Canon BG-R10 Battery Grip Review

The Canon BG-R10 is one of my all-time most-used accessories. If I plan to shoot in vertical orientation, especially when photographing people and wildlife, I have a vertical grip on the camera.

All of Canon's Battery Grips, including the BG-R10, are fundamentally similar to each other in design and functionality. The Canon BG-R10 is the battery grip designed specifically for the Canon EOS R5, EOS R5 C, EOS R6 Mark II, and EOS R6.

Cameras without a built-in vertical grip are more compact and lightweight than those with a built-in grip. However, cameras lacking a vertical grip are not comfortable to shoot with in portrait/vertical orientation, especially for long periods of time.

An accessory grip solves this problem, providing a complete vertical grip that includes a shutter release, top and rear dials, a joystick, and five other relevant, useful buttons. In addition, the grip accommodates a second battery pack, providing twice the battery life.

Being easily removable, battery grips allow the camera's compact and lightweight advantages to remain available.

To install the BG-R10, the LP-E6NH Battery is removed from the camera, and the battery door is detached. The camera provides a small spring-loaded latch release switch on the battery door hinge for removal.

What to do with the removed door may be your next question, and losing it is a concern. Canon thoughtfully enables the battery door to clip onto the camera-inserted area of the grip for storage, sliding and clipping into place over a small instruction diagram.

The BG-R10 slides into the empty battery compartment and locks into place via the provided tripod socket screw.

To replace the camera's tripod mounting capability, the BG-R10 provides its own tripod adapter threads.

The BG-R10 holds two Canon LP-E6N Batteries that deliver double the camera's standard number of shots or overall video recording duration. The older LP-E6N and LP-E6 battery packs are also compatible. If you don't need the increased power capacity or do not want to buy or carry the second battery, simply use only one battery. The BG-R10 works fine with a single battery.

Small spring-loaded levers release the batteries, which spring up slightly from the tray, making battery changes fast and easy.

The BG-R10 drains two batteries simultaneously. I can't comment on this design decision from an electrical engineering perspective, but from a user perspective, I would prefer sequential battery usage, as Sony does with their VG-C4EM Vertical Grip. Often, a single battery is sufficient for a shoot, and sequential battery usage would mean that only one battery requires charging vs. partially charging two batteries. To facilitate unattended recharging of both batteries, pick up an additional Canon LC-E6 Charger.

A fold-out-and-twist switch releases the battery magazine, which then slides out the side of the grip. A small sliding release holds each battery in place with the batteries directly contacting the grip's electrical contacts, which transfer the power to the camera's battery contacts. The BG-R10 has a recessed rotating power switch that is resistant to inadvertent changes. Don't forget to turn this switch on to enable functionality of the grip's controls (the grip powers the camera even when switched off).

The Canon BG-R10 Battery Grip is nicely built, matching the camera's build quality. From a design standpoint, the grip integrates quite well to the camera body, with very little flex exhibited (accessory vertical grips always have slightly more flex than cameras with built-in vertical grips).

The BG-R10's vertical grip has less finger depth than the camera's built-in grip, but the vertical grip is slightly wider (the differences vary, but 4mm is a mid-grip difference). Thus, less finger depth is needed. Fingertips rest on a sloped surface on the BG-R10 vs. a tighter wrap around the camera's grip.

The BG-R10 provides more surface area for the camera's main grip.

In use, battery grips make portrait/vertical camera orientation shooting considerably easier and far more comfortable. I feel considerably less fatigue in my arms and shoulders when using the battery grip for even moderate-length shoots. Also, I can hold a gripped camera steadier in vertical orientation, with my right arm stabilized against my body instead of awkwardly positioned overhead.

As mentioned, the BG-R10 includes a Multicontroller/joystick. The camera's joystick is a huge thumb stretch to reach from the vertical grip, making the additional joystick requisite. The Multicontroller is positioned less conveniently (an inch lower than optimal) than the camera's built-in Multicontroller, but this controller is far easier to use in vertical orientation than the camera's primary Multicontroller. The camera's rear control dial is easier to reach from the battery grip than from the camera's grip.

The BG-R10's large thumb and shutter release overhangs provide an especially sure handgrip, easily surpassing the built-in grip in this regard. When active while shooting and when using larger and heavier lenses, the more-sure grip is especially welcomed.

Dimensions: 3.2 x 5.6 x 4.3" (8.1 x 14.2 x 10.9cm)
Weight: 12.38 oz (351g)

Do you ever shoot handheld in vertical orientation? Do you ever need 2x as much battery life without changing out an exhausted battery? Give serious consideration to adding a vertical grip to the kit.

At BG-R10 review time, a pair of Canon EOS R5 cameras are in my primary kit, and I own a pair of BG-R10 Battery Grips that are mounted to those cameras most of the time. I take them off only when light weight and small size are important, typically when I'm hiking long distances and sometimes when traveling.

For those using Arca-standard quick-release mounts and accessories, I recommend the Really Right Stuff Canon BG-R10 L-Plate.

If you own a compatible camera, I recommend adding a Canon BG-R10 Battery Grip to the kit. While the grip is an expensive accessory, it significantly enhances the camera's usability.