View Full Version : Battery grip for Nikon D300
Hi Guys
I know a few of you peeps have the D300 on the forum.Ive just got myself one after selling my d80 and 18-70 lens.The question I`d like to know is this;Theres two grips out at the mo for the D300.The MB-D10 and one from HK supplies called the Phottix D300 grip.I know the MB-D10 will be a quality bit of kit but has anyone bought a Photix D300 grip and if so,whats the quality like.I'd struggle to get the money together for the MB-D10 but could afford the Phottix grip but dont fancy buying it if its a load of old socks IYKWIM:(
Bessy regs
Kenny
fracster
09-07-2008, 00:05
I have the grip for my D200, but the 300`s battery life is far better, I decided that I did not need one for the 300.
Saved a few quid there too spend on summat else............:D
I have the Nikon one and all I can say is that it sets off the camera nicely.
Feels very comfortable in portrait orientation.
Review here of non nikon grip
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1039&message=28329654&changemode=1
:agree: I've got a 3rd party grip on my D80, which is excellent, but I went for the "real deal" on the D300. I'm not sure if the 3rd party grip will support the 8FPS that you can get with the official one... My theory is, if you're spending a grand on a camera, is it worth risking not spending the extra to get the proper grip. IF anything were to go wrong, then Nikon would likely blame the grip I'd guess.
How much is the 3rd party grip? I picked mine up for £165 from Jessops, they matched a price from Clifton Cameras - Clicky (http://www.cliftoncameras.co.uk/Mod/Products/Nikon_MB-D10_(MBD10)_Multi-function_Battery_Grip_for_Nikon_D300)
3rd party will support 8 fps with AA or Nikon Bl3 door.
review says feels a bit flimsy when on tripod.
Yes nice grip the MB-D10, but i could never understand why it only holds one battery, seems poor considering the price, i paid about £190 for mine :shrug:
Because the other battery stays in the body. The other grips on the market (for other cameras) hold two, but they insert into the cameras battery chambers. You don't lose anything by the grip only taking one battery.
ahhhhh,
is that why there is contacts under the rubber grommit on the D300...
It that opposed to the ones on the D200 that inserted in the camera
fracster
09-07-2008, 17:48
I firmly believe that Nikon are taking the "proverbial urine" with the price of these grips.
I suppose they are with most stuff come to think of it....:D
Because the other battery stays in the body. The other grips on the market (for other cameras) hold two, but they insert into the cameras battery chambers. You don't lose anything by the grip only taking one battery.
Yes i see what you mean, but my point was (which i didn't clarify) is when you want to change the battery you have to take the grip off, which i think is a p**soff, i would much prefer 2 batteries in the grip, especially for the price i paid for it :shake:
I firmly believe that Nikon are taking the "proverbial urine" with the price of these grips
I agree, i paid £69 for my D80 grip, which i was happy with, but £190 for a D300 grip which only holds one battery i think is bloody outrageous, but of course Nikon know we will pay it :thumbsdown:
Yeah, tis rubbish idea really.
I think though Nikon were planning on most people getting a £90 en-el4a battery to go in it. Many, many more shots. Much, much more money!
fracster
10-07-2008, 16:35
, but of course Nikon know we will pay it :thumbsdown:
Well there wrong in my case.....:D
No way am I spending that amount of money for a battery grip.
Yeah, tis rubbish idea really.
I think though Nikon were planning on most people getting a £90 en-el4a battery to go in it. Many, many more shots. Much, much more money!
Don't forget the new charger and BL-3 battery cover to with it. It's another £250 quid on top of the grip if you go this route.
Don't forget the new charger and BL-3 battery cover to with it. It's another £250 quid on top of the grip if you go this route.
Which equals a lot of extra EN-EL3E batteries.
Which equals a lot of extra EN-EL3E batteries.
Indeedy. Though I will confess to having gone the EL4a route now. It's pretty nice taking 1000 shots and seeing the battery is still half full. I can do a whole weekend of motorsport without a recharge. A little less weight to carry around, although my pockets are a lot lighter too :)
Can you get third party EN-EL4A batterys for the D300 ?
YUP
http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_3&products_id=99194
No. You can't...
Not suitable for Nikon D3 and D300 Models.
No. You can't...
oops, i didnt read down that far....
Flash In The Pan
11-07-2008, 21:24
My MB-D10 died at the weekend, looks like something to do with the AA carrier and/or the contacts in the grip.:bang:
When it does work with the AA batteries in it you get an easy 1500 shots minimum and 8 fps :D
When it does work with the AA batteries in it you get an easy 1500 shots minimum and 8 fps :D
I did'nt realize this, so your saying by putting the AA type batteries in the battery grip with the cradle suppllied it will go on for 1500 shots at 8fps ? do they have to be rechargeble, or can you use something like duracell.
Any AA will work. it is the only way to get to 8 fps apart from the more expensive battery.
puddleduck
12-07-2008, 14:28
Well there wrong in my case.....:D
No way am I spending that amount of money for a battery grip.
Ditto.
Flash In The Pan
12-07-2008, 19:38
I did'nt realize this, so your saying by putting the AA type batteries in the battery grip with the cradle suppllied it will go on for 1500 shots at 8fps ? do they have to be rechargeble, or can you use something like duracell.
