Customer Reviews

Nikon MB-D10 Multi Power Battery Pack for Nikon D300 & D700 Digital SLR Cameras (Retail Packaging)

5 star:		(88)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

When using the MB-D10 with the D300, you will find that it is a great improvement from the MB-D200 (the D200 vertical grip). For one, it is made of magnesium alloy, and is much sturdier. It is also weather sealed like the D300 body. It fits nicely and firmly with the D300. It also has an additional multi selector, which is a great added feature. The MS-D10 (holder for AA batteries) also comes in a very nice pouch. Of course with such improvement comes the price increase as well!

If you want to achieve 8fps on your D300, you can use the EN-EL4/a battery with your MB-D10 or AA batteries (8 pieces). The ability to use AA batteries is a real plus point. Imagine having a long trip where you may not have access to charge your EN-EL3e batteries. Having the ability to use AA batteries means that you can carry a bunch of them and still be able to shoot... even deep in the wilderness.

Another advantage of the MB-D10 is that it is not L-shaped, which means that you can easily slip it into your camera bag and pull it out when you need it. To mount the grip, you do not need to remove the battery from your camera and marry the grip to the camera as how the D200+MB-D200 was designed to. It does not take as much space and not as awkward as grips that are L-shaped. This is a versatility of the MB-D10, but also has some getting used to.

Here are some areas which either you like or hate or take some getting use to:

1. The battery in the camera need not be removed to use the grip. So for those who leave the grip on all the time and want to use 2 batteries at a time, it would mean that you would need to remove the grip each time you want to remove the battery in the camera. It would be nice to be able to swap both batteries without having to remove the grip, but the design is such and we would have to live with it. What I've decided to do is to remove the battery in the camera and just use the one in the MB-D10. Besides, you can get a lot more shots with the D300 than the D200 for the same battery charge.

2. The shutter release button on the MB-D10 is a bit too sensitive, which means that you can quite easily trigger the shot. The sensitivity between the shutter-release button on the camera and the grip is different, so when switching orientation of the camera, you'll need to be aware of the sensitivity so that you do not accidentally take a shot which you did not mean to do so.

3. The MB-D10 can take the EN-EL4/a battery. However, the battery chamber cover for the EN-EL4/a is not part of the package, and you would need to purchase it separately. The battery chamber cover is BL-3.

The MB-D10 is really nice.

Battery Options:

It comes with two battery trays: one holds an EN-EL3e 7.4v 1500mAh lith-ion battery (same as what the camera holds). The other tray takes eight, AA batteries. Depending on which AA cells you install (Ni-MH, lithium, Ni-MN or alkaline) you can have 9.6 (NiMH at 2500mAh or more) or 12 volts. That voltage can crank the motor to its rated limit of 8 fps...at least until the buffer fills up and its frame rate slows while it writes to the card. You also tell the D300 via the menu which type of battery you have installed. It keeps track of charge for you based on the type. Very smart.

The gray EN-EL3e is an update to the D70's black EN-EL3. The EN-EL3e can power the D70 but the older D70 batteries cannot power the D300. That's because the newer EN-EL3e has three contacts on it as opposed to the EN-EL3's two contacts. That extra contact allows the D300 to track the entire life of the EN-EL3e. Interestingly, the D70's older MH-18 charger can charge the newer EN-EL3e as can the D300's newer MH-18a charger.

With an EN-EL3e in the camera body and another in the MB-D10, the D300 tracks and remembers how many shots you've taken on each battery, it's percentage of charge remaining and even how many times the battery has been charged. When the battery as reached its design limit for recharges (years from now) the D300 will tell you.

The grip will also take the larger 11.1v/1900mAh EN-EL4 or EN-EL4a battery [...]
but you have to buy a BL-3 cover, which is really just the end of the battery trays mentioned above but without the tray. The cover clips to the end of the EN-EL4 and has a twist lock to hold and seal it into the MB-D10. [...]

I bought the MB-D10 because I had purchased a second EN-EL3e knowing full well I'd probably never use it. (My second D70 battery was rarely used because one battery powered the thing about forever.) So, to get some use out of my second D300 battery, I don't leave it in the camera bag...I carry it on the camera as a built-in backup battery. The D300 also allows you to pick which battery you want to use first: the one in the MB-D10 or the one in the camera. I tend to use the MB-D10 battery because it's easier to remove for charging. You have to unscrew the MB-D10 from the D300 to get the internal EN-EL3e out of the camera body. But even then the large thumb wheel allows quick and easy removal.

There is a solid rubber L-shaped plug on the camera body's bottom that protects the multiple contacts between camera and MB-D10. That plug stores in a special area on the MB-D10 so you won't lose it. And if you remove the MB-D10 for some reason to use the camera without the MB-D10, you can plug up the contacts on the camera immediately.

