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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> CANON BG-ED3 GRIP???
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Showing posts 1 - 24 of 24, (reverse)
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04/02/2004 12:36:22 AM · #1
Why the heck are these things so expensive? I've been looking on ebay for weeks now, its actualy cheaper to buy one from BH 90% of the time...

I really want one, but don't NEED it, so I've been holding off. Can I expect to see these things drop in price?

Any comments from current users or an unhappy customer looking to sell theirs :)
04/02/2004 12:57:07 AM · #2
I wouldn't expect them to drop because they work on a large line of canon cameras, not just the 10d and d60.
04/02/2004 01:01:06 AM · #3
I got mine on ebay for about $160, I'm not sure how that compare to what you are currently seeing. I love it though. Good luck on finding one.

04/02/2004 08:00:48 AM · #4
Don´t give up. It´s one of the best things I ever bought to my 10D. Not just for the extra battery time as for the stability when I use long lenses. And I agree with you - the grip is unnecessarily expensive.
04/02/2004 08:23:07 AM · #5
I'd like to get one to balance the 550EX but it is pretty pricy. It's just plastic and a few contacts and nobs, isn't it?. It doesn't come with any batteries?

I'll likely get it anyways, since it'll make my camera look even more badass; that alone is worth $150.
04/02/2004 08:31:10 AM · #6
The BG-ED3 is definitely the best accessory I've purchased for the 10D. Just for the vertical shutter release alone, it is worth it! (I love shooting stuff in portrait orientation, as you can probably tell by looking at my Challenge Entries portfolio.)

Message edited by author 2004-04-02 08:31:20.
04/02/2004 09:00:10 AM · #7
I wholeheartedly agree. The BG-ED3 is probably the best accessory for the 10D. Love the battery life (since you have 2 batteries) and the vertical controls. It's easily worth the investment.

Kev
04/02/2004 09:12:10 AM · #8
It is great - if you want to shoot portraits, sports etc that suit a vertical orientation. Not much use for more considered, tripod based work, but great for people shots in general.
04/02/2004 09:13:40 AM · #9
I would like to have one, but it keeps getting bumped aside for something else that costs a few hundred. The battery life is so long on a single battery, and it is so easy to carry a spare, that I just never feel like it is critical. I would not mind the extra grip for portrait orientation, but even that is not critical to me - the D60 feels pretty comforatble without it.

But like Jacko says, I have to agree it makes the camera look quite badass... :-)

04/02/2004 10:45:13 AM · #10
I love mine. It was an arm-and-a-leg at the local store here in Victoria, but for balancing heavier lenses like the 70-200 and the 17-40 it's great. I just got my 17-40 and it is perfectly balanced with the 10D/grip combo. Couldn't imagine not having it.
04/02/2004 11:46:11 AM · #11
The only annoying thing about the grip is the inability to swap out batteries when a tripod plate is attached, although the need to do so is probably pretty rare.
04/02/2004 11:51:06 AM · #12
thanks for all the info guys... big help for me. I.ll probably keep looking for a used one, I mostly see just new!
04/02/2004 11:57:57 AM · #13
Originally posted by jimmythefish:

...It was an arm-and-a-leg at the local store here in Victoria...


What was the damage in CDN $s (if you don't mind), James? I believe they're just above CDN $ 200 at Leo's in Vancouver.

Message edited by author 2004-04-02 11:59:17.
04/02/2004 12:28:56 PM · #14
I think it was about $220 at Lens and Shutter but not sure of the exact cost. Gonna double-check.

Originally posted by zeuszen:

Originally posted by jimmythefish:

...It was an arm-and-a-leg at the local store here in Victoria...


What was the damage in CDN $s (if you don't mind), James? I believe they're just above CDN $ 200 at Leo's in Vancouver.
04/02/2004 01:06:43 PM · #15
Originally posted by dwoolridge:

The only annoying thing about the grip is the inability to swap out batteries when a tripod plate is attached, although the need to do so is probably pretty rare.

I use a Kirk BL-10DG L-bracket and don't have that problem at all. =] I ditched the Bogen/Manfrotto QR plate after seeing how superior the Arca-Swiss QR mount was. I also sold my Bogen ball head and switched to the Kirk BH-1 at the same time. Night and day difference! Definitely the second best accessory I've purchased for the 10D; being able to mount the camera securely in the portrait orientation without having to "flip" the ball over is awesome...



Message edited by author 2004-04-02 13:08:04.
04/02/2004 01:37:10 PM · #16
Originally posted by EddyG:

Originally posted by dwoolridge:

The only annoying thing about the grip is the inability to swap out batteries when a tripod plate is attached, although the need to do so is probably pretty rare.

