gblatchford
Forum Enthusiast
And I think I may just be the first to have one in Europe, the USA or anywhere else, apart from the Far East...
Any guesses how cool that feels?
Any guesses how cool that feels?
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I got my Ownuser battery grip today
- Thread starter gblatchford
- Start date
Ari Aikomus
Veteran Member
gblatchford
Forum Enthusiast
I was trying to make a point, albeit lightheartedly, that if you wait, you get what you want and improve your technique with improvements in technology.
As for using it...time is a little early yet as to judge its true usefullness. I only received the AA battery holders and none for the lithium-ion, so the true versatility is yet to really be explored in the field over an extended period.
With regard to its functionality, there are a few little rubber-seals which are not fixed which would probably fall off within a short period, and dust ingress expected.
The overall feel of the grip is solid and design is good. The width of the grip when vertical is wider than thought but not unmanageable.
A slight niggle is the lack of ergonomic styling on the rear where one's mount of venus counters the finger-pressure.
If a design solution were to be ventured such as the untested grip by the Korean manufacturer DICAIN, then with a rear-entry battery compartment, there would only be capacity for one set of cells.
The alternative would be perhaps like the VC-9 for the Dynax/maxxum/alpha 9 where the battery tray was a transverse design.
The battery compartments have a nice little featture which is a lock-slider switch, preventing the unlatching of the battery trays during usage.
The shutter-release senses the halfway pressure, on both left and right. The buttons feel substantial and suited to the task. There is a little slider switch to engage and disengage the shutter-release buttons on the grip.
The screw-mounting feels substantial as does the quality of the plastic and workmanship. There are some rubber-grommeted screws which protrude for an unexplained reason, but thiese are not seen to be an issue or seen to pose an onbstruction to handling, as they are small and on the ends and lightly press into the palm base.
The underside tripod screwhole is metal and appears to be substantial.
There is a nice little female ?2.5mm? connection(sealed with rubber) which indicates it's for a remote(non-sony).
The power coupling is solid and seems as if it will not come out or wear out or be easy to break but the rubber cover on the Sony body does not lie flush when pulled out, unlike the remote-commander rubber cover on the back of the body.
With the kit-lens and grip mounted, the centre of gravity enables the camera to rest upright(good for taking timer-photos).
I am not sure that if with extended use and the body/grip bashing against the photographer's body with walking etc, if the remote-shutter connector-wire from the grip to the body is flat or flush enough with the profile so as to avoid catching on clothing.
Care would have to be paid in this respect, or some method of ensuring the male-female connectors are affixed and the play in movement eliminated. Long-term ths could cause component failure in the delicate contacts on the Sony remote-commander connections.
There is a DC-in female jack on the rear of the grip to the right of the battery compartments. Immediately below that is an LED. The LED changes colour from green(on-[standby] TO red-[powerdemand]) when the shutter release or focus is acvivated. The LED's switch off with power off.
On the right-end is the switch for changing from A-to-B power, but I haven't yet worked out how this functions for it seemed to allow power both sides with only one battery tray containing cells!
I have not yet substantiated if it is possible to charge the (tray-mounted) cells from an external DC source whilst still in-grip. If there are electronic circuits to regulate and manage the power cycling to rechargable batteries, then this is certainly a great benefit, for theoretically power could be router through the grip to the A100 body so the grip never needed to be removed to charge all the cells.
Perhaps a future feature as I am sure intelligent battery-sensor circuitry is small, cheap and easy to accommodate.
Is it weather-hardened? NO.
Would I buy one? YES based on conclusions and gut feeling after walking through a darkened room and having the sensation of it in my hand.
Thanks to Oliver
http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1004965oa1.jpg
All text and images Copyright 2006 G Blatchford. May not be reproduced without express consent of the copyright owner.
As for using it...time is a little early yet as to judge its true usefullness. I only received the AA battery holders and none for the lithium-ion, so the true versatility is yet to really be explored in the field over an extended period.
With regard to its functionality, there are a few little rubber-seals which are not fixed which would probably fall off within a short period, and dust ingress expected.
The overall feel of the grip is solid and design is good. The width of the grip when vertical is wider than thought but not unmanageable.
A slight niggle is the lack of ergonomic styling on the rear where one's mount of venus counters the finger-pressure.
