I'll go straight to my points
PROS
- Easy to install, no brainer
- Perfect fit with the D90
- It's the closest and best thing you could get to an MB-D80 for about $70... sweet
- Works as expected
CONS
- There is a delay in response when turning the dials, but not to the point that it will annoy you.
- The material (plastic) could have been sturdier if they made it a little thicker.
- The dials of the D90 and this grip are not of the same feel.
Overall, I am still pretty satisfied with this product considering how much I paid for it. The most important thing
is, IT WORKS PERFECTLY. Zeikos ZE-NBG90 Battery Power Grip for Nikon D80 & D90
I put the Zeikos ZE-NBG90 grip next to the Nikon grip for my D200 and if you cover the names, I guarantee you can not tell them apart. The only difference is the D200 is slightly larger because the base of the D200 is wider than the D90's.(Gee,,, I wonder why Nikon didn't make them the same size???) All the controls perform the same functions with no differences in feel, operation or location. As others have stated, it matches up to the base of the D90 seamlessly. Even the holders for the AA batteries are identical... So save yourself $90, unless your name brand crazy and buy the Zeikos!!!! I'm finding many of the after market accessories for Nikon cameras are not only far less expensive but work just as well..... I'm tired of every time I buy a new Nikon camera, I have to pay their outrageous prices for new accessories, especially since it would not take much effort on the engineers part to make them compatible!!!!! It's just another way to make money and it's a rip-off!!! Do yourself a favor and buy this Zeikos grip over the Nikon Brand.... Amazon has one of if not the best price...
The Zeikos matched well with the D90 and worked as advertised. No problems setting it up or operating it. Handles wells and it does not feel as if it is going fall out of your hand, and it looks good attached to the D90 as well. It is also cost less than the Nikon's, and basically works for less. At this point, I have got to give a five.
Initially I was reluctant to order this product at less than half the cost of the OEM grip. Also in the past I have had some negative experiences with third party battery grips. There were only four customer reviews. However the reviews were very positive and touched on issues that would be important to me. So i took the plunge and the grip arrived today. Most impressive!! Excellent build quality. Clearly they didn't cut corners in terms of materials used. it is not a bantam weight, cheap feeling grip. It fits the D 90 perfectly. The rubberized grip surface on the front and part of the bottom is a really nice touch. The controls look and feel like those on the Nikon grip. They have done an excellent job aesthetically. The grip looks like it belongs with the camera. You also get individual battery readings just as with the Nikon grip. There doesn't seem to be a way to select which battery is in use. The manual does not deal with this issue. When both batteries are in use the grip does display the weaker battery differently, but at this point I don't know what that means in terms of which battery is "active". I guess the worst scenario is that it draws from both batteries simultaneously and that is not a disaster in terms of total power availability. The bottom line is that I am delighted with the grip. It is more than I expected and exactly what I had hoped for.
This is not an accessory like a fancy lens or a software program that is going to radically change the pictures you can take. But it is an accessory that is going to make shooting easier in a lot of ways. To that end it should be an accessory that solves a few problems and doesn't create new ones. Further it shouldn't drain your bank account and put that exotic glass even further from reach. I think this grip satisfies both criteria.
What does it solve?
1. Lens no longer tips downward when camera hangs from neck strap. Droopy lenses get no respect!
2. Battery power no longer runs out just as model starts smiling or cloud decides to blow off.
3. Frame rate increases enough to catch a tortoise in a full race mode.(At least on my camera.)
4. People no longer confuse you with a contortionist when you are trying to take a portrait.
What problems did the designers solve in advance for me?
1. Which battery is getting low? You can see the charge of both batteries in the camera LCD.
2. Where does the camera's battery cover door go? There is a slot the door goes in. Its internal to the grip so it can't be lost.
3. What if I hit the shutter on the grip by mistake? There is a lever to disable the shutter on the grip.
What are my general notes:
1.The command dials and shutter on the grip are responsive in a satisfactory way. I am not feeling there is any delay as mentioned elsewhere.
2. The unit only attaches at the tripod mount of the camera. I'm going to add some cloth tape to the seam where the camera and the grip meet; just to control any flexing forces.
3. The plastic isn't as tough feeling as my camera body. But if the two fell I'd say the body only has a 10% better chance of surviving than the grip. Since I bought this grip for 1/2 the price of the others and 1/3 the price of the Nikon grip I'll just buy another one if the 10% ever comes true. - Battery - En-el3e - Battery Grip - Zeikos'
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