Desperately seeking MB-20 grip for my F4

Does anyone know where I can find one of these. Also, are lithium cells ok in any F4, regardless of date of

manufacture? And finally, did I pay too much for my F4? $200 for an F4 with an MB21. Perfect shape but

the rewind crank looks like it took a knock and is ever so slightly listing to one side.

If it workes well and exposures are on then I think you made a ood purchase. I have one that was purchased from KEH in LN condition for around 400. Check out KEH for your grip. I don't know about the batteries. I did read something a long time ago, but you may want to check the archives to see what you can find. - Sean

I just picked up a used MB-20 for my F4 at Adorama for $39. I'm not sure if they have any more but it might be worth checking. It makes the camera much nicer to use! Sorry I can't answer your battery question, I use NiMH, but if the camera works well you got a good deal. F4's seem to be going for more than F100's these days.

With the MB20 on the F4 it certainly works with ni-cads/ni-mh but you will find the metering switches off the moment you take half pressure off the shutter button (usually an indication of low battery power)so not really recomended. I never used the MB21 but a brochure I have shows power consumption for ni-cads so presumably fine with ni-mh also. The F4 is so light on power that you don't really need rechargables - a set of ordinary alkaline batteries will last and last (at least mine did!).

I have and use the MB-20 with lithiums and have had no problems.

I too have used L91 Lithium AA cells in my MB-20 + F4 for several years, with no problems. The date of manufacture should not be a factor. At one time Nikon strongly "discouraged" the use of lithium AA cells, but those were the early "red top" Energizer cells that had quite high initial voltage spikes. The current "blue top" Energizer e2 cells don't seem to present a problem. I have not read of a single instance where the Energizer e2 Lithiums have caused a failure in an F4 (I used the early red top cells in mine, and it worked fine).

 

The MB-20 is one F4 accessory that has seen some crazy pricing since the supply of NOS dried up. Brand new just 18-24 months ago you could buy it from B&H for $50. I have seen used samples go for $150 and up on eBay in the past year (IIRC one went for $185). So you can find them on eBay, but unless you find one listed without the MB-20 designation in the auction title, you'll probably overpay. Best thing to do is to keep checking the used equipment sections of sites like B&H, Adorama, KEH et al and hope to get lucky, or else bite the bullet and pay the going rate on eBay if you really must have one now.

 

The MB-20 is definitely a wonderful and worthwhile addition (or would that be subtraction) for the F4. I don't think I have used my MB-21 pack for nearly two years.

 

Good luck.

Just keeping checking the used sites, I snagged one this past Sunday from B&H for $35. Im eagerly awaiting it's arrival.

Good Luck!