The reason why I use a grip is it looks very professional for my customers. It really useful when you want to use a very powerful small camera like a6500 in some paid job.
Always used a grip on my dslr because it feels so much better during photoshoots, also I feel it helps the client be more comfortable by seeing a "big expensive" camera.
I finally got this grip and I really like it so far. I notice that the battery icon level only measures one battery at a time. So it will drain one battery first then jumps to the second battery once the first one is drained. I guess you will need to keep track of which battery your on so when you are on your second battery you know that is the last one. Would have been nice if they could have aggregated the power into one power source.
I got my A6500 last week and got the grip today, then I saw your video. I must say, the grip is amazing. It feels like original and comfortable. Light than I thought. And most important, it makes A6500 looks more professional (people always think bigger camera can do better picture). Yeah, I bought it on us Amazon and it shipped from Shengzhen China, using DHL and a week. It is really good!
Since you added the grip, have you noticed any difference in overheating time, if any, on your a6500? Does the dummy battery get warm, or does all the heat stay in the bottom of the camera? I'm thinking of buying two a6500s for shooting weddings, and although I would also buy two grips, I fear that simply holding the camera from the side for about 3-4 hours and leaving it on for that amount of time (DSLR habit) in addition to my country's 135 degrees summer, would still cause it to overheat....
I had a 3rd party grip for a Nikon D700 years back and as soon as it swapped to the battery in the grip mid shoot it fried the LCD lens. I had a backup camera and finished the shoot. The camera was under warranty so got it fixed. Bought the Nikon grip, and never had a problem. Flash forward to end of last year, I got the Sony grips for the A7R2's I own, as I just won't risk it.
Abel Sanchez their view is probably that the A6500 is made to be compact. A first party battery grip would contradict themselves. Plus it's not meant to be a professional camera. Hopefully they completely solve the bad rolling shutter by the time the A6700.
It was not meant for battery grip. As the video says, attached battery grip traps the SD card. Sony did not engineer Sony A6xxx cameras for battery grips like other cameras with SD cards attachment on the sides.
Could be, but I suggest they let the photographer decide the foot print they are happy working with. Kinda like when choosing the G master series of lenses. Guess I'm wrong as I use my A6500 professionally. Live and learn. Still think they are missing out on a revenue stream. Anyway it probably be price for about a $1000 LOL.
Also, the video advises to attach a large SD card in the camera before attaching a battery grip - like saying to place all your eggs in one basket. A no no for professional photography. Eventually, when Sony realizes more professionals are appreciating the Sony A6xxx series one future enhancement would be to relocate SD cards that would allow battery grips as part of its engineering plan.
I'm a photographer and retired mechanical engineer. I would guess that the battery grip helps alleviate the camera overheating problem. Without designing the grip to dissipate heat, it does put the batteries external to the camera. Whenever I take a battery out of the camera when it has just been used it is fairly hot. My guess is that most of this heat is internally generated by the battery when it converts chemical energy into electrical energy. Of course the other possibility is it is a highly efficient conversion and the heat is primarily the battery acting as a heat sink for the camera. I did some web searches to verify my assumption and found there is a lot of information out there about lithium ion batteries and heat. Performance and life degrade with heat. With internal defects there is increased localized heat build-up which can run away and lead to explosion. These seem like some additional good reasons to use a battery grip. I've seen other reviews showing tests of A6300 and A6500 operating outdoors on a hot day and how long it takes to shut down due to over-temperature. If anyone has done a similar test on a Sony A6500 with battery grip that would be hugely valuable information if it turns out that just using a battery grip eliminates the possibility of the camera suddenly and unexpectedly shutting down on high temp. I do have my A6500 menu setting to shut down do to overheating set to "high", i.e. it will go to a higher temperature before shutting down, which is also unfortunately a potentially more hazardous and damaging condition than the normal setting. I would like to be able to return this setting to the default if I didn't have to worry about exceeding the temperature set-point. Thanks for your posts. Excellent work. Don
Finally got mine after almost 2 months shipping. I live far away so I imagine shipping is faster in other countries. Pretty happy with it, the finish is quite nice, fits pretty snug. Only gripe would be they should make the cord shorter that connects the grip to the port. Not sure why they made it so long and has to loop back around but pretty nice for the price and makes the a6500 nice to hold actually. I will have to see if it drains the batteries while sitting in the grip while it is off like many have complained about.
Thank you for the review. Can you please measure how much time of continuous recording 2 batteries will provide? (with the monitor ON). It will be very important information.
Hey.... I brought this and it is really good, I echo the slight flex on the battery contacts, and also a slight swivel movement from the base of the camera. The only reservations I have is that it drains one battery before the other, showing no difference to if single battery fitted internally (OEM) on the onscreen battery indicator (which is a little confusing). The grip button only works with the cable release inserted and the on/off button allows the wireless remote trigger, not the grip button shutter release. The wireless release is really good from the tests I have done, with virtually no lag. Great for the price I feel, shame Sony do not have their own out yet.
Eric Knorpp, hey Eric just checking you have the remote cable plugged in, as the shutter release itself is not wireless, just the unit, post image or video and will try to troubleshoot. What do you think of the A6500 ?🤓🤗
What does the USB cable do exactly? Does the grip power the camera without using it? Figure having a cable running from the grip to the camera might be a little annoying.
