kk_hui Posted May 6, 2006 Share Posted May 6, 2006 Overall the MB-D200 grip is well designed and sturdy when mated to D-200 body ... Size wise it's on the large side if you have small hands like myself. The layout of main and sub control dails, AF-on and shutter release buttons are all very nicely done. There is one flaw to it however ... The Shutter Release button/Control Lock is not tight fitted resulting some play/movement occuring between itself and the main grip body. This spoils an otherwise well built grip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric friedemann Posted May 6, 2006 Share Posted May 6, 2006 I find it disappointing that the MB-D200 wasn't executed in metal, like the D200 body. However, it is more annoying that while the plasticy MB-D100 for the D100 retails for $100, the virtually identical MB-D200 retails for $179. Nikon never misses an opportunity to bone consumers: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=255513&is=REG&addedTroughType=search http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=407308&is=REG&addedTroughType=search Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted May 6, 2006 Share Posted May 6, 2006 Eric, I am afraid that you have made a very misleading point. The D100 is a 4 year old, very out of date DSLR that should have been discontinued a long time ago. Therefore, its accessories such as the MB-D100 are now in fire sale prices because essentially nobody wants it any more. I just checked the original list price for the MB-D100 was $299 a few years ago (but the "street" price was certainly lower). In comparison, the MB-15 grip for the F100 is now $140 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=165833&is=REG&addedTroughType=search But the F100 is also discontinued. I happen to have the December, 2003 B&H catalog and the MB-15 was $155 back then. I'd say the $169.95 (not $179) price for the MB-D200 is quite reasonable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael R Freeman Posted May 6, 2006 Share Posted May 6, 2006 "Nikon never misses an opportunity to bone consumers" --- Eric Friedemann True enough. :-) 50 cents worth of plastic - http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=37645&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation 25 cents worth of plastic - http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=37164&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation A few dollars of leather and fiberboard - http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=37164&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation However, in Nikon's defence, they're not doing anything different from any other camera manufacturer when it comes to pricing for accessories. Sort of like floor mats for a new car. :-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael R Freeman Posted May 6, 2006 Share Posted May 6, 2006 A few dollars of leather and fiberboard ... Oops - wrong link. Nuts! http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=37164&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael R Freeman Posted May 6, 2006 Share Posted May 6, 2006 Sigh ... wrong again. Wish I could clean up my own mess! http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=37251&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric friedemann Posted May 6, 2006 Share Posted May 6, 2006 "I'd say the $169.95 (not $179) price for the MB-D200 is quite reasonable." Sorry about the typo, but I don't share your belief that $170 is a reasonable price for a plastic battery pack. I have no doubt that Nikon would be making a handsome profit on the MB-D200 if it were selling at $100. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnabdas Posted May 6, 2006 Share Posted May 6, 2006 "Sorry about the typo, but I don't share your belief that $170 is a reasonable price for a plastic battery pack. " Unless it's handcrafted in Germany, of course -- which this one isn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_luongo1 Posted May 6, 2006 Share Posted May 6, 2006 Why didn't Nikon make the MB-D200 so it could accept the EN-EL3 battery? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcofrancardi Posted May 6, 2006 Share Posted May 6, 2006 Are you shure the two grips are identical, anyway? don't know about the D100, but the MB 200 has a good bunch of contacts at its end, which shows for a lot of funtions. included power management. I'm going to check it out on the manual... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcofrancardi Posted May 6, 2006 Share Posted May 6, 2006 p.s.: my shutter release button /control lock isn't loose at all, on the contrary... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_h._hartman Posted May 6, 2006 Share Posted May 6, 2006 <em>Why didn't Nikon make the MB-D200 so it could accept the EN-EL3 battery? --Tom Luongo<br> </em><br> Because the EN-EL3e battery has new silicone to support the battery meter in the D200. Look at photographs of both or the physical item if you own them. The EN-EL3e has an additional contact for data. The EN-EL3e is backwards compatible but the EN-EL3 are not forward compatible. This isnt really such a problem as lithium-ion battery packs have a maximum self-life of 2 to 3 years. Deep discharge and high temperature can cut their life to something like 18 months perhaps less.