You can use something like Duracell, but it'll cost you £££ over time.I use Fujicell 2700mah rechargeable, they're about £1.00 each delivered if you buy in bulk.
:clap: I killed 8 AA's in about 300 shots at 8fps :D
They were only cheap.. I got forty for a fiver!
Definately worth buying a decent set of rechargables and quick charger though.
Flash In The Pan
12-07-2008, 23:17
:clap: I killed 8 AA's in about 300 shots at 8fps :D
They were only cheap.. I got forty for a fiver!
Definately worth buying a decent set of rechargables and quick charger though.
So a fiver's worth of batteries is about 3 minutes worth? :lol::lol:
:lol: plus changing!
Does anyone else get 2.5fps when shooting RAW, or is it just me? I can get 8fps in TIFF, although the buffer fills quickly, but only 2.5fps in RAW :shrug:
Flash In The Pan
12-07-2008, 23:46
:lol: plus changing!
Does anyone else get 2.5fps when shooting RAW, or is it just me? I can get 8fps in TIFF, although the buffer fills quickly, but only 2.5fps in RAW :shrug:
Nope, I get 8fps in RAW :razz:
hmm... must be me then :bonk:
Flash In The Pan
12-07-2008, 23:59
You shooting in 14 bit, by any chance?
ahh that could be it
sadly i don't have anymore AA batteries to check! I am now getting 6fps in RAW on the camera :thumbs:
Flash In The Pan
13-07-2008, 00:14
I know when I tried switching from 12 to 14 with the grip + AAs the fps rate dropped from 8 to 2.5.......
I reckon you've got it in one mate, you've probably saved me an hour of frustration, so have a virtual beer on me :D :beer:
Flash In The Pan
13-07-2008, 00:22
Now all I need to do is figure out/fix the problem with mine, either that or it's back to microglobe on Monday :(
Flash In The Pan
13-07-2008, 00:34
it won't work with AAs. It used to, but it doesn't any more.
iamunique127
13-07-2008, 04:27
ooops, sorry, reply by mistake
it won't work with AAs. It used to, but it doesn't any more.
Have you got the new D300 firmware and tried a different set of AAs? I know that sounds like stating the bleeding obvious, but I had some brand new Duracell Ultras that refused to work, in the MB-D10 whereas a set of Duracell standard worked perfectly.
My only other thought is that you've inadvertently set it to the wrong type of AAs in the menus. IIRC there are 4 options.
Flash In The Pan
13-07-2008, 06:44
Have you got the new D300 firmware and tried a different set of AAs? I know that sounds like stating the bleeding obvious, but I had some brand new Duracell Ultras that refused to work, in the MB-D10 whereas a set of Duracell standard worked perfectly.
My only other thought is that you've inadvertently set it to the wrong type of AAs in the menus. IIRC there are 4 options.
Yup, the firmware update was the first thing I thought of, well the second really, after trying three other full sets of fully-charged AAs :'(
Yup, the firmware update was the first thing I thought of, well the second really, after trying three other full sets of fully-charged AAs :'(
Sounds well and truly shafted :(
Final thought - mine only ever had a problem with a 70-200VR. Lots of other DBS issues on DPReview were reported with this lens attached. Long shot I know, and I can't see from your profile if you own one?
Hope it doesn't take too long to get it sorted. I would really miss mine !
puddleduck
13-07-2008, 07:11
The 8 to 2.5fps speed drop is all well documented in the manual and published specs. I recall reading about this over 10 months ago when the D300 was first announced.
The D700 drops to 2.5 fps when in 14-bit mode. Grip doesn't change this.
As 14-bit mode is just a figure for marketing and makes no difference that anyone has been able to document, just use 12-bit if you need 8 fps.
Flash In The Pan
13-07-2008, 17:33
Sounds well and truly shafted :(
Final thought - mine only ever had a problem with a 70-200VR. Lots of other DBS issues on DPReview were reported with this lens attached. Long shot I know, and I can't see from your profile if you own one?
Hope it doesn't take too long to get it sorted. I would really miss mine !
Oh goody...my new 70-200 VR should be here soon - does that mean I'll have another thing to worry about? :bang:
Flash In The Pan
13-07-2008, 17:34
The 8 to 2.5fps speed drop is all well documented in the manual and published specs. I recall reading about this over 10 months ago when the D300 was first announced.
The D700 drops to 2.5 fps when in 14-bit mode. Grip doesn't change this.
As 14-bit mode is just a figure for marketing and makes no difference that anyone has been able to document, just use 12-bit if you need 8 fps.
Ah, but that would involve RTFM :naughty::naughty:
Mines fine with the 70-200, not had a problem yet :help:
Hi Kenny,
Couple of things for you. The D300 Nikon grip is quite superb. I use it with 8 AA batteries and have taken photos every day for 3 weeks and never had to re charge them! A real bonus when you want to take pics and not worry about when the batteries will die.
Second point is I would not buy anything of any value from Hong Kong supplies!
I bought the Lambency Flash Diffuser a couple of spare batteries and the remote control off them and no problems. However, when I purchased the Nikon 18 - 200 VR off them it was in stock and they took my money straight away. 10 days later they had still not shipped it. So I cancelled my order and spent the next month sorting it out on eBay!
Regards
Chris
vBulletin® v3.7.3, Copyright ©2000-2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.