battery grip bp-400 for A1/A2

[pai]

got the buy buy buy itch... any idea where i can still find this in sg, and what the price is like? thanks!

[synapseman]

Last I checked (approx 1 month ago): Cathay Photo - $180. MS Color - $165.

But they may not have stock. But probably can order in for you.

[pai]

is that including gst?
sigh, i was hoping below $150...

[synapseman]

Including GST. I think $165 is as low as it can go. CP actually sells it for $200 normally. I say go for it. For me, the A2 without the BP-400 is like going out without your pants on!

[pai]

heh, thanks, i'll ask for quotation...

actually i didn't buy the grip at the start cos wanted the camera to be as small as possible - i don't come from an slr background, so A2 already felt damn big.

then one day got sick of not being able to take low light pix so bought a big flash. now say i want a small camera also fooling myself only. haiz. still damn paiseh to take it out of my bag.

[Agetan]

Hello...

BP-400 is great... actually, I use grip on almost all my camera...

2 NP-400 batteries increase the shooting times.

It is well balance with the camera... I bought around S$168 from MS color 3 months ago.

Hart

[synapseman]

Originally Posted by pai haiz. still damn paiseh to take it out of my bag.

I also feel that way sometimes, with all the DSLRs and tua-kee f/2.8 lenses around...

[pai]

Originally Posted by synapseman I also feel that way sometimes, with all the DSLRs and tua-kee f/2.8 lenses around...

aiyoh, i meant the other way around hahaha... my friends all waving their ixus lah, exlim etc around. then suddenly this clumsy black thing come out... maybe should go on some outings to remind myself how small size it really is compared to the BIG GUNS...

[Agetan]

I feel the same way too... I hate pulling out the bigger lenses unless I have too... people tend to take you far too serious when you are using SLR and big lenses...

A2 is ok lar.. but sometime got people say "its a big camera".. I hate the attention... i prefer to work quitely and that why I tend to get shot that I like.

hart
www.treklens.com/members/agetan/

[Flare]

Hee... then you should see my small DSLR setup... All my lens are midget seized, not much bigger than the lens of A1/A2. If I take out the battery grip, i think i can put my A1 and 7D side by side and they'll look like brothers

[synapseman]

Haha. Us A1/A2 people are in no-man's land, eh? Casual snapshooters think our cameras are too big. Pro-shooters think our cameras are too small.

Well, when I go shooting, I'm usually by myself. Not really into the group shooting thing anyway. But for casual snaps with friends, etc, I'd bring either my wife's EXILIM EX-Z40, or my own Olympus Mju-II.

[pai]

u want ur camera to be big big, just mount your flash and add an olympus tcon 300 lor. scary scary

my problem harder to solve... maybe km will design a new camouflage cover for a2, to make it look like an Xg...

[Flare]

Trust me, after you've used a KM prosumer, you won't like touching any compact, even the Xg, X50...

You'll go like:
Huh?!?!? No PASM mode?!?!?
HUH?!!? Need to got into 3 layers of menu to set ev settings/change shutter speed (if it allows u to in the first place) / (insert other camera controls here)?!?!
Huh?!? No EVF?!?
Huh?!?! Cannot mount external Flash/no pc sync?!?!
Huh?!? No tripod mount?!?! (Some compact doesn't even have one)
Huh?!?! No AS?!?!
Huh?!?! WHY SO SMALL HOW TO HOLD CAMERA STEADY?!?!?

Anyway, different products are aimed at different segments of the market. Although one can still take amazing pictures with a digital compact, the prosumers are geared with (usually), Better zoom range, better user interface, wider range of controls, wider range of accessories and improved system expandability, just to name a few. It's more aimed at hobbyist who needs more than a dummy camera.

Meanwhile, ultra compacts are aimed at being what it's name says, ultra compact, at the sacrifice of (usually) poorer user interface etc etc. further more, being aimed at regular day to day snappers, they do not includes manual controls which could confuse users, or become redundent.

