The grip is lighter than the Nikon model, however with batteries installed, the weight of the camera as a whole is pretty balanced. Although the grip didn't seem to work when using six AA's, it worked fine with two rechargeable batteries it came with. Great supply of power for my D90, which uses alot from the flash and shooting video.The vertical shutter release is not as sensitive and needs a firmer hold for metering and focus let alone shooting.Still, with batteries and grip, it's a great deal. It's a permanent component to my D90 which needs the extra power for long trips and videos.