Vertical PowerGrips... (D70)

[Seymore]

Looks like there's a new toy for the D70, if anyone is interested...

D70/D70s PowerGrip by Hoodman (http://www.hoodmanusa.com/powergrip.asp)

[robscomputer]

The cable for the vertial shutter release could have been made better but it's a nice 3rd party grip. I still don't know why Nikon has grips for the 8800 and 8400 but not the D70.

Rob

[Seymore]

Yea... I agree on the Nikon question. Guess Nikon was targeting the lower end of shooters. The D70s overcomes some of the problems, but I guess we're stuck with whatever Nikon thinks the customer wants. Or spend more money...

[Zoom Raider]

I've seen a couple places that make these powergrips for Nikon D50's.
I'd like to have one, but who are Link Delight and Hahnel?
They are they only two places that I know of that make powergrips for my D50,
and I dunno if they're good or not. I've never heard of them.
So far HoodmanUSA doesn't make any for models that are cheaper than the D70s's or the D70's.
If anyone knows where I can get a good one for my D50, let me know.

Thanks!

[Zoom Raider]

http://www.47stphoto.com/getimage.asp?table=inv&field=image1&keyname=invky&keyvalue=6869927

Now I found this one by Opteka at 47st Photo.
This PG looks like a good one, and the BBB says that 47st Photo does well.:):

[Zoom Raider]

One thing though, since I don't have it yet and I can't find where it says
how it mounts to the camera...
what do we do with the battery-door that's on the camera already? Remove it?

[DoctorIt]

Seymore's hoodman linky isn't working for me, and I can't navigate to any powergrips from Hoodmanusa.com main site.
:dunno

[Zoom Raider]

Seymore's hoodman linky isn't working for me, and I can't navigate to any powergrips from Hoodmanusa.com main site.
:dunno
If you have a D70 or D70s, try this link... http://www.47stphoto.com/item.asp?invky=4443475&catky=8237725&subcatky1=7106896&subcatky2=9963494

[Zoom Raider]

Seymore's hoodman linky isn't working for me, and I can't navigate to any powergrips from Hoodmanusa.com main site.
:dunno
If you have a D70 or D70s, try this link... http://www.47stphoto.com/item.asp?invky=4443475&catky=8237725&subcatky1=7106896&subcatky2=9963494

[ridetwistyroads]

Seymore's hoodman linky isn't working for me, and I can't navigate to any powergrips from Hoodmanusa.com main site.
:dunno

Wouldn't for me, either. Looked like an old thread, I figured they discontinued the product in their line.

[Zoom Raider]

Just wondering before I order a powergrip, do I have to take the battery door off my D50 to put it on...
or is there like a slot in the powergrip where the door will go through?
Doesn't look easy to take the door off, so I hope there's a slot in the PG.

[Zoom Raider]

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/7.gif

[Zoom Raider]

I'm about to buy this Opteka powergrip from http://47stphoto through http://Amazon.com, but I never saw an answer to my post in here - do I have to remove the battery door on my camera to get this powergrip to mount on - or will there be a thin slot that the door can slide through when it's opened as the powergrip is being mounted?

Thanks!http://www.dgrin.com/images/icons/cool2.gif

[Seymore]

The battery door on the body usually unsnaps and fits into a slot on the grip for storage.

Good luck... let us know what you think of it.

[Zoom Raider]

The battery door on the body usually unsnaps and fits into a slot on the grip for storage.

Good luck... let us know what you think of it.

Okay, thank you! That's what I was hoping - that the body's battery door would just slide through s slot in the powergrip instead of having to take the door completely off,`cos it doesn't look like a very easy task to remove it off the body.

[Zoom Raider]

And yes, I will let ya know how it works after I get it in the mail - which might be 3 weeks.:rolleyes

[Zoom Raider]

Okay, but before I do this, I was wondering - how safe is buying things from Amazon.com? I don't have a credit card, it's a check card. Either way, it can still purchase anything, but how safe is Amazon, and has anyone purchased anything from them safely? I do not trust Ebay. A friend of mine tried to buy a car, never got the car and was ripped over $7000 - even though Ebay rated the seller a 100%.:rolleyes

[Seymore]

I have the base on the D100... But this is the actual Nikon base, so they did engineer it for a space to fit the detached door. And actually the door is easy to remove on the D100. At a 45 degree angle to being opened or closed, a quick tug and it's off. Just as easy to reinstall but you should get instructions with the base on what needs to happen to install the new toy.

