Digital SLR Reviews Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Battery Pack’

Canon LC E6 Battery Charger for Canon 5D Mark II Digital SLR

Compatible with the Canon LP-E6 Battery Pack

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Nikon MB D10 Multi Power Battery Pack for Nikon D300 and D700 Digital SLR Cameras

MBD 10 For NIkon D300 Digital Camera includes MS-D10EN for use with EN-EL3e battery (sold separately)

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Nikon MB-D10 Review
I love it. Great quality from Nikon as always. I love the option to change battery types (I use the EN-EL3e) and also like the option to shoot in the vertical orientation as it has the shutter release button, 2 dials like on the camera and the thumb wheel (the thumb wheel is kind of small for my taste). It doesn’t add as much weight to the camera as I originally thought it would. Although it does make the camera a bit bulkier. Kind of makes it look and feel like a D3. It takes some time getting used to using the button, dial and thumb wheel.

4 Stars Likin’ it so far
I’ve had now four dslr’s (Canon XT, 30D, 40D and Nikon D300) and only the first two were gripped. I really didn’t use the grips and they would really get in the way when “bagging” my camera. Plus, I bought one of those camdapters, so I didn’t need the grip to hook up my hand strap. The 10% of the time I shot portrait didn’t really bother me, so moving the hand up top was no big deal.

Till I shot a wedding.

I bought the MB-D10 shortly after. It’s built well, fits perfectly (unlike the one for my 30D) and works excellent. Well, except for one thing, but I’ll get to that.

Pluses: Better multi-controller, second AF button and shutter button, more battery life, better balance with heavy lenses. As compared to the Canon grip, it’s smaller, too.

Cons: Shutter button is way sensitive (no gap between half-press and full-press), heavy, same issue in bagging the camera. As compared to the Canon grip, the fact that it doesn’t replace the internal battery means you might have to remove/replace the grip just to change batteries. In practice, that’s not really any kind of problem as the D300 battery lasts for around 1000 shots!

I love using a gripped body. Just feels better balanced, especially with a 28-70 or 70-300 out front. It will, however, weigh on your neck a bit more. The grip is well-built, but that means it adds some weight. I love having the portrait shutter button, but I do find (and have seen other reviews saying the same) the shutter button to be ultra sensitive. Since I use the AF-On button for AF, no problem there, but sometimes it fires before VR gets up and running fully.

I’m torn between liking the size and shape and wishing it went up into the grip of the body. I like the size, it fits into a bag alone easier, but it means you still have a battery in the grip of the body, which means if the grip battery dies and it uses the body battery (or if you select to use the body battery first), you must remove the grip to get at your body battery. A trade-off to be sure.

Personally, the pros outweigh the cons. I’ll be keeping this grip. Plus it will migrate to a D700 when/if I finally get one!

4 Stars Excellent conditions, but not compete
The grip is in excellent conditions and work ok, but are missing some items, that was present in the original package.

Items missing:

MS-D10EN holder for EN-EL3 batteries;

Contact cap;

Holder case.

5 Stars Another GREAT accessory for someone on the go
When I bought my D700 I also purchased the MB-D10. I’m from the film camera days and learned the value of these battery packs are two-fold. First, it’s another place to pack more power. Second, it provides a second shutter release when you’re shooting vertically. Because the MB-D10 is made for the D300 and D700, it also offers a second set of main and sub-command dials conveniently located near the second shutter release, making vertical shots easier on the photographer. With this accessory, I can spend more time looking through the viewfinder and not having to look at the camera back. The MB-D10 is nice because it accommodates different types of batteries, although I prefer to work with multiple EN-EL3e batteries. But it’s always nice to know you can throw in some AA batteries in a pinch!

5 Stars Just works right!
This adds great balance and handling to the D300S, esp. with larger or longer lenses. Costs much more than the cheap clones, but it just works right. Fits perfectly, no flex, no squeak. Just use the battery in here, forget taking it on and off to access a battery in the camera itself; carry the spare battery in your pocket or camera bag.

If you depend on your gear on the job, then don’t skimp on the accessories. Use the real thing. Something cheaper suddenly becomes lots more expensive if it fails when you need it.

Lee Krohn Photography, LLC

Manchester, Vermont

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Tamrac Explorer 2 DSLR Camera Bag Black

The Explorer 2 is ideal for carrying most digital or film SLRs (like Canon’s 20D) with a grip and zoom lens attached, several additional lenses, a flash and accessories.The main compartment features Tamrac’s Dual Foam Technology for shock protection and a custom fit to equipment. An external front pocket features Tamrac’s patented Memory & Battery Management System, which uses red flags to identify which memory cards and batteries are available and which ones are used up. A Speed Pocketon the front flap secures and provides quick access to small accessories. A Total Coverage Top with quick-release buckle and zipper closures provides weather protection. Inside the lid is a smooth nylon pocket for holding lens cleaning paper and an open pocket in the back holds an instruction manual. An adjustable, BioCurve non-slip shoulder strap, and an EasyGrip carrying handle provide convenient carrying options for the Explorer 2.

