Third Party Vertical Grip for E330/E400/E500/E510

[microcosm]

UPDATE ON THE TAIWANESE VERTICAL GRIP FROM OWNUSER CO, LTD:

I have spoken on the phone with Mr Wu from Ownuser Co, Ltd about the vertical grip and it is very interesting to note the following things we have discussed :

- The pre production model for E-500, E-510 are ready to make it to the big time in August. Production starts in July.

- The prototype is working perfectly and therefore the production dates look set.

- Olympus Taiwan seems to be supporting this move by 3rd party developers/manufacturers to develop grips which Oly themselves have ceased to work on for feasibility issues (money, of course).

- Olympus has a large stockpile of vertical grips for E-300, E-1 still in their warehouse (so those who are still interested in buying grips, you know who to look for).

- The design of the grip has some really well thought of functionalities which I will get a first hand demo myself when I meet up with their people.

- Photos will be released courtesy of Ownuser Co Ltd. In kind, I have requested for them to release shots of the pre-production models so that they are shot in the best light (since there might still be changes in some little parts).

Stay tuned...

 

[holidaydom]

I smell an MO (Mass Order) on the way....

 

[rongie]

haha.. still have to wait around 2 to 3 months for the grip to arrive...

 

[holidaydom]

haha.. still have to wait around 2 to 3 months for the grip to arrive...

Trust me - all this waiting is an OLY thing... :bsmilie:

 

[tomcat]

Isn't it also a Nikon thing... waiting for D200.... waiting for 3rd party grip for D70 ? :dunno:

 

[danieloo]

wo...ho...ho....the wait will be worth it......I'm in....

 

[rongie]

UPDATE ON THE TAIWANESE VERTICAL GRIP FROM OWNUSER CO, LTD:

I have spoken on the phone with Mr Wu from Ownuser Co, Ltd about the vertical grip and it is very interesting to note the following things we have discussed :

- The pre production model for E-500, E-510 are ready to make it to the big time in August. Production starts in July.

- The prototype is working perfectly and therefore the production dates look set.

- Olympus Taiwan seems to be supporting this move by 3rd party developers/manufacturers to develop grips which Oly themselves have ceased to work on for feasibility issues (money, of course).

- Olympus has a large stockpile of vertical grips for E-300, E-1 still in their warehouse (so those who are still interested in buying grips, you know who to look for).

- The design of the grip has some really well thought of functionalities which I will get a first hand demo myself when I meet up with their people.

- Photos will be released courtesy of Ownuser Co Ltd. In kind, I have requested for them to release shots of the pre-production models so that they are shot in the best light (since there might still be changes in some little parts).

Stay tuned...

where are the photos... ahha.. im curious

 

[microcosm]

Patience... patience..

 

[tao]

where are the photos... ahha.. im curious

The grip will probably looks just like the design for all the other camera as shown in their website right? Their grips for different camera models look the same to me. Or are they designing something totally different to look better on the smaller Olympus bodies?

What is intriguing to me is how they make the shutter button and the AA battery work. Does it supports half-press pre-focusing? Also, it is interesting that the grip has 2 shutter release buttons that south paws will like, or when you are in some funny awkward posture.

 

[microcosm]

The grip will probably looks just like the design for all the other camera as shown in their website right? Their grips for different camera models look the same to me. Or are they designing something totally different to look better on the smaller Olympus bodies?

What is intriguing to me is how they make the shutter button and the AA battery work. Does it supports half-press pre-focusing? Also, it is interesting that the grip has 2 shutter release buttons that south paws will like, or when you are in some funny awkward posture.

1. For the E-410, the grip will be an all new design because of the obvious... size.

2. Olympus Taiwan is working with them on the R&D and product design, thus many of the engineering issues are solved due to factory support.

3. Yes, it will support half press functionality (as according to the sales engineer that I spoke to).

4. The 2 button function is for sports photographers... imagine, your left hand is still on the shutter, your right is working on the dials (usually they are right hand operation) and the camera/lens on some form of support (monopod/tripod). Pretty well thought of, really... but in actual use, one has to get used to the way the buttons are laid out.

5. The most amazing part, you can use ANY similar battery to power up the vertical grip. In an event, when one runs out of juice, and a fellow photographer using Canon has brought spare batts with him, you can use that, pop into the grip and all is good again... I like this part best, since I am a photojournalist.

Sweet R&D. Though I have hoped that they will work on the aesthetics a little more... but hopefully that will change.

 

[tao]

Yes, after reading the specs, realised that the grip can use practically all sorts of batteries from all makes of DSLRs. I must say that this is a very clever design, you can actually buy different top plates and make the grip compatible with all the supported cameras!

A tiny and aesthetically matching grip for the E-410 will be really sweet! I don't really like how their standard grip looks on the E-500/510 now.

 

[holidaydom]

Any update on how the interfacing (for shutter release) will be done on the E500?

 

[microcosm]

Yes, after reading the specs, realised that the grip can use practically all sorts of batteries from all makes of DSLRs. I must say that this is a very clever design, you can actually buy different top plates and make the grip compatible with all the supported cameras!

A tiny and aesthetically matching grip for the E-410 will be really sweet! I don't really like how their standard grip looks on the E-500/510 now.

Any update on how the interfacing (for shutter release) will be done on the E500?

Tao, while the look of the grips might not be something to scream about, what the developers focused on are usability and balance. This is something I have to give them credit for, the usability of the grip. This is because they are photographers themselves, and not good at designing the aesthetics. But I still suggest to them to look at design as the over package is important. So you really don't have much to worry about.

holidaydom, I am not sure about the E-500 yet because the discussions so far are for the new cameras.

 

[wrx_sti_22b]

This is all very good news for us Olympians...

 

[rongie]

any newsssssssss

 

[microcosm]

any newsssssssss

Pre production model is working out fine, they are fine tuning the grip design (a little) to accommodate the shape of the cameras. Nothing new at the moment. No surprises at least, for the E-510. The E-410 grip is in the works. They are looking at making everything "retro" for the E-410... I like!! :bsmilie:

 

[microcosm]

The E-510.

 

[tomcat]

May need to finetune a bit more.... it is so tall and broad that it looked more like a docking unit than a vertical grip. :think:

 

[microcosm]

May need to finetune a bit more.... it is so tall and broad that it looked more like a docking unit than a vertical grip. :think:

As mentioned, this is a generic design that fits all (cheaper this way since the moulding/remoulding cost in brought down). Currently this is what the company will be doing, even though they totally understand that Olympus cameras are smaller in size when compared to the competition.

I am sure that as the company grows in profit, they will have the money to invest in Olympus specific products like the grip for the E-410. This is afterall a smaller 3rd party developer.

 

[danieloo]

It looks fine to me....what about the other side view.......

Ah.... ....only work with new model only...my E500............aarrrhhhhgggg......