It actually looks like Hoodman is no longer selling this item. The link from the OP is dead and trampsing around the side shows no bases being listed any longer. Oh well...

BTW, got an actual linky to the item you'll be buying?

[Zoom Raider]

I have the base on the D100... But this is the actual Nikon base, so they did engineer it for a space to fit the detached door. And actually the door is easy to remove on the D100. At a 45 degree angle to being opened or closed, a quick tug and it's off. Just as easy to reinstall but you should get instructions with the base on what needs to happen to install the new toy.

It actually looks like Hoodman is no longer selling this item. The link from the OP is dead and trampsing around the side shows no bases being listed any longer. Oh well...

BTW, got an actual linky to the item you'll be buying?

The link for the powergrip that I might get (if I can trust Amazon, even though it's coming from http://47stphoto.com) is this... http://www.amazon.com/Opteka-Power-Grip-Nikon-Digital/dp/B000CQBKEM

[Jangie]

Hi Zoom Raider,
In this case, it's a thirdparty merchant selling through Amazon's website. This is similar to Ebay's storefront idea.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/seller/at-a-glance.html/002-7273841-1672050?ie=UTF8&seller=A1P9QRDRYY6FXL
The above link has a bit of feedback regarding this particular seller. Not sure if that scares you off or encourages you.

Personally, I've found that Amazon itself (Haven't bought much through third party merchants) is fine, and very trustworthy.

Caveat emptor, I suppose.

In terms of battery grips, my canon one for my film camera works wonderfully, and the door does not have to be taken off either. The original door slots into a hole provided by the battery grip.

The link for the powergrip that I might get (if I can trust Amazon, even though it's coming from http://47stphot.com) is this... http://www.amazon.com/Opteka-Power-Grip-Nikon-Digital/dp/B000CQBKEM

[ziggy53]

Reseller Ratings is only 3.57/10 for recent ratings. I would not recommend this vendor, through Amazon or not.

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/47st_Photo

[Seymore]

I would also read the review at the bottom of your link Zoom Raider. Just be aware...

[Zoom Raider]

I got the Opteka powergrip today. It very looks sleek and nice,
but I have to remove the D50's battery door in order to get PG to go on.
About how much do you all think this is gonna cost to have a shop take a minute to remove the door - $40?http://www.dgrin.com/images/icons/sad.gif
I'm afraid to ask the nearest shop... WolfCamera. They don't answer the phone when I call.:rolleyes
I wish this would come off and back on easily, but I don't see at all how it will.

Thanks!

[ziggy53]

I got the Opteka powergrip today. It very looks sleek and nice,
but I have to remove the D50's battery door in order to get PG to go on.
About how much do you all think this is gonna cost to have a shop take a minute to remove the door - $40?http://www.dgrin.com/images/icons/sad.gif
I'm afraid to ask the nearest shop... WolfCamera. They don't answer the phone when I call.:rolleyes
I wish this would come off and back on easily, but I don't see at all how it will.

Thanks!

Does this help?:
http://www.nikonians.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?forum=DCForumID201&mark=17008&az=previous_topic&archive=yes

[Zoom Raider]

Does this help?:
http://www.nikonians.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?forum=DCForumID201&mark=17008&az=previous_topic&archive=yes

Thank you, Ziggy!

But it's easier said than done on that Nikonian forum.
This door is not budging and it'll break if I pull on it more than I should have to.
I guess no one makes a PG that has a slot for the D50s.
Don't wanna have to send this back and order from another PG maker,
then get it in the mail and it doesn't have a slot either.
I finally got through WolfCamera by phone. They have no idea why I even wanna remove the door,
nor do they know if they can remove it theirselves.:rolleyes

[Zoom Raider]

Never mind. I pulled on the door more than I wanted to, and it finally came off, but not very easy - but it's off.
Thanks again!http://www.dgrin.com/images/icons/cool2.gif

[Zoom Raider]

The battery door on the body usually unsnaps and fits into a slot on the grip for storage.

Good luck... let us know what you think of it.

Hey, Seymore... It fits like a glove, as if it came factory like that - molded with the camera body. It now looks like the D2Xs - at a glance anyway.http://www.dgrin.com/images/icons/Laughing.gif

Thanks!

[Seymore]

Never mind. I pulled on the door more than I wanted to, and it finally came off, but not very easy - but it's off.
Thanks again!http://www.dgrin.com/images/icons/cool2.gif
Well, from my experiences, it's not ment to come off easily. They'd then be selling many more spares than should happen. But glad you accomplished this. Let us know how you like it.

