Can i use a battery grip that is meant for a Nikon D5200 on my Nikon D5300?
I just found a 3rd party battery grip, but its for a Nikon d5200 and i have a nikon d5300. Will this matter?
Added (1). Or even if i get one that is for the d5100?
I'm not a great fan of 'third party' accessories…
I think Nikon should support their entry level models with this option though… The extra battery capacity can be useful when shooting 'events'.
It is worth checking the reviews on 'You Tube' and 'Amazon' for all the different offerings on these contraptions… Build quality is sometimes questionable and the price varies quite a lot… I've actually heard that it can make the camera feel more comfy when one of these battery grips are fitted, just make sure you do the research before you buy one…
The 3rd party battery grips replace the battery. Since these cameras (D5100, D5200, D5300) all use the same battery, electrically they may be the same (but you can't be assured of even that).
Whether or not they will physically fit is a different matter as the footprint and tripod screw location may differ.
In all honesty, you really don't need a battery grip unless you are using a heavy lens - I mean a really heavy lens such as a 70-200mm f/2.8 (the grip provides a counter-balance), or if you need the extra battery power (which the 3rd party battery grips don't do well anyway).
OEM grips allow you to use both batteries at the same time, while the 3rd party grips you have to typically swap batteries to use the other one. So in a sense, these grips are just a fancy battery holder.
Otherwise, a battery grip just looks foolish on an entry level camera.
Check the details of an original D5200 battery grip from a reputable store. If it mentions compatibility to D5300 too then go ahead and buy third-party. A lot of online sellers make false assumptions so beware of that. A D5100 is not necessarily the same physically with a D5200 and so one and so forth.