Pentax BG2 Battery Grip for Pentax K10D and K20D DSLR Cameras

It's a good accessory for those who need to have two batteries online all the time. For those of us who aren't heavy with the shutter, just get a second batter and throw it in your bag. The grips on the K20D don't really require more gripping surface.

I've been to sporting events where this is a really handy option, when you really need the extended shooting time, but this might be 3 times a year. Normally, it's no issue to just plug in a spare for the main.

Don't know that I'll ever use the additional buttons on it either. Up to you for preference I guess. I find it useful for the additional memory storage as well as longer shoots when I need it. Otherwise, it's off the camera, in my bag. A K20D with the grip won't fit in the Pentax slingbag without fear of ripping the zipper.

Overall, good quality, no issues figuring it out, and found some worth, but you may want to consider the spare and putting the $130 into a DA lense you might be fawning over.

I bought the Battery Grip to help better hold the Pentax K20D when I would hold the camera in the verticle position. The storage tray slides out the left side of the grip and the remote, battery & memory card fit neatly on the tray. Then you push it back into the bottom of the grip. I don't have a remote to store inside. I have yet to put the extra battery in it or an extra memory card. There is a metal twist lock tab that locks the tray in place. The grip also has two metal pins that engage in two holes in the bottom of the camera base when the grip is screwed into the tri-pod socket. There is a second tri-pod socket on the bottom of the grip.

See my grip photo's posted up above.

The grip area where your fingers go could be a little bit wider and have more of a roughness in the rubber. I can't grip it as well as I thought I would be able to. Someone with small hands or fingers may or may not have a problem. It be nice if the grip contour was shaped like the right side of the camera's grip. The bottom of the grip is flat and sits nice and flat on a table without rocking.

The grip does give the camera a large stance, thus making it look like an expensive unit. Its very light weight and really doesn't add any noicable weight to the camera, at least I don't think it does.

Besides the shutter release button the grip also has a Green Mode button, AE-L button, Front & rear E -Dials and the + - Exposure button. The mirror flip up button for Live View is built into the power switch just like the body control switch.

Overall, I'm happy with the purchase. I plan to use an old fashioned flash bracket on the camera to help better steady it and so I can have a better grip for my left hand.

I ordered this but returned it as I found the vertical grip to be too narrow for a comfortable hold. I have fairly big hands so that might have something to do with it. If Pentax could add some bulk to it then it would be perfect. It did however make the horizontal hold quite a bit more comfortable (especially with large heavy lenses).

Otherwise the build is great (just like the K20D I tried it on) and it's well designed. The "green" button is placed a bit off from its position on the camera and since I use it very often I found it a bit hard to get used to. The extra battery and remote/SD card storage are good to have as well.

The K20D is somewhat smaller than the Canon 40D I also use, thus adding more area to hold is an avantage. The grip is the perfect solution. Having large hands, cameras without drives or grips seem difficult to steady while handheld. Of course the verticle option is great, and I like the choice as to which battery will be prime. I coulnd't be more pleased with the purshase.
Amazon made an uncomfortable situation much easier, since I dislike on line purchases.

Do not use AMAZON - they cancelled my order after I had made purchase and I am now out of pocket due to currency exchange rates.