Another Open Bet: Grip and Battery

1) Built-in vertical grip or Optional MB-D200
2) AA or EN-EL3e

What do you think?

I wish for a built-in vertical grip and 6 AAs. But then it might be too much work for Fuji to weld an alloy vertical grip to this thing.... :-(

no change from D200 EN-EL3e
or optional v-grip w/2_ EN-EL3e or 6AAs

the only reason for the AAs in the S1 S2 and S3 was Fuji needing more power that the 123 could deliver. at least in the S3 they did away with the 123s. i liked the AA

I'll be quite sad if Fujifilm uses something other than AA's. But we'll know soon.

--
http://www.okpablo.com

. . . Fuji uses something other than CF, although Nikon's recent SD trend
could be the way of the future . . .

keith

--
Sunshine :
The photographer's friend . . . And nemesis.

Other than having to purchase new media, what's the problem with SD cards? I've used only CF, so I don't have experience with SD (except that my laptop has a handy-dandy SD port built in that I can't use! )
--
JCDoss

I find them awfully small, they feel flimsy to me. Also, I like the recessed contacts on the CF cards, and it seems that new technologies and higher capacities are making their way into CF first (ex. SanDisk Extreme IV is CF only so far). Also SD is only now hitting SD-HC and that is only now being adopted en masse, so a ton of SD devices top out at 2GB.
--
Got the lenses...Talent currently under construction.

The cards are simply too small for me. Something very easy to lose at a wedding. Smaller is not always better. I like bigger heavier cameras as they are easier to hold and will shake less than lighter cameras. I llike the idea of anti shake in the body as prefered to the lens.

After some years of using CF, it is such a quantum leap into SD,
that yes, the main disadvantage is the added cost. It is doubtful
that Fuji would desert its xD card format, shared with Olympus,
but you never know.

Fuji has kept its options open with the dual CF/xD feature but Nikon
obviously saw some design advantages in refiguring the D50 and D80
with SD, perhaps calculating that the average enthusiast did not
have hundreds of $$$ invested in memory, and therefore would not
mind switching if they had used CF before.

SD prices have been dropping faster than CF, but if a buyer already has
10 Gb in CF, for instance, he/she would need to build in between
$100 and $200 for the same amount of SD memory. This is a hidden
cost when looking at cameras.

There are several CF-capable cameras in this household, with memory
being swapped around depending upon travel, shooting projects etc.
This compatibility becomes limited with a new format.

Phew, sorry, Bunny for hijacking this battery/grip thread.
Love the idea of the combined battery back-up and grip, would buy it.

SD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820211309

SD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820163159

CF
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820183164

Keith

--
Sunshine :
The photographer's friend . . . And nemesis.

I would agree. I really like the AAs and the built in vertical grip.

Shooting weddings, I like the fact that I get about 600 shots on 4 AAs, and I can recharge a set of 4 AAs in about 15 minutes. I also like the fact that in an emergency I can get AAs ANYWHERE fast.

I have always bought the vertical grip (when available) for the cameras that I have owned, and I liked the fact that the S3 had it built in. I think this is a must for wedding and portrait photographers, and photographers with big hands.

I agree with the CF posting thread. Bigger is better.

Anyone think we might get built in WiFi? I also like the idea of built in Image Stabilization.

I was a CF snob for the longest time, until I was forced to use SD. I'm now actually favoring SD. I've seen multiple times where friends have disabled cameras with CF because they bent the little pins the CF slides over. I've disabled a card reader that same way, and I'm very careful. With SD cards, it's a different method, and appears to be much more durable. Size isn't an issue for me since I store them in the same size plastic cases that I use for my CF. So, all-in-all, I'd be happy if Fujifilm switched to SD.

My 2 cents.

Paul

Keith Aitken said:

. . . Fuji uses something other than CF, although Nikon's recent SD
trend
could be the way of the future . . .

keith

--
Sunshine :
The photographer's friend . . . And nemesis.

Click to expand...

--
http://www.okpablo.com

Paul

I kinda agree

with SD prices dropping and SD speed rising, plus a more robust form.

BUT

It's just a shock having to consider forking out fresh money for memory
when you have built up years of universal media which is still happily
working day in and day out. I have never had a problem with CF, other
than a M/D giving up the ghost after I took it above 10000 ft a few times.

I think Fuji's next DSLR will still give the nod to its professional users with
their bags full of CF, but future media change is coming unless CF makers
figure out a way to produce 4Gb cards for $10

Keith

--
Sunshine :
The photographer's friend . . . And nemesis.

It appears that it will have the built-in grip and not use Nikon's battery system. Read Thom Hogan's thread below.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1020&message=20082452

I'll take Nikon batteries all day long.

I know that Fuji is stuck on AA's but too me they are a pain compared to the Nikon batteries.

My D70 batteries will go all day and two backups is a safe bet to take on any location.

However, AA's (just my opinion) are a pain. The S3 takes 4 and they are a pain to change at best. Also take three sets of backups and your talking 12 AA's (and don't get them mixed up when you are changing them in the heat of battle.....been there done that).

Now for the body. The D200 sketch with the verticle grip looks sexy to me.

The D200 body is exceptional.

Regards.
Brian

Brian Salyer said:

I'll take Nikon batteries all day long.
I know that Fuji is stuck on AA's but too me they are a pain
compared to the Nikon batteries.

My D70 batteries will go all day and two backups is a safe bet to
take on any location.

However, AA's (just my opinion) are a pain. The S3 takes 4 and
they are a pain to change at best. Also take three sets of backups
and your talking 12 AA's (and don't get them mixed up when you are
changing them in the heat of battle.....been there done that).

Now for the body. The D200 sketch with the verticle grip looks
sexy to me.

The D200 body is exceptional.

Regards.
Brian

Click to expand...

Problem is, unlike the D70, the D200 is a power monster. The same battery that can get me 2,000 shots in my D70 now gets me a mere 500 in the D200- tops.
--
Got the lenses...Talent currently under construction.