Controls:

The MB-D10 has a complete alternate set of controls on it for when you are shooting verticals: an end-mounted focus/release button with lock ring to prevent accidentally hitting it; an AF-ON button; Master (rear) and Secondary (front) selector wheels for changing program and other functions; and a four-way selector/navigation switch. It's a lot more than a battery back. The same controls your forefinger and thumb access when holding the camera horizontally are there when holding the camera vertically. And it really is more comfortable to hold vertically this way, even though you do have to get used to regripping the camera. I've shot verticals for so many years I'm still getting used to holding the camera in such a foreign way.

The MB-D10 fits the D300 like it was molded in one piece: seamless and very ergonomic.

It makes the camera quite large and much heavier, but it has a solid feel and for sure I'm not going to run low on power. It's also comforting to know I can buy some AA's anywhere in the world and be able to keep shooting should the EN-EL3e's not have available power for recharging. It's also nice to crank the camera to max frame rate if needed. Some say it also helps balance the camera when you have a really large lens on a tripod.

And it's just so...manly. Point-and-shoots are cute and handy but this thing really dresses up the D300 in a useful manner, adds performance and extends power enough for any conceivable assignment.

And in a crisis, you can swing the thing like a mace. It probably would not break even then....

The battery grip to the D200 and D80 felt flimsy. They also only provided a vertical grip and an extra battery. You needed to take off the battery door and screw it on, continuously for the contacts sometimes did not connect.
This grip on the other hand is made out of metal and rubber, just like the D300 and has the same feel to it. It gives the body a more D2h feel, something canon shooters with a 40d often complain about. The grip with the high capacity D3 and earlier pro model battery gives the D300 the ability to shooter for hours on end and at 8fps. This grip feels much less like an accessory than as a part of the body. It may look expensive compared to the D200 grip, but worth it.

You might be wondering why this grip costs $235 from Amazon, when previous grips (like the MB-D200 for the D200) are almost $100 less.

The images can't convey it, but once you hold it grip in your hand, you know. Instead of using high-grade plastic to make this (like they did for the MB-D200), Nikon made this grip out of the same magnesium alloy and rubber that was used to make the D300. The MB-D10 also has the same weather seals on the buttons, and has the same robust, indestructible feel that the D300 body has.

It attaches tightly, with no flex or shake. You can flick it back and forth from portrait to landscape as much as you want; it doesn't matter if you have a big heavy flash in the hot-shoe or a big lens out front, the grip never gives you the impression that it was ever separated from the body.

Because of the hefty, solid construction, this grip is heavy too. If you thought the D300 was too heavy before, this grip is not for you. But if you can handle the weight, the MB-D10 actually makes the D300 more comfortable to hold in both portrait and landscape orientations. It adds surface area, which distributes the weight more evenly across your entire palm (the D300 body alone concentrated most of the weight on the top-half of my palm).

Battery life is stellar. I loaded my MB-D10 with 8xAA Sanyo Eneloop rechargeable batteries, and the battery gauge has not moved at all in over two weeks of casual shooting. I estimate it will last at least 3000-4000 shots, but I won't know the final total for a while.

I also love the addition of the second multi-selector switch on the MB-D10. Not even the Nikon D3 has one of those! Perfect for flipping through images/menus while holding the camera in portrait mode.

Nikon MB-D10 Multi Power Battery Pack for Nikon D300 DSLR Cameras

I got too excited to read all the materials and details before ordering the product. I didn't realized I needed to purchase the higher performance / priced EN-EL4 batteries and $200 charger + additional compartment cap to get 8fps until after I recieved the product. However, I was surprised to read 8 AA batteries can get you 8fps, and even more delighted to see the AA tray included. Nice!

This definately gives the camera much more power, a more stable and comfortable feel for a better shooting experience. My wife says it also makes it harder for me to misplace the camera!

You can choose which battery is used first in the camera setup. However, you will notice there is a trickle being used from the battery that is secondary when checking the battery status in the camera's menu. No big deal.

I absolutely recommend this as a necessary accessory.

It's solidly built. It shoots 8fps with the right batteries. It turns D300 into a rapid firing tool; well, it's truly faster...

It fits well with the camera, and it's that much heavier. Let's face it, if you shoot portraits mostly, the D300 with 6fps is more than enough. However, it will deliver, if you need the extra fps.

If you're going for it, my suggestion is getting a couple of sets of NiMH batteries with charger for less than $50, and you're up and running with this. There are claims of generic EN-EL4 and EN-EL4a not compatible with this, so be aware if you chose to go down that path.

ADDED 07/14 - After reading online about the batter grip helping with AF motor (more juice) for certain longer zoom lenses, I put this notion to the test and behold it's no BS. Having more juice to drive AF motor may be another reason to get the battery grip.

