The sub $50 OM-D grip solution

idiotekniQues wrote:

I love the OM-D, but once in awhile the lack of grip bugs me. I can tune it out but sometimes I want it. The Oly grip looks wonderful but it's too pricey for most of us that probably want it just for the landscape portion - and you can't change the battery while it's on! Also it adds a decent weight to the camera.

I've seen 2-3 options that were 3rd party that added no additional buttons, but cost $200+. They were I think mostly metal and looked very good, but I was loathe to spend close to $200 or more for a grip that adds no additional buttons when for $250-300 you could grab a full electronic landscape grip with a portrait grip for kicks.

Enter the JB Designs OM-D grip on Amazon for $45. $45? Really? Could it be good. Saw a review for iton youtube by this nice-sounding fellow: here for nice-sounding fellow's video review Sounded good and honest. Here is the grip picture:

I ordered the grip from Amazon here , it had about a 2 week shipping wait as it seems they are a small operation and producing them in a mom & pop hand-poured and hand-sanded startup. The grip shipped on the date promised, and I received it a few days later.

I have shot with it numerous times this week and it is definitely worth the money to me. It feels very very sturdy, is well-engineered spec wise in that it hugs the OM-D body well. You can get to the battery with it on. It's not the most graceful maneuver to change the battery but nor is it that hard to do either.

It provides a solid amount of grip and while it is some sort of plastic compound I think, feels almost like a metal and very light at the same time. For my hands a touch more depth in the front grip part could make it ideal. As it is I am quite comfortable holding the camera just in my right hand, and I can grip it well enough that I am confident it is safe there even without a wrist-strap. Would it stay if I was bumped solidly? Pretty sure but Can't say - but mileage may vary with hand-size. Plus I've only had it a week.

It's quite easy to take off to make the OM-D as small as originally purchased. Sometimes I just want the OM-D with a pancake lens on and that's it. So it's an easy enough option to do so like with it seems all grip options.

Customer Service - in the review on youtube the gentleman notes that most tripod plates will not work with this - which can be a nuisance. I received my grip and indeed, my slik spring mini II tripod plate did not screw in tight enough. I emailed JB and within the same day had a response that he had a solution and would mail me a new screw. 1 week later 2 new screws arrived and both worked great with the tripod plate. As per an email from JB he said that all new grips would ship with the new screws that work with tripod.

--
-------------------------------
www.pixelsquish.com