Photography gear advice

[richardb]

Who has experience with both aftermarket and OE battery grips? I'm wanting a canon grip for my t2i but the Zeikos grip is $55 the canon $142 on Amazon.

I looked everywhere but can't find if the aftermarket voids the warranty?

Also, where do you guys shop for gear. B&H is a joke. Amazon seems best so far.

[PReta]

on my Canon i usually stick with only Canon products. and i got mine for cheap on craigslist. but i also shop at samys.com and ritzcamera.com

[unrlmth]

Personally I buy everything used and have saved thousands that way. I wouldn't worry about the aftermarket grip voiding the warranty. Unless it is caused by the grip (like the Zeikos/D700 electrical issues) I would be very surprised if they would deny a claim because of that. Or even be able to tell.

[87e30]

Personally I buy everything used and have saved thousands that way. I wouldn't worry about the aftermarket grip voiding the warranty. Unless it is caused by the grip (like the Zeikos/D700 electrical issues) I would be very surprised if they would deny a claim because of that. Or even be able to tell.

elaborate on the d700 issue? I haven't heard of this.


I use zeikos on my d300. It's so much cheaper than OE that you could buy 3 before one OE and it works great. No brainer for me. (with a college budget)

[unrlmth]

elaborate on the d700 issue? I haven't heard of this.


I use zeikos on my d300. It's so much cheaper than OE that you could buy 3 before one OE and it works great. No brainer for me. (with a college budget)

From what I've read there have been a few instances of the Zeikos frying the main board on D700s. Nikon charged around 4-500 for the repair and it's not covered by the warranty. I don't think there are any issue with it and the D300.

[87e30]

From what I've read there have been a few instances of the Zeikos frying the main board on D700s. Nikon charged around 4-500 for the repair and it's not covered by the warranty. I don't think there are any issue with it and the D300.

Interesting, hadn't seen that before. I actually got the zeikos anticipating a d700 upgrade down the road... guess i'll attach and cross my fingers when the time comes.

[richardb]

I couldn't find a zeikos 'official' site either. I'd try one out if it doesn't void warranty but want to see that in writing first hah

[CorvallisBMW]

I had a Tamron grip on my old XTi, it was awesome. I'll never own anything smaller than an 5DMKII without a grip.

[Ryan Stewart]

I couldn't find a zeikos 'official' site either. I'd try one out if it doesn't void warranty but want to see that in writing first hah

Neither Nikon nor Canon warranty interaction with 3rd party products. The trick is to stick with the ones that are proven.

Being said I know people who have had luck with the aftermarket grips, aside from fitting issues and such.

[87e30]

I couldn't find a zeikos 'official' site either. I'd try one out if it doesn't void warranty but want to see that in writing first hah

they have one. google is your friend.



And yeah, I wouldn't grip a small camera personally.

[T Verdier]

Battery grips are waist Of money if you ask me. 2 batterys will last over 1500 shots for me. And the side grip for portrait style is not worth the money to me

[richardb]

Well, for extended video shooting they're not a waste. Do you shoot video? It's also nice to change batteries without having to take it off the tripod.

[daniel]

Battery grips are waist Of money if you ask me. 2 batterys will last over 1500 shots for me. And the side grip for portrait style is not worth the money to me

then don't get a grip...

i find that the camera is even more ergonomic in landscape orientation with the grip installed. this is probably my favorite feature of the grip, not the vertical shutter release.

i have the zeikos grip for my d300s, and have had a good experience with it. works just as advertised, the only difference is it isn't metal like MB-D10 nikon grip, so it is arguably less durable, but you could buy 4 to 5 zeikos grips for the cost of one new nikon grip.

oh, and i shop pretty much exclusively on amazon.

[unrlmth]

And it will also up the FPS on the D300/D700 bodies. I have the MB-D10 (I think I paid around 180 for it) and I love the feel of it and the 70-200.

[daniel]

And it will also up the FPS on the D300/D700 bodies. I have the MB-D10 (I think I paid around 180 for it) and I love the feel of it and the 70-200.

it will only increase the FPS if you use the EN-L4a battery which is like 80 million dollars, or 8 AA batteries. and it goes from 6 to 8.

as a side note, my d300s does 7fps which is close enough to 8 anyway, so i just use 2 EN-L3s.