Problems with Canon BGE2 Battery Grip?

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

I've been thinking about one of these but it had several negative
reviews on Amazon.

Have any of you used it and how is the fit and stability of it. Or
does in lose connectivity?


*******************************************************

"Les livres font les époques et les nations,
commes les époques et les nations font les livres."

_Mélanges littéraires_
Jean-Jacques Ampère
(1800-1864)

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On 23 Mar 2005 11:12:09 -0800, "Winston" <bobo44039@yahoo.com> wrote:

>According to the Yahoo Canon 20D group, Canon has recently redesigned
>the grip. Make sure your serial number is 6000 or higher before you buy
>it. I know, that's hard to do online, if not impossible. This might be
>one time to give your local camera dealer some business to help keep
>him open.

My local camera dealer is 120 miles away and is a day trip to get to
him. Out here in West Texas, we have lots of miles between places.

I'll see if the good folks and B&H can make sure I get a high serial
number.


*******************************************************

"Les livres font les époques et les nations,
commes les époques et les nations font les livres."

_Mélanges littéraires_
Jean-Jacques Ampère
(1800-1864)

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

John A. Stovall wrote:
> I've been thinking about one of these but it had several negative
> reviews on Amazon.
>
> Have any of you used it and how is the fit and stability of it. Or
> does in lose connectivity?
>
>
> *******************************************************
>
> "Les livres font les époques et les nations,
> commes les époques et les nations font les livres."
>
> _Mélanges littéraires_
> Jean-Jacques Ampère
> (1800-1864)


I have had mine on my camera almost all the time since I got it and have
not had a problem at all.

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On Wed, 23 Mar 2005 21:03:54 GMT, "Joseph Meehan"
<sligojoe_Spamno@hotmail.com> wrote:

>John A. Stovall wrote:
>> I've been thinking about one of these but it had several negative
>> reviews on Amazon.
>>
>> Have any of you used it and how is the fit and stability of it. Or
>> does in lose connectivity?
>>
>>
>> *******************************************************
>>
>> "Les livres font les époques et les nations,
>> commes les époques et les nations font les livres."
>>
>> _Mélanges littéraires_
>> Jean-Jacques Ampère
>> (1800-1864)
>
>
> I have had mine on my camera almost all the time since I got it and have
>not had a problem at all.

Must depend on when you got it. This thread shows there were problems
with them at least early on.

http://www.robgalbraith.com/ubbthr [...] art=1&vc=1


***************************************************

"Thanks for the American dream,
To vulgarize and to falsify until
the bare lies shine through.
......
Thanks for a country where
nobody's allowed to mind their
own business.
......
Thanks for the last and greatest
betrayal of the last and greatest
of human dreams."

"Thanksgiving Prayer"
William Burroughs
(1914-1997)

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Winston wrote:
> According to the Yahoo Canon 20D group, Canon has recently redesigned
> the grip. Make sure your serial number is 6000 or higher before you
buy
> it.

Where is the serial number located? It's not on the grip, and not on
the box.

There is a stamping on the plastic, 040881, but it isn't a serial
number.

There is an "EAN/JAN code" printed on the box, 4 96099 9243788, and the
UPC code.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

John A. Stovall wrote:
> I've been thinking about one of these but it had several negative
> reviews on Amazon.
>
> Have any of you used it and how is the fit and stability of it. Or
> does in lose connectivity?

Mine fits good. Bought it on Amazon last week. I don't know if it's the
redesigned one or not, but it certainly doesn't flex, so maybe it's the
new one (040881), which is greater than 6000, thoigh I find it
difficult to believe that they've made that many of these grips
already.

I noticed a little weirdness in the battery indicator when using the
grip. Once it showed the battery almost empty, even though it was fully
charged. I moved the battery to the other side of the grip and it
worked fine. Then I moved it back and it worked fine.