Great Video series! I have been a fan of grips (add me to the legions of a6XXX users who wish Sony would do one of their own) and have been through several. I had the Neewer version that was available for the a6000 and a6300, but one of them failed and I sent it back for a full refund. Neewer has discontinued offering that version and has taken to rebadging the Meike version as their own, but along the way it seems as though there have been some improvements. First, the apparent wobble that plagued the Meike versions seems to have been solved, as the play around the thumbscrew has been eliminated. For those who still have the Meike version, a shim can be inserted over the thumbscrew by removing the screws on the top of the grip and gently lifting the cover to place the shim over the screw thread and then replacing the screws. >> TRY THIS ONLY IF YOU ARE CONFIDENT IN YOUR ABILITIES!
Thumbs up!! I didn't here it mentioned, but coming from the video perspective, does the grip help with overheating? with the battery physically not being in the camera I could only assume that it helps
+Marcus Robinson with the a6300 it helped a little, but it still overheated. I'll do some test with the a6500 when the temps in my area start hitting 100F
how much testing did you do with the new grip + @6k and @6300. did you go out and shoot with it for a whole days worth? Did you drain the battery and charger them? are you using OEM batteries/3rd party?
I've gone out and used the a6300 meike grip. I just got the a6500 grip and I won't be able to test it out until next week when I have some sporting events I can go to. (I use a mix of OEM and 3rd party)
Thanks for your videos, they are very helpful. This question is in regards to the meike a6500 battery grip, both my roommate and I just purchased it. When I have the batteries in the grip, the only way the camera will turn on, is if i turn the on/off switch on the grip to "on". From what I've read (and watched in your video that switch is only supposed to control the grip's shutter button, not the power of the camera. Same goes the other way around If I turn the grips switch to off while the camera is on, it turns off. Do you know why this is happening/ does it happen on yours?
did this grip got better than previous model at shakiness/flimsiness from the camera body? i was shocked how shaky it was on your first review! id appreciate if you can reply, thanks for the review!
Can you let let us know if the battery icon level has been fixed since people were reporting that with the older models they had no idea how much battery life was left.
I recently got me a grip for my sony a 7 ii and I really love it. The only thing I'm little concirned about is heavy lenses. Not as huge as yours on a video but still a bit heavy. I'm worried that grip might be just not sturdy enough and sometimes if I try I can slightly move a grip from a camera body. Is this normal?
Thanks for info ..I just bayed after I have seen the tutorial of yours...yes and I bayed the sony a 6500 after we have talked in January..thank you so much
A6300 user I have to agree the batteries do drain faster while there just sit a round in the slots. I tried turning off the snap finger shutter while not in use. But honestly the batteries still drain fast. Any tips or suggestions let me know thank you.
If you want the vertical shutter button on the grip to work, as well as the included remote control to work (a very nice remote) ,then yes you have to keep the cord connected from the grip to the camera. If you just want to use the grip and its extra battery then you do not have to have the usb cord connected (but no vertical shutter button or included remote will work). I am keeping this grip after many months use because ; Pros: it is good quality, matches the camera, gives me an extra battery, feels good in your hand, helps balance with bigger lenses, looks professional on the job, good price. Cons: needs usb cord attached to camera for remote control and vertical shutter button to work ; need to remove grip to get to SD card inside camera's battery compartment. Please note that after a few months used with usb cord attached my A6500's usb port wouldn't work anymore. Fixed under camera warranty. My guess, bouncing around during use and storage and travel caused usb port to wear. Now I just use this grip for its extra battery and other features. . Still worth the great price, but I don't recommend you keep the usb cord plugged in. Hope this helps. BTW I had no real problem, and didn't notice batteries draining faster by keeping them in the grip at all times. These batteries lose juice just sitting in a camera bag. No faster draining in the grip. I have seven of these batteries, so I know them pretty well.
What camera settings can you change with the remote? Might make a nice, phone battery saving alternative to the PlayMemories Smart Remote app. I have a grip for my A7II.... on a trip in Europe now with it so I'm gonna be using it for the first time. Looking forward to see how well it works and to not have to deal with swapping batteries.
If you want the vertical shutter button on the grip to work, as well as the included remote control to work (a very nice remote) ,then yes you have to keep the cord connected from the grip to the camera. If you just want to use the grip and its extra battery then you do not have to have the usb cord connected (but no vertical shutter button or included remote will work). I am keeping this grip after many months use because ; Pros: it is good quality, matches the camera, gives me an extra battery, feels good in your hand, helps balance with bigger lenses, looks professional on the job, good price. Cons: needs usb cord attached to camera for remote control and vertical shutter button to work ; need to remove grip to get to SD card inside camera's battery compartment. Please note that after a few months used with usb cord attached my A6500's usb port wouldn't work anymore. Fixed under camera warranty. My guess, bouncing around during use and storage and travel caused usb port to wear. Now I just use this grip for its extra battery and other features. . Still worth the great price, but I don't recommend you keep the usb cord plugged in. Hope this helps. BTW I had no real problem, and didn't notice batteries draining faster by keeping them in the grip at all times.
What firmware are you currently using the grip with the A6500? I'm on version 1.03 and I think it may have bricked the functionality of the grip to use the portrait shutter button. I purchased a second grip thinking mine somehow got screwed up but the shutter release on the grip on the new on doesn't work either. Cable is fine and fully connected. Strange.
