Opteka Vertical Grip - Misleading advertisement