If a design solution were to be ventured such as the untested grip by the Korean manufacturer DICAIN, then with a rear-entry battery compartment, there would only be capacity for one set of cells.
The alternative would be perhaps like the VC-9 for the Dynax/maxxum/alpha 9 where the battery tray was a transverse design.
The battery compartments have a nice little featture which is a lock-slider switch, preventing the unlatching of the battery trays during usage.
The shutter-release senses the halfway pressure, on both left and right. The buttons feel substantial and suited to the task. There is a little slider switch to engage and disengage the shutter-release buttons on the grip.
The screw-mounting feels substantial as does the quality of the plastic and workmanship. There are some rubber-grommeted screws which protrude for an unexplained reason, but thiese are not seen to be an issue or seen to pose an onbstruction to handling, as they are small and on the ends and lightly press into the palm base.
The underside tripod screwhole is metal and appears to be substantial.
There is a nice little female ?2.5mm? connection(sealed with rubber) which indicates it's for a remote(non-sony).
The power coupling is solid and seems as if it will not come out or wear out or be easy to break but the rubber cover on the Sony body does not lie flush when pulled out, unlike the remote-commander rubber cover on the back of the body.
With the kit-lens and grip mounted, the centre of gravity enables the camera to rest upright(good for taking timer-photos).
I am not sure that if with extended use and the body/grip bashing against the photographer's body with walking etc, if the remote-shutter connector-wire from the grip to the body is flat or flush enough with the profile so as to avoid catching on clothing.
Care would have to be paid in this respect, or some method of ensuring the male-female connectors are affixed and the play in movement eliminated. Long-term ths could cause component failure in the delicate contacts on the Sony remote-commander connections.
There is a DC-in female jack on the rear of the grip to the right of the battery compartments. Immediately below that is an LED. The LED changes colour from green(on-[standby] TO red-[powerdemand]) when the shutter release or focus is acvivated. The LED's switch off with power off.
On the right-end is the switch for changing from A-to-B power, but I haven't yet worked out how this functions for it seemed to allow power both sides with only one battery tray containing cells!
I have not yet substantiated if it is possible to charge the (tray-mounted) cells from an external DC source whilst still in-grip. If there are electronic circuits to regulate and manage the power cycling to rechargable batteries, then this is certainly a great benefit, for theoretically power could be router through the grip to the A100 body so the grip never needed to be removed to charge all the cells.
Perhaps a future feature as I am sure intelligent battery-sensor circuitry is small, cheap and easy to accommodate.
Is it weather-hardened? NO.
Would I buy one? YES based on conclusions and gut feeling after walking through a darkened room and having the sensation of it in my hand.
Thanks to Oliver
http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1004965oa1.jpg
All text and images Copyright 2006 G Blatchford. May not be reproduced without express consent of the copyright owner.
gblatchford
Forum Enthusiast
I am new to this posting business(I am sure it shows in the images), but I need to express my thanks to Oliver Yang at
King Home Enterprise Co., Ltd Taiwan, for his great communication and sending me a sample to review and promote.
I am a professionally qualified journalist and have no financial or vested interest in Ownuser or its affiliates. This posting is for the greater Sony Aplha community to assist them in making informed decisions about what is best for them.
The sooner a distrubutor is found for the western markets, the better. I have helped as far as I can in this respect for I feel Sony is missing a leap here.
Oliver, King Home Enterprise and Ownuser...bring it on!
King Home Enterprise Co., Ltd Taiwan, for his great communication and sending me a sample to review and promote.
I am a professionally qualified journalist and have no financial or vested interest in Ownuser or its affiliates. This posting is for the greater Sony Aplha community to assist them in making informed decisions about what is best for them.
The sooner a distrubutor is found for the western markets, the better. I have helped as far as I can in this respect for I feel Sony is missing a leap here.
Oliver, King Home Enterprise and Ownuser...bring it on!
csheldon
Leading Member
Great and complete review. Thanks!
You make mention of the back being slightly uncomfortable to hold, and in fact, it looks in the pictures like it would be something that might cause cramping after a while depending on the size of your hands, have you used it for an extended period of time? like a day long outing?
--
http://sheldons.smugmug.com
You make mention of the back being slightly uncomfortable to hold, and in fact, it looks in the pictures like it would be something that might cause cramping after a while depending on the size of your hands, have you used it for an extended period of time? like a day long outing?
