D70 battery pack with Vertical Shutter Release button.

[swanson]

Found this web page, and trying to get more info.

ttp://www.hkjenis.com/company/dch/d0.htm

[lukeo]

which is currently down or the link is wrong

[MHD]

put a h at the front...
http://www.hkjenis.com/company/dch/d0.htm

[Matt. K]

How does it work? There must be somewhere for it to hook up to the electronics in order to fire the shutter? I don't see and mechanical link.

[lukeo]

thanks for the "h" my Sony

Perhaps it employs a built in Wireless shutter release?

Or its a good fake?

thanks for the link ... interesting if true?

[Oneputt]

I have seen this site before. Are they actually in business?

[Onyx]

It's a pseudo-vertical shutter release, engaged via IR remote (eg. ML-L3).
This, and a handful of other 3rd party vertical grips, have been floating around for about 9 months... it's pretty much relegated to vapourware status.

[lukeo]

So basically nice to have for the extra battery life, but you could probably book flights on X1 to the moon b4 ever actually laying eyes let alone hands on said handgrip.

[petal666]

So basically nice to have for the extra battery life, but you could probably book flights on X1 to the moon b4 ever actually laying eyes let alone hands on said handgrip.

haha you crazy unaccessorised Nikon owners

[Killakoala]

Hold out for the Harbortronics VG-D70.

http://www.harbortronics.com/news.htm

Harbortronics VG-D70 Features:

o Remote shutter release via IR (removable fiber optic cable) or hardwired (camera modification).

No camera modification needed to use the IR shutter release feature. This essentially emulates the ML-L1/3. The camera has to be configured to using the IR remote, and used often enough to keep the camera from turning the IR remote feature off. The half-press feature will also not work normally via IR. A removable fiber optic cable will route up the front of the camera to the grip... very simple, cable stays out of the way, and can be removed if desired.

o Remote shutter jack included on grip

This jack can be used with remote cords, slaving cameras together (i.e. stereo), or for connection to a D70 which has been modified with a remote shutter release jack.

If the camera is modified to add a remote control jack (which may void the warrenty), then all limitations are removed... there's no need to set-up the camera for remote use, half-press works fine, etc. There would be a short cable jumper running from the camera to the grip to connect the two.

o Multiple Power Configurations

The VG-D70 can accomodate one or two EN-EL3 batteries (standard D70 battery). The grip also includes a standard DC power jack (industry standard!) for use with external power supplies, large battery packs, etc. This jack is protected against reverse polarity and overvoltage.

[lukeo]

How long have these been in development? I don't really like the idea of voiding my cam warranty with a modification. I am also not fond of loosing the half press auto focus extra when using IR.

[birddog114]

Hey you guy, do you want to know when this come out/ release?

Expected mid June 05 and in mass production will be August 05! and it's depends on what the outcome are. Trusted source from o/s last two weeks on the conversation over phone with one of our suppliers
What will happens at that time then? New Dxxxx and new Dxxxxx. Then warranty issue and ...................
Happy & enjoy with what you have

[MHD]

Harbtronics make good stuff... I have their intervaluemeter for the cp5400 and it is the main reason why I have not sold the cam...

[johndec]

Umm.. Can someone please explain why the hell I would ever need one of these???

I've tried my best to kill one battery in the D70 in a day, over 200 shots at the zoo, but didn't succeed. I've got a spare battery which is a fraction of the size of the grip, but haven't had to pull it out of my pocket yet.

Maybe if I was knocking off 1000 shots as a wedding photographer.... But how many wedding pro's use the D70 as their main body????

[MHD]

Its more the vertical grip and trigger that is needed...

[Coolhand]

I agree, the ENEL3 original Nikon battery is superb, quite often you don't trust the quoted shot the manufacturers say they can get out of a battery but in this case and with my use so far, thery're right on the money, my only disaapointment is that I can't run a main SB flash unit via the ENEL3, I use a D100 with the MB100 grip and 2x ENEL3's and that would be great.

