Hmm never had that happen with mine... I usually get 12-15 continuous Raw off my D90 and then it chokes up. I do like that when the buffer is full it can do about 2fps still with a tiny hiccup every 10 or so shots, whereas my D200 only does 1 if even that with the buffer full...

I am not so sure the two batteries do much. The buffer on the D90 seems to hold maybe four or five exposures when shooting RAW. So it stops firing for a second, then resumes. I suppose if I shot JPEG, maybe the buffer could hold more. I could not find out the data on this from the manual. Basically, the grip is for holding on to the camera and making verticals so much easier to shoot. Of course, at a distance and with unknowing observers it looks good too! The camera mechanicals are what limit the FPS, I believe...

The D90 is a super camera, but so is a car four years old. The technology is so rapidly changing, the newer cameras do more.

msmoto said:
I have the Vello from B & H on my D90 and it has worked very well.......

I think the answer is no, but just wanted to make sure from a actual user:

So do you find a increase in FPS with two nikon or 6 AA batteries installed in D90 Vello grip?

@Adamz I've snapped a few on a plane if that counts. :) I think temperature effects them more than anything else. Let's go to everest and find out though.

Your probably right about the en-el15. Luckily, my Nikon V1 uses them as well. The D800 pretty much blows my photography budget for the next year or two, so the better half will be using the D90 as her backup camera for quite a while. Having to tote around two sets of batteries & chargers is lame... Anyone want to trade their D7000 for a D90?

@willis - I would love to use my d3s battery on d800, though I'm really positively surprised with the performance of en-el15, I had around 1k shots (some with preview and other camera settings) and the battery was still 1 bar - for me it means that I only need 1-2 more spare batteries to cover 1 day of shooting, which is more than good. BTW: does any of You have any experience with battery performance on hight altitude, above 4000m (13000 ft)?

Willis said:
If they can make a battery grip that lets you use D4 batteries with the D800, wouldn't it also be possible to make a grip that lets you use D80\D90 batteries with the D800? I'd pay for that.

Mmmm.... D800 uses 7.0v, 1900mAh EN-EL15 and D90 uses 7.4v, 1500mAh Li-ion battery. Seems kinda hard to get all that worked out to adapt an older battery to a newer camera... unless a clever do-it-yourselfer takes on the job.

@SkintBrit.... I use a small piece of Gaffer tape on the small catch of the D90 battery door on the Vello grip. Just one of those things done when one is used to safety wiring things on race cars, motorcycles, etc.

If they can make a battery grip that lets you use D4 batteries with the D800, wouldn't it also be possible to make a grip that lets you use D80\D90 batteries with the D800? I'd pay for that.

@skintbrit - I was using original grip for d200 and it was my first and last so far, than I started to use the Meiko battery grips for d90 and d300s and... never had a single problem with them, I was using en-el4e batteries on mb-d10 and it worked like a charm. one thing though, I wasn't using this setup on tripod - as I was always using it with longer lenses that had their own tipod collar

adamz said:
no, and there's almost no difference between 3rd party battery packs... maybe except the price.

You're right adamz, there are some very good quality aftermarket grips out there, and almost certainly better value for money that the OEM part, but in my experience none are 'quite' as good. I bought an original MB-D10 for my D700 and whilst I agree by the time I bought the BL-3 (I think that's what it's called) battery compartment door and D3 battery (and charger) it came pretty darn close to costing me £500!, the quality as you'd expect is superb, and the grip is made from the same magnesium alloy as the camera. On the other hand I bought a cheap £45 grip for my sons D90 which came with 2 l-ion batteries, absolutely superb value for money, but the writing is rubbing off and the battery door catch is so loose that it doesn't stay shut any more. YES YES I hear you, I could buy 9 more for the price I paid for my original set up, but I think there is a case for buying an original if you use it professionally, and also I suspect mine might have a value if I ever come to sell? As always you pays your money and you takes your choice!

I asked a Nikon rep at the local D800 unveiling and he said no. The third part grips work fine, except they require an external cable, which is kind of a bummer.

I have the Vello from B & H on my D90 and it has worked very well. It looks exactly like the Nikon product and as they have to fit the same way and function exactly the same, I suspect it is a knock off in every respect. And for the cost of the grip, an extra non-Nikon battery, all from B & H, you are set. Adapting another grip sounds like asking for trouble.

no, and there's almost no difference between 3rd party battery packs... maybe except the price.

I know there are 3rd party battery grips for the d5100, also I have heard you can modify the d3100's battery grip so it fits the d5100, but I'm not a fan of buying 3rd party or doing unreliable DIY modifications. Will there be a battery grip released specifically by Nikon for the d5100 sometime in the near future?