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Cheap Battery Grip For Pentax K-7 / K-5

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brandrx

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Hi folks,

I decided to give one of these cheap battery grips a try for my K-7. I have the original Pentax grip for my K-5 so it will be my choice if shooting in the rain. This cheap grip that I am buying is mostly to make the grip on the K-7 larger for my hands. However, if it works then it works and I will be happy. I needed an extra battery so if these two DL190 knockoff batteries are good then that is a plus. Anyone else use this one?

Battery Grip For Pentax K-7 K7 SLR Digital Camera D-BG4 + 2X D-LI90 DLI90 Batteries US $69.

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Pentax-Digital-Camera-Batteries/dp/B003FHOCK4/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_3

Cheers.

Ron

--
Ron - 'We don't have time to go take pics this afternoon Carl.'
Carl - 'What do you mean? It will only take 1/1000s.'

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx
 
brandrx said:
Hi folks,

I decided to give one of these cheap battery grips a try for my K-7. I have the original Pentax grip for my K-5 so it will be my choice if shooting in the rain. This cheap grip that I am buying is mostly to make the grip on the K-7 larger for my hands. However, if it works then it works and I will be happy. I needed an extra battery so if these two DL190 knockoff batteries are good then that is a plus. Anyone else use this one?

Battery Grip For Pentax K-7 K7 SLR Digital Camera D-BG4 + 2X D-LI90 DLI90 Batteries US $69.

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Pentax-Digital-Camera-Batteries/dp/B003FHOCK4/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_3

Cheers.

Ron

--
Ron - 'We don't have time to go take pics this afternoon Carl.'
Carl - 'What do you mean? It will only take 1/1000s.'

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx
Click to expand...
--


  • Ari Aikomus -
'Why should I feel lonely ? is not our planet in the Milky way?'
 
Hi Ari,

What about cheap knockoff batteries? Have you tried any of them? I tried two in the early days of my K10D / K20D and both failed after about a year of use. If these two knockoffs that come in this kit fail then I will never try knockoffs again.

Ron

--
Ron - 'We don't have time to go take pics this afternoon Carl.'
Carl - 'What do you mean? It will only take 1/1000s.'

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx
 
hi ron have been using cheep grips four a few years now still going k7 k10 al so cheap
lipos on g9 k10 k7 ws 80 all working good. i remember a few years ago when i had
a battery go on my yacht so went to the factory for a replacement and walked

through the back door to my supprise their where pallets of black batteries and a
reel of stikers for at least 10 different names ?

cheers don
 
--
Jim King - Retired Colormonger - Suburban Detroit, Michigan, USA; GMT -5h (EST)
Pentaxian for over 45 years.



...and Leica, too!

* * * * *
A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
  • Sir Winston Churchill
* * * * *
The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.
  • Albert Einstein
 
One of the reviews at Amazon.com stated, "Nor does there appear to be much in regard to weather proofing, even though the product is advertised as weather resistant."

I can't find anywhere that the product is advertised as WR. Anyone else find it with their cheap kits?

Cheers.

Ron

--
Ron - 'We don't have time to go take pics this afternoon Carl.'
Carl - 'What do you mean? It will only take 1/1000s.'

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx
 
brandrx said:
Hi Ari,

What about cheap knockoff batteries? Have you tried any of them? I tried two in the early days of my K10D / K20D and both failed after about a year of use. If these two knockoffs that come in this kit fail then I will never try knockoffs again.
Click to expand...
Well, I don't dare say anything very sure about these cheap batteries, but I have used many cheap "ebay" batteries with different cameras without problems...They may not be as durable and long lasting than the originals, but offers good value for money.

Currently I have few "DLi90 replacements 1900mAh) for K-5, and after three months of use I could say they are almost as good than original.

cheers,

Ari
brandrx said:
Ron

--
Ron - 'We don't have time to go take pics this afternoon Carl.'
Carl - 'What do you mean? It will only take 1/1000s.'

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx
Click to expand...
--


  • Ari Aikomus -
'Why should I feel lonely ? is not our planet in the Milky way?'
 
Yep - In fact, WR was a clear difference between my cheap grip and original!

I think there is no a proper rubber sealing in these cheap grips.

Ari
brandrx said:
One of the reviews at Amazon.com stated, "Nor does there appear to be much in regard to weather proofing, even though the product is advertised as weather resistant."

