A Real World Review of The Fujifilm X-T3 Battery Grip

If you’ve ever seen a photographer with a large pack attached to the bottom of their camera and wondered what it did, you were likely looking at a battery grip.

The VG-XT3 nearly triples the battery life of your X-T3 as well as adds vertical shooting functions and a deeper hand grip. Battery grips like this are often used by professional photographers to avoid disruption to their shoots.

Though some professionals might find Fujifilm’s vertical battery grip useful, that doesn’t mean everyone will. Keep reading as I explain exactly what the capabilities of the VG-XT3 are and help you decide whether or not you need it.

What Is the Fujifilm X-T3 Battery Grip?

The Fujifilm X-T3 battery grip, or VG-XT3, is an attachment for your X-T3 camera that increases battery life and adds functionality for verticle shooting.

The VG-XT3 houses two additional batteries for a total of three batteries. In normal mode (not boost), this increases the maximum number of photos from approximately 390 frames to around 1,100 frames.

The grip switches between batteries without interruption to your continuous shooting or even video. To charge the VG-XT3 you plug in the included AC adapter (AC-9VS). The two batteries included in the grip can be fully charged from empty to full in roughly two hours.

Along with increasing battery life, the VG-XT3 can control your camera. The main feature is an extra shutter button designed specifically for verticle shooting. This shutter button also comes with a shutter lock to prevent any accidental photos while not shooting vertically.

The VG-XT3 also has a joystick to move your focus area and a rear command dial identical to the one featured on the X-T3’s main body. Along with these, the grip also has a switch to change between normal and boost shooting modes. Finally, the VG-XT3 has two function buttons and a Q button that work the same as the ones on the main body.

Aside from extended battery life and verticle shooting functions, the VG-XT3 also serves as a hand grip for horizontal (landscape orientation) shooting. Since Fujifilm X-series cameras are famously compact, one gripe photographers often have with them is the shallow hand grip.

The X-T3 verticle battery grip solves this by adding an extra layer on top of the X-T3’s hand grip, making it easier to hold. This is crucial when adding the extra weight of two batteries and a grip.

Is the Fujifilm X-T3 Battery Grip Worth It?

The Fujifilm X-T3 battery grip is worth buying for extended shoots where you are constantly moving. Wedding and event photographers tend to buy battery grips to avoid missing crucial moments due to a lack of battery life.

Speaking as someone who owns the X-T3 battery grip and has used it for plenty of client shoots, I am completely satisfied with my purchase and don’t regret buying it at all. The extended battery life is vital for me, and so are the verticle shooting functions.

I don’t generally have any issues with the depth of the X-T3’s hand grip as it is, but I do find the added grip with the VG-XT3 significantly more comfortable. If you find holding the X-T3 awkward, then the battery grip will help by deepening the hand grip and by making verticle shooting more comfortable.

One thing to note is that you will likely have to buy the VG-XT3 secondhand as new ones are increasingly rare on the market. This shouldn’t be a worry though as there are lots of second-hand grips on the market.

Users on Reddit’s r/Fujifilm are split on the X-T3’s verticle battery grip, some say it is essential to their photography while some opted out of buying it. Others have bought the battery grip and simply don’t use it.

How Much Does The Fujifilm X-T3 Weigh With Battery Grip?

The Fujifilm X-T3 weighs 915g with a battery grip. This assumes three batteries are being used; one in the camera and two in the grip and that there is an SD card in the X-T3.

I’ll break down the math here for anyone interested. The VG-XT3 weighs 282g on its own and is empty. Each NPW-126S battery weighs approximately 47g. This means the total weight for a completely loaded battery grip is 376g.

The Fujifilm X-T3 weighs approximately 539g including an NPW-126S battery and an SD card. Therefore the fully loaded X-T3 and VG-XT3 battery grip weighs a combined 915g.

There are benefits and drawbacks to the weight of the X-T3 with a battery grip, I’ll list some of the things I’ve noticed in my use with the VG-XT3.

On one hand, the extra weight keeps your hand steady which can be a huge help at tight focal lengths. This is especially important on the X-T3 as there is no IBIS (in-body image stabilization).

The extra weight can also make holding the camera feel more comfortable, this is especially apparent when you have a heavy lens on your camera as it helps to distribute the weight evenly throughout your rig.

One of the key drawbacks I’ve noticed with the weight of the VG-XT3 is that it can make camera clips more uncomfortable to use. I like to use the peak design clips attached to a camera bag to easily switch between cameras during shoots. The almost 1 kg weight of an X-T3 and VG-XT3 makes it slightly uncomfortable to clip on.

Although I don’t personally use neck straps on my cameras (I opt for SmallRig wrist straps) I can’t imagine wearing almost 1 kg around your neck would feel nice, especially during a longer shoot.

Do You Need the Fujifilm X-T3 Battery Grip?

Professional photographers will find the Fujifilm X-T3 battery grip useful for client work. Wedding and event photographers in particular will make use of the VG-XT3.

You may be asking “What if I’m not a professional photographer?”. Below I’ve listed a few things for you to consider if you’re looking at the VG-XT3.

First, consider how long your shoots generally are. Do you tend to run out of battery? How many times are you switching batteries mid-shoot?

If you can’t answer the questions above, try this. Check the photos you took during the last two to three of your shoots. If you took less than roughly 350 photos (the rating for the X-T3’s battery), then you likely don’t need the extra battery life. In this case, the real consideration is how often you shoot vertically.

The closer the number of photos you took gets to 1,150 (the rating for an X-T3 with a battery grip) the more likely you would benefit from a battery grip. If you take more than 1,150 photos during a shoot then I recommend the VG-XT3.

Next, consider how often you shoot verticle photos. If you’re someone who shoots solely for social media, you’ll likely be shooting vertically most of the time. In this case, the verticle shooting functions will be really useful for you.

The last reason you may be tempted to buy the VG-XT3 is for the added depth to the camera’s grip. Although this can be useful if you have big hands or just generally find the X-T3 uncomfortable to hold, there are cheaper options to add grip.

I don’t recommend considering a camera grip as part of your decision criteria, if you just want an easier time gripping the X-T3 consider buying a dedicated camera grip like JJC’s Metal Hand Grip or SmallRig’s L-Shape Grip.