Canon BG-R20 Battery Grip Review

The Canon BG-R20 is one of my most-used accessories. When planning to shoot in vertical orientation, especially when photographing people and wildlife, I have a vertical grip on the camera.

Canon's Battery Grips are fundamentally similar in design and functionality, and the Canon BG-R20 is compatible with the following cameras:

• Canon EOS R5 Mark II
• Canon EOS R5
• Canon EOS R6 Mark II
• Canon EOS R6

This grip's predecessor, the Canon BG-R10 Battery Grip is also compatible with the R5 II, R5, R6 II, and R6. Here are the advantages of the BG-R20.

• The multi-controller and zoom button are repositioned for considerably easier use
• The LP-E6P Battery Pack is supported, enabling full R5 II performance

As the BG-R20 and BG-R10 are similar, their reviews will be also.

The bottom line is that cameras without a built-in vertical grip are more compact and lightweight than those with a built-in grip. However, vertical 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.

An accessory grip solves this problem, providing a complete vertical grip that includes a shutter release, top and rear dials, a joystick multi-controller, and five other 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-R20, 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-R20 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-R20 provides its own tripod adapter threads.

A primary BG-R20 advantage is that it holds two LP-E6P Battery Packs that deliver double the camera's standard number of shots or overall video recording duration. The older LP-E6NH and LP-E6N battery packs are also compatible with reduced functionality in the R5 II (and perhaps future models). If you don't need the increased power capacity or do not want to buy or carry the second battery, the BG-R20 works fine with just one battery loaded.

A fold-out-and-twist switch releases the battery magazine, which then slides out the side of the grip. Small spring-loaded levers release the batteries, which spring up slightly from the tray, making battery changes fast and easy. Each battery directly touches the grip's electrical contacts, which transfer the power to the camera's battery contacts.

The BG-R20 has a recessed rotating power switch that is resistant to inadvertent changes. Important: don't forget to turn this switch on to enable the functionality of the grip's controls. The grip powers the camera even when switched off, and the BG-R20 is shipped with the power switch in the off position.

The BG-R20 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.

The Canon BG-R20 Battery Grip has a high-quality build, matching that of the camera, including weather sealing. From a design standpoint, the grip integrates quite well with the camera body, with very little flex exhibited (accessory vertical grips always have slightly more flex than rock-solid built-in vertical grips).

While the BG-R20's grip shape is not identical to the camera's, it is close, and it is comfortable to use, even for long periods. The BG-R20 provides more surface area for the camera's main grip.

As mentioned, the BG-R20 includes a multi-controller (joystick). The camera's multi-controller is a huge thumb stretch to reach from the vertical grip, making a multi-controller a grip requisite. The BG-R10's multi-controller was inconveniently low positioned, but the BG-R20 design moves this feature up to easy thumb reach. The grip does not include a second rear control dial, but the camera's rear control dial is easier to reach from the battery grip than from the camera's grip.

The BG-R20's large thumb and shutter release overhangs provide an especially sure handgrip, easily surpassing that of the built-in grip. When active while shooting and when using larger and heavier lenses, the more secure grip is especially welcomed.

Dimensions: 3.2 x 5.6 x 4.3" (8.1 x 14.2 x 10.9cm)
Weight: 12.29 oz (348.4g)

For those using Arca-standard quick-release mounts and accessories, I recommend a Really Right Stuff Canon L-Plate. My Really Right Stuff L-plate for Canon BG-R10 works fine on the BG-R20.

Now, you have a choice of grips for the R5 II (and likely future camera models).

The Canon BG-R20EP supports vertical shooting and avails an Ethernet port ("EP").

The Canon CF-R20EP (B&H), is a video-oriented accessory (that also features an Ethernet LAN port, "EP") designed to cool the camera. When powered on, the cooling fan ("CF") grip moves air through an intake in front of the grip and pushes it into the bottom of the camera and out the left side (where it may also cool you).

Canon's test chart in the movie section of the R5 II review shows the fan primarily advantageous when recording 8K 30p and when recording 4K 60p with the auto power off temperature set to standard.

The fan accessory provides an improved horizontal grip, but its size precludes use as a vertical shooting grip. The fan is audible, and provisions must be made to avoid the fan noise in audio recordings.

Summary

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

At BG-R20 review time, the pair of Canon EOS R5 Mark II cameras anchoring my kit usually have BG-R20 Battery Grips mounted. I take them off only when light weight and small size are important, typically when I'm hiking long distances and sometimes when traveling (without wildlife on the to-capture list.

While the grip is an expensive accessory, it significantly enhances the camera's usability.