To me, what makes a good compact, other than being compact, would be one with good automatic mode. Smart auto metering, smart auto WB, and produce vibrant colours out of the camera as it's potential customer would not like to run every single image through an image editor. Megapixel count is not important, although too many people are tied up to it. For day to day user, 3.2 megapixels are more than enuff for good 4R photos and decent for the occasional 8R. I've seen too many people shooting 2 megapixels images on a 4-5 megapixels camera to maximize memory. So why buy a 5 megapixel camera in the first place? These user are not likely to plonk down $100 - 200 for a gigabyte capacity card for a $400 - 500 camera (the street price of the 5 megapixel X50 is actually $499 the last time i checked).

[Flare]

Oh yeah... My friends are all so wowed by the ability to bounce flash... especially in locations like karaoke rooms. They are like: What lao, macam daylight ley!!!

Think it actually made one of my friend go get an external flash for his power shot G series.

Don't be shy, be proud of it. You are holding one of the best camera in it's class.

[Agetan]

Different camera built for different purpose... consumer don't understand this and i don't think many salesperson even understand too much about digital technology...

Common myth and normal selling point and it simply not correct is bigger megapixel, the better the image is... I think it is overselling..

I really hate when go to camera shop and if you act novice and ask which is the better camera, they (sales person) will just tell you "bigger megapixel one lor". They don't even ask you what kind of pictures I will be taking, what sort of output I am looking for.

people buy mega pixel but rarely understand what that mean...

7/A series camera shouldn't be deter or feel ashame... what you have is a great camera, it built for advanced user and have great control with limitation that we have to work with...

Remember, great photographer Ansel Adams' camera don't even have shutter speed control... then you should ask why using such primitive camera could produce such great result? Answer is about 3 inches from the camera... The photographer..

You have now own an A2/A1 or any camera, use it and understand the limitation. Work around it and don't get intimidated by other user...

Keep shooting...

[synapseman]

Megapixel numbers are a convenient way to sum up a camera's performance in one number. Consumers are taken in by it, manufacturers know that. I mean, come on, does an "upgrade" from 4mp to 5mp warrant a price diff of $100?

Personally, I've never equated size/price of camera to mean better pictures. I mean, better cameras DO produce better cameras IF the photographer knows he/she is doing.

However, many people don't appreciate that. When bidding for photo-jobs, first question is often "what camera do you use?". Looks DO matter, especially when they feel they're paying for service. Hence, owning a DSLR automatically means you MUST be a good photographer.

So, part of me purchasing the BP-400 is to beef up my A2 to make it look "more pro". It doesn't improve image quality, but it seems to gain customer confidence. So in that sense, it's $180 well spent!

[TME]

Originally Posted by synapseman It doesn't improve image quality, but it seems to gain customer confidence. So in that sense, it's $180 well spent!

I wouldn't agree with this... it helps significantly when shooting in low light in portrait mode. Especially when u have a huge flash and a huge lens on... it makes a huge difference to the kind of shutter speeds u can handhold.

[Agetan]

Originally Posted by synapseman However, many people don't appreciate that. When bidding for photo-jobs, first question is often "what camera do you use?". Looks DO matter, especially when they feel they're paying for service. Hence, owning a DSLR automatically means you MUST be a good photographer.

hehehe...

I normally convince them using my portfolio... asking the consumer if that is the quality they are looking for without talking about the gears... if they like the quality and style I can and will produce... do they really care what do I use?

Answer is Not at all... have win several job doing it this way...

Just freelance work lar.. nothing too serious...

Sorry for OT.

[pai]

in the end, i got the grip second hand from a nice clubsnapper, hardly used, everything new new. hehe, a penny saved is a penny earned.

feels rather plastic, but i guess that's good, cos it's light. can't recognise my camera now, looks very slr-wannabe. quite comfortable to hold, and definitely makes camera less top-heavy when flash is mounted. still getting used to the viewfinder being at the bottom when held in portrait orientation, and really wish there were control dials on the grip as well.

one bonus: the leather hand-strap is really super comfy!

[pai]

Originally Posted by Flare Oh yeah... My friends are all so wowed by the ability to bounce flash... especially in locations like karaoke rooms. They are like: What lao, macam daylight ley!!! Think it actually made one of my friend go get an external flash for his power shot G series.

haha, yah... after i "demo" to one of my friends he say he want to get an external flash for his ixus.