User Ratings and Reviews

3 Stars camera bag
much too small for my use–perfect for one camera, flash and an extra lens–very well made–

5 Stars Excellent Bag…better than expected!!
This bag has received some excellent reviews, and everything I wanted to say about this bag has already been said by others, so I will keep this short. I was quite impressed with the construction of this bag. The quality of the materials and workmanship was better than expected. The bag fits my Sony Alpha 350 with battery pack and Sigma 18-250mm lens attached perfectly. It has enough room remaining to store my Sony SAL 1118 (11-18mm lens) along with the Sony HVL-F56AM (which is a large flash). There is also enough room to fit extra batteries, lens filters and some cleaning supplies. I bought this bag to act as my “day bag” for walking around town when my larger sling bag is just not practical. For this, the Tamrac Explorer 2 is perfect.

4 Stars Decent Camera Bag
This is a decent camera bag. It holds all the camera equipment I have so far. I have a Nikon D60, SB-600, 18-55mm lens, a 55-200mm lens on camera and a lens hood. All these fit in the main compartments and my spare battery and cleaning stuff fits in the front pocket. It is a decent buy and I would recommend it if you have about the same amount of camera equipment.

3 Stars Camera Bag was too big
This camera bag was a little too big for my Nikon D80 with lens attached. I couldn’t put the camera in lens down (as the illustration showed) because I felt there wasn’t enough support from the form dividers. Putting it in camera down made it awkward getting the camera out. I tried putting the camera in sideways, but I couldn’t get the form divides positioned properly to support the lens.

5 Stars Roomier than Explorer 1 (Tamrac 5501) for a DSLR with extra lenses
I’ve been using an Explorer 1 to carry a Nikon D40x+lens, two extra lenses, and a flash. Everything “kind of” fits, but the bag’s overstuffed, so the camera sticks up above the zipper. The bag closes, but bulges, with the LCD pressed against the top flap. A Nikon D90 is just a teeny bit taller & wider, so it sticks up even more… too much more for my peace of mind.

The Explorer 2 is just a little bigger in all dimensions than the Explorer 1… big enough to comfortably hold all the same equipment for the D90, and the camera does not protrude. The “2″ also comes with a pair of horizontal dividers to let you stack things on top of each other, on either side of the camera. Getting to a lower lens might be a little challenging, and my gear doesn’t need these; but they could be useful for some people.

This Explorer 2 is only $5 more than the Explorer 1, and I wish I’d gotten it in the first place, only because it’s roomier. The construction and extra pockets are the same for both bags: excellent workmanship, good protection, and places for lots of little things.

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Nikon MB D80 Multi Power Battery Pack for the Nikon D80 and D90 Digital SLR Camera

The Nikon MB-D80 Multi-Power Battery Pack holds 2 EN-EL3e Lithium-Ion rechageable batteries, effectively doubling your total shooting time. Can also hold a AA battery holder (included), so users can use AA batteries as a power backup. The MB-D80 Multi-Power Battery Pack provides an AF-on button, vertical firing release with lock, and front and rear command dials.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars works for what it was purchased for
Purchased the battery pack to get better fps on my D80. The D80 is not the best sports camera unless you’re outside in natural sunlight. The battery pack does help, getting you more fps. Overall, I would recommend a different camera if sports is your shooting preference, but if you already have the D80 and want to shoot sports, this will help.

5 Stars I was going to buy a third party battery grip, BUT…
I recently borrowed my father in law’s Nikon D80 with the MB-D80 mounted. Now that I just ordered my own Nikon D90, I definitely needed a battery grip. Even my old Nikon Coolpix 8800 has a Nikon battery grip. I always like the extra battery life and also makes gripping the camera more comfortable, plus the portrait mode shutter button is great, if you shoot that orientation a lot, which I do.

At first, I felt that the MB-D80 is a bit pricey for what it is, which is probably the case, so I started checking out all the other third party grips. Most of those third party grip reviewers stated that most are well made, but the plastic housing seems a little thinner that the Nikon, but that’s not a big deal to me, since I never bang my equipment around. I finally was just about to settle on the Ziekos for $60 Zeikos ZE-NBG90 Battery Power Grip for Nikon D80 & D90, which looks almost identical to the Nikon, but than one reviewer mentioned that the grip’s tripod mount looks sturdy and “should” be ok. So, I started thinking, I’m trying to save $90, camera is $1100, plus a $500 flash, maybe a $500 zoom lens later on, is it worth risking $1600+ over $90, HELL NO, so I changed my mind and went with the MB-D80 instead.