Like most photo accessories, the MB-D10 is essential IF you really need the features it offers. I'm not going to argue the justification for it's exorbitant price - let's face it, it's absurdly expensive. However, if you need expanded battery capacity and/or the extra speed it is capable of providing (using AA or the optional EN-EL4a battery), there really is no viable alternative.

I bought the MB-D10 for my D300 for a couple of reasons. While I don't particularly need the extra speed it is capable of providing, I do need the extra battery capacity and strongly prefer the additional grip surface area, which makes handling the camera with a 70-200 f2.8 attached a little easier and more stable. The additional weight it adds is fairly inconsequential in my opinion.

I use it primarily for outdoor sports photography, and while I could simply carry an extra battery or two with me, I like not having to worry about it running out in the midst of a shoot and potentially missing a shot. By default, the camera uses the MB-D10 battery first, then automatically switches to the camera battery. It provides the flexibility of powering the camera using AA batteries in an emergency. It also provides a vertical shutter release and additional auxiliary controls. I should also point out that unlike a few other reviewers, I have not found the shutter release on the MB-D10 to be any more sensitive than the one on the camera (I keep my camera in CH mode).

Pros: Minimal additional weight, very solid magnesium construction, very well designed battery compartment and release mechanism. Provides additional battery capacity, faster frames/sec., emergency AA battery functionality, vertical shutter release, and auxiliary controls.

Cons: Stupid expensive, neither the standard EN-EL3e nor the EN-EL4a battery is included, must remove the MB-D10 to access the camera battery.

Bottom line: Either your need for the MB-D10 justifies the cost or it doesn't. For $35 you can simply buy a second battery to carry. But if you need the flexibility of extended uninterrupted shooting, 8 frames per second speed, or simply prefer the additional grip area, this is a great accessory for your D300 or D700. I use it, love it, and have no regrets.

5 stars because this product is almost all PROs and very few CONS.

PROs:
-solid mag-alloy construction with rubber molded handholds make this very ergonomic, especially for folks with big hands.
- takes AAs as well as EN-EL4a's.
-fits the d300 perfectly
-has AF-ON button, multi-selector, and secondary shutter
-you don't have to take the battery out of the camera to use this
-improves shooting from vertical orientation
-balances the camera better with heavy lenses
-increases FPS rate
-'pro' look distinguishes you from entry-level DSLR crowd

CONs:
-fairly expensive
-EN-EL4a and BL-3 battery cover even more expensive (fortunately 8 NiMH AAs and a charger are fairly cheap -- cameta even has a kit for an extra $30 or so)
-adds weight (but then you have the option to leave it off, unlike the D2X)
-using EN-EL3e in grip doesnt increase FPS rate (you need 8 AAs or 1 EN-EL4a to achieve 8fps)

as you can see, the downsides to this are extremely minor. perhaps the biggest reason to get it is your D300 will look underdressed and incomplete without it.

It is well built, it integrates very well into the camera (I have a D700), it feels solid and I personally like how the camera feels with the grip both for vertical and horizontal shoots.

However, take care of those few things:
1. If you just want to add a EN-EL3e battery, you can do that but to recharge the one on the camera, you have to remove the grip, because with the grip on, you can not have access to original battery
2. If you want to use the high-speed capacity of your camera, adding this grip (on D700) you need to but other parts... first of all you need another hi capacity battery like EN-EL4 (1900mAh) or EN-EL4a (2500mAh), then you need a new cover for that battery (EN-EL4/a) called BL-3 cover. Once you have all of those things, how do you recharge the EN-EL4 or EN-EL4a? You need another specific recharger (that won't work for your "old" EN-EL3e, so if you travel you will need both chargers or take just one type of battery) called MH-21 (or MH-22 able to recharge to EN-EL4/a batteries at the same time). If you buy all those stuffs you will spend about (Jan 2010 prices) $250 for the grip, $112 for the EN-EL4a, $39 for the BL-3 and $130 for the MH-21... total you will spend about $531 for the full package, which could be fine but just be aware about that!

Go to 8fps with AA batteries: you can do that buy they will last about 4x less than the EN-EL4a and when the charge starts to reduce, the camera won't go at 8fps...

Globally it is a great addition to the camera, it just look overpriced to me,
Good luck with your choice!

I've used similar battery grips with the F100 and D100 and just like those cameras, I have come to really like the handling of the camera with the grip when you're using large or heavy lenses (like the 17-35 and 70-200VR which I typically use). What is probably the best feature is the shutter release that's placed on the end for vertical shots, once you get used to it you'll wonder why every camera doesn't have it. Others will comment on the ability to use AA batteries or to bump up the shooting rate (fps) with the higher power battery, while valuable those features aren't as needed for my work. Likewise the joystick control duplicates the control on the back of the camera but adds better tactile touch. The shutter release is slightly lighter than that of the camera, but after the first few shots one gets accustomed to it quickly.