I post this thread as someone who already owns a grip and is very happy with it. I just wanted to see if others had had similar experiences which might help those looking for a grip, especially those with Christmas money and vouchers to spend!
I bought a D80 shortly after it was released, my first SLR. Over the next few years I bought lots of bits for it including the official MB-D80 grip. Not long ago I sold the D80 and grip and purchased a second hand barely used D7000 which came with a Meike grip (I think sometimes sold as Neewer). The gentleman that sold me the camera mentioned that he had used Meike grips for several years as they were excellent and much much cheaper than Nikon official ones. At this point I'd never used one so I couldn't comment.
My experience thus far is that I will never buy another full priced grip again.
Some detail. My MB-D80 grip was excellent. I paid about £120 for it several years ago, it added the size and balance to the camera that I needed and the control dials all felt and behaved exactly like the ones on the D80 itself and the rubber matched that of the camera. The shutter release however did not feel the same.
It seemed like they had used a different button between making my D80 and making my MB-D80, I do not know if they also changed the shutter button on the D80. My D80 shutter was a very definite half press, followed by a definite full press. The MB-D80 shutter button was featherlight, and anything other than the softest of touches would release the shutter. It wasn't a major issue, you adapt and get on with it, but never the less it was a niggle on for me the most important part of having a grip.
My Meike grip for the D7000 is also excellent, it's light but solid, the rubber doesn't match the camera and is coarser but I think I actually prefer it. The dials feel and perform identically to those on the camera and while the shutter release is slightly different, it does at least match the main one. A definite half press, a definite full press. This one sells for about £30, £120 cheaper than the MB-D11 which is the official Nikon grip (Amazon prices).
So, I didn't choose this Meike grip, I actually asked the seller before buying if it was an official one and had he got back to me before the auction closed (I asked very late) I might have pulled out. But I'm glad I have it and I'd gladly buy another and recommend to others.
I probably won't be buying another grip for 5 years for whatever I replace the D7000 with, but when I do I'll not be buying an official grip if the price differential stays as it is right now.
I bought a D80 shortly after it was released, my first SLR. Over the next few years I bought lots of bits for it including the official MB-D80 grip. Not long ago I sold the D80 and grip and purchased a second hand barely used D7000 which came with a Meike grip (I think sometimes sold as Neewer). The gentleman that sold me the camera mentioned that he had used Meike grips for several years as they were excellent and much much cheaper than Nikon official ones. At this point I'd never used one so I couldn't comment.
My experience thus far is that I will never buy another full priced grip again.
Some detail. My MB-D80 grip was excellent. I paid about £120 for it several years ago, it added the size and balance to the camera that I needed and the control dials all felt and behaved exactly like the ones on the D80 itself and the rubber matched that of the camera. The shutter release however did not feel the same.
It seemed like they had used a different button between making my D80 and making my MB-D80, I do not know if they also changed the shutter button on the D80. My D80 shutter was a very definite half press, followed by a definite full press. The MB-D80 shutter button was featherlight, and anything other than the softest of touches would release the shutter. It wasn't a major issue, you adapt and get on with it, but never the less it was a niggle on for me the most important part of having a grip.
My Meike grip for the D7000 is also excellent, it's light but solid, the rubber doesn't match the camera and is coarser but I think I actually prefer it. The dials feel and perform identically to those on the camera and while the shutter release is slightly different, it does at least match the main one. A definite half press, a definite full press. This one sells for about £30, £120 cheaper than the MB-D11 which is the official Nikon grip (Amazon prices).
So, I didn't choose this Meike grip, I actually asked the seller before buying if it was an official one and had he got back to me before the auction closed (I asked very late) I might have pulled out. But I'm glad I have it and I'd gladly buy another and recommend to others.
I probably won't be buying another grip for 5 years for whatever I replace the D7000 with, but when I do I'll not be buying an official grip if the price differential stays as it is right now.
