One of the reasons I purchased this new DSTE Pro Battery Grip (also called the Battery Grip D5100+) is that it supposedly supported using AA batteries in addition to using EN-EN14 batteries. Because the Nikon D5100 and the Nikon D5300 will reject generic/no-name EN-EL14 batteries that don't have a chip on them, I was skeptical that using AA batteries would work in my Nikon D5300 with the DSTE Pro Battery Grip.
When I received my DSTE Pro Battery Grip, I tried it on my Nikon D5300 and found that it worked without any issues. Since the Nikon D5300 is not exactly the same size as the Nikon D5100 which this battery grip is advertised for, the fit is not 100% on my Nikon D5300 (but I would say that it was very close). Still, I find that this battery grip fit my Nikon D5300 very well and the extra spacing is minimal.
The battery grip comes with 2 battery trays which fit through the side of the battery grip. One battery tray supports two (2) EN-EL14 batteries and the other battery tray supports/uses six (6) AA batteries.
I tested using six NiMH rechargeable batteries and I took over 600 photos during a photo session where I used my Nikon SB-910 external flash/speedlight with my Nikon D5300 so the AA batteries weren't powering the camera's flash. I don't know the exact limit of the number of pictures that I could have taken with the six AA NiMH rechargeable batteries since the photo session ended.
Unlike with the Meike Battery Grip where the EN-EL14 fits into the battery grip directly, with the DSTE Pro Battery Grip, the two EN-EL14 drops/fits into a battery tray and this tray is inserted into the side of the battery grip. The Nikon D5300 camera powers up and behaved normally with either the two EN-EL14 tray inserted or the six AA tray inserted (with batteries in the respective trays of course).
The box/unit also came with a remote control but since the Nikon D5300 supports WiFi and I can take pictures using my Android smartphone/tablet, I have never used the remote control that came with it.
Just like the Meike Battery Grip, in order to use the button on the battery grip to shoot pictures, you will need to use the included cable to connect the battery grip to the side of the camera.
Although this battery grip is a bit more expensive than the Meike Battery Grip, for the additional functionality of using AA batteries, I find that it is well worth the higher price and I really recommend them. Since AA batteries are very easy to find/buy, having the ability to use AA batteries is great just in case you think that your EN-EL14 batteries are fully charged and they are not or the EN-EL14 batteries you have no longer maintain their charge.
If you have any comments/questions regarding this blog entry, please don't hesitate to leave a comment in the comments section below. Please note that the comments are moderated and an comment containing a URL link (whether embedded or not) will automatically be flagged as spam and will not be posted.
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I bought this grip also, also for use with my D5300 but it won't allow use of the AA batteries.
ReplyDeleteTells me I need to insert appropriate battery. Any idea why?
Appreciate any help.
Ok, I've tried for a second time, it's a day later and now it seems to work.
DeleteNot sure why it didn't the first time but it seems ok at the moment.
Thank you Bay Salinger for taking the time to read my blog and post your comment/question. Sorry for the late response. Even though I'm not associated/affiliated with the manufacturer of the battery grip, I'm glad to hear that it is working for you now.
DeleteI've never experienced the problem that you outlined.
Assuming that there is nothing wrong with your unit and the battery grip is properly locked into place and when using just EN-EL14 batteries in the battery grip adapter, it works fine, are/were you mixing/matching batteries from different manufacturers and/or using rechargeable with non-rechargeable?
For me, I've never had any problems with the battery grip either when using the EN-EL14 batteries in the adapter or when using AA batteries in the adapter. For the AA batteries, I use the same manufacturer for all the AA batteries and the same type of battery (all rechargeable). The rating for the AA batteries are also all the same in terms of mAh since I'm using rechargeable batteries and they were purchased roughly at the same time (I'm not using 3 year old rechargeable batteries with newly purchased rechargeable batteries).
How many shots can be taken with dste grip after full charge?(include both battery)
ReplyDeleteDoes Meike Multi-Power Vertical Camera Battery Grip Holder for Nikon D5300 fits nikon d5100??
Thank you ADAM for reading my blog and taking the time to post your comment/question on by blog.