I certainly don't like this grip as much as the one for my EOS-5,
especially having to remove the battery compartment door to use the
grip. But I suppose that most people keep the grip on there all the
time.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On Wed, 23 Mar 2005 16:47:10 -0500, Ed Ruf <egruf_usenet@cox.net>
wrote:

>On 23 Mar 2005 11:12:09 -0800, in rec.photo.digital "Winston"
><bobo44039@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>>According to the Yahoo Canon 20D group, Canon has recently redesigned
>>the grip. Make sure your serial number is 6000 or higher before you buy
>>it. I know, that's hard to do online, if not impossible. This might be
>>one time to give your local camera dealer some business to help keep
>>him open.
>
>Curious. I Nikon grip for the 5700/8700 was plagued with problems with the
>latest high capacity NiMh AA batts which do not adhere to the IEEE
>dimensional specs. Is this the problem with the Canon grip?

No, the Canon grip loses power sometime, flexes and power indicator is
sporadic in operation.


*****************************************************

"High up, Santa Ana, we're killin' your soldiers below
So the rest of Texas will know
And remember the Alamo."

"Remember the Alamo"
by Jane Bowers

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On Fri, 25 Mar 2005 07:29:42 -0800, "Skip M" <shadowcatcher@cox.net>
wrote:

>"John A. Stovall" <johnastovall@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>news:932841dc3j1cfahlbkuirlvo3spbq8abv5@4ax.com...
>> On Wed, 23 Mar 2005 16:47:10 -0500, Ed Ruf <egruf_usenet@cox.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>On 23 Mar 2005 11:12:09 -0800, in rec.photo.digital "Winston"
>>><bobo44039@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>>According to the Yahoo Canon 20D group, Canon has recently redesigned
>>>>the grip. Make sure your serial number is 6000 or higher before you buy
>>>>it. I know, that's hard to do online, if not impossible. This might be
>>>>one time to give your local camera dealer some business to help keep
>>>>him open.
>>>
>>>Curious. I Nikon grip for the 5700/8700 was plagued with problems with the
>>>latest high capacity NiMh AA batts which do not adhere to the IEEE
>>>dimensional specs. Is this the problem with the Canon grip?
>>
>> No, the Canon grip loses power sometime, flexes and power indicator is
>> sporadic in operation.
>>
>>
>> *****************************************************
>>
>> "High up, Santa Ana, we're killin' your soldiers below
>> So the rest of Texas will know
>> And remember the Alamo."
>>
>> "Remember the Alamo"
>> by Jane Bowers
>
>I think that's just with early iterations, those who bought theirs after the
>first of December don't seem to have those problems. I certainly don't.
>The only problem I've had is that the AA adaptor is non functional, but I
>don't need it, anyway.
>
>--
>Skip Middleton
>http://www.shadowcatcherimagery.com
>
>
I would (and do) consider that a red flag to possible other problems
with the unit. I do not feel confident to depend on any equipment (as
a pro) which does not fully function as described. Not to mention the
fact that Canon customer support and repair department is pathetic,
beyond comprehension.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On 24 Mar 2005 06:17:02 -0800, "Winston" <bobo44039@yahoo.com> wrote:

>A) What's the serial number on it?
>
>B) The problem usually surfaces when the grip is flexed such as when
>you're carrying it by the grip with a large telephoto or zoom is
>attached. It's probably just fine with lighter weight lenses.
>
>-Winston
>
I have other power problems that have nothing to do with flexing and
Canon cannot fix them. Their incompetence is stunning!

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On 24 Mar 2005 09:24:00 -0800, scharf.steven@gmail.com wrote:

>
>Winston wrote:
>> According to the Yahoo Canon 20D group, Canon has recently redesigned
>> the grip. Make sure your serial number is 6000 or higher before you
>buy
>> it.
>
>Where is the serial number located? It's not on the grip, and not on
>the box.
>
>There is a stamping on the plastic, 040881, but it isn't a serial
>number.

Why do you say that? What exactly IS the number?