Without this battery grip, when the camera is hanging around your neck and by your stomach, it is off balanced, where it is tilted with the lens pointing down at a 45% angle, the bottom front edge of the camera body resting against your belly. With this grip and batteries, at least with the kit lens, it will be leveled horizontally, the back of the camera will be flat against your belly, making it more comfortable, when it is hanging there, while you are walking around.

5 Stars Duration
I flew into Las Vegas in June and spent about 4 days in different parts of the southwestern desert, shooting away. I used my D-80 to fill two 8GB memory cards, which equated to about 1,200 pictures. NOT ONCE did I have to charge these batteries, and I probably could’ve hiked with it for another day or 2.

That alone makes the grip worth while. The 2 of these batteries combined as a power source is VERY impressive.

5 Stars excellent
Really allows for more shooting, super easy to use in portrait mode, shutter button is a tad sensitive but once you get used to it no problems. Works great.

1 Star Product is great but I received a defective one from Amazon
I love using the MB-D80 multi-battery pack. However, I got a defective item (battery level would always drop even if batteries are newly charged) and I had to spend $70+ to have it fixed by Nikon.

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Tamrac Explorer 1 DSLR Camera Bag Black

The Explorer 1 carries and protects a digital or film SLR (like Canon’s 20D or Nikon’s D70s) with a lens attached, an additional lens and accessories.The main compartment features Tamrac’s Dual Foam Technology for shock protection and a custom fit to equipment. An external front pocket features Tamrac’s patented Memory & Battery Management System, which uses red flags to identify which memory cards and batteries are available and which ones are used up. A Speed Pocketon the front flap secures and provides quick access to small accessories. A Total Coverage Top with quick-release buckle and zipper closures provides weather protection. Inside the lid is a smooth nylon pocket for holding lens cleaning paper and an open pocket in the back holds an instruction manual. An adjustable, BioCurve non-slip shoulder strap, and an EasyGrip carrying handle provide convenient carrying options for the Explorer 1.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Great starter bag
This bag is great. It’s sturdy, protects our camera well, has lots of pockets for storage of extras, and is easy to carry and lightweight. It is small, though, which is perfect for us. We just have the camera body and one lens (a Canon Rebel XS with the kit lens – 18-55mm). The camera fits snugly in the bag with the lens attached, and the case would probably fit one more lens and a flash. Right now, we use the extra space in the bag to fit our point-and-shoot, which is pretty handy. We also have our memory cards, battery pack, and USB cords for the camera stored in the front pocket. If you’ve got any more than just the basics, though, you’ll want a bigger bag. I suggest going to the Tamrac website, where they have all the specs on all their bags, plus diagrams with about how much each bag will fit. We did that, and ended up with the perfect bag for what we need!

5 Stars Nice Camera Bag
Nice construction. I use it for my Nikon D40. Holds charger unit and a couple filters. Don’t expect room for another lens.

3 Stars A little bit too small for Nikon D200
This bag is in good quality, but a little bit too samll for Nikon D200 or similar. If you have just one lens with your camera, it should be ok. However, if you have more than one lens and a speedlight, choose a different one.

4 Stars The Explorer 2 (Tamrac 5502) is roomier and costs only $5 more
I’ve been using an Explorer 1 to carry a Nikon D40x+lens, two extra lenses, and a flash. Everything “kind of” fits, but the bag’s overstuffed, so the camera sticks up above the zipper. The bag closes, but bulges, with the LCD pressed against the top flap. A Nikon D90 is just a teeny bit taller & wider, so it sticks up even more… too much more for my peace of mind.

The Explorer 2 is just a little bigger in all dimensions than the Explorer 1… big enough to comfortably hold all the same equipment for the D90, and the camera does not protrude. The “2″ also comes with a pair of horizontal dividers to let you stack things on top of each other, on either side of the camera. Getting to a lower lens might be a little challenging, and my gear doesn’t need these; but they could be useful for some people.

The Explorer 2 is only $5 more than the Explorer 1, and I wish I’d gotten it in the first place, only because it’s roomier. The construction and extra pockets are the same for both bags: excellent workmanship, good protection, and places for lots of little things.

5 Stars Nice Bag – Perfect for Nikon D40!
This bag is the perfect go anywhere companion to the Nikon D40. Small enough to grab and go – I looked at the next size smaller, but based on reviews chose the Explorer 1. It is the perfect size to carry camera w/ 18-55 lens attached, a flash on one side (I use the SB 400), charger & cables or zoom lens on the other. Front pocket is perfect for extra batteries memory, etc. Excellent quality!

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