Product Reviews

Did a wedding with it. Its a no brainer if you want all day shooting.

This clever unit came with my A99 "bundle". Although it was a bit awkward at first, I now can easily add the vertical grip to the A99. When anticipating extended camera use, the security blanket of having the two extra NP-FM500H batteries in the grip working seamlessly with the camera battery is much appreciated. The grip attaches firmly and has its own hole for tripod mounting. I have gravitated toward a robust 3rd party quick release plate system for peace of mind with my both my monopod & tripod heads. With the right support equipment, it's a breeze to switch the fairly heavy A99 and it's accessories between landscape and portrait modes in a level fashion. I still prefer landscape orientation, perhaps because it better suits full screen display on my Vaio computer screen. But now I go out of my way to explore both orientation modes when time permits. I expect good things to come from that new habit over time.

This vertical grip mates well with the A99 and the button features and setting nobs are all in the right position. The attachment screw and redesigned connection to the camera is very well thought out and allows quick attachments. The only concern so far is the plastic feel of the unit unlike the A900 verticle grip it just feels pretty cheap. The grip is totally made of a light plastic and I guess this has to do with keeping the whole unit when attached to the A99 as light as can be. However you will not want to do without it when it you plan to shoot for a significant amount of time. With all the new features and advancements with Sony lenses, (SSM etc.) without it you will surely be looking for an outlet to charge your single battery setup.