Digital SLR Reviews Blog

Nikon MB D80 Multi Power Battery Pack for the Nikon D80 and D90 Digital SLR Camera

The Nikon MB-D80 Multi-Power Battery Pack holds 2 EN-EL3e Lithium-Ion rechageable batteries, effectively doubling your total shooting time. Can also hold a AA battery holder (included), so users can use AA batteries as a power backup. The MB-D80 Multi-Power Battery Pack provides an AF-on button, vertical firing release with lock, and front and rear command dials.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars works for what it was purchased for
Purchased the battery pack to get better fps on my D80. The D80 is not the best sports camera unless you’re outside in natural sunlight. The battery pack does help, getting you more fps. Overall, I would recommend a different camera if sports is your shooting preference, but if you already have the D80 and want to shoot sports, this will help.

5 Stars I was going to buy a third party battery grip, BUT…
I recently borrowed my father in law’s Nikon D80 with the MB-D80 mounted. Now that I just ordered my own Nikon D90, I definitely needed a battery grip. Even my old Nikon Coolpix 8800 has a Nikon battery grip. I always like the extra battery life and also makes gripping the camera more comfortable, plus the portrait mode shutter button is great, if you shoot that orientation a lot, which I do.

At first, I felt that the MB-D80 is a bit pricey for what it is, which is probably the case, so I started checking out all the other third party grips. Most of those third party grip reviewers stated that most are well made, but the plastic housing seems a little thinner that the Nikon, but that’s not a big deal to me, since I never bang my equipment around. I finally was just about to settle on the Ziekos for $60 Zeikos ZE-NBG90 Battery Power Grip for Nikon D80 & D90, which looks almost identical to the Nikon, but than one reviewer mentioned that the grip’s tripod mount looks sturdy and “should” be ok. So, I started thinking, I’m trying to save $90, camera is $1100, plus a $500 flash, maybe a $500 zoom lens later on, is it worth risking $1600+ over $90, HELL NO, so I changed my mind and went with the MB-D80 instead.

Without this battery grip, when the camera is hanging around your neck and by your stomach, it is off balanced, where it is tilted with the lens pointing down at a 45% angle, the bottom front edge of the camera body resting against your belly. With this grip and batteries, at least with the kit lens, it will be leveled horizontally, the back of the camera will be flat against your belly, making it more comfortable, when it is hanging there, while you are walking around.

5 Stars Duration
I flew into Las Vegas in June and spent about 4 days in different parts of the southwestern desert, shooting away. I used my D-80 to fill two 8GB memory cards, which equated to about 1,200 pictures. NOT ONCE did I have to charge these batteries, and I probably could’ve hiked with it for another day or 2.

That alone makes the grip worth while. The 2 of these batteries combined as a power source is VERY impressive.

5 Stars excellent
Really allows for more shooting, super easy to use in portrait mode, shutter button is a tad sensitive but once you get used to it no problems. Works great.

1 Star Product is great but I received a defective one from Amazon
I love using the MB-D80 multi-battery pack. However, I got a defective item (battery level would always drop even if batteries are newly charged) and I had to spend $70+ to have it fixed by Nikon.

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