DSTE® D-BG4 DBG4 Battery grip For Pentax K-7 K-5 K7 K5 SLR Camera

I have got this for a trip to Iceland and ended up keeping it mounted all the time.So, while I cannot yet comment on long term reliability, I have been using it very intensively for 10 days in a row with my K-5.Aside of making for more comfortable portrait shooting, it makes the camera generally easier to handle and easier to keep steady for hand held landscape.It does add some weight, particularly with the extra battery on.One reason why I was able to use the grip all the time it that I was using a compression strap attached to the tripod mount, so the weight wasn't really an issue even when walking for hours. Incidentally, I found the compression strap to be the perhaps the most useful accessory I have bought in 12 years of photography.PROS: It has a nice ridge to hold to in both portrait and landscape orientation. In fact, I found myself stopping supporting the camera by the lense, particularly when trying to keep it steady.The tripod mount looks as good as the one on my K-5.It has some sockets to host the connectors covers on the bottom of the camera, and space for a spare sd card inside the battery compartment. It comes with an alternative battery compartment for AA batteries, not the best cells for the job but it is nice to have in a pinch.Iso, exposure compensation, wheels, shutter button and preview lever, on the back green button and AF button. They are all there and work ok. They might feel a bit plasticky and certainly not to the same quality level of the in-camera buttons, but I never tried the original grip from pentax so not sure if it is any better.The grip is quite easy to mount and feel secure.I assume it is not water sealed as the camera, but the main ingress point for water would probably be the space between camera and grip, where the connector is. Having walked and photographed in rain while hiking and exploring and it didn't seem to have any problem.CONS: having carried the camera strapped all the time on my side and rubbing on my jacket, after ten days the writings have started disappearing. Not sure if the original is any better in that respect. On the other hand, it's not all that hard to remember what button does what even without labels.A more annoying problem is that the grip is very easy to switch on accidentally while carrying it on the side, at least with a strap attached to the tripod mount as the one I use.This is not in principle a problem, but it is very easy to press the shutter accidentally when photographing in landscape orientation, which is annoying.IMPROVEMENTS: a lock for the on/off switch and more wear resistant writings would be nice to have.If I find reliability problems over the next months I will update my review, but for the moment I feel ti was a very good purchase with no drawbacks compared to buying the original Pentax grip

Bought this to be able to use AA batteries with a K5ii ( In an emergency ):DSTE D-BG4 DBG4 Battery grip For Pentax K-7 K-5 K7 K5 SLR Camera from Amazon UK.Picked this one because the picture showed 4 circular rubber inserts , one oval rubber insert ( Just like the genuine item )The Type 2 generic grips all seem to have locations for these but nothing is fitted on most.There also seemed to be some sort of seal around the gold multiway connecter pin and the single black vertical pin.When it arrived it's just like the photograph - those items do seem to be some sort of seal so the contacts in the camera base probably have some ( limited? ) protection, but theres no sealing rubber where the battery tray meets the grip body!( The instructions say it's weather sealed but they are such a close clone of the Pentax original only a few minor variations in the text and layout prove it's not a photocopy of the original!)Plastic quality pretty good! (The printing does look like it will wear though)The buttons e-dials all work!( The instructions , like the genuine pentax ones advise to jiggle the e-dials ( Camera / Grip ) if they do not work with the grip attached )I was worried about the battery insert latches but to be honest they seem to be metal and appear no more fragile than the latch on the camera battery compartment! Just need to gently press the battery tray home before twisting the latch !Mission accomplished ?The battery holders accept batteries , fit well and the batteries are recognized !All seems well with AA batteries! ( Manually selecting the battery type ( Alkaline / NiMH / Lithium ) seems to work best )There is more to grip ( But it weighs more )The buttons all work when the grip is switched on but no batteries fitted!

My Last battery grip was as branded Pentax one for my K20... Cost an arm and a leg and didn't really make gripping the camera in portrait any easier. This grip however for my K5. Cheap as chips, ergonomically shaped (yes i know models Pentax's) feels good and functions well.. Not weather sealed but nor is the lens. I would strongly recommend this product for the casual user over Pentax's own brand which is £100 more expensive at least.ProsGreat priceGood construction and well balancedStorage in grip for moved connection covers on camera and gripAllows the use of AA batteries with replacement trayStorage for second SD card.Tripod thread is metal with metal inlay base inside the remote to spread load.Good rubberised grip areas for fingers and thumbConsNo weather sealsNo storage of shutter remoteOn/off switch doesn't fully alight with ON OFF icons ( but it's clear it's on or off)

I wanted the ability to work for long periods in the cold. This is for astrophotography in the main with the camera mounted on the tripod.I never thought of buying the Pentax version as I didn't want to spend the amount of money on a merely convenient battery holder.(I could buy another lens!)For the price this is perfect really. It holds a battery and even has tha ability to use AA batteries.The build quality is pretty good and the grip does not feel out of place on my K5.The plastic parts feel good and are free from moulding issues and have a good surface finish, and along with the rubber parts, have a very similar texture to the camera.All of the buttons work fine and to be honest I have been pleasantly surprised how much more comfortable and convenient the camera is when shooting in portrait orientation.Very happy with my purchase.(what did I spend the money I saved on? The GPS Astrotracer of course! 😀)

Everything was good

conforme alla descrizione, per il prezzo che ha, è ottimo e funzionale

Très bien me convient , fonctionnel et opérationnel, rien a redire ca fait son boulot, et de plus pas tropChère

Das Produkt ist voll kompatibel zur K7. Dichtungen sind ebenfalls vorhanden. Es muss nicht immer das teure original sein, um den Betrieb zu gewährleisten.

This was so cheap compared to retail stores in Australia. Easy to use and the batteries last ages now on my Pentax camera. Thanks so much!