Soon I plan on purchasing the a6500. I'm kinda waiting for the later part of April to see if a new one comes out. My question is for the a6500 w/the grip, what type of shoulder or cage mount do you recommend?
Thanks. If you come up with a DIY cage that consist of a cage with the grip......do provide a video. 😬😬. Thanks for the response and for your uploads. Truly helpful!!👍👍
ive heard people had problems with the a6300 meike grip as it drained battery life while it wasnt even turned on. Have you experienced problems like this for both grips?
I haven't personally, but I wasn't testing for it. So I can't say. I do mention in the video about the grip draining battery. I'll do some test in a future video.
I've just got the neewer..its not a6500 profile..its a6000 profile with the leading grip bottom ridge filed out..a6500 grip overhangs..am sending it back.
Could you use this grip as a grip only, with no extra batteries inside? For example, could I leave a regular live battery in the battery slot of the a6500, mount the grip, and use it without the extra batteries or the release cable? The idea would be to simply gain extra purchase/grip for my large hands, but not have to have the bay door open with the cable connected. Thanks
Hi I am a portrait/landscape shooter, what would produce better quality images, the sony a6500 w/ the sigma 30 1.4 dc dn, or the canon 6d w/ 35mm 1.4? Thank you so much!
Kind of seems like, if you're going to go with a camera of that form factor, (a6000-6500) you might as well keep things small and not go with a battery grip. I mean, shooting in vertical is nice...but if I'm going to get a camera that small, I'm not going to put a battery grip on it. Carrying around 2-3 more batteries isn't really an issue.
I wholeheartedly agree. 'Getting a 6500 one might as well carry more batteries and dual chargers. I already like the A6500 as it is. It's the lenses that go with it that matters most.
my one doesnt switch to the second battery icon to 100% after the first one is finished I'm left with a empty battery icon but the camera is still running?
I purchased a Vivitar grip and I had compatibility issues. Here's my story: I note that Sony does not make a battery grip for the a6500. The a6300 has several grips made by third parties--some of those claim they also work for the a6500. But do they? The one I ordered does not. I go one from Vivatar that worked--for a few minutes, but then the a6500 kept putting up a screen sign saying the battery grip was not an authorized product so something like that. Frankly, I really like shooting with the a6500, but a battery grip make everything better regarding stability and control. Anyone know of a product that actually works for the a6500? Am I likely to get the same experience with the Meike? The packaging looks similar--like it's the same product with a different brand stamp.
Got the grip just today. It feels good, although it's a bit scary that the cable leaves the hatch open. Seems vulnerable like that. I've got small hands and it feels rather big, but as I will be doing a lot of photography during my upcoming holiday, I don't want to be bothered with having to change the batteries when I've got just the right moment to shoot.
i have one for the a6000, not sure if its a battery drain or reporting error on the battery life. i shot for about 2 hours with the battery empty symbol on before it said exhausted. either way its a problem.
+Epron Media I haven't had my a6500 overheat with the extended temperature activated. I'm sure the grip will help. It did with the a6300, but it still did overheat.
that1cameraguy have you or anyone experienced "unsupported battery" issue with this grip? I can get the batteries to work outside the grip (yes, both are sony batteries) but cannot get them to work inside the grip for long periods of time.
I do not think Sony A6xxx camera were engineered for battery grips for the reason that it would be cumbersome and inconvenient to change SD cards with another. You have to detach the generic battery grip to pull out the SD card. Besides, no other advantage for battery grip except to extend battery life and use of the camera such as time lapse. Generic battery grip does not increase FPS like in mirrored DSLRs. Bare Sony A6xxx camera is good as it is already is for excellent backup units for main bulky DSLRs.
Everybody uses the gear differently. Others will find a use for it. The manufacture wouldn't make this if they didn't think people had an interest in it. I agree it's great already without the grip.
genghis2510 no not at all! it's an absolute lifeline for run and gun work, plus it makes the whole camera sit nicer in the hands. I am very pleased with it.
The grip looks much thicker, or taller, than the butteries it holds and makes A6500 too bulkier than it should. This can be made at least a half inch thinner, or, lower, or possibly 3/4" thinner, or lower. Then I will consider getting one.
I bought Meike grip for sony a7 and it's works BAD. Actually there is a small gap between camera and grip "fake battery" which is inside a7. That gives constant power off when you try to take camera using grip only and shake it a little. Will never buy meike again because of that. But I don't know if they fixed that for further models (a7xII, sony a6xxx)
quick tip to make you more money camera guy! Under your video the product is showing up and making GOOGLE the affiliate money. If you unmonetize the video, that disappears and more people are likely to click your link and not the google sponsor. You lose monetization on this video but i think everyone knows you make more through amazon affiliate than youtube ads!
One more thing I forgot to mention... Instead of taking the grip off to access the SD card, plug in a mini Usb cable to the camera's usb port! Not necessarily an elegant solution, but it allows access to the images without having to take the grip off the camera.
the size of mirror less cameras is a big advantage. Changing to small mirror less from big DSLRs and then attach Grip to make it bigger, what is wrong with people
well compared to "big DSLRs" with battery grip its still small and light. So its still a great improvement. But if you dont want it............... dont buy it. (we can always take it off too when need to go light.)
