D90, Couple of Q's

[CoryH]

So i've just got the D90 as a second body to the D80 and am quiet impressed. The High ISO performance seems great, the big screen is awesome(Didnt think th screen on the D80 was small untill i've worked with the 3" LCD) however when reviewing shots I can only get the basic Exif Data or a full screen shot, The D80 used to give me a histogram and some in depth EXIF info, does anyone know if\how I can get similar info?

A few months ago I bought the aperture AP-N80G Battery grip for my D80, I like it because it has a built in battery and has a charge plug on the side so no need to carry a seperate battery charger unit, The grip fits on the D90 and works fine but strangely during normal use the LCD on the D90 will flash the battery indicator saying the battery is dead and switch off, If i power off and back on, it continues working OK, very odd. Never had an issue like this on the D80 and i've been using it since i got it several months ago.

Has anyone had similar experiences?

[aim54x]

Is the D90 meant to use the D80 grip??

[gstark]

The D80 used to give me a histogram and some in depth EXIF info, does anyone know if\how I can get similar info?

What does the manual say on this?

A few months ago I bought the aperture AP-N80G Battery grip for my D80,

That's a non-Nikon one, right? Is it the Phottix one?

The grip fits on the D90 and works fine but strangely during normal use the LCD on the D90 will flash the battery indicator saying the battery is dead and switch off

What is the charge state of the battery?

[CoryH]

Correct, Non Genuine, it's brand name is aputure

The grip is fully charged and when it works(95% of the time) the battery indicator shows full battery charge

[CoryH]

The Nikon site does not list the MB-D80 as being a 'Related product' but it does take th EN-EL3e battery.

[chrisk]

same grip for d80/90.

[gstark]

The Nikon site does not list the MB-D80 as being a 'Related product' but it does take th EN-EL3e battery.

As do many other Nikon DSLRs.

I'm suspecting that there's a firmware in the grip: the D80 is older than the grip, which has been made to talk with that camera. The D90 is newer, and with significantly more features. The grip's firmware doesn;t know how to handle the new features.

[CoryH]

So you think a genuine Nikon MB-D80 is the go then Gary?
Is it worth trying another aftermarket option or just go straight genuine?

[gstark]

Cory,

I don't think that there are any aftermarket grips for the D90 as yet. Your's was purchased for the D80 and probably claims no D90 compatibility.

I cannot answer your question directly, but my suggestion would be that, for a grip that works with the D90, you'd need to obtain one that claims D90 compatibility.

[azza_25]

MB-D80 works like a charm in my d90 - It IS just as much of a marriage as it was with the D80 - have had no problems whatsoever - and have done over 1500 shots on the d90 with the grip as well (so just over 1 charge I know..... )

Also fully capable with the shutter release button and focus lock too - so yeah the firmware seems to be fine with it.....

As long as it is a genuine Nikon product it seems?

Also you need to go into the menu and activate histogram, RGB histogram and Data in Display mode in the Playback Menu - once you've done that it should solve all of your other problems with the histogram viewing etc.

Does that answer your Question well CoryH?

[gstark]

As long as it is a genuine Nikon product it seems?

Certainly, there would be a higher likelihood of compatibility.

The issue is that Nikon wrote the firmware for both bodies, as well as for the grip. They know what's in the API, and how to address it.

Everyone else has to reverse engineer it, and that leaves open the possibility for things to be missed. As a result, while the aftermarket grip works with the D80, the addition of the D90 brings some new features to the table, and those features are unaccounted for in the grip's reverse engineered firmware, hence there are issues.

[CoryH]

Hmm ok, food for thought thanks all
I'll save some pennies and get a MB-D80 and a couple of spare flatteries to go with, see if I have more luck?

[CoryH]

Following up on the MB-D80 question, I have found that if i loosen the lock by about a 1\4 turn I dont have any issues. On the D80 I was able to lock it up as tight as i could with my fingers but If I dot hat on the D90 i have the random switch off issue?

Very strange, but glad a found an easy solution. Thanks everyone for your input

[brocot]

Hi,
I have the original MB-D80 on mi D90, 6 x AA batteries is ok. (Lithium)
When i mount the one or tho original EN-EL3e (full charged) the indicator blinks en i can not start the camera. Mounting the battery directly in the camera = the indicator marks 100%. I think Nikon will have e firmware Update for that problem. !!

[brocot]

THE SOLUTION !!

The good news is, I have find the solution.
In the Camera hole, (Where the original battery belongs) You have 3 contacts plates. The one in the middle is not lined tho the others. You have to push it in the outside direction of the camera, until the 3 contact are in one line. After this little operation in works. (as watchmaker i have no problem to do this, so watch out to do it)

Four 5 days new, working fine !!