I use a Kirk BL-10DG L-bracket and don't have that problem at all. =] I ditched the Bogen/Manfrotto QR plate after seeing how superior the Arca-Swiss QR mount was. I also sold my Bogen ball head and switched to the Kirk BH-1 at the same time. Night and day difference! Definitely the second best accessory I've purchased for the 10D; being able to mount the camera securely in the portrait orientation without having to "flip" the ball over is awesome...


Of course, this only contributes to the annoyance factor, especially if you purchased your tripod/head/bracket/etc. before your grip purchase.

Luckily, I'm looking into tripod-related replacement gear and the info you provided is very useful. Thanks!
04/02/2004 07:11:44 PM · #17
Ditto on the arca-swiss L bracket thing.

Though I got a really right stuff L bracket and an acratech ultimate ballhead. I also didn't get the bracket that fits with the battery grip - after all the L bracket lets you mount in portrait or landscape equally easily, so all I miss is the dual battery for those cases.

The RRS L bracket is great - all openings, controls, compartments of the camera are still available at all times (except for the date battery)

The ball head is rock solid with the 70-200 F4L and teleconverter on, extremely minor sag - maybe 1mm or so when locking down even at a steep angle.
04/02/2004 08:17:05 PM · #18
Since both Kirk and Really Right Stuff make very similar custom brackets, the deciding factor for me was that the Kirk L-bracket has an extra attachment point to the strap-tab (instead of mounting just to the tripod mounting screw). This makes the bracket absolutely rock solid in either orientation with no possibility of twisting. (And you can still attach a strap.) The Kirk BH-1 ball-head is also rock solid after just a gentle twist of the knob. Highly recommended! =]
04/02/2004 08:33:40 PM · #19
I just went with a Newton Di4000CR bracket and it allows me to keep the BG-ED3 as well as being able to flip the camera between portrait and landscape easily.
04/02/2004 08:40:57 PM · #20
Did you mean the Di400CR, or does Newton have a new product out?

Can it still be mounted to a tripod (hopefully with Arca-Swiss style QR) with the camera mounted to that bracket?

Message edited by author 2004-04-02 20:41:48.
04/02/2004 08:53:19 PM · #21
Oops. Fast fingers I guess. Yeah, the 400. It does mount to a tripod if you want to use it that way.


04/02/2004 10:09:26 PM · #22
Originally posted by EddyG:

Since both Kirk and Really Right Stuff make very similar custom brackets, the deciding factor for me was that the Kirk L-bracket has an extra attachment point to the strap-tab (instead of mounting just to the tripod mounting screw). This makes the bracket absolutely rock solid in either orientation with no possibility of twisting. (And you can still attach a strap.) The Kirk BH-1 ball-head is also rock solid after just a gentle twist of the knob. Highly recommended! =]


The RRS brackets are machined so that they can't twist - its metal all the way against the edge of the camera, with the strap attachements still available too.
04/02/2004 11:40:58 PM · #23
Originally posted by Gordon:

The RRS brackets are machined so that they can't twist - its metal all the way against the edge of the camera

Yup, the Kirk bracket is the same way. The Kirk just adds that extra bit of "security" so that the left side of the "L" (the part you mount to the tripod when you are in portrait orientation) isn't "free floating" , providing two physical attachment points to the camera instead of just the screw on the bottom. Both the Kirk and RRS brackets are single-piece brackets that are machine-carved out of a chunk of light-weight 6061T6 aluminum and then anodized black.

I also liked how the Kirk bracket "cuddles up close" to the left side of the camera (whereas the RRS bracket curves outward and leaves a bit of a gap.)
04/03/2004 08:22:26 AM · #24
Originally posted by EddyG:

Originally posted by Gordon:

The RRS brackets are machined so that they can't twist - its metal all the way against the edge of the camera

Yup, the Kirk bracket is the same way. The Kirk just adds that extra bit of "security" so that the left side of the "L" (the part you mount to the tripod when you are in portrait orientation) isn't "free floating" , providing two physical attachment points to the camera instead of just the screw on the bottom. Both the Kirk and RRS brackets are single-piece brackets that are machine-carved out of a chunk of light-weight 6061T6 aluminum and then anodized black.

I also liked how the Kirk bracket "cuddles up close" to the left side of the camera (whereas the RRS bracket curves outward and leaves a bit of a gap.)


I had a wiggle on my RRS bracket - there is about 3 inches of lip solid against the rising edge of the camera - there is no rotation, it just isn't going to move - it isn't like you are relying on the tripod screw to hold everything in place.

On the left side, I think the RRS bracket curves out so that you can use all the connectors - I can use the tether or remote timer, while mounted in portrait - the gap lets you do that without hitting the tripod mount while it is in use.

How much was the kirk plate, btw - that was the one thing about the RRS bracket - it isn't cheap!
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