[petal666]

Umm.. Can someone please explain why the hell I would ever need one of these???

Balances the camera better with heavy lenses, have a shutter button and dial at the top when you have the camera in portrait mode, looks better. If you look at the top end cameras, they all have the vertical grip inbuilt.

[Onyx]

Umm.. Can someone please explain why the hell I would ever need one of these???

Balances the camera better with heavy lenses, have a shutter button and dial at the top when you have the camera in portrait mode, looks better. If you look at the top end cameras, they all have the vertical grip inbuilt.

Seconded. It's even just the simplicity of holding the camera "properly" in vertical orientation. Sometimes I wonder why Nikon implements the option to automatically flip vertical images yet provides no means of attaching a grip to take vertical images properly in the first place!

[MattC]

The problem is that all of the "grips" that I have seen is that they only offer a shutter release - no command or sub-command dials and buttons. There is no electronic interface to get these features. Even my old CP5700 could easily take a grip - what functions I do not know because I never owned one. This is just one area where Nikon decided to hobble the entry level d70. D70 battery life is definitely not an issue. I will continue to use the d70 as is, working within its limitations.

Cheers

Matt

[atencati]

Harbortronics should hopefully have the vertical done this month, they had a mfg'd part come in wrong and had to wait for it to be fixed. They offer a mod to the camear to use the half push, etc, but voids he camera warranty. Or use the IR method without half push. OR

I am not sure, but if you can use a usb cable to take pictures from a computer, whay can you not emulate that same signal and use a usb cable from the vertical grip??? Would it not also then be possible to have command dials as well? Development would be a bitch, ans cost would be the same I'm sure. Or mayne it's just completely out of the realm of reason as well.....

Andy

[birddog114]

Harbortronics should hopefully have the vertical done this month, they had a mfg'd part come in wrong and had to wait for it to be fixed. They offer a mod to the camear to use the half push, etc, but voids he camera warranty. Or use the IR method without half push. OR

I am not sure, but if you can use a usb cable to take pictures from a computer, whay can you not emulate that same signal and use a usb cable from the vertical grip??? Would it not also then be possible to have command dials as well? Development would be a bitch, ans cost would be the same I'm sure. Or mayne it's just completely out of the realm of reason as well.....

Andy

Andy,
They promised me since last Sept. when I first spotted them.
Price and Nikon warranty are another concerning issues and Nikon is not giving them the endorsement to use with the D70 (Of course).
Right as yesterday, they mentioned to me this device is still in development stage! so there's no confirmation of mass production for the vast market of D70 yet!
And they're HKG based company.

[atencati]

Harbortronics is HK based? i am under the impression they are in Gig Harbor Washington, just north of me. I have been e-mailing the owner for a few months now and they seem to think the parts will be in this month.....are we talking about the same company here???

anyone know anything about the wt1 wireless transmitter?? I am looking ino compatability since it uses the usb port for connectiviy, kind of alnog the line I was thinking, only different and backwards....

Will the wt1 work with the d70???? Why/why not?

Has anyone tried??
Andy

Should this be a new thread??

[Killakoala]

What i like about the proposal for the Harbourtronics grip is that it has an input for a plug-pack, so no need for batteries, great for a long night of astronomy and the battery pack extra will be nice for when i'm out in the field.

Come to think of it, i will need a new L-plate as well. Hmmm, maybe not such a good idea after all.

[gstark]

Even my old CP5700 could easily take a grip - what functions I do not know

Matt,

Shutter release, on/off switch, and a secondary zoom/wide switch.

[birddog114]

What i like about the proposal for the Harbourtronics grip is that it has an input for a plug-pack, so no need for batteries, great for a long night of astronomy and the battery pack extra will be nice for when i'm out in the field.

Come to think of it, i will need a new L-plate as well. Hmmm, maybe not such a good idea after all.

Killakoala,
If you get the grip, your L plate will change to P plate

[Grev]

^

I too am quite interested in this product.