Just upgraded from my D80!

monk3ym4jik

Senior Member
I'm looking forward to learning! Quick question: I have a sigma 18-35 f/1.8 lens which is fairly heavy. Would you suggest getting a battery grip? (For reference, I find the D80 plenty comfortable without a grip, but I've heard stuff about how people's pinky fingers don't fit on their grips? I don't have the largest hands, but they're definitely not small). If so, does it matter between the genuine Nikon OEM one or the generic ones I can get for a tenth of the price? I don't mind saving up if the quality of the OEM product is much better.
 

Krs_2007

Senior Member
Congrats, its a great camera. I did have a grip on mine, no it wasn't required but it did feel better to me. I never used a D80 so can't speak about the feel differences between the 2. As far as the brand of grip, I always use Nikon, but others on here have had success with other brands and I am sure someone will provide a name. You can look KEH, I believe they sell used grips at least that is show bought mine when I traded in my D7k.
 

aced19

Senior Member
I have a sigma 18-35 f/1.8 lens which is fairly heavy. Would you suggest getting a battery grip? (For reference, I find the D80 plenty comfortable without a grip, but I've heard stuff about how people's pinky fingers don't fit on their grips? I don't have the largest hands, but they're definitely not small). If so, does it matter between the genuine Nikon OEM one or the generic ones I can get for a tenth of the price? I don't mind saving up if the quality of the OEM product is much better.

I'm 6'5" and large hands. I have a OEM grip on mine. Don't have a problem with my pinky finger.
Yes I would buy a OEM grip. But thats just my opinion.
Are you wanting a grip for lens balance or do you shoot vertical a lot? Only buy one if you shoot vertical, if not then spend your money on new glass.
 

monk3ym4jik

Senior Member
It's a little bit of both. I do shoot portrait fairly often, but I wanted to get the grip to balance weight a bit. Thanks. I'll save up for an OEM one. Probably can get a used one off ebay for a good enough price. The extra battery life helps too. ;)
 

skene

Senior Member
If you have a heavy lens, I don't know if a grip will be enough to make it feel balanced at all. You will just have to deal with the extra weight of the lens, or mount onto a tripod/monopod to help you out.
 

dragion

Senior Member
Congratulations on upgrading to one of the best DX cameras...the D7000!
I've only had mine for 4 months, but coming from a D3100 there is some learning curve.

As far as an aftermarket grip, I have one and it is pretty much the same compared to the OEM grip except for the magnesium and weather sealing.
Mine is made by Meike/Neewer...physically on the camera you would never be able to distinguish them apart.

I keep mine on all the time.
 

monk3ym4jik

Senior Member
Received my camera body last night. It's such a great jump in quality. I love it. Can't wait to get out there and shoot.

On a side note, while I normally complain about my 100-150 pages of law school reading per night, I read through the entire 338 page manual so quickly. Shows what a bit of motivation can do... haha
 

RON_RIP

Senior Member
Your going to love this camera. I had an 80 and then a 90 and now the 7000. It's almost like going to big boy pants. But study hard, it only gives points for diligence.
 

Englischdude

Senior Member
i had a d80 for a short time but my main camera is a d7k. i think the lens you mention will feel better on the d7k due to the extra weight of the magnesium body d7k, I think this will be a very well balanced setup. see how you go first before investing in an extra grip......... you can always spend your hard earned cash later if you feel it to be necessary.
 

iamntxhunter

Senior Member
I owned the D80 and now the D7000. I had a factory grip on both. The design of the one for the 80 would allow you to place both batteries in the grip. The design for the 7000 only allows for one while the other is held in its factory location thus having to remove the grip to remove the battery. Not a huge deal but much prefer the design of the one for the 80. I personally believe in going factory with the electronics being the reason why although it is pricey compared to aftermarket offerings.
 

