D800 grip battery use

[reaction]

I got the Meike grip. When I have the battery in body, and none in grip, the camera won't turn on. Blinks empty battery.
I had meike with other Nikons and never had this issue.

Battery in grip, empty body works fine.

Is it a D800 feature, or some issue with the grip?

[arthurking83]

does it make any difference on the battery order setting in CSM menu d12?

Is it set to MB-D10 first?

if so, does changing it to camera first help?

[snappysi]

I'm pretty sure in the menu section you can tell which battery to use first, perhaps it is looking for a battery in the grip first ???? i have the d300 battery grip and cant say i have had that problem, i am sure you have checked but just take a quick look in the menu section....

Simon.

- - - Updated - - -

Arthur beat me to it....... must have been typing at the same time !!!!!

[reaction]

d12 setting same either way. anyone own a genuine nikon grip?

[fr33lanc3r]

reaction I just tried it for you with my genuine Nikon grip in my D800 and it still works with battery in body and none in grip. Hope that helps you a little.

[reaction]

reaction I just tried it for you with my genuine Nikon grip in my D800 and it still works with battery in body and none in grip. Hope that helps you a little.

Thanks, seems a Meike design or build issue then.

[ricktas]

I have been looking at these while I wait for the D800 focus issue to be resolved in all new cameras purchased (when I will buy mine), and the reviews on the net say the Pixel Vertax D12 is a better 3rd party option.

[reaction]

Pixel Vertax D12 I've heard has connection issues.

[Chris G]

I have the Meike grip for the D800 and I just tested it without the battery cartridge in the grip with all systems go on the camera..

[reaction]

I tried more tests, with empty Meike grip:

1) With the ENEL15 tray empty , battery animates full->empty few times then dies
2) With the AA tray empty , no problems

[gqtuazon]

I think these 3rd party battery grips are being made by the same manufacturer and are branded differently just like the Samyang and Rokinon lenses from S. Korea.

Here is what I experienced with my Mieke that was used for about 5 times and less than a month old. It is just time once these grips starts failing. The result is the same if you turn the camera off first or if you place the battery in the grip or both. Still a crappy camera grip IMO. It is just a matter of time before they start failing. I hope it won't be during an important photo shoot. Might as well get the real grip from Nikon.

[reaction]

my meike grip for d300s has never failed me. neither has my d300s.
funny how the d800 and its accessories are causing unexpected issues for everyone everywhere...

[I @ M]

my meike grip for d300s has never failed me. neither has my d300s.
funny how the d800 and its accessories are causing unexpected issues for everyone everywhere...

That is one hell of a long bow to draw I reckon.

Not everyone everywhere is having problems with D800 bodies or accessories. If you feel that the way your D800 body is performing when fitted with a non OEM product attached to it then I would suggest that you contact Nikon Aus and ask them to rectify the problems. Maybe save the phone call charge because I am pretty sure that they will tell you that they are simply not even interested in looking at it as it is not a Nikon product and therefore they don't have the resources to work on 3rd party products. Of course that applies x2 if it is a grey import body, they will simply tell you to return it to the retailer and let them take care of it.
You took your chances, you purchased a cheap alternative to an expensive accessory and it would appear that you have bought a product that is faulty. Perhaps you should contact the retailer of the apparently faulty product?
As for any other accessories that you claim everyone everywhere is having unexpected issues with I can state as a fact that here and now, quite a few OEM and non OEM accessories do work perfectly well with no unexpected issues.

[Darklight]

I got the Meike grip. When I have the battery in body, and none in grip, the camera won't turn on. Blinks empty battery.
I had meike with other Nikons and never had this issue.

Battery in grip, empty body works fine.

Is it a D800 feature, or some issue with the grip?

My Meike grip for my D300 does exactly the same thing.

[J.davis]

I had a Meike grip for my D7000 and it powered up by itself and at random times - go figure.

[BLWNHR]

funny how the d800 and its accessories are causing unexpected issues for everyone everywhere...

The problem is fixed if you buy genuine.

I can never understand people spending $3,000+ on camera bodies and skimping on accessories.

[arthurking83]

I think the problem isn't about skimping .. it may be more about (perceived) value for money.

$3K for the camera looked to be damned good value for money ..

But $500-600 for a $200-250 accessory is a murderous pricing policy!

it's obvious that a good many folks want such an accessory and I can't imagine how many more sales Nikon could achieve with 'respectable' pricing.

[ricktas]

I think the problem isn't about skimping .. it may be more about (perceived) value for money.

$3K for the camera looked to be damned good value for money ..

But $500-600 for a $200-250 accessory is a murderous pricing policy!

it's obvious that a good many folks want such an accessory and I can't imagine how many more sales Nikon could achieve with 'respectable' pricing.

Agree, Up to about $300.oo I would have chosen the OEM product. I have ordered the Phottix one for mine. Once I have the grip and camera in hand, I will do a little review on the grip.

[reaction]

The problem is fixed if you buy genuine.

I can never understand people spending $3,000+ on camera bodies and skimping on accessories.

Your comment suggests that you think any 3rd party accessory is guaranteed to have issues. While you may love to bling up your Nikon with other Nikon badged stuff, I would never buy a Nikon UV/CPL/ND filter, Nikon camera bag, Nikon tripod, and Nikon doesn't make wireless triggers, flash modifiers, rapid straps, the list goes on.

And I'm not even talking about lenses yet.

Unfortunately, when it comes down to the details, all the high and mighty turn out not to be using Nikon UV/CPL/ND filter, Nikon camera bags, Nikon tripods either.

So you can go feel good about your bling, while the rest of us choose the best tool for the job, not limited to the badge on the tool.

[I @ M]

So you can go feel good about your bling, while the rest of us choose the best tool for the job, not limited to the badge on the tool.

Nobody anywhere is suggesting that non OEM products don't have a place in the market. Plenty of people buy them. However, if one is concerned about a product that appears faulty and is likely to impact on their professional photography income it would surely be sensible to pay extra for a product that has little or no recorded problems, has full backup from the national distributor under warranty and at the end of the day offers a measure of guarantee to get the job done correctly.

In this case we are talking about a hideously expensive battery grip but in reality reaction, don't you think that the added expense may have meant that it wouldn't compromise your professional photography business?