OM SYSTEM HLD-10 Power Battery Holder

It works well for larger Olympus lenses or persons with larger hands. It is very similar to the HLD-9 grip for OMD-M1-III. The main improvement is that it has a USB-C charging port. Though the grip is 100€ more expensive than the HLD-9 for OMD-M1-III.

The added battery ensures a full day of shooting, the grip controls are useful when shooting in portrait mode, and the added weight helps balance the camera in the hand when using a heavier telephoto lenses.

Waited a long time for it to be in stock, but it was worth the wait. My OM-1 has much better balance with my longer lenses.

The past few years I shot with an Olympus E-M1 MK II (great camera) and then the Olympus E-M1X (fabulous camera). The E-M1X set the standard for me in terms of ergonomics and functionality. The biggest shortcomings were the continuous AF for birding - it worked, but not as well as I would have liked - and the lower-resolution EVF. When the OM SYSTEM OM-1 was announced I was very much on the fence. Some of the improvements seemed worthwhile (particularly the AF, EVF and high frame rates), but I was not wild about giving up the E-M1X ergonomics. I finally decided to take the plunge and I was glad I did, as the OM-1's improvements were very worthwhile for me. Fortunately, OM SYSTEM created the HLD-10 power battery holder / vertical grip for the OM-1. I had the OM-1 for about 2 months without the HLD-10 and was very, very happy with it but missed the vertical grip and extra controls. The HLD-10 finally arrived and I've been using it for the past 3 weeks or so. It fits the body perfectly. The additional controls are a big plus. The battery is easy to remove and replace. It has an attachment point on the bottom right side of the grip for a strap connector, although it's fairly difficult to thread one through it (in my case, an Op/Tech Uni-Loop connector - highly recommended). As an alternative, I added a Uni-Loop connector to the strap attachment point on the 3 Legged Thing QR-11FBC L-bracket I attached to the HLD-10. It works well and I like not having the strap constantly interfering with the EVF and the right-hand controls as it does when a strap is attached to the lug on the top right rear of the body. I do think that like many accessories (€100 for a battery? €220 for a battery and charger?) the HLD-10 is overpriced for what it delivers. That said, it fits and works well and I'm very pleased with it. I would definitely buy it again. I am planning on buying a 2nd OM-1 and will have to decide if I want a 2nd HLD-10 for that body. Decisions, decisions...