--
http://sheldons.smugmug.com
gblatchford
Forum Enthusiast
Day trip? I've only had it 12 hours, give me a chance!
Will post when I get to take it out later this week.
Oliver Yang is taking your constructive comments in hand andis actively seeking resellers as we speak. I wish him and his Company the best of luck.
And yes I goofed on the photos, but you can resize them or temporarily save on your desktop(not for commercial or further posting I hasten to add)
About cramp...I get it more without a grip than with one, and resources to develop perfect ergonomics and design cost a small fortune. In all respects, the current product is perhaps not as mature as some would wish, but it is perfectly adequate and certainly usable.
Sony have glaringly left a void where a product/accessory should be and why shouldn't we maybe thank people for doing what comes best? Innovating!
Will post when I get to take it out later this week.
Oliver Yang is taking your constructive comments in hand andis actively seeking resellers as we speak. I wish him and his Company the best of luck.
And yes I goofed on the photos, but you can resize them or temporarily save on your desktop(not for commercial or further posting I hasten to add)
About cramp...I get it more without a grip than with one, and resources to develop perfect ergonomics and design cost a small fortune. In all respects, the current product is perhaps not as mature as some would wish, but it is perfectly adequate and certainly usable.
Sony have glaringly left a void where a product/accessory should be and why shouldn't we maybe thank people for doing what comes best? Innovating!
jerry zhang
Forum Enthusiast
yeah.. and they are a bit... blurry
I think he meant so that it can be downloaded faster. Ppl on slower connection like myself can spend minutes downloading just one image.
csheldon
Leading Member
Well obviously he didn't use a Sony Alpha with SSS to take those
ACK! The Exif says Kodak! Wow, are they still in business?? (just kidding kodak fanboys)
Jornada
New member
The one and only reasen for me, not to buy a Sony Alpha100, is the missing batterygrip.
So i am very interested in this Ownuser-grip.
Where did You buy it - and how?
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Kind regards from Bavaria
Peter
So i am very interested in this Ownuser-grip.
Where did You buy it - and how?
--
Kind regards from Bavaria
Peter
gblatchford
Forum Enthusiast
Hi Peter
I got the grip sent as a free sample after many weeks communicating with the manufacturer.
The sample was in anticipation of needing reviews for potential distributors to read. Before I was informed of the free sample I volunteered names and contact details of suppliers in the European market(namely based in the UK but with EU/EEA accesss)
I have no commercial or vested interest in the company and the act of goodwill by Oliver Yang was entirely unexpected after my initial enquiries were in prospect of buying a grip itself.
If you wait patiently, I am sure economic pressures will reveal a reseller in no time at all.
If I can help it, I will bring the grip to the attention of the mainstream UK photographic press in the coming days and weeks.
See where that puts Sony!
GB
PS gb_át_jóurnálíst-dót-cóm is my email address(just remove the weird characters and replace with normal)
I got the grip sent as a free sample after many weeks communicating with the manufacturer.
The sample was in anticipation of needing reviews for potential distributors to read. Before I was informed of the free sample I volunteered names and contact details of suppliers in the European market(namely based in the UK but with EU/EEA accesss)
I have no commercial or vested interest in the company and the act of goodwill by Oliver Yang was entirely unexpected after my initial enquiries were in prospect of buying a grip itself.
If you wait patiently, I am sure economic pressures will reveal a reseller in no time at all.
If I can help it, I will bring the grip to the attention of the mainstream UK photographic press in the coming days and weeks.
See where that puts Sony!
GB
PS gb_át_jóurnálíst-dót-cóm is my email address(just remove the weird characters and replace with normal)
The A and B switch on the power button is very important!!!! The type A position is used for KM 5D, 7D and alpha 100. Do not use type B on those cameras!! Type B option is for pentax. If you use type B for 5D, 7D and/or alpha, you might short out the grip!! Great review though!! Kudos.
