yes, it’s smaller, but the difference has become negligible from a real world standpoint.
If it’s shorter without a lens, it’s shorter with one.
The flaw here is that the FE 55mm is more comparable with the Sigma ART. Put the ART on and then re-post. That’s right, you won’t… Plus 1/4 to 1/2 pound in body weight is more than a few grams. This is especially true if you are backpacking. You’re not really fooling anyone here.
I’m not trying to fool anyone. I could’ve put the Nikon 50mm 1.8 D on there and the Sony would probably have been heavier. And I’m comparing offerings from the camera manufacturer, not third party.
He means that when you match performance, the optics would usually be larger, at least with AF offerings. Your 50/1.8’s sharpness is crap compared with either one of those above.
The misdirection is what’s fooling people. When did I ever mention quality? I am talking size of kit with comparable focal lengths. When you start adding grips, adapters, huge lenses, the size of the camera body alone becomes inconsequential. I say this as a current Sony owner. We all love to twitter over these photographers who record lengthy videos crowing they dumped Canon or Nikon and switched to Sony because it’s so light. Well I say bollocks. That argument no longer stands. Gone are the nex7 days when you got a huge sensor in a small body. Now you’ve got a huge sensor in a slightly smaller body and bunch of people trying sell you it based on a few grams difference.
a7ii+55/1.8=599g+281g=880g
d610+50/1.8g=851+185g=1036g
The Nikon is 17.8% heavier with inferior functions. Is that not enough for you? I know it’s enough for many.
Also, lenses like the 16-35/4 and 35/2.8 are lighter than their Nikon equivalents, 70-200/4 is on par, if you have to compare it this way.
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And if you miss the NEX-7 days you’d want to consider switching to Fuji. They have a better half-frame lens selection. Even as a NEX-7 owner I don’t miss the NEX-7 days, I’m eager to switch to the soon-to-come a9.
150 grams. The weight of an apple. And what are the benefits exactly in the superior function? EVF? It’s sure not FPS. Not RAW quality. Not lens selection. Not accessory choice. Sync speed is essentially even. Least expensive Sony FE lens is $500. The Nikon 50mm 1.8 d is $100. All they had over a DSLR was size and weight, and now they have to grasp at 150 grams to make that point.
Someone earlier mentioned backpacking as a reason to go with Sony. But then why not choose the A6000? The A7 series is within the parameters of DSLR cameras, rather than mirrorless. It’s the same size as a Nikon D5300, without the lens selection. And the D5300 weighs almost 150 grams LESS than the A7II. So why isn’t the backpacker going with that camera? Because it’s got an APS-C sensor? The same people who recorded all those videos about switching to the Nex7 had no problem with that. It’s all Kool-Aid.
The weight of an apple? Then that’s quite a big apple. Try taping that apple to your camera and shooting with it all day. And what about other lenses? The 16-35 is more than one apple lighter, the 35/2.8 is almost one apple lighter. If you choose a FF DSLR system over mirrorless then you end up with many more apples to carry.
IBIS, duh. It is a big deal itself, with all those lenses from across the ages it’s more of a big deal. You may choose to ignore them but many will choose the a7ii for this reason alone. Many have already bought the last generation’s a7s without IBIS for adapting. And don’t even start on adapting taking up more space, you have ZM, VM, M, and even a few Konica M lenses that are all more compact and most of them better than DSLR counterparts.
The FE system already makes a big enough difference for changing, it
s everything you get with FF except with lighter weight. You don’t compare FF with half frame. Canon 100d is a fair comparison with a5000, but of course it would still lose. If you want even smaller then choosing half frame E as a trade off is your own choice. And Fuji has smaller and faster lenses so they make a better system if that’s what you’re comparing.
have you ever tried to where your e-bay links, including Camdiox, bring you? You should change your site then quiet fast for info on race car modelling, or describe lumberjack axes, t-shirts or slide albums, hahaha.
here the links for Roxen and Meike to compare the 2 grips. The Camdiox is a copy of the Sony grip, just functional, no extras like Meike.
http://www.roxsen.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=862
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Meike-AR-7-Vertical-Battery-Grip-For-Sony-NEX-A7-A7R-A7S-VG-C1EM-w-2-4GHz-remote-/151471228636?pt=US_Camera_Battery_Grips&hash=item23446386dc
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Camdiox-Vertical-Battery-Grip-Pack-for-Sony-NEX-Full-Frame-A7-A7R-A7S-as-VG-C1EM/400811434670?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27712%26meid%3Dcd01b039b9b24958b2be2ee5cbad7044%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D11385%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D151471228636&rt=nc
They say that it’s for SLR cameras, SLR…