<br> <br> BTW: Toshiba has announced prototype batteries that charge something like 60 times faster than todays. They claim they will be on the market in three years. If you are interested try a Google search. Im sorry Ive lost the link. <br> <br> A lithium-ion battery is an expense not an investment. Here are a couple of sights to help folks prolong and make better use of their batteries<br> <br> <a href="http://www.batteryuniversity.com/partone-23.htm" target="_new"><u>http://www.batteryuniversity.com/partone-23.htm</u></a> <br> <br> <a href="http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm" target="_new"><u>http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm</u></a> <br> <br> Here is the home page...<br> <br> <a href="http://www.batteryuniversity.com/index.htm" target="_new"><u>http://www.batteryuniversity.com/index.htm</u></a> <br> <br> Best,<br> <br> Dave Hartman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted May 7, 2006 Share Posted May 7, 2006 <I>This isnﾒt really such a problem as lithium-ion battery packs have a maximum self-life of 2 to 3 years.</I> <P> David, that is not always the case. I have two EN-EL3's from the time I bought my D100 almost 4 years ago, and they are both working fine. My wife is still using some Sony Li-ion batteries from 1998 for her camcorders. In fact, she bought like 4, 5 of those Sony batteries between 1996 and 1998, and only 1 of them has stopped working. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_luongo1 Posted May 7, 2006 Share Posted May 7, 2006 The MB-D200 allows 6 AA batteries to be used. So the camera can ignore the extra contact used by the battery meter. The AA adapter does use different pins in the grip than the EN-EL3e uses. So though the plastic on the EN-EL3 can be easily hacked to let it fit, I suspect the camera is smart enough to detect a 'foreign' battery. Interesting point about the two to three year shelf life. I know I seem to go through an awful lot of lithium ion laptop batteries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kk_hui Posted May 7, 2006 Author Share Posted May 7, 2006 It's the Shutter Release button/Control Lock that is not tight fitted resulting in some play/movement occurring between itself and the main grip body. The shutter release button has no problem and so is the control lock collar. It's the whole assembly of this two that moves when you rock it slightly side to side. It should have been tight fitted just like the one on the camera body! In fact I did inspect a total of five units when I was making my purchase yesterday at a local camera shop and they all exhibit the same flaw. I can only jump to conclusion that the play is 'normal' for a MB-D200 ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_h._hartman Posted May 8, 2006 Share Posted May 8, 2006 <em>Interesting point about the two to three year shelf life. I know I seem to go through an awful lot of lithium ion laptop batteries. --Tom Luongo<br> </em><br> What happens to lithium-ion batteries is the internal resistance increases until the charge that is in the battery cant get out. Ohms law applies here. The useful charge just gets shorter and shorter. This occurs whether the battery is used or not.<br> <br> As the useful charge gets shorter the fuel gage in the battery needs to be recalibrated. This is done by discharging the battery until its internal protection circuits shut it down. The fuel gage resets at this point and then you recharge the battery. This should be done only as needed as frequent deep discharges shortens a lithium-ion batteries useful life. Heat also shortens a lithium-on batteries life. Heat is a major problem in laptop computers.<br> <br> Some Nikon chargers (MH-21) have a calibration light and button to prompt the use to recalibrate the battery. This feature can be safely ignored for a time. When the calibration light comes on I ignore it the first time and use up the battery in the camera. The second or third time press the button and let the charger do its thing.<br> <br> There is no problem with pulling a partrilly charged battery off the charger. About 70% of the charge occurs in the first hour. The charge slows to protect the battery in the later faze of charging.<br> <br> Lithium-ion batteries are a young technology and they are constantly improving. Toshiba has built prototype batteries that charge about (60) sixty time faster than todays batteries. The charge time will be about 1 minute for a typical cell phone. They say these batteries will be on the market in about three years.<br> <br> Tom, there is specific information about prolonging battery life in the links I placed in the post above.<br> <br> Best,<br> <br> Dave Hartman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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