I got my zeikos grip today for my d300S. And all I can say is WOWWWWW!!!
For $60 you can't beet that!!! Fits perfect, feels great, and has all the the nice features of the MB-D10... Without the price tag...
There seems to be a big run on these based on the posts above. I certainly don't "need" 8 fps, but for a "mere" $60, I couldn't resist myself and ordered one from B&H last weekend. It should arrive on Friday.
I'm looking forward to putting 8 fps into action at the next basketball game at my middle school.
Hmm... it seems I've incited a must-have-it NAS riot here! B&H, can I have a cut of the profits please?
8 FPS aside, I just love the feel of an integrated vertical grip like my old D2H. It really makes handling a fat lens like the 70-200/2.8 VR easier IMO.
I had the Nikon grip and used it sparingly so I sold it, but at $60 the Zeikos is a no brainer and it definitely makes using long glass more pleasurable.
jasoncallen wrote:
Hmm... it seems I've incited a must-have-it NAS riot here! B&H, can I have a cut of the profits please?
8 FPS aside, I just love the feel of an integrated vertical grip like my old D2H. It really makes handling a fat lens like the 70-200/2.8 VR easier IMO.
yes indeed you have true NAS here, although it makes the D700 feel a bit heavier but who cares.
Chrisnyee:
I doubt either version are weather sealed. As you might know, water can easily enter inbetween the grip and get into the electrical pins that make contact with the d300 body.
Jason Callen: Very nice review. Excellent presentation. Very un-youtube, which is defintely a good thing.
For those using this grip just want to warn you guys to be careful with it. Some other guy who had a meilke d200 grip was unable to unscrew the grip. He was able to turn the huge wheel but unable to unscrew it, most probably a loose thread.
The Official Nikon D200 grips were supposedly bad enough, I'm sure a 3rd party one would have been worse. It sounds like these new d300 grips are pretty good. I'm tempted to get one, although I'm sure I don't really need it - except to look cool
Well I think a loose connection could probably happen on the ?? meilke, zeikos or nikon grip .. guess if it does, for the $ cut it apart or change order of batts in menu and use the el4 or AA.s
Jason C Allen: Very nice review. Excellent presentation. Very un-youtube, which is defintely a good thing.
Thanks! I do video production for a living... so this little vid review is admittedly half-assed. I'll be doing a video, still, and written comparison of the Vivitar 85mm f/1.4 Series 1 and Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 ZF primes next.
About weatherproofing... I wouldn't use any grip in the rain unless I *NEEDED* the fastest performance possible for a once-in-a-lifetime action shot.
Neither the Nikon nor the 3rd party grips are adequately sealed to prevent moisture from getting in between the grip's contacts and the body contacts.
I received my Zeikos grip the other day from B&H but only got the time to mount it to my D700 today.
Having never used a grip before, I cannot offer and comparisons to the MB-D10. Here are my findings so far:
1) The multi-selector sticks when pushed upward (in portrait orientation) causing the focus selection point to rapidly scroll and wrap around unless I actually push it back down into the neutral position.
2) The sub-command dial is recessed too far to my liking and does not feel anything like the sub-command dial of the camera when put into use.
3) While the texture of the rubber grip areas feel similar to the rubber grips on my D700 (much to my liking), the plastic around the shutter release and command dials are hard, smooth and feel cheap to me.
4) The grip mounts to the D700 very solidly without any looseness, but boy does it make the camera heavy when loaded with AA batteries. If anyone ever thought the D700 was a brick without a grip . . .
For a quarter of the price of the MB-D10, I can live with the hard plastic, but I definitely cannot live with the sticking multi-selector. I want to see how much I enjoy the increased frame rate before coming to any final conclusions, but my present copy will definitely get returned to B&H. I just need to decide whether I want a refund or an exchange.
i'll be looking forward to your review(s) of the vivitar 85/1.4.
jasoncallen wrote:
Thanks! I do video production for a living... so this little vid review is admittedly half-assed. I'll be doing a video, still, and written comparison of the Vivitar 85mm f/1.4 Series 1 and Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 ZF primes next./quote]
yes indeed you have true NAS here, although it makes the D700 feel a bit heavier but who cares.