I can't find anywhere that the product is advertised as WR. Anyone else find it with their cheap kits?

Cheers.

Ron

--
Ron - 'We don't have time to go take pics this afternoon Carl.'
Carl - 'What do you mean? It will only take 1/1000s.'

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx
Click to expand...
--


  • Ari Aikomus -
'Why should I feel lonely ? is not our planet in the Milky way?'
 
just had a look at grip on k7 and the buttons have seals the batterery compartment
door has tounge and groove as well as the body
cheers don
 
--
Ron - 'We don't have time to go take pics this afternoon Carl.'
Carl - 'What do you mean? It will only take 1/1000s.'

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx
 
Ron - When these copies first appeared (for the K-7) I believe some-one picked up the fact that a lot or all of the 'copy' on the paperwork is taken from the genuine article, with little or no editing. Of course that may have changed over time, but some of the wording may remain.

AB
 
andrew britten said:
Ron - When these copies first appeared (for the K-7) I believe some-one picked up the fact that a lot or all of the 'copy' on the paperwork is taken from the genuine article, with little or no editing. Of course that may have changed over time, but some of the wording may remain.
Click to expand...
Thanks Adnrew. That makes sense as to the confusion about WR then.

Cheers.

Ron

--
Ron - 'We don't have time to go take pics this afternoon Carl.'
Carl - 'What do you mean? It will only take 1/1000s.'

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx
 
I have a grip ordered off from an Ebay seller. It takes weeks to get it from China though. I had used the Pentax grip for my K20 and decided to try one of these because I have generally heard good things about them. As far as the batteries, I had good luck with knockoff batteries for the K20 and have already bought two for the K5. No problems so far. I have only had the camera about a month though.
 
The box looks to be exactly the same as the one which contained my cheap battery grip, so I think the grip is the same, although the batteries which came with it have a slightly different capacity. I used it a lot on my K7 and it worked well as did the batteries. The only thing I noticed was that the on/off switch has a looser feel than the one on the camera. I have no idea whether the grip is weather sealed or not. I played safe by removing the grip when the weather was wet.
--
Miles500
 
Hi Ron

I can't speak about the batteries nor the particular 3rd party grip.

A recent french photo magazine had an article where it compared the original grips with 3rd party grips for various cameras.

As general rule, they come to the following conclusions:
  • if one plans to use the grip from time to time, it is ok to take the 3rd party grips.
  • if the grip is to make the camera more confortable in the hands, and thus, remain all the time on the camera, it is preferable to take the original grip which is better built, more confortable and less flimsy.
--
Dominique

http://dschreckling.zenfolio.com
http://www.pbase.com/tcom
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dschreckling/
 
I bought one from DealExtreme, and it is an exact replica of the genuine grip (but other models float around).

When I say exact, I mean that the molds used are the same. I had the opportunity to handle both side by side, and they are indistinguishable at first glance.

For example, you can see a small groove at the junction of the two main shells when you open the battery door, and the original one has exactly the same groove in it.

But there is absolutely no WR: this groove contains a joint in the original grip, but the cheap one has nothing.

Same goes around the connector : there is clearly room for a joint (just like the genuine grip), but it's absent.
 
I ordered one of the grips from DealExtreme in Hong Kong on January 20, and was emailed on January 22 that the item had shipped. DealExtreme's site says 7 to 10 working days for the thing to be delivered. It's been 12 working days now. Hope it comes today.
--
http://www.hkisorphoto.blogspot.com
 
I had one for my K7 and now use on K5. After six months I find the grip and batteries work great.

Ed
 
I've been using a 3rd party unit on my k5 since Oct

quck summary

WR in your dreams , Yes the paperwork says it is the eyes tell otherwise.

Battery holder and electrical functionality , Can't fault it works a charms

increased bulk for horizontal shooting, spot on identical size profile and weight of oem.

Ocasional portrait use , Ok the controls are naff the only nice thing I can say about them is they work , They feel soft loose and tacky.

In summary

As an additional battery holder and camera balance there as good as the original at a bargain price.

They are usable for the occasional portrait but if you really want those portrait controls then look elsewhaere.

--
My PPG

http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/home#section=ARTIST&subSection=1471087&subSubSection=0&language=EN
My Photo Stream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/awaldram/
 
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