Introduction
Sony's
A350 camera is a very compact and lightweight SLR. In tight spaces with a small lens, this is a wonderful thing. With a moderate-size zoom lens, it becomes front heavy and somewhat unstable. In general, the greater a camera's mass, the more stable it becomes in hand-held shooting situations. The A350's small size poses an additional problem: the grip is not quite large enough to accommodate my little finger. Thankfully, both of these issues can be addressed with one simple addition. The VG-B30AM vertical grip is designed to improve portrait shooting ergonomics, but also adds mass, improved landscape shooting ergonomics, and doubled battery capacity. I've been impressed with the design of the A350 camera body, and I was hoping this vertical grip would live up to the same design and performance standards.
Features
According to Sony's website, this vertical grip offers:
- A stable grip for vertical and horizontal shooting
- Convenient shutter release and camera control buttons
- Holds 2 InfoLITHIUM® batteries (sold separately)
- Double your Stamina® battery power - up to 1,500 shots
- Shows remaining battery power in percentage plus icon display
- Auto switching to backup battery for uninterrupted shooting
- Precision camera fit, rugged lightweight design
As of Summer 2008, this vertical grip has a street price of approximately $210 (US). Included with the grip is a one year warranty and instruction manual.
Performance
Ergonomics
As soon as I attached it to the camera, I realized that this grip has far better ergonomics than any grip I've ever used. Lots of sticky rubber covers the substantial outer ridge that is perfectly molded to a human hand. No other manufacturer offers a grip molded this well. Additionally, a substantial thumb ridge on the face of the grip works to keep the entire unit securely in hand. Sony places the shutter release button and command dial not at the top of the grip, but down an inch or so. This forces my right hand to the bottom of the grip where it comes into contact with my left hand, which is holding the lens. Doing so forces me into the correct shooting position with elbows pressed against my torso. This is a simply brilliant design and noticeably more helpful and comfortable than any other vertical grip from any manufacturer. It has the added benefit of keeping the shutter release button somewhat protected, which reduces accidental operation. Even $5000 professional cameras lack this feature.
The VG-B30AM only has four controls: shutter release, control dial, autoexposure lock, and exposure compensation. Each of these controls is easy to operate, even with large fingers. Most importantly, the shutter release button has a very similar feel to the shutter release button on the camera body, so no mental adjustment is needed when changing camera orientation. I wish I could say the same for my Nikon D300, which has a mushy shutter release button on the camera body and a hairline trigger of a shutter release button on the grip. In this regard, Sony seems to be doing a better job of controlling its design and build quality than Nikon.
Build Quality
Although constructed mostly of polycarbonate, this is a strong grip that has very similar build quality to the A350 camera body. Tolerances are small, as is evidenced by the near seamless integration with the camera body and tight seams in the pieces that comprise the grip. Sony doesn't claim that this grip is weather-proofed in any way, but I've had no problems with blowing dust or light rain. Overall, build quality is a little better than Nikon's
MB-D200 vertical grip, but not up to the rugged standard of the
Nikon MB-D10 vertical grip. Although it is unlikely to withstand the rigors of daily professional use for too long, it can certainly take some abuse without much problem.
Operation
In the field, this vertical grip feels is a very natural extension of the A350's capabilities. Together, they feel like one piece. Although this piece isn't as solid as the Nikon D300 with MB-D10, it feels at least as solid as the Nikon D80 with the MB-D80, which is a much more appropriate comparison. The buttons are easy to operate and learn, and each functions as its companion button on the camera body does. The oversized thumb screw that attaches the grip to the camera body stays tight even after a lot of use.
The battery tray compartment opens from the small end of the vertical grip, much as the Nikon F5 and F100 vertical grips did. This is a far superior design to that of the Nikon MB-D200 and Nikon MB-D80, which have a flimsy door and latch pressed against my hand on the long side of the grip. The VG-30AM's battery tray door opens much as the memory card door on the camera body does - no latch, just pull the door toward you and it springs open. Without a latch, I've been worried that this could happen accidentally, but so far I've had no problems. Even if the door does accidentally come open, an internal latch keeps the battery tray firmly in place. This latch is easy to release when the batteries need to be removed. In the battery tray, two InfoLithium batteries snap securely into place. This tray doesn't feel as sturdy as the Nikon MB-D10's tray, but again it's at least as strong as the Nikon MB-D80's tray. With two batteries in the VG-B30AM, I've shot 1500 frames in the A350, with only a few of those using the LiveView feature.
The VG-B30AM can be switched on or off at anytime using a small dial located on its face. This is a dial and not a button, so accidental operation is not likely. Whether the grip is turned off or on, all camera body functions operate as normal. The grip does not require any settings to be adjusted in the camera body when it is mounted or unmounted.
Finally, a stainless steal tripod mount is perfectly centered under the middle of the camera lens mount on the bottom of this vertical grip. This allows a tripod to be used exactly as it would with only the camera body.
So, is this the perfect vertical grip? No, and I'm pretty sure such a thing doesn't exist. However, there are only two things I would change. First, I would add a control pad for focus point selection. Since this grip doesn't have this feature, I need to shift my hand to the camera body to change focus points in vertical shooting orientation. Second, I might add some rubber gaskets around the battery tray compartment door and the buttons to help keep some dust and moisture out. This is a minor point though, because this grip and its associated cameras aren't designed for extreme environment use, and they actually are fairly tight to begin with. Otherwise, Sony's design team has done a really nice job here.
Conclusions
Sony's VG-B30AM vertical grip is an essential accessory for the Sony A300 and A350 cameras. It adds considerable utility, while also providing more stabilizing mass, which is of considerable benefit when using heavier lenses. Its near seamless fit to the camera body is indicative of its overall excellent design and good build quality. Despite its somewhat high price tag, I highly recommend it for use with any of these three Sony Alpha cameras.
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