Battery pack

[reactan]

Hi,

i'm using a 404si, and i know there's no vertical grip for this particular model. However, there is a battery pack, Bp-100. I was told that the extension provided by the BP helps with the grip also in the horizontal position. Havent been able to find one in the market, so unable to try for myself.

So, i 'm wondering, do most of you fell that the extra support provided by a grip (not necessary this one) helps, and

is there any cost savings to using AA batteries cf CR2? eg: will the savings in batteries offset the cost of the grip,or would the cost be offset after my 100th set of AA batteries

Look forward to all your input! :thumbsup:

 

[deslim27]

Hi,

It depends alot on your usage. For some, their batteries can last them for at least a year or more, while other may have to change more frequently. Do some calculation based on your usage, it may not be necessary more economical to buy the battery pack.

Cheers!
Des

 

[reactan]

actually, i'm more interested as to how the extra piece of "plastic" can help with grip in the horizontal position (i've got rather large hands). I know this will not function as a vertica;l grip.

 

[deslim27]

OIC.. then I can't answer already, since I never able to find a battery pack for my 505si 3 years back.

 

[yeocolin]

OIC.. then I can't answer already, since I never able to find a battery pack for my 505si 3 years back.

Quite right. Even D7's vertical grip is not easily available (1 clubsnap member had to email Minolta before AP ordered them!), let alone battery pack for non-flagship models.

I'm afraid battery pack is available only via order from B&H (http://www.bhphotovideo.com) or other equivalent, although not necessarily as reliable a sales agent. Otherwise, you'll have to consider e-bay.

Alternatively, call MS colour (gotta check yellow pages for this) and see if they'll order it for you. MS colour is usually quite helpful in ordering Minolta stuff, although they have poor stock of Minolta SLR equipment.

 

[reactan]

thanks colin, i have emailed both minolta and MS photo already..but just to check availability. Like i mentioned before, another csnapper has told me that he feels that the battery pack improves grip.... personally, i sometimes feel a bit awkard because my fingers are either all squashed together, or hanging off the camera, resulting in a not so steady grip.

Do you think the grip on your D7 helps in the landscape orientation?

 

[yeocolin]

The grip is supposed to help portrait pictures, not landscape. You take portraits at vertical framing, but rarely for landscape, right? That's why its call vertical grip- for vertical framing. Of course, some people feel the additional weight by battery pack/vertical grip gives more stability. These are all personal opinions. You'll need to decide it for yourself.

For landscape, some people buy this viewfinder grid to help them align horizontally. You can check out minolta website to see what I mean about these grids. The folks who bought these grids got them outside Singapore of course. Personally, I'm happily using the original grids in 404si (when I still had it, via the rectangular frame) and that in D7 (horizontal sensors), to ensure I'm shooting horizontal landscape shots.

 

[yeocolin]

Hi reactan.

Its true that battery grip will help your pictures to be more steady. Ultimately, you'll have to make the decision if the investment in that grip is worth it. Photographers have shot with rangefinders, which are smaller cameras, and have churned out wonderful pictures. So, if you think you need that extra stability, then go and get it. Its a very personal choice.

 

[TME]

I find that the vertical grip for the Dynax 7 also helps with the horizontal grip. The reason is that the vertical grip extends the portion which your palm grips when holding onto the camera's grip. My hands are relatively large and when I was using the 505si, I found that the grip was too small (or too short) to hold onto when I use a long lens. My pinkie was cramped after some shooting cos there was nothing to grip onto. I do not know how the 404si's battery pack looks like but if extends the grip on the camera (i.e. the CR-2 battery compartment) then it would improve the horizontal gripping position of the camera.

Hope u understand what I mean.

 

[reactan]

Thanks for all your replies.... still havent managed to find a batery pack that i can try out, but i'll been quoted $380 by TKphoto and $420 by cathay. I think i would rather put this money into my 7D fund!

Thanks again.

Al

 

[yeocolin]

Thanks for all your replies.... still havent managed to find a batery pack that i can try out, but i'll been quoted $380 by TKphoto and $420 by cathay. I think i would rather put this money into my 7D fund!

Thanks again.

Al

Does that mean TKphoto and CP have stock or you'll have to wait for stock to arrive? If so, how long does stock arrive? Where is TKphoto by the way? :dunno:

 

[deslim27]

i'll been quoted $380 by TKphoto and $420 by cathay. I think i would rather put this money into my 7D fund!

:bigeyes: :bigeyes: :bigeyes:

What kind of price tag is that?? Even more expensive than VC-7 (for Dynax 7) grip.

Yeah! I bet 7D's grip will be even cheaper than this..

 

[reactan]

Does that mean TKphoto and CP have stock or you'll have to wait for stock to arrive? If so, how long does stock arrive? Where is TKphoto by the way? :dunno:

Nope, no stock... i didnt bother asking how long the stock will take to arrive cause the prica range is way out of my budget. Like deslim mentioned, its even more expensive then the D7 grip.

no idea where TK photo is, but you can email them, and get e-quotes at
tkfoto@starhub.net.sg
www.tkfoto.com.sg

 

[TME]

Thanks for all your replies.... still havent managed to find a batery pack that i can try out, but i'll been quoted $380 by TKphoto and $420 by cathay. I think i would rather put this money into my 7D fund!

Thanks again.

Al

Good choice!!! :thumbsup:

 

[TME]

Yeah! I bet 7D's grip will be even cheaper than this..

If the 7D has its own grip.... i have a sneaking feeling that Minolta due to its liquidity problems will use as many accessories as possible from the 7... so the VC-7 might be reusable on the 7D...... good chance of that happening IMO...

 

[ileaf]

hi,

happened to have a dynax 5, matched with a battery pack BP-200.

well, i must say, it's a heaven match for the d5. i have large hands, without the battery pack, some of my fingers are always "finding" some balance in the air. it felt awkard really!
besides, without the pack, the camera doesn't feel balance when u put in a relatively heavy lens, for my case, it's the tamron 24-135mm.

what i felt is, if you intend to keep ur 404si, probably u can consider a 2nd hand one. brand new ones for $400 is way expensive i think.
btw, my bp-200 cost me ~$95 brand new!

 

[reactan]

hi,

happened to have a dynax 5, matched with a battery pack BP-200.

well, i must say, it's a heaven match for the d5. i have large hands, without the battery pack, some of my fingers are always "finding" some balance in the air. it felt awkard really!
besides, without the pack, the camera doesn't feel balance when u put in a relatively heavy lens, for my case, it's the tamron 24-135mm.

what i felt is, if you intend to keep ur 404si, probably u can consider a 2nd hand one. brand new ones for $400 is way expensive i think.
btw, my bp-200 cost me ~$95 brand new!

hi,

where did you manage to get your bp-200?

Thanks,
Al

 

[ileaf]

bought it at cathay photo, marina square branch, quite some times back, nov/02
keep it to ourselves, but i think i met a new camera crew over there. that guy sold me at a very low price at S$95. on some other occasion, when my friend tried to get one, he was quoted S$125! i think i was lucky the other time!

 

[reactan]

Right, thanks everyone. Seems like my pinkie will have to be left hanging in the air for a while more. If anyone comes across a scond hand BP-100, please let me know yah?

ileaf: maybe your friend didnt ask for a discount. In my limited experience with cathay, some sales people will automatically give you a discount, but for others, you need to push them before they give you a discounted price.

Al

 

[reactan]

I think i've figured out the reason for the hight price....they're quoting me for EBP-100, a lithium battery for the dimage 7. Its USD$250 online. Better call them again and make sure they understand me correctly this time round!