DeleteIn terms of how many shots I've gotten from the DSTE Pro Battery Grip (Battery Grip D5100+) after placing two fully charged EN-EL14A batteries in it, I can't give you an exact number since I've never taken pictures with the camera and battery grip until the camera gave me a low battery indicator. I generally will start with fully charged batteries before any photo shoot session or if I'm on vacation I will leave my hotel room with fully charged batteries in the battery grip. When doing this, I have never gotten a low battery warning before returning to the hotel in the evening or during a typical 2 hour photo shoot session.
I've taken over 800 photos during a 2 hour photoshoot (without using the LCD viewscreen to take the pictures and only using the viewscreen occasionally to preview pictures that I've already taken). When doing this, the battery indicator would still show up as "full".
During one of my vacations, I've taken over 1200 pictures in a day before returning to the hotel room and did not receive a low battery warning when I started with 2 fully charged EN-EL14A batteries in the battery grip. The battery was no longer showing "full" but it was also not "low".
In terms of whether the Meike multi-power vertical camera battery grip holder for the Nikon D5300 fits the Nikon D5100. I've used my Nikon D5100 Meike Battery Grip with my old Nikon D5100 as well as my current Nikon D5300. Likewise, the DSTE Pro Battery Grip in this blog entry review was actually built for a Nikon D5100 camera and works with my Nikon D5300 without any issues. Because of this, I believe that any battery grip built for a Nikon D5300 or Nikon D5100 will fit (and work) in the other camera without any issues. The only "issue" would be purely cosmetic due to a slightly smaller or slightly larger camera body so you will see a slight space or lip on the edge where the camera body touches the battery grip.
I wish you had pictures showing the "extra spacing" on your D5300 as I'm in the market for a battery grip. I saw this one had IR remote built in to use without a cable which is nice sometimes while shooting manual mode and no need for a two step button.
ReplyDeleteThank you Andrew Dunham for taking the time to read my blog and post your comment.
DeleteSorry for the late reply. You probably already purchased a battery grip already but if you haven't and you are still interested in the "extra spacing" which I mentioned on my blog, I did take a picture of it.
The picture is not very good but you can find it *HERE*. The battery grip that I purchased was "built" (advertised) for the Nikon D5100 only (the Nikon D5300 was just released so no 3rd party manufacturer were advertising battery grips for the D5300 yet). Since I had both the Nikon D5100 and the Nikon D5300 (prior to me selling the Nikon D5100), I knew that the Nikon D5300 was basically the same form factor as the Nikon D5100 except slightly smaller which is why there is the "extra spacing" when attaching this battery grip to the camera. I also had the Meike battery grip (that didn't offer the opportunity to use AA batteries) which I purchased and used on my Nikon D5100 work on my Nikon D5300 without any issues. For me, the "extra spacing" is hardly noticeable.
I purchased this battery grip mainly for the possibility of using AA batteries with my Nikon D5300 because I already had my Meike battery grip which worked fine on the Nikon D5100.
wait.. its only a IR receiver.. blah! nevermind!
ReplyDeleteI have this grip and it only reads one battery when there is 2 in the tray. I have to take out the dead battery then the 5300 sees the next full battery. WHY? Is it a defect. I'm using one Nikon original and one Dste so called coded battery. I might as well not use the grip and just change batteries. If you know how to fix please advise. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThank you Phil Han for taking the time to read my blog and post your comment/question.
DeleteI believe that you probably have a defective battery grip since on the battery grip that I purchased, regardless of where I place the battery on the insertion tray, it will power up my Nikon D5300.
With one battery (in either slot of the insertion tray) or two batteries in the insertion tray, my Nikon D5300 still powers on. With the two batteries in the insertion tray, the Nikon D5300 seems to be using both batteries as a power source since when my camera indicates that the battery is depleted, both batteries need to be recharged.
I have this grip and it only reads one battery when there is 2 in the tray. I have to take out the dead battery then the 5300 sees the next full battery. WHY? Is it a defect. I'm using one Nikon original and one Dste so called coded battery. I might as well not use the grip and just change batteries. If you know how to fix please advise. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThank you Phil Han for taking the time to read my blog and post your comment/question.
DeleteI believe that I answered your question above. I think you probably have a defective battery grip since the battery grip that I reviewed/purchased functions with one battery on either side of the battery insertion tray or with both batteries in the battery insertion tray. I charge both batteries before placing them in the battery tray and inserting the tray into the battery grip. After using my Nikon D5300, when the battery indicator shows that it is low, both my batteries require charging so it appears to be using both batteries at the same time.