Olympus HLD-7

My hands are medium sized so I find this grip to be a great help for both balance and vertical grip. Having the shutter and some control devices on the grip make it a seamless operation.

For the price Olympus should include the optional Ac-3 A/C power adapter...

I bought this for an Olympus OM-D E-M1. Great product, makes it easier for shooting vertical (portrait) photos.

The biggest issue I have with mirrorless system cameras is the amount of power they consume. The HLD-7 grip doesn't solve that but it gives an extra battery and seemingly more than double the battery life. You also get duplicates of the two major control knobs and an additional trigger, all good things. When attached the grip is solid and easily attached or removed. I'm a fan.

Although one of the primary benefits of mirrorless cameras such as the Olympus OM-D E-M1 is smaller size and less weight than many DSLRs, the smaller size can be a disadvantage if you have larger hands. In addition to the most obvious benefit of being able to take additional photos without the need for battery replacement or recharging, the battery grip also provides a more secure grip on the camera as well as duplicate controls for camera operation in portrait orientation. So, if you'd benefit from additional gripping surfaces, portrait controls, or battery capability the HLD-7 is a fine accessory for the already excellent E-M1 camera. For a long day of shooting, when your hands can sometimes cramp or get tired, I believe the extra weight and bulk is more than compensated for by the convenience and feeling of security it provides.