>
>There is an "EAN/JAN code" printed on the box, 4 96099 9243788, and the
>UPC code.
>

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"ZONED!" <no_email@please_post.net> wrote in message
news:424444ac.567556312@newsgroups.comcast.net...
> On Fri, 25 Mar 2005 07:29:42 -0800, "Skip M" <shadowcatcher@cox.net>
> wrote:
>
>>"John A. Stovall" <johnastovall@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>>news:932841dc3j1cfahlbkuirlvo3spbq8abv5@4ax.com...
>>> On Wed, 23 Mar 2005 16:47:10 -0500, Ed Ruf <egruf_usenet@cox.net>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>On 23 Mar 2005 11:12:09 -0800, in rec.photo.digital "Winston"
>>>><bobo44039@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>According to the Yahoo Canon 20D group, Canon has recently redesigned
>>>>>the grip. Make sure your serial number is 6000 or higher before you buy
>>>>>it. I know, that's hard to do online, if not impossible. This might be
>>>>>one time to give your local camera dealer some business to help keep
>>>>>him open.
>>>>
>>>>Curious. I Nikon grip for the 5700/8700 was plagued with problems with
>>>>the
>>>>latest high capacity NiMh AA batts which do not adhere to the IEEE
>>>>dimensional specs. Is this the problem with the Canon grip?
>>>
>>> No, the Canon grip loses power sometime, flexes and power indicator is
>>> sporadic in operation.
>>>
>>>
>>> *****************************************************
>>>
>>> "High up, Santa Ana, we're killin' your soldiers below
>>> So the rest of Texas will know
>>> And remember the Alamo."
>>>
>>> "Remember the Alamo"
>>> by Jane Bowers
>>
>>I think that's just with early iterations, those who bought theirs after
>>the
>>first of December don't seem to have those problems. I certainly don't.
>>The only problem I've had is that the AA adaptor is non functional, but I
>>don't need it, anyway.
>>
>>--
>>Skip Middleton
>>http://www.shadowcatcherimagery.com
>>
>>
> I would (and do) consider that a red flag to possible other problems
> with the unit. I do not feel confident to depend on any equipment (as
> a pro) which does not fully function as described. Not to mention the
> fact that Canon customer support and repair department is pathetic,
> beyond comprehension.

Well, I did, too. But after 3 months of use and literally thousands of
exposures, I haven't had a single grip related problem. Not one. Not even
when I try to flex the grip to duplicate what others have done, or tried to
do. Of course, now, having said that, I've guaranteed that I'll have a
plethora of problems tomorrow! <G> (Back in Sept, I had posted that I
hadn't had a single lockup, and the next day, had 5.)
Frankly, the 20D has had us rather badly shaken, and wondering if we had
made the right choice. But having committed a great deal of money to the
project, we had no choice but to soldier on. Canon's support is pathetic,
I'll agree. Their only comment on any email I've sent them is, "send the
camera and (name your part) for evaluation." We cannot afford to have our
equipment down, and at the mercy of the vagaries of a repair department with
little incentive to achieve a quick turnaround. And every time I ask for
back up, like Canon Pro Services, I am greeted with a resounding silence.
There have been times when I've seriously regretted choosing Canon, and
having so much invested on other Canon equipment makes it difficult to
switch brands at this point. And, too, I don't see anyone with a better
product or service, having had worse problems with Minolta's customer
service and reading horror stories about Nikon's. Now, the cameras do
perform up to expectations, the flash issues are taken care of by not using
Canon flashes, the lockups seem to be a thing of the past, the grip does
what it is supposed to do.

--
Skip Middleton
http://www.shadowcatcherimagery.com

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Someone wrote:

> Mine is "055266" and I win s/n poker so far (deuces are wild, right?).

No. You have 2 pair.

> It clamped on tight from the beginning,

Same here.

> I can't make it flex while mounted,

<cough,cough>

> and its AA insert works just fine, but not very long, as
> detailed in a previous battery-grip-duration thread.
> It came to me in mid-December.

Mine came from B&H in mid-February. I haven't checked the s/n.

Jeff

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"Frank ess" <frank@fshe2fs.com> wrote:

> Mine is "055266" and I win s/n poker so far
> (deuces are wild, right?).
> ...

Nothing wild. I'll trade your deuce for a five. Heh...

Jeff (053514)