--
Latest addition to my lens stable: 17-35mm 2.8-4, and 135mm STF
KM D5D 11-18mm, 18-70mm, 28-75mm 2.8, 75-300mm, 50mm 1.7, 85mm 1.4G (D),
Tamron 90mm 2.8 Macro, and Program flash 5600
--
Latest addition to my lens stable: 17-35mm 2.8-4, and 135mm STF
KM D5D 11-18mm, 18-70mm, 28-75mm 2.8, 75-300mm, 50mm 1.7, 85mm 1.4G (D),
Tamron 90mm 2.8 Macro, and Program flash 5600
gblatchford
Forum Enthusiast
I think we need to hear from Oliver Yang on this point.
If it is true, this is MOST IMPORTANT for people to note. The manufacturer has to either take this option away from the release product or rewire/recircuit with a couple of diodes to prevent reverse/over current in the long term. A simple omission like this can be catastrophic for a small companyon release of a grounbreaking product such as the FBH.
Luckily I have only used one set of batteries so far in the trays.
I would recommend strongly that AT MINIMUM an advisory is put as a sticky label or unremovable mark/physical block next to the switch, alerting the user to the danger or preventing the issue arising.
I fear overheating batteries is all too familiar in our minds with Sony products, and it would be very sad to see this happen again(albeit with an associated product).
I have to confess, I never read instructions if the product usage is pretty obvious. The instructions are in ?Chinese? for the most part, although I did recieve a sample, so production units may be different.
Oliver please reply to this! It is most urgent I feel.
Our comments are intended to be constructive and in no way negative, for fundamentally the product is very well received.
I have sent Oliver an email requesting his attention.
GB
If it is true, this is MOST IMPORTANT for people to note. The manufacturer has to either take this option away from the release product or rewire/recircuit with a couple of diodes to prevent reverse/over current in the long term. A simple omission like this can be catastrophic for a small companyon release of a grounbreaking product such as the FBH.
Luckily I have only used one set of batteries so far in the trays.
I would recommend strongly that AT MINIMUM an advisory is put as a sticky label or unremovable mark/physical block next to the switch, alerting the user to the danger or preventing the issue arising.
I fear overheating batteries is all too familiar in our minds with Sony products, and it would be very sad to see this happen again(albeit with an associated product).
I have to confess, I never read instructions if the product usage is pretty obvious. The instructions are in ?Chinese? for the most part, although I did recieve a sample, so production units may be different.
Oliver please reply to this! It is most urgent I feel.
Our comments are intended to be constructive and in no way negative, for fundamentally the product is very well received.
I have sent Oliver an email requesting his attention.
GB
Well, the grip is designed for several cameras, supposedly you can keep your grip and swap out the top plate to fit onto different cameras. That's why there are type A and type B on the grip. Type A is designed for Minolta 5D, 7D and Alpha 100. Type B is designed for Pentax and I think Nikon. So, the instruction did state which mode to use for what camera.
--
Latest addition to my lens stable: 17-35mm 2.8-4, and 135mm STF
KM D5D 11-18mm, 18-70mm, 28-75mm 2.8, 75-300mm, 50mm 1.7, 85mm 1.4G (D),
Tamron 90mm 2.8 Macro, and Program flash 5600
--
Latest addition to my lens stable: 17-35mm 2.8-4, and 135mm STF
KM D5D 11-18mm, 18-70mm, 28-75mm 2.8, 75-300mm, 50mm 1.7, 85mm 1.4G (D),
Tamron 90mm 2.8 Macro, and Program flash 5600
Corkcampbell
Forum Pro
As you know I ordered the 7D model, but can I also get a top plate for a 5D and use it for that as well? Not a big issue, just wondering.
did you get your grip yet? yes... according to the company, you can switch out the top plate to fit on different camera. But I haven't seen any top plate on sale yet. Mostly a packaged deal. But you can if you want to. That's why I got it.
--
Latest addition to my lens stable: 17-35mm 2.8-4, and 135mm STF
KM D5D 11-18mm, 18-70mm, 28-75mm 2.8, 75-300mm, 50mm 1.7, 85mm 1.4G (D),
Tamron 90mm 2.8 Macro, and Program flash 5600
--
Latest addition to my lens stable: 17-35mm 2.8-4, and 135mm STF
KM D5D 11-18mm, 18-70mm, 28-75mm 2.8, 75-300mm, 50mm 1.7, 85mm 1.4G (D),
Tamron 90mm 2.8 Macro, and Program flash 5600
IanMiddy
Leading Member
Wayne - not sure if you saw my posts on the KM & Dyxum forums, but my grip arrived ok yesterday - would also be interested if/when you see the other top-plates for sale individually, as I'd like to get hold of a 7D one in case my VC7D ever has probs, and also an A100 in case I decide to move to 10MP in the near future [assuming the manufacturer's not going to be charging 'silly' prices - hopefully not based upon the grips cost]...