dukatum

Senior Member
You can pick up a Nikon grip fairly cheap now, they really dropped in prices from when I was looking around last year. Luckily the site I brought from was ahead of the game and I snapped it up.
Check out the Lee Morris video about the MB-D11 grip where he realised he got ripped off. Fake Nikon Gear Alert! D7000 MB-D11 Knockoff It was a Neweer one. I've seen a few of these in person and they do feel different in materials, but when I asked the owners, they all seemed perfectly happy with the job it does. (of course you never admit to making a purchase mistake right!)
Also Nikon's own website has some more notes on spotting the fakes but this is old now: https://nikoneurope-en.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/49662

A lot of people rave on about the build quality of lenses, and for me, the camera body and grip are just as important if not more important. I trust that the Nikon grip will still work in a 'shower test' but I wouldn't trust another manufacture.

Also I'd recommend just making sure you pop into your menu options (D category) and ensure the grip battery is selected for first use. Like noted above it's annoying that your camera battery is effectively locked in by your grip. This way when the battery is dead in the grip you can keep using the camera one until you are ready to swap out the battery in the grip or put it on charge while using the battery in the camera.
 

dragion

Senior Member
You can pick up a Nikon grip fairly cheap now, they really dropped in prices from when I was looking around last year. Luckily the site I brought from was ahead of the game and I snapped it up.
Check out the Lee Morris video about the MB-D11 grip where he realised he got ripped off. Fake Nikon Gear Alert! D7000 MB-D11 Knockoff It was a Neweer one. I've seen a few of these in person and they do feel different in materials, but when I asked the owners, they all seemed perfectly happy with the job it does. (of course you never admit to making a purchase mistake right!)
Also Nikon's own website has some more notes on spotting the fakes but this is old now: https://nikoneurope-en.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/49662

A lot of people rave on about the build quality of lenses, and for me, the camera body and grip are just as important if not more important. I trust that the Nikon grip will still work in a 'shower test' but I wouldn't trust another manufacture.

Also I'd recommend just making sure you pop into your menu options (D category) and ensure the grip battery is selected for first use. Like noted above it's annoying that your camera battery is effectively locked in by your grip. This way when the battery is dead in the grip you can keep using the camera one until you are ready to swap out the battery in the grip or put it on charge while using the battery in the camera.

Thanks for sharing...

I personally on purpose purchased the Neewer/Meike version, knowing that it wasn't the real deal...I find that the "knock off" is pretty much doing its job.
I have 2 batteries made by Wasabi which are actually better than the OEM Nikon battery that came with the D7000. They seem to hold a better charge and last longer.

I know that "you get what you pay for", but there are times that even non OEM can perform very well...plus saved me $$$ ;)

FYI, I'm only a hobbyist. If I was shooting as a Pro, then I would definitely go OEM and wouldn't consider the alternatives.
 

dukatum

Senior Member
Shower test,we have a name in the UK for people that do tests like that :D
hahah... Could be why I got exported to Dubai :)


Thanks for sharing...

I personally on purpose purchased the Neewer/Meike version, knowing that it wasn't the real deal...I find that the "knock off" is pretty much doing its job.
I have 2 batteries made by Wasabi which are actually better than the OEM Nikon battery that came with the D7000. They seem to hold a better charge and last longer.

I know that "you get what you pay for", but there are times that even non OEM can perform very well...plus saved me $$$ ;)

FYI, I'm only a hobbyist. If I was shooting as a Pro, then I would definitely go OEM and wouldn't consider the alternatives.

To be fair, thats the right frame of mind. It's always nice to have 'the original' but it doesn't make you any better as a photog and I've only ever taken my camera in the rain a couple of times. Like you I'm only a hobbyist (but dream what might be in the future) and I've been drooling at the Nikkor 70-200 for months. I finally got my thinking to accept that I just don't need to spend so much money when I can buy the Tamaron cheaper, and it's even sharper glass (some say too sharp, thinking portraits here). Right now I'm just hoping that Sigma might surprise us and announce a new 70-200 to match the quality of their ART range which are just amazing and well priced for their quality.
 
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