Kevin E Hawkins
Leading Member
Does anyone have the BL-3 Battery cover in stock? I really want one!
Kevin
Kevin
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BL-3 Battery Cover?
- Thread starter Kevin E Hawkins
- Start date
shacharm
Forum Enthusiast
Join the long line (starting somewhere around FL). It's out of stock all over the world. Even the vampires on eBay, who were selling it for 3 times its normal price, are long gone.
edit: I take that back. There's one dude from Canada selling it on eBay right now (current bid is $105 USD + shipping). Personally, I don't think ANYONE needs that piece of plastic that bad to pay that much. I have 2 ENEL4's and they'll wait patiently until Nikon resumes production in a few weeks, then I'll buy one for $34.95 at B&H. I'll get my 8fps with my 2900mAh AA's until then.
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Capt Shaq
edit: I take that back. There's one dude from Canada selling it on eBay right now (current bid is $105 USD + shipping). Personally, I don't think ANYONE needs that piece of plastic that bad to pay that much. I have 2 ENEL4's and they'll wait patiently until Nikon resumes production in a few weeks, then I'll buy one for $34.95 at B&H. I'll get my 8fps with my 2900mAh AA's until then.
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Capt Shaq
applenikon
Well-known member
You might try Roberts Imaging on the phone. When I ordered the grip they had the cover on hand. I don't think it's ever been listed on their online store (not sure at all about this) so maybe they never ran out either.
I don't normally go for the out of state online ordering over local, but I was dissatisfied with my local after some customer service snafus. After reading nice things about Roberts here on DPR, I gave them a try and they have been excellent. Not just because they were honest and competent, but because they handled a defect, return & replace flawlessly. Those are the moments you judge a shop. They deserve the good word of mouth.
Also, I have to say that after ordering eneloops for the grip - THAT is my preferred option. Nikon made the grip/battery options almost too flexible. If I had realized that one of my non branded D2x batteries wasn't going to work, I would've skipped the cover entirely (although now that I have it - more options I suppose).
I don't normally go for the out of state online ordering over local, but I was dissatisfied with my local after some customer service snafus. After reading nice things about Roberts here on DPR, I gave them a try and they have been excellent. Not just because they were honest and competent, but because they handled a defect, return & replace flawlessly. Those are the moments you judge a shop. They deserve the good word of mouth.
Also, I have to say that after ordering eneloops for the grip - THAT is my preferred option. Nikon made the grip/battery options almost too flexible. If I had realized that one of my non branded D2x batteries wasn't going to work, I would've skipped the cover entirely (although now that I have it - more options I suppose).
trix
Forum Enthusiast
Ebay is an auction. Folks bid based on an item is worth to them. The "Vampires" can't force 'em to bid.
I sold a BL-3 on eBay...I could not believe what a guy paid for it, but It was worth it to him.
Tri-X
I sold a BL-3 on eBay...I could not believe what a guy paid for it, but It was worth it to him.
Tri-X
trix
Forum Enthusiast
There have been several threads on ways to modify the EN-EL3 cover to handle the EN-EL4a battery.
I can't find a charger. If I had a MH-21...I would use the EN-EL4a without the cover.
Just my thought.
Tri-X
I can't find a charger. If I had a MH-21...I would use the EN-EL4a without the cover.
Just my thought.
Tri-X
shacharm
Forum Enthusiast
Tri-X, No offense, I may have used too strong of a language. I'm not talking about the final bid price. I'm talking about the start price which was way out of wack in this case. I can't sympathize with sellers who take advantage of shortage and UNREASONABLY jack up the price, capitalist society or not.
It amazes me how buyers lose control of themselves ("got to have this" syndrome) when there are perfectly simple (and much cheaper) solutions out there (like the one you and I mentioned).
Shaq
Capt Shaq
It amazes me how buyers lose control of themselves ("got to have this" syndrome) when there are perfectly simple (and much cheaper) solutions out there (like the one you and I mentioned).
Shaq
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Capt Shaq
Two used batteries (the old ones, not the newer type), a charger and the cover sold for over four hundred dollars a few weeks ago on eBay.
I wanted them, but not as much as those two people wanted them.
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Nikon D300 is the best camera in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
N i k o n D 3 0 0, D 2 0 0, F u j i S 5, 8 - S b - 8 0 0' s
N i k k o r P r i m e s 1 0 . 5 m m, 2 4 m m , 2 8 m m, 3 5 m m , 5 0 m m 1 . 4, 6 0 m m M a c r o, 8 5 m m 1 . 4
N i k k o r Z o o m s 1 8 - 2 0 0 V R, 2 4 - 8 5 E D, 7 0 -2 0 0 V R, 8 0 - 4 0 0 V R
I wanted them, but not as much as those two people wanted them.
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Nikon D300 is the best camera in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
N i k o n D 3 0 0, D 2 0 0, F u j i S 5, 8 - S b - 8 0 0' s
N i k k o r P r i m e s 1 0 . 5 m m, 2 4 m m , 2 8 m m, 3 5 m m , 5 0 m m 1 . 4, 6 0 m m M a c r o, 8 5 m m 1 . 4
N i k k o r Z o o m s 1 8 - 2 0 0 V R, 2 4 - 8 5 E D, 7 0 -2 0 0 V R, 8 0 - 4 0 0 V R
californiabob
Member
Chargers show up on eBay regularly, and sometimes sell at reasonable prices. Watch for Buy It Now. I picked one up there recently.
