Anyone use the Link Delight vertical grip?

<p>Just wondering if anyone on this forum has had experience with the Pentax K-7 Link Delight grip.</p>

<p>I really don't use a grip that much, it creates flex in the tripod mount, and instability, it also screws up my panoramic head settings. Beyond that it adds bulk to a setup I use largely for it's low bulk properties, but Pentax really got the design right on the K-7 and the AA Lithium support is a big deal to me since the K-7 battery is marginal.<br>

<br />As far as the Link Delight for those not familar, the Nikon version for the D300 has good reviews, most people who have both Nikon and Link Delight note the only difference is plastic vs magnesium. It's potentially molded from the Nikon mold.</p>

<p>Looking at the BG4 (and BG2) versions, they do look identical to the Pentax, and they mount flush on the camera with no weird offsets. All the buttons match up too. And it even has the rubber plug storage, SD card holder, and remote holder.</p>

<p>Price...Link Delight for K-7 with 2 batteries, $85...Pentax BG4 with two DLI90, $270.</p>

<p>Before anyone comments, no, the LD BG4 is not weather sealed, and it's not magnesium.</p>

<p>One thing I like about the Pentax grip is the K-7(and K10D/20D) remain sealed even when the grip is attached. Therefore, I assume that even if the grip is damaged by water, the camera will not be. If conditions were just that awful, I'd remove the grip. Nikon on the other hand opens the battery compartment, making the grip useless in harsh weather. I assume the contact point under the plug on the Pentax is internally sealed, just like the HDMI and cable release ports are.</p>

<p>For me, I'd mostly use the grip for sports where I might be shooting vertical a lot more, and for winter. Being able to toss 6 AA lithiums in and forget about it, plus the added size with gloves is a good thing.</p>

<p>So I went to search for this grip to post the link for everyones convenience, and while it is featured at #2 on Link Delights homepage (top banner), it has completely been removed from the manufacturer/seller inventory on both ebay and the website.</p>

<p>I just looked at both of them Monday on both Ebay and the website to compare prices, isn't this odd? To be clear, it doesn't say "sold out" or "temporarily out of stock"...</p>

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<p>This makes me wonder if there wasn't some sort of licensing issue, of course does Pentax monitor this forum that closely that my post got it pulled? And why is the BG2 grip still avail, and for $31 at that?</p>

<p> </p>

<p>The BG2 for the K10d, for $31?! Wow and then with the battery it's $37?! Is this site legit? I've always played with the idea of getting a grip, but used prices still however above $100. This is too good to be true.</p>

<p>Justin, not that this really matters , but I had a Opteka grip for my Canon which was a Chinese clone of the Canon OEM grip. It and the OEM grib were hard to tell apart and functionally identical; except the Opteka was about 1/3 of the price. So these knock-off accessories can be quite good.<br>

I can see the BG2 being inexpensive since it's for two "obsolete" bodies. They may just be clearing them out. I picked a spare OEM BG2 for my k20d last year at the Wolf Camera bankruptcy sale for $40.</p>

<p>If it weren't for the shutter button on there, I think one would do just as well to bolt a 2X2 block of wood to the bottom of the camera in some cases. At least that's how I feel about that one grip I got for the K200d. I would have expected another memory card slot or smarter computer or something for some of the high prices that get charged for a big handle with another set of batteries. [Mine was used, but still.]</p>

<p>It's going to be a big handle, which should have been on there in the first place.</p>

<p>Since it probably only costs $3 to make the thing in the first place, I'd imagine $37 is a generous charge as it is.</p>

<p>The "pro" model could be a block of wood painted black. Or "designer" stained wood with two coats of varnish. Rare deluxe woods for "elite signature series" handles. </p>

<p>John O-O, I think you have the right Idea.. I can just picture all of my wood shop skills coming back to life....</p>

<p>Everyone is different as to handling preferences. Some of my feelings are mirrored in Justin's last statement. I think having an accessory grip can be even more useful when using a compact camera body compared with a larger body. For one thing, compact body+grip can make for a more versatile setup than a larger camera body. It is modular, so more portable. You can just stick the grip in a pocket, its being quite small. Getting the Pentax WR grip may be best in the end. I got a deal plus a rebate on my K200D's WR grip- under $100 as I recall. I can take the camera plus a small lens in a belt case, my DA* 50-135mm in another belt case, and the grip in my pocket! Adding the grip provides a substantial feel when using the smaller camera with a meaty lens like the DA* 50-135mm, especially convenient with doing a lot of verticals. Yet there is no additional bulk to carry, still a compact setup! </p>

<p>Just as a note to Somanna and JOO,

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<br />The grip on the K10/20/200D was not all that functional because ALL the key controls weren't duplicated, and there was no need for a second battery (even shooting softball tournaments for 6 hours I didn't shoot 700 shots) so extra power was not really needed.

