New Vello Battery Grip For Nikon D850 Shoots 9FPS For $300 Less

Kishore Sawh

Despite much back and forth, the Vello BG-N19 Battery Grip for the Nikon D850 should now do 9FPS, though perhaps only for new units. This is a win for D850 users who donโ€™t want to pay $1000 more than the D850 body cost to get 9FPS.

I have maintained since I first got the D850 that it take beautiful images, has good ergonomics, and overall is perhaps one of the best DSLRs ever made. Despite that, I have also maintained a nickname for it: โ€˜Caveat Cameraโ€™. This is because while there is a lot to love, thereโ€™s a lot that youโ€™re giving up. Like what? Like the ability to transfer files from the camera XQD to a computer with a cable (unless using Nikon software), for one. But also, while the unit is marketed at 9FPS, it wonโ€™t do it that on its own, but needs the battery grip, and to get all that functionality costs a whopping $1000.

Hereโ€™s how and why thatโ€™s the case. The D850โ€™s headline-grabbing specs of the 9FPS and 5000 shots come at a costly caveat, that those numbers can only be achieved of the battery grip, with a special battery kit inside which allowed the use of the battery plucked from the D5.

[RELATED: Nikon D850 Battery Grip Now In Stock in The US | Adds $1,000 Cost To D850 & Inconvenience]

So you need the grip, a second battery type, a second charger for that battery, and a cover adapter for the grip kit which is needed to use that other battery. Just buying the grip and slotting in a D850 battery will not deliver the goods. By the time you get the grip ($400), the new battery and charger for that battery (which is different than that of D850 body), the cost for all of that is just shy of $1,000. Thatโ€™s on top of the $3,300 just spent to buy the D850. So a $300 saving on the grip is significant as the Vello comes in at only $99.

In February I spoke to a Vello rep who told me it would do 9FPS, but another more senior rep there told me later that this was, in fact, not the case, and I had to issue a correction. However, I was told then it was being worked on, and it seems now the problem has been solved with the new version of the grip, the Vello BG-N19-2.

The older version of the grip is still available and is not $20 off, and the new version if still $99. We can even see from B&Hโ€™s product listing that the speed rating of the grip is now published as 9 versus 7. So there you have it. You can get it here.

Also, below is a breakdown of the options and list of gear youโ€™ll need.

Kit Pieces For 9FPS with Nikon D850

Battery Grips
Vello BG-N19-2 Battery Grip for Nikon D850 ($99)
Nikon MB-D18 Multi-Power Battery Pack ($396)

Grip Accessories (used for either Vello or Nikon grips)
Nikon EN-EL18b Rechargeable Battery and BL-5 Cover Kit ($174)
Nikon MH-26aAK Charger Kit ($369)
or
Nikon MB-D18 Multi-Power Battery Pack with EN-EL18b Battery Kit (which includes Nikon Grip, battery, charger, BL-5 adapter cover) ($940)

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS

  • Extended Grip for Vertical Composition
  • Extends Shooting Time
  • Holds One EN-EL15a Battery
  • Also Works with Eight AA Batteries
  • Holds EN-EL18b Battery with BL-5 Cover
  • Supports EP-5B + EH-5c AC Adapter
  • Shutter Release Button with Control Lock
  • Two Command Dials, AF-ON and Fn Buttons
  • Slot for Holding Rubber Contact Cover
  • 1/4โ€ณ-20 Threaded Slot for Tripod Use

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