Also, Adorama currently shows in stock on a used, condition D, MH-21. Condition D is Demo, appears new or nearly new.
You don't need new; you need working, and they do turn up. Keep looking until you get one.
The EN-EL4a is a lot more convenient than AAs, with only one battery (instead of 8!) to handle, and, with it, the D300 battery meter gives proportional battery discharge status on the grip battery. You also save some weight, and almost always get more shots per battery change.
Good luck-
Bob
Also, Adorama currently shows in stock on a used, condition D, MH-21. Condition D is Demo, appears new or nearly new.
You don't need new; you need working, and they do turn up. Keep looking until you get one.
The EN-EL4a is a lot more convenient than AAs, with only one battery (instead of 8!) to handle, and, with it, the D300 battery meter gives proportional battery discharge status on the grip battery. You also save some weight, and almost always get more shots per battery change.
Good luck-
Bob
shacharm
Forum Enthusiast
Sorry, unless they have more than one unit - I bought that demo charger from Adorama on Friday... I have a confirmation number on the order, and paid with credit card, so I'm hoping it's on its way as we speak.
Shaq
Capt Shaq
Shaq
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Capt Shaq
mrapplegate
Forum Enthusiast
They had more than one. I got one Jan 22, stock # (US 287901). Great condition.
trix
Forum Enthusiast
Thanks Bob,
I'll keep my eyes peeled.
I'll keep my eyes peeled.
Drivercore
Well-known member
My question is: How long will it take Nikon to get the BL-3 shortage figured out or will it ever be fixed? Will this always be a rare and hard to find item?
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/drivercore
[email protected]
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/drivercore
[email protected]
DigitalJay
Senior Member
kennethw
Leading Member
After hounding Nikon since the day I got my MB-D10, I finally got 1 BL-3 last week. However, I must say that I was a little 'mislead'; probably my fault for not reading the manual and only glancing at the specifications of the D300 and seeing only what I wanted to see.
The reason why I am a little disappointed is that I shoot RAW and can't get the said 8 fps. Works great in JPEG small mode though.
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Amateur Photographer, constructive criticism most welcome: http://www.pbase.com/kennethw
The reason why I am a little disappointed is that I shoot RAW and can't get the said 8 fps. Works great in JPEG small mode though.
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Amateur Photographer, constructive criticism most welcome: http://www.pbase.com/kennethw
shacharm
Forum Enthusiast
I'm relieved 
I couldn't bear the thought I snatched the last one lol
Shaq
Capt Shaq
I couldn't bear the thought I snatched the last one lolShaq
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Capt Shaq
mrapplegate
Forum Enthusiast
californiabob
Member
How do you . . .
There have been several suggested ways--I think mine is easiest and safest. The key to all of them is that the EN-EL4a contacts directly mate with the grip contacts; you don't need a complex holder for it that has battery contacts and which then makes the battery's power available to the grip's contacts. In other words, if you open the grip, insert the EN-EL4a contacts first, and slide it all the way in, the camera will then operate on the EN-EL4a. All you need is something to hold it there, so there is really not much to it.
My cap/holder is made by cutting the tray for the EN-EL3e that comes with the grip to the right length and glueing a couple of little rubber blocks to the cap end of it to hold the EN-EL4a in position. I've used it for several assignments now and it works perfectly. I concluded that the EN-EL3e tray, since I had EN-EL4a capability, would be another odd photo item that I couldn't quite bring myself to throw away but would never use, so sacrificing it was actually comforting--now it will be useful!
It is also possible to remove the cap from the EN-EL3e tray (only 4 screws) and build a holder for the battery to go on it.
One warning--the cap alone, unless there is some structure like part of the tray attached, can fall off, by coming out at the bottom first.
You can find my detailed description by clicking on my screen name on the navigator, then finding the post under the title "If you only need the BL-3 . . ."
Bob
IslandDesign
Forum Enthusiast
I wonder if some plastic fabricator could run a few thousand replacement covers out. All it is is a spacer with the lock; should be fairly simple to produce and there is a huge demand! (I wouldn't suggest this if it were only a short delay, but it seems like Nikon has their hands full and would probably thank someone for producing the small part so they could sell more expensive batteries and keep their customers happy, but who knows...)
Not sure who told you that...but I can get 8fps shooting RAW&JPEG Lg Fine.
Just need to turn off...auto iso, adl, and NR
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The past is only the future with the lights on. (+44)
kennethw
Leading Member
Thanks, I'll try that. Why I said that I couldn't achieve 8fps is because I physically couldn't, but I Auto ISO was 'on', ADL was set to 'Normal' and NR to 'Normal'. I'll try switching all that off when I get home.
Also, even in JPEG mode, my buffer size didn't seem to get bigger, still shows [r12] in the viewfinder. Is this 'normal'?
Thanks.
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Amateur Photographer, constructive criticism most welcome: http://www.pbase.com/kennethw
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