Please let me know why I should spend $100 more for just a battery grip.
I want to buy a battery grip for my Canon 550D and I have found these 2 models.

1. Canon BG-E8 Battery Grip 4516B001 - B&H Photo Video (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&Q=&IC=CABGE8&A=RetrieveSku)

2. LCD BATTERY GRIP FOR CANON EOS 550D /Rebel T2i BG-E8 on eBay (end time 25-Nov-10 08:07:41 GMT) (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310245111869)

All it does it supplies voltage to the camera so I don't really think that $100 is justifiable.

What do you think?

Stelios

I have the knockoff one and I haven't had any problems out of it. I haven't heard of anyone else who has had problems either. Go for the cheaper one and save yourself some $$.

I have the cheaper one as well. It came with two batteries as well. I have one Canon battery and 6 aftermarket batteries. They all work fine, but I wonder how the aftermarket batteries will work a year from now. SInce they were so cheap, it will probably still be cheaper to throw them away after a year than to buy Canon batteries.

I've worked with 'elcheapo' 550D battery grips many times now and they seem to be just perfectly fine. Never a glitch, never a problem. I myself just ordered this one (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.48444~r.67935233) - it seems to be exactely the one I used every time. If it is, it's definitely a bargain :-)

Thanks guys for your feedback. I also agree that it's a rip of to pay $150 for just a "small plastic container"
I have ordered the less expensive one.

Stelios

In Canon's defense the knock-off's have none of the research and development costs rolled in. Innovation isn't going to progress if the companies can't get a return on their investments. It seems like we've all gotten a little spoiled (me included) with the availability of such inexpensive tools which capture amazing video.

Joel I know that, that's why I paid Euro 950,00 for my Canon 550D ( with the lens kit) , but to pay 100 Euros for a battery grip is way too much. Canon RD will get my money again when I buy another lens of theirs...

Stelios

i stay away from knockoff ones as i had a cheapo grip for my D300 that malfunctioned more than it worked. since then i stuck with canon/nikon grips.

I got a knockoff off ebay for $40, it looks just like the canon one, it feels really sturdy and has all the same buttons/controls for portrait photography, it even has a spot to tuck the battery door cover into it. I got one that comes with both the canon battery holder and a 6XAA battery holder.

Taking portrait photos has been so nice since I got it.

I bought mine based on this review...

T2i / 550D knock-off battery grip review Part 4: Essential DSLR accessories | Nino Film - Blog - Nino Leitner (http://ninofilm.net/blog/2010/06/27/t2i-battery-grip/)

Thanks guys for your feedback. I also agree that it's a rip of to pay $150 for just a "small plastic container"
I have ordered the less expensive one.

Stelios

I agree with this, to some extent. I paid $160 for my lcdvf, a plastic tube with a magnifying glass in it, and it's the best investment I have made as far as video goes. What REALLY gets me is the $500 follow focus with basically the same parts as you would see in a kids lego science robot kit. A know and a few plastic gear rings. Its INSANE