Why You Need a Battery Grip for Nikon D7000 Camera

battery grip for nikon d7000 camera

Picking up the battery grip for nikon d7000 camera is most likely the single best ergonomic upgrade you can make when you're still rocking this classic DIGITAL SLR. However the D7000 provides been around for a while, it's still a workhorse, and adding the grip changes the entire shooting experience from "consumer enthusiast" to "professional tool. " If you've ever seemed your own pinky finger is dangling from the bottom of the camera or you've go out of juice halfway through a lengthy wedding or walking trip, you understand exactly why individuals swear by these types of things.

The particular Ergonomic Game Changer

Let's chat about the nearly all immediate benefit: the feel. The Nikon D7000 is a good dimension for most, yet once you punch a heavy lens on it—something like a 70-200mm f/2. 8 or perhaps a large 24-70mm—the setup starts to feel a little front-heavy. Your arm ends up carrying out a lot of work just to keep the sensor level.

By adding a battery grip, you're adding a bit of counterweight to the bottom. It balances the middle of gravity and gives your hands a far larger surface area area to seize on to. Honestly, it makes the camera feel much more substantial. For those who have larger hands, it's almost a necessity. You go from keeping the camera along with three fingers to having a complete, secure palm-grip that feels solid as a stone.

Vertical Shooting Made Easy

The "killer feature" of any battery grip, specifically the particular MB-D11 style for the D7000, could be the vertical shutter launch. If you perform a lot of portrait photography, a person know the "chicken wing" pose—where you have to turn your right shoulder up into the particular air just to achieve the shutter key while holding the camera vertically.

With a battery grip, you have a 2nd shutter button, a secondary command dial, and an AE-L/AF-L button right exactly where your fingers normally rest when the particular camera is switched 90 degrees. It sounds just like a little luxury until you use it for an hour-long portrait session. Suddenly, your position is better, your own shots are steadier, and you also aren't fighting the gear to get the angle you would like.

Double the ability, Half the Tension

We've most been there—you're within the middle of an ideal sunset or even a key instant at an event, and that little battery icon starts flashing at a person. The D7000 uses the EN-EL15 battery, that is already fairly decent, but the battery grip successfully doubles your taking pictures time.

The way in which it functions is pretty clever. You keep one particular battery inside the camera body and a second a single within the grip. The particular camera is smart enough to use one until it's empty and then easily switch to the particular second one. You can even go into the D7000's menu and tell it which battery to use 1st. What this means is you may swap your battery in the grip without even switching the camera away or missing an attempt.

The AA Battery Backup

Most battery grips for the Nikon D7000 come along with two different racks. The first is for the second EN-EL15 lithium-ion battery, and the various other is for standard AA batteries. This particular is an overall lifesaver if you're traveling or filming inside a location exactly where you can't very easily charge your equipment. You can enter almost any comfort store in the particular world, grab a pack of AAs, and keep firing. It's that extra layer of "just in case" that will gives you serenity of mind when you're far from home.

Selecting Between OEM and Third-Party

When you're looking for a battery grip for nikon d7000 camera , you're heading to see 2 main paths: the state Nikon MB-D11 as well as the third-party alternatives (like Neewer, Vello, or Vivitar).

The Nikon MB-D11 (The Official Choice)

The formal Nikon version is built just like a tank. It uses magnesium alloy, just like the D7000 body itself, and contains the same weather closing. If you're firing in the rain, dust, or harsh environments, this is definitely the one you would like. The buttons sense "clicky" and responsive, matching the tactile feedback of the particular camera perfectly. The particular downside? It's considerably more expensive, though you can find excellent deals within the utilized market these days.

Third-Party Alternatives

If you're upon a budget, third-party grips are surprisingly decent. Most associated with them are made of high-quality plastic rather than magnesium alloy, so these people won't survive the massive drop as well as the Nikon version, but for everyday make use of, they perform the job.

The main thing to watch out for with cheaper grips is the "handshake" between your grip and the camera. Sometimes the dials might feel a bit soft, or the battery level indicator may be slightly less accurate. However, for a fraction of the price, many photographers find them to become a steal. Just create sure to learn reviews to ensure the specific brand you're taking a look at doesn't have issues with battery depletion when the camera will be off.

Set up and Best Procedures

Creating your new grip can be quite straightforward, but there is a couple of tips to keep in mind. First, you have to take away the little rubber get in touch with cover on the particular bottom of your D7000. Pro tip: Don't drop that piece! Many grips actually have a little slot built into the "tower" component (the bit that will sticks into the particular camera) specifically to store that rubber cover so this doesn't vanish directly into the abyss of the camera bag.

Once you screw the grip straight into the tripod outlet, make sure it's snug. If it's loose, the electric contacts might miss, and you'll get weird errors on the top LCD display.

Menu Settings to Examine

Once it's attached, dive straight into your D7000's Custom Setting Menu (the pencil icon). Look for the "Shooting/display" section. Here, a person can find the particular "Battery order" setting. I usually set quarry to make use of the battery in the grip first. Why? Because it's way easier to swap the grip battery than it is to take the whole grip off to access the one inside the camera body.

Does This Make the Camera Too Heavy?

It's a fair question. Adding the battery grip for nikon d7000 camera definitely adds bulk. If you're a street photographer who wants to be "stealthy" and blend into typically the crowd, the grip might be your enemy. It can make the D7000 appearance much more like the D4 or D5—big, professional, and apparent.

But for other forms of photography, the is a benefit. A heavier camera is in fact easier to hold still at gradual shutter speeds. The particular added mass assists dampen the small micro-shakes from your hands. If you're shooting at 1/30th or 1/60th of a second, you might find your hit rate for sharp pictures goes up somewhat with all the grip connected.

Final Thoughts

Is really a battery grip a "must-have"? Maybe not for everyone. If you only take your own camera out for twenty minutes with a time to take photos associated with your cat, it's probably overkill. But if you're serious about your photography, or even if you're looking to get even more life out associated with your D7000, it's a fantastic investment decision.

It changes the ergonomics, doubles your power capability, and makes vertical shooting an air flow. Whether you proceed with the premium Nikon MB-D11 or a more budget-friendly third-party version, adding a battery grip for nikon d7000 camera is the decision you most likely won't regret. This makes the camera feel like the brand-new, much even more capable machine, offering you that extra bit of self-confidence when you're out there in the industry trying to capture the perfect shot.