What was the comment. If you post links, sometimes it gets sent to spam. You can say what you want on my channel as long as you're not being vulgar. Also, I bought this with my own money with no association to Meike.
I didn't post any links, I just said that I own Meike sony a7 grip and it's works bad because of the gap between "fake battery" of the grip which is inside camera. Because of the gap I having constant power off.
I have the meike a6300 battery grip.. it will fit on the a6500 too.. but the problem with meike grip is , IT DRAiNS battery even you switch off camera. it drains 15 percent overnight. irregardless if I only insert 1 battery or 2 battery pack within the grip... annoying like hell and I gave up using that grip. I will not recommend anyone to buy meike grip. especially sony battery life is quite bad.. now with grip the drain makes it worse
that1cameraguy Initially I thought its due to 2 batteries having different power left and they probably attempt to charge each other... hence I try to put 1 battery into the grip holder.. and whatever battery ( 1 or 2 or original or oem) they all drain power after camera was switched off.. the drain can be so bad that after 4 days it can reduce 90% to 0... I couldnt comprehend what cause the battery drain on the meike grip. This was similar to both A6300 and A6500.. never had such issues with sony a7 original grip
+Victor Heng are you using portrait mode? I have Meike battery grip for my A7RII. It was draining battery dramatically around 15 percent in each day but I realized that if I always keep the ON/OFF switch "OFF" on the battery grip, It drains battery 1 or 2 percent for each day. So, as you said it's better not to keep batteries inside, but If I'm shooting all day long I can neglect that 1 or 2 percent.
Thank to you for this really great videos :) always follow your channel.. expecially the video for the FE 70 200 2.8 G Master... ahhh what lens ... i want to buy one but when the price is close to 1800/1900€. :).
This grip is trash! I bought it and it stopped working in 4 months. I wish Sony would come out with a durable option. This issue (amongst other issues) is pushing me towards Fuji.
![Sony A6500 Hacks, Tips, & Features [Get more out of your Camera!]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/98FK9q7BHkw/mqdefault.jpg)
The reason why I use a grip is it looks very professional for my customers. It really useful when you want to use a very powerful small camera like a6500 in some paid job.
That's cool, thanks for sharing that. It might look kind of off shooting with a tiny camera, but the grip helps.
Legit same reason why I got it. Just for presentation lol
Same i have an Alpha 6000 and people who don't know anything about cameras just think you got the family camera for shooting something.
แมนโม้ Manmou Me too! being a professionally 😂😂😅
Same!!!
Always used a grip on my dslr because it feels so much better during photoshoots, also I feel it helps the client be more comfortable by seeing a "big expensive" camera.
I finally got this grip and I really like it so far. I notice that the battery icon level only measures one battery at a time. So it will drain one battery first then jumps to the second battery once the first one is drained. I guess you will need to keep track of which battery your on so when you are on your second battery you know that is the last one. Would have been nice if they could have aggregated the power into one power source.
I agree.
Franky Vee is there no hiccup in switching power between batteries? it doesn't have to turn off and back on again, right?
Bullet , no hiccup. It switches automatically and is a smooth transition that is transparent to its operation.
I got my A6500 last week and got the grip today, then I saw your video. I must say, the grip is amazing. It feels like original and comfortable. Light than I thought. And most important, it makes A6500 looks more professional (people always think bigger camera can do better picture). Yeah, I bought it on us Amazon and it shipped from Shengzhen China, using DHL and a week. It is really good!
Just want to add that Meike do make great ball heads for light-stands/tripods, as I have 3 of them. I also have their travel tripod which is awesome.
Do the batteries drain inside the grip even when powered off? It’s been said that they will drain after a few days.
Since you added the grip, have you noticed any difference in overheating time, if any, on your a6500?
Does the dummy battery get warm, or does all the heat stay in the bottom of the camera?
I'm thinking of buying two a6500s for shooting weddings, and although I would also buy two grips, I fear that simply holding the camera from the side for about 3-4 hours and leaving it on for that amount of time (DSLR habit) in addition to my country's 135 degrees summer, would still cause it to overheat....
I had a 3rd party grip for a Nikon D700 years back and as soon as it swapped to the battery in the grip mid shoot it fried the LCD lens. I had a backup camera and finished the shoot. The camera was under warranty so got it fixed. Bought the Nikon grip, and never had a problem. Flash forward to end of last year, I got the Sony grips for the A7R2's I own, as I just won't risk it.
Just ordered my a6500. Your review convinced me to add the grip to my order. love the option to add more battery life for extended shooting. [SUBBED]
Thanks. Just make sure there are no problems. Others have reported some issues.
Why doesn't Sony make a grip for the A6500? Seems like something they should do. Leaving some money on the table.
Yeah, I'd buy an OEM one from Sony if they made one.
Abel Sanchez their view is probably that the A6500 is made to be compact. A first party battery grip would contradict themselves.
Plus it's not meant to be a professional camera.
Hopefully they completely solve the bad rolling shutter by the time the A6700.
It was not meant for battery grip. As the video says, attached battery grip traps the SD card. Sony did not engineer Sony A6xxx cameras for battery grips like other cameras with SD cards attachment on the sides.
Could be, but I suggest they let the photographer decide the foot print they are happy working with. Kinda like when choosing the G master series of lenses. Guess I'm wrong as I use my A6500 professionally. Live and learn. Still think they are missing out on a revenue stream. Anyway it probably be price for about a $1000 LOL.