...also, I assume that as the A100 also uses position "A", it'd be possible to use my NP-400 batteries in the grip to power an A100, rather than AAs or other alternatives?
...thanks again for sourcing these grips.
Cheers
IDM
...also, I assume that as the A100 also uses position "A", it'd be possible to use my NP-400 batteries in the grip to power an A100, rather than AAs or other alternatives?
...thanks again for sourcing these grips.
Cheers
IDM
Ian, I am glad you got your grip. I have the same false start too. lol. I should have taken the time to translate the whole instruction, but I didn't for several reasons. I thought the picture was good enough for installation, the "rubber" plug is tricky, from hindsight, had I not known how to install it, the rubber plug would have slipped my radar too. I am in the process of switching careers and applying to business schools. So... I really tried to free up my time. So instead of translating the whole instruction, I only translate the important cautions. I will keep an eye out for alternative top plate. And no, you can not use the NP400 batteries on the Alpha, you can only use AA batteries due to proprietary battery connection, and ownuser just think that it's cheaper to make make a AA cartridge that can be used for all camera rather making a separate cartridge just for alpha. And you brought up a good point, you can hold you batteries as spares in the grip without powering it on and just use the grip for shutter release control. I never thought of that though, carrying an extra batter in the camera and disconnecting and reconnecting the grip to switch batteries is a pain. Instead, I bought 2 more spare batteries and leave them in the bag and just swap out the batteries when the batteries are dead in the grip. lol. I will spend money for convenience.
--
Latest addition to my lens stable: 17-35mm 2.8-4, and 135mm STF
KM D5D 11-18mm, 18-70mm, 28-75mm 2.8, 75-300mm, 50mm 1.7, 85mm 1.4G (D),
Tamron 90mm 2.8 Macro, and Program flash 5600
--
Latest addition to my lens stable: 17-35mm 2.8-4, and 135mm STF
KM D5D 11-18mm, 18-70mm, 28-75mm 2.8, 75-300mm, 50mm 1.7, 85mm 1.4G (D),
Tamron 90mm 2.8 Macro, and Program flash 5600
IanMiddy
Leading Member
[hope no-one minds my posting reply here, since I think the info/discussion could well apply to the Sony version of the grip]
Wayne - re the 'rubber' plug, there is a pic in the instructions to try and explain where it is & the cord goes, but I was also fooled by the plug having a hole just a little to big for the cord - tried putting it in there and thought "no - too loose - must go in the 'remote' hole" - didn't work - and then looked back at the pics & realised the rubber came out and there was the right hole!
Would appreciate you keeping any eye out for the top plates...and I've also ordered a couple more generic NP-400s - tried [tentatively] this morning with one battery in-cam & one in grip and it seems to work ok using either [grip powered on or off] - I assume this should be ok since it really just acts like an AC-adapter and I've not read anything about removing the in-cam battery when using one of those...so it should mean than you can effectively have three batteries available which should be enough for any days shooting!
Would also be interested if the manufacturer makes available the AA-adapter from the A100 version[?] for use with the 5D instead of the NP400 holders - that would make it as flexible [power-source] as the VC-7D grip...
Cheers
IDM
Wayne - re the 'rubber' plug, there is a pic in the instructions to try and explain where it is & the cord goes, but I was also fooled by the plug having a hole just a little to big for the cord - tried putting it in there and thought "no - too loose - must go in the 'remote' hole" - didn't work - and then looked back at the pics & realised the rubber came out and there was the right hole!
Would appreciate you keeping any eye out for the top plates...and I've also ordered a couple more generic NP-400s - tried [tentatively] this morning with one battery in-cam & one in grip and it seems to work ok using either [grip powered on or off] - I assume this should be ok since it really just acts like an AC-adapter and I've not read anything about removing the in-cam battery when using one of those...so it should mean than you can effectively have three batteries available which should be enough for any days shooting!
Would also be interested if the manufacturer makes available the AA-adapter
Cheers
IDM
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