[Zoom Raider]

Well, from my experiences, it's not ment to come off easily. They'd then be selling many more spares than should happen. But glad you accomplished this. Let us know how you like it.

Yeah, I like it very much. Now I have to go to WalMart to get 6 of Energizer's best AAs
until I have the spare cash to buy another 7.4v 1500maH from Nikon.
$49 plus tax at WolfCamera. $35 and no tax at the place I got my PG - http://47ststreetphoto.com

Oops, sorry - that $35 battery is at http://adorama.com

Thanks!http://www.dgrin.com/images/icons/cool2.gif

[ziggy53]

Yeah, I like it very much. Now I have to go to WalMart to get 6 of Energizer's best AAs
until I have the spare cash to buy another 7.4v 1500maH from Nikon.
$49 plus tax at WolfCamera. $35 and no tax at the place I got my PG - http://47thstreetphoto.com

Thanks!http://www.dgrin.com/images/icons/cool2.gif

I'm glad it worked out for you.

You can probably also run with a single lithium battery in the tray if you want. You still have the advantage of grip for holding the camera.

Does this grip have a second shutter release button?

[Zoom Raider]

I'm glad it worked out for you.

You can probably also run with a single lithium battery in the tray if you want. You still have the advantage of grip for holding the camera.

Does this grip have a second shutter release button?

No, there is no secondary shutter-release button, even though the box says it does have one.
I wonder if buttons are only on the ones that are made for the higher-end Nikon models,
such as the D70, D70s and D200.
Of course I would have liked it better if it had a battery door slot and the button.

[carmel6942]

Zoom,

Have you tried it with only one nikon lithum battery installed? If so does it work? I am thinking about getting one for myself and am interested to see what you think.

[Zoom Raider]

Zoom,

Have you tried it with only one nikon lithum battery installed? If so does it work? I am thinking about getting one for myself and am interested to see what you think.

No, it has to have 2 Nikon EN-EL3a's, or equivalent.
I've already tried it with one. My D50 is running 6 AA's now with the powergrip.
But it does fit like it was made by Nikon itself.
Hahnel, Link Delight, DigiPower and Hoodman make PGs,
but I'm not sure if they all make any for D50s.
I know Hahnel does and also Opteka - which is the one I have.

[Zoom Raider]

And I got my Opteka in 3 or 4 days from here http://47thstreetphoto.com through http://amazon.com on sale now for only $49. Regular $119.

[Seymore]

Yeah, I like it very much. Now I have to go to WalMart to get 6 of Energizer's best AAs
until I have the spare cash to buy another 7.4v 1500maH from Nikon.
$49 plus tax at WolfCamera. $35 and no tax at the place I got my PG - http://47thstreetphoto.com

Thanks!http://www.dgrin.com/images/icons/cool2.gif
Well, if you can wait a bit till they arrive, here are some eBay options for you. I have a few generic batteries and have never had issues... But they may die a bit sooner. But ~$22 for a pair shipped? Even if they only last 12 or 18 months... Just watch the sellers feedback.

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&catref=C6&saaff=afdefault&sacur=0&sorefinesearch=1&fcl=3&frpp=100&from=R10&saslop=1&fss=0&satitle=nikon+D50+battery+-holder+-grip&sacat=3327%26catref%3DC6&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=98509&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&salic=1&fhlc=1&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search&fgtp=

Oh... and it helps to have a 2nd charger. Just an FYI...

[Mike02]

Just wondering before I order a powergrip, do I have to take the battery door off my D50 to put it on...
or is there like a slot in the powergrip where the door will go through?
Doesn't look easy to take the door off, so I hope there's a slot in the PG.

Yes, you have to remove the battery door. In the nikon D200 grip it has a slot for the door, but I highly doubt these third party answers have one.

[Mike02]

The link for the powergrip that I might get (if I can trust Amazon, even though it's coming from http://47stphoto.com) is this... http://www.amazon.com/Opteka-Power-Grip-Nikon-Digital/dp/B000CQBKEM

"Although the order was placed on 02/28 and the estimated shipping day was 03/15, I only received it on 04/13 and was not contacted even once by the seller to inform me about the delay and its cause. Their customer service department must have been busy looking at something else...I guess! I rated them poor as they have shown no attention to me as a customer."

"Never received item. Never answered my questions. Would never buy from again."

These are the 2 compaints I could find. As with all online dealers, it generally seems like most of the compliments are just that.

The only bad things I've heard about buying things from amazon, is when it came to a shady third party that was selling through amazon, otherwise its a mostly safe site to do business with.