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<br />The fact that Pentax omitted the AF button however caused the grip to be rather useless for me.

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<br />However, for $31 it is a steal for the BG2 if you think you want one. I remember it was about $60 at some point so I think it is being clearanced. And link delight is for real, they produce the adorama flashpoint grips for nikon. And have very high user reviews.

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<br />I do agree with JOO that these were/are vastly overpriced from the manufacturer.

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<p>

<br />ME,

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<p>

<br />I loved the grip when I needed more heft/power/balance on the ist D and ist 35mm. However, the K10d was big enough for me. With the ist 35mm I loaded 4 AA lithiums that lasted the entire time I had the camera...much cheaper than the dinky CR2 cells, especially in winter or using the flash.

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<p>

<br />One thing to look at is the WR grips are definitely useful if you are definitely using them in harsh weather, however, I don't think the non sealed grip will damage the camera if it is ruined. Pentax cameras remain sealed even when they have the grip. Probably just removing the batteries would eliminate any chance of a damaged body (shorting it out), or just remove the grip and replug the body (smartest thing). Remember you can buy 4 Link Delights for 1 OEM.

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<p>

<br />On thing about the K-7 grip is that it adds tons of functionality to the camera by reproducing all the vital controls, including iso, and most importantly AF + it adds AA lithium support to otherwise marginal DLI90 performance.

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<br />I said when it came out Pentax really screwed me, because the grip was made to my exact list of demands (aa and AF button), but I still won't use it more than 10% of the time, making 200$ tough to swallow. Had Pentax stuck with the missing AF button and no AA support, I'd have been content to never buy a grip again.

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<p>Ah I just remembered that part; it has no AF button. I'm now full fledge AF button user, and can see not having it on the grip would be annoying... but it is oh so useful when doing the portrait shots. Maybe for $31 I should get over the AF button thingy...</p>

<p>So this site is legit? I won't get scammed?</p>

<p>It's legit, really. Check out the reviews on the D300 grip, people absolutely love it. You can also buy off ebay (from Link Delight NA) which was for the K-7 a better deal by like $10 for the 2 battery grip. This would give you some Paypal and Ebay protection if you went that route. I didn't price the K10D grip though.</p>

<p>For $31 you can't go wrong with the K10D grip, it will annoy you that it lacks an AF button, but ME has noted he gets by without it, so you might too. For me, the contortion of my hand was worse than just rotating the camera. </p>

<p>I wish I still had my BG2, I'd send it to you to compare if you get the Link Delight. But I sold that thing for $120, a good deal for me!</p>

<p>Anyway, if you get it, post a review. Since the Pentax was plastic as well, I don't think quality would be all that different. Really that was the only complaint from D300 users was that it wasn't magnesium (or sealed). Some even liked the less trigger happy shutter (better control of the two step activate/fire).</p>

<p>Just to clarify, the Nikon D300 does not lose weathersealing when attaching a grip. There's a rubber cap on the gold-plated terminals that gets stored in the MB-D10 but it just protects the terminals from abrasion. They're sealed whether the cap covers them or not. </p>

 

<p>To be honest, I think that as long as the body sealed, if the weather were bad I'd just use the camera without the grip until the weather improved or shooting moved indoors. I don't own a K10 yet, but I think I might get the grip now-ish anyway. I know I'd like the option for more power, and link delight has the grip and an extra D-LI50 for $39. It's hard to beat that.</p>

<p>Jeremy, That was my feeling too...if the weather is that bad, take it off. It's not like you can't shoot without it.<br /><br /><br />Ivan, what I meant was that the nikon loses sealing with the Link Delight grip, not the Nikon. I don't think the link delight provides that same body seals.</p>