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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
D300 and a modified BL-3
Patrick Meredith, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Austin | TX | USA | Posted: 7:15 PM on 02.01.08 |
->> I know this has been talked about in the past, but while I was searching the message boards, I didn't really find what I was looking for.
I bit the 8 fps bullet tonight and bought the MB-10 grip for the D300. I've been holding off and waiting for the BL-3 to come in stock, but I got tired of waiting...So I thought I would turn to the internet for help on creating one myself.
Searching the message boards led to some really good topics on doing it, but none had any illustrations. And the ones that did led to other sites where I would need a MIG welder, hack saw, etc etc...
I took the supplied AA battery holder and modified it to hold an EN-EL4 battery into place inside the grip
The only tool I used was an exact-o knife and a good guesstimation on how long the center of the tray needed to be to push and hold the EN-EL4 into place.
I took some up close shots of the modified tray in case anyone out there in internet land is thinking of doing this. You can see where I hacked it up a bit.
http://www.sportsshooter.com/meredith/bl3/
It was very simple and took about 10 minutes. Not to mention it saved me a couple bucks...Now I just hope I don't get stuck somewhere and need to use AA batteries....
And the coolest part about the photos is I took them with the D300 without the battery chamber holding the battery in!
-Patrick |
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Doug Holleman, Photographer
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Temple | TX | USA | Posted: 7:52 PM on 02.01.08 |
->> Things have been a little tight for me lately, and I haven't been in the mood to blow the $250-300 for the EN-EL4, the charger and the goofy battery holder.
So I tried using AA NIMH batteries in the grip, and have been pleasantly surprised. I can get at least 500 shots on freshly charged AAs and they still have some juice left, though I'm not sure how much, because I haven't pushed them that far. But the 8FPS is nice, so I think I'll just stick with it for a while. I just have to remember to keep my batteries charged. The only real drawback is that the battery indicator always looks like it's getting low (I guess because NIMH batteries are only 1.2v), but they work fine at full power.
So, I wouldn't necessarily recommend trashing the AA battery holder, unless you are plenty stocked up on EN-EN4s and chargers. |
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Patrick Meredith, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Austin | TX | USA | Posted: 8:08 PM on 02.01.08 |
->> Doug,
I have 4 of the batteries (along with a poor neglected D2H), so it wasn't a problem for me.
Thanks for the insight.
-Patrick |
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Chris Williams, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Stevenson Ranch | CA | USA | Posted: 3:15 AM on 02.02.08 |
->> Instead of hacking your AA battery holder, simply take out the 4 screws that attach it to the door and find something to stuff inside the chamber between it and the battery. Works like a charm and saves you from hacking up a potentially useful part.
Chris |
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Geoff Miller, Photographer
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Portage | MI | USA | Posted: 4:03 PM on 02.07.08 |
| ->> It looks like Nikon's finally shipping BL-3's to dealers. I just got a call that my local dealer (Norman Camera) got a shipment of them from Nikon. |
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Patrick Smith, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Towson | MD | USA | Posted: 4:33 PM on 02.07.08 |
->> I got my BL-3 in Japan last year. They had them everywhere and for about $19. I should have bought a cargo load of them and sold them for profit in the states.
Nonetheless, good idea for those that don't have the BL-3 door. |
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Ian Halperin, Photographer
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Plano(Dallas) | TX | USA | Posted: 1:12 PM on 02.09.08 |
->> I was motivated by this thread to make a subsitute BL-3. I did what Chris said and unscrewed the AA tray. I went to my local hardware store (NOT a big-box but one where they actually have hardware) and, after a several minutes sizing them, found a spring that I thought would work. I got two, one for each side and while the length and tension seemed perfect, there is a problem.
As it turns out, that end cap is not designed to have any pressure on it. That little clasp on the top only keeps the battery from slipping out. In fact, the battery itself helps hold in tight to the connection inside. Any presure from the inside causes it to bow out and possible get snagged and break.
So...not wanting to give up I used a piece of cork, trimmed it to length, and it seems to work so far. I have a game Monday, so I'll give it a full test there.
BTW: Anyone remember the old days of the NIkon MD-12. People figured out to add two or four more AA batteries into the circuit and get more FPS. You could buy the kit advertised in the NPPA mag or do it your self. Some things never change! |
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Rick Giase, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Arvada | CO | USA | Posted: 4:24 PM on 02.12.08 |
->> Who needs the BL-3! I removed the end cap from the
AA battery holder and used an artificial cork from a wine
bottle as a spacer and to hold the EN-EL4 battery in place. Works like a charm. Vintage doesn't really mattet.;) |
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David Zapatka, Photographer
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North Kingstown | RI | USA | Posted: 1:08 PM on 02.15.08 |
| ->> You guys rock! I got tired of waiting for the BL-3, called Calumet, and they said there are none around, and according to them as told by Nikon, there aren't any in the country! So I followed the advice here, and rather than cut the AA holder, I removed the screws and slightly cut a rubber cork, and bingo! 8 frames a second! |
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Derrick den Hollander, Photographer
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Melbourne | VIC | AUSTRALIA | Posted: 8:58 AM on 02.23.08 |
->> Thanks for your original post Patrick - I tried my AA's in the battery holder supplied, but could'nt get the 8fps - batteries probably were'nt at full charge. I figured I'd rarely ever use the holder, and I've a stack of En-El3e's so if I get in a jam, I'll have plenty of juice.
So I went ahead and did the AA holder mod as you described. 10 minutes later I'm at 8fps. The BL-3 is still almost impossible to get here in Australia, and prices range from $75 to $89 - so I bit the bullet.
Champion effort for posting Pat! |
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Derrick den Hollander, Photographer
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Melbourne | VIC | AUSTRALIA | Posted: 2:13 AM on 02.25.08 |
->> UPDATE: Although working well, I've found using the EN-EL4's in the grip has become problematic - I get the battery exhausted signal. I turn camera off and on, and it seems okay.
I'll run tests over the next few days, replacing the En-El3e in the camera, and also changing En-EL4's, and cleaning with contact cleaner all the electrical contacts on grip/body.
I do suspect though that I may be plagued by problems others here have posted about the D300. For me (and others here) this is completely unworkable, as shooting on the fly, not having a camera that is immediately responsive and totally relaible in a pretty big headache. |
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