Also, the video advises to attach a large SD card in the camera before attaching a battery grip - like saying to place all your eggs in one basket. A no no for professional photography.
Eventually, when Sony realizes more professionals are appreciating the Sony A6xxx series one future enhancement would be to relocate SD cards that would allow battery grips as part of its engineering plan.
Grip is great, but I can't get it to pair with the remote no matter what I try :(
I'm a photographer and retired mechanical engineer. I would guess that the battery grip helps alleviate the camera overheating problem. Without designing the grip to dissipate heat, it does put the batteries external to the camera. Whenever I take a battery out of the camera when it has just been used it is fairly hot. My guess is that most of this heat is internally generated by the battery when it converts chemical energy into electrical energy. Of course the other possibility is it is a highly efficient conversion and the heat is primarily the battery acting as a heat sink for the camera. I did some web searches to verify my assumption and found there is a lot of information out there about lithium ion batteries and heat. Performance and life degrade with heat. With internal defects there is increased localized heat build-up which can run away and lead to explosion. These seem like some additional good reasons to use a battery grip. I've seen other reviews showing tests of A6300 and A6500 operating outdoors on a hot day and how long it takes to shut down due to over-temperature. If anyone has done a similar test on a Sony A6500 with battery grip that would be hugely valuable information if it turns out that just using a battery grip eliminates the possibility of the camera suddenly and unexpectedly shutting down on high temp. I do have my A6500 menu setting to shut down do to overheating set to "high", i.e. it will go to a higher temperature before shutting down, which is also unfortunately a potentially more hazardous and damaging condition than the normal setting. I would like to be able to return this setting to the default if I didn't have to worry about exceeding the temperature set-point. Thanks for your posts. Excellent work. Don
Finally got mine after almost 2 months shipping. I live far away so I imagine shipping is faster in other countries. Pretty happy with it, the finish is quite nice, fits pretty snug. Only gripe would be they should make the cord shorter that connects the grip to the port. Not sure why they made it so long and has to loop back around but pretty nice for the price and makes the a6500 nice to hold actually. I will have to see if it drains the batteries while sitting in the grip while it is off like many have complained about.
Thank you for the review. Can you please measure how much time of continuous recording 2 batteries will provide? (with the monitor ON). It will be very important information.
New a6500 on it's way to my doorstep as we speak...watched a few of your videos and have subscribed. Thanks.
+Von McKnelly thanks!
Hey.... I brought this and it is really good, I echo the slight flex on the battery contacts, and also a slight swivel movement from the base of the camera. The only reservations I have is that it drains one battery before the other, showing no difference to if single battery fitted internally (OEM) on the onscreen battery indicator (which is a little confusing). The grip button only works with the cable release inserted and the on/off button allows the wireless remote trigger, not the grip button shutter release. The wireless release is really good from the tests I have done, with virtually no lag. Great for the price I feel, shame Sony do not have their own out yet.
Just wish Sony would release their own.
Mine won't trigger the camera from the grip button if the on/off switch is off.
Eric Knorpp, hey Eric just checking you have the remote cable plugged in, as the shutter release itself is not wireless, just the unit, post image or video and will try to troubleshoot. What do you think of the A6500 ?🤓🤗
What does the USB cable do exactly? Does the grip power the camera without using it? Figure having a cable running from the grip to the camera might be a little annoying.
Great Video series!
I have been a fan of grips (add me to the legions of a6XXX users who wish Sony would do one of their own) and have been through several. I had the Neewer version that was available for the a6000 and a6300, but one of them failed and I sent it back for a full refund. Neewer has discontinued offering that version and has taken to rebadging the Meike version as their own, but along the way it seems as though there have been some improvements.
First, the apparent wobble that plagued the Meike versions seems to have been solved, as the play around the thumbscrew has been eliminated. For those who still have the Meike version, a shim can be inserted over the thumbscrew by removing the screws on the top of the grip and gently lifting the cover to place the shim over the screw thread and then replacing the screws. >> TRY THIS ONLY IF YOU ARE CONFIDENT IN YOUR ABILITIES!
Great tips, really appreciate it man.
Thumbs up!! I didn't here it mentioned, but coming from the video perspective, does the grip help with overheating? with the battery physically not being in the camera I could only assume that it helps
+Marcus Robinson with the a6300 it helped a little, but it still overheated. I'll do some test with the a6500 when the temps in my area start hitting 100F
that1cameraguy please answer this question I need some help on this topic.
how much testing did you do with the new grip + @6k and @6300. did you go out and shoot with it for a whole days worth? Did you drain the battery and charger them? are you using OEM batteries/3rd party?
I've gone out and used the a6300 meike grip. I just got the a6500 grip and I won't be able to test it out until next week when I have some sporting events I can go to. (I use a mix of OEM and 3rd party)
Thanks for your videos, they are very helpful. This question is in regards to the meike a6500 battery grip, both my roommate and I just purchased it. When I have the batteries in the grip, the only way the camera will turn on, is if i turn the on/off switch on the grip to "on". From what I've read (and watched in your video that switch is only supposed to control the grip's shutter button, not the power of the camera. Same goes the other way around If I turn the grips switch to off while the camera is on, it turns off. Do you know why this is happening/ does it happen on yours?
did this grip got better than previous model at shakiness/flimsiness from the camera body? i was shocked how shaky it was on your first review! id appreciate if you can reply, thanks for the review!
I've been waiting so long for this grip.
Me too.
Can you let let us know if the battery icon level has been fixed since people were reporting that with the older models they had no idea how much battery life was left.
Would you recommend this camera for portrait or landscape photography of this price range or would you recommend something else?
Just got the 6500. I love it. ordered 6 batteries and 3 dual usb chargers for $90 from amazon Canada :D
I recently got me a grip for my sony a 7 ii and I really love it. The only thing I'm little concirned about is heavy lenses. Not as huge as yours on a video but still a bit heavy. I'm worried that grip might be just not sturdy enough and sometimes if I try I can slightly move a grip from a camera body. Is this normal?
Thanks for info ..I just bayed after I have seen the tutorial of yours...yes and I bayed the sony a 6500 after we have talked in January..thank you so much
A6300 user I have to agree the batteries do drain faster while there just sit a round in the slots. I tried turning off the snap finger shutter while not in use. But honestly the batteries still drain fast. Any tips or suggestions let me know thank you.
If you want the vertical shutter button on the grip to work, as well as the included remote control to work (a very nice remote) ,then yes you have to keep the cord connected from the grip to the camera. If you just want to use the grip and its extra battery then you do not have to have the usb cord connected (but no vertical shutter button or included remote will work).
I am keeping this grip after many months use because ; Pros: it is good quality, matches the camera, gives me an extra battery, feels good in your hand, helps balance with bigger lenses, looks professional on the job, good price.
Cons: needs usb cord attached to camera for remote control and vertical shutter button to work ; need to remove grip to get to SD card inside camera's battery compartment. Please note that after a few months used with usb cord attached my A6500's usb port wouldn't work anymore. Fixed under camera warranty. My guess, bouncing around during use and storage and travel caused usb port to wear. Now I just use this grip for its extra battery and other features. . Still worth the great price, but I don't recommend you keep the usb cord plugged in. Hope this helps.
BTW I had no real problem, and didn't notice batteries draining faster by keeping them in the grip at all times. These batteries lose juice just sitting in a camera bag. No faster draining in the grip. I have seven of these batteries, so I know them pretty well.
Hi, you missed one thing. With the wireless remote you're able to do time lapse without the required app :)
Nice, thanks for adding that.
What camera settings can you change with the remote? Might make a nice, phone battery saving alternative to the PlayMemories Smart Remote app.
I have a grip for my A7II.... on a trip in Europe now with it so I'm gonna be using it for the first time. Looking forward to see how well it works and to not have to deal with swapping batteries.
Can I use it for me NEX-6? Or is there any alternative? Thanks in advance
Is it true that battery grips or extenders help with Sony's overheating issues?
Is there any rig size for the A65000 with battery grip?
ummmm so you have to always connect it via USB ? or is it to connect it with the remote ? It wasn't super clear...
Great review ;)
I wondered the same thing, video never answered that question. I like to keep my USB port open for other attachments.
If you want the vertical shutter button on the grip to work, as well as the included remote control to work (a very nice remote) ,then yes you have to keep the cord connected from the grip to the camera. If you just want to use the grip and its extra battery then you do not have to have the usb cord connected (but no vertical shutter button or included remote will work).
I am keeping this grip after many months use because ; Pros: it is good quality, matches the camera, gives me an extra battery, feels good in your hand, helps balance with bigger lenses, looks professional on the job, good price.
Cons: needs usb cord attached to camera for remote control and vertical shutter button to work ; need to remove grip to get to SD card inside camera's battery compartment. Please note that after a few months used with usb cord attached my A6500's usb port wouldn't work anymore. Fixed under camera warranty. My guess, bouncing around during use and storage and travel caused usb port to wear. Now I just use this grip for its extra battery and other features. . Still worth the great price, but I don't recommend you keep the usb cord plugged in. Hope this helps.
BTW I had no real problem, and didn't notice batteries draining faster by keeping them in the grip at all times.
With the grip how long would the camera last on battery? Thanks Ryan.
So you have to plug in the USB cable to use the grip or just to use the wireless remote?
What firmware are you currently using the grip with the A6500? I'm on version 1.03 and I think it may have bricked the functionality of the grip to use the portrait shutter button. I purchased a second grip thinking mine somehow got screwed up but the shutter release on the grip on the new on doesn't work either. Cable is fine and fully connected. Strange.
Soon I plan on purchasing the a6500. I'm kinda waiting for the later part of April to see if a new one comes out. My question is for the a6500 w/the grip, what type of shoulder or cage mount do you recommend?
The cage I won and use with the a6500 is the smallrig. However, I don't know of a cage that works with the grip on.
Thanks. If you come up with a DIY cage that consist of a cage with the grip......do provide a video. 😬😬. Thanks for the response and for your uploads. Truly helpful!!👍👍
Absolutely. Thanks for the support.
nice!
ive heard people had problems with the a6300 meike grip as it drained battery life while it wasnt even turned on. Have you experienced problems like this for both grips?
I haven't personally, but I wasn't testing for it. So I can't say. I do mention in the video about the grip draining battery. I'll do some test in a future video.
There is a model specifically made for the a6300/a6000. Have to look for the Pro marking as the older ones have issues with the batteries apparently.
Nice to know that. Thanks.
Can we use it with sony a6400???
Up! :)
It looks like you removed your left door. How did you do that?
I've just got the neewer..its not a6500 profile..its a6000 profile with the leading grip bottom ridge filed out..a6500 grip overhangs..am sending it back.
Question on the Meike grip for the a6500 can you charge the batterys while the grip is on the camera ? I am a new camera user thank you
Could you use this grip as a grip only, with no extra batteries inside? For example, could I leave a regular live battery in the battery slot of the a6500, mount the grip, and use it without the extra batteries or the release cable? The idea would be to simply gain extra purchase/grip for my large hands, but not have to have the bay door open with the cable connected. Thanks
Or furthermore, is the USB cable only required to release the shutter from the grip? Can the battery functionality be used without the cable?
Yes it can, the cable is only for the trigger on the grip.
Might get this, love your channel!
Which is better? Meike or neewer?
Hi I am a portrait/landscape shooter, what would produce better quality images, the sony a6500 w/ the sigma 30 1.4 dc dn, or the canon 6d w/ 35mm 1.4? Thank you so much!
Canon 6D
have you tried using this with a gimbal like the crane?
I have a small issue. My vertical shutter isn't working. Anybody else have that issue?
Yes I have this issue too
Can i use a6500 with battery grip on weebill s or if aircross 2 or please suggest me a gimbal that can hold those?? Please reply
So thats means grip for a6000 fit for a6500 sir? Huhu i need opinion
Kind of seems like, if you're going to go with a camera of that form factor, (a6000-6500) you might as well keep things small and not go with a battery grip. I mean, shooting in vertical is nice...but if I'm going to get a camera that small, I'm not going to put a battery grip on it. Carrying around 2-3 more batteries isn't really an issue.
Everyone has different needs. I totally get the angle you're coming from.
I wholeheartedly agree. 'Getting a 6500 one might as well carry more batteries and dual chargers. I already like the A6500 as it is. It's the lenses that go with it that matters most.
Show the bottom does it have a 1/4 to attach it to a tripod or 3 axis gimbal?
Can you use this with the cage?
I have the same question. Can the grip be used with a cage?
nah you can't
my one doesnt switch to the second battery icon to 100% after the first one is finished I'm left with a empty battery icon but the camera is still running?
I purchased a Vivitar grip and I had compatibility issues. Here's my story:
I note that Sony does not make a battery grip for the a6500. The a6300 has several grips made by third parties--some of those claim they also work for the a6500. But do they? The one I ordered does not.
I go one from Vivatar that worked--for a few minutes, but then the a6500 kept putting up a screen sign saying the battery grip was not an authorized product so something like that.
Frankly, I really like shooting with the a6500, but a battery grip make everything better regarding stability and control.
Anyone know of a product that actually works for the a6500?
Am I likely to get the same experience with the Meike? The packaging looks similar--like it's the same product with a different brand stamp.
Hi I'm just curious, is Meike Battery Grip for A7 II fit in A6500? Thank you :)
So my question is shooting portrait mode you can't use your back button focus is that correct
Got the grip just today. It feels good, although it's a bit scary that the cable leaves the hatch open. Seems vulnerable like that. I've got small hands and it feels rather big, but as I will be doing a lot of photography during my upcoming holiday, I don't want to be bothered with having to change the batteries when I've got just the right moment to shoot.
I get you on the vulnerable part. I haven't had any issues yet. I usually leave the cable attached and put the camera in the bag.
Do you leave your batteries in all the time? Online a lot of people are saying the batteries are drained when they stay in the tray/camera.
I always put a fresh set of batteries when I'm about to use it. I haven't done an actual test of this, but I've heard the same problem from others.
i have one for the a6000, not sure if its a battery drain or reporting error on the battery life. i shot for about 2 hours with the battery empty symbol on before it said exhausted. either way its a problem.
i saw a jupio battery grip apparently for the A6300/A6500 any experiance with it ?
Sony a7s2 and a7r2, which is better for filmmaking...?
If you do really low-light video, get the a7sii and need 120fps HD. If you don't need those, get the a7rii
would you say having a grip would alleviate 4k overheating issues due to having a dummy battery?
+Epron Media I haven't had my a6500 overheat with the extended temperature activated. I'm sure the grip will help. It did with the a6300, but it still did overheat.
okay great, also does the remote allow stop/start record functions when shooting video?
Epron Media I
Can you do time lapse from the wireless remote?
do you use this grip yourself?
that1cameraguy have you or anyone experienced "unsupported battery" issue with this grip? I can get the batteries to work outside the grip (yes, both are sony batteries) but cannot get them to work inside the grip for long periods of time.
I do not think Sony A6xxx camera were engineered for battery grips for the reason that it would be cumbersome and inconvenient to change SD cards with another. You have to detach the generic battery grip to pull out the SD card. Besides, no other advantage for battery grip except to extend battery life and use of the camera such as time lapse. Generic battery grip does not increase FPS like in mirrored DSLRs. Bare Sony A6xxx camera is good as it is already is for excellent backup units for main bulky DSLRs.
Everybody uses the gear differently. Others will find a use for it. The manufacture wouldn't make this if they didn't think people had an interest in it. I agree it's great already without the grip.
genghis2510 no not at all! it's an absolute lifeline for run and gun work, plus it makes the whole camera sit nicer in the hands. I am very pleased with it.
Does A5000 have battery grip? Or will it fit on A5000
What's up one camera guy what lens do you recommend for the Sony a 7R mark 2 for video ?
Honestly, the lens I use is the Sigma 35 f1.4 Art with Sigma MC-11. I'll also use the Sigma 18-35 F1.8 in Crop Mode on the a7Rii.
that1cameraguy thx for the info about Sony 16-35 ?
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO
Can this grip work with a cage? Like with Smallrig?
Hey man you live here in the Valley ? If so what city ? I stay in Bakersfield (:
I'm in the valley.
can you start recording using the remote?
Does this work for a6400?
Can you strat recording video with remote
Could you use the SmallRig with this?
this might be a dumb question, can you mount the camera with the grip on to a tripod?
yes you can
I wonder how well it would work on a zhiyun crane
That's a good question. Unfortunately, I have no answer for it.
For many other users on RUclips, this product worked to begin with, then failed with battery error prompts. Just sayin' buyer beware!
The grip looks much thicker, or taller, than the butteries it holds and makes A6500 too bulkier than it should. This can be made at least a half inch thinner, or, lower, or possibly 3/4" thinner, or lower. Then I will consider getting one.
I may have to get this. I just picked up an a5600 and love it, but that battery life is awful.
I bought Meike grip for sony a7 and it's works BAD. Actually there is a small gap between camera and grip "fake battery" which is inside a7. That gives constant power off when you try to take camera using grip only and shake it a little. Will never buy meike again because of that. But I don't know if they fixed that for further models (a7xII, sony a6xxx)
just got mine and there is no gap, I think they have been improving it with each model. This one I got looks, feels snug and nice.
Have you tried the one for the a6500 ?
I wasn't able to use the remote control ..it was really confusing.. could u please help
did you have the cable mentioned in the video attached as well?
Where can one find a "dummy battery" for this grip?
it comes with the grip once you buy it
quick tip to make you more money camera guy! Under your video the product is showing up and making GOOGLE the affiliate money. If you unmonetize the video, that disappears and more people are likely to click your link and not the google sponsor. You lose monetization on this video but i think everyone knows you make more through amazon affiliate than youtube ads!
My grip for the a6300 from Meike broke at first try. The go.den contacts from the dummybattery sticked in the grip.
Thanks for sharing that. You were able to get refunded right?
I send it back and get my money. My hope was that i can use the techart pro adapter with the grip, but it won't fit. redeyeimages.blogspot.de
Is there a a6000 good quality grip ?
Meike makes one for the a6300 that also works with the a6000. It's in the description.
One more thing I forgot to mention... Instead of taking the grip off to access the SD card, plug in a mini Usb cable to the camera's usb port! Not necessarily an elegant solution, but it allows access to the images without having to take the grip off the camera.
the size of mirror less cameras is a big advantage. Changing to small mirror less from big DSLRs and then attach Grip to make it bigger, what is wrong with people
well compared to "big DSLRs" with battery grip its still small and light. So its still a great improvement. But if you dont want it............... dont buy it. (we can always take it off too when need to go light.)
Thanksss
Why you deleted my comment? Because meike will not accept my comment about their products?
What was the comment. If you post links, sometimes it gets sent to spam. You can say what you want on my channel as long as you're not being vulgar. Also, I bought this with my own money with no association to Meike.
I didn't post any links, I just said that I own Meike sony a7 grip and it's works bad because of the gap between "fake battery" of the grip which is inside camera. Because of the gap I having constant power off.
But does the same thing happen with the a6500. This video is not about the a7
I have the meike a6300 battery grip.. it will fit on the a6500 too.. but the problem with meike grip is , IT DRAiNS battery even you switch off camera. it drains 15 percent overnight. irregardless if I only insert 1 battery or 2 battery pack within the grip... annoying like hell and I gave up using that grip.
I will not recommend anyone to buy meike grip. especially sony battery life is quite bad.. now with grip the drain makes it worse
+Victor Heng appreciate you sharing your experience.
that1cameraguy Initially I thought its due to 2 batteries having different power left and they probably attempt to charge each other... hence I try to put 1 battery into the grip holder.. and whatever battery ( 1 or 2 or original or oem) they all drain power after camera was switched off.. the drain can be so bad that after 4 days it can reduce 90% to 0... I couldnt comprehend what cause the battery drain on the meike grip. This was similar to both A6300 and A6500.. never had such issues with sony a7 original grip
+Victor Heng are you using portrait mode? I have Meike battery grip for my A7RII. It was draining battery dramatically around 15 percent in each day but I realized that if I always keep the ON/OFF switch "OFF" on the battery grip, It drains battery 1 or 2 percent for each day. So, as you said it's better not to keep batteries inside, but If I'm shooting all day long I can neglect that 1 or 2 percent.
Who's thatonecameraguy that i like to wacth??i forgot he's name
rip putting sd card in
Set playback speed at 1.25x, thank me later
Sub... great channel..
Thanks
Thank to you for this really great videos :) always follow your channel.. expecially the video for the FE 70 200 2.8 G Master... ahhh what lens ... i want to buy one but when the price is close to 1800/1900€. :).
This grip is trash! I bought it and it stopped working in 4 months. I wish Sony would come out with a durable option. This issue (amongst other issues) is pushing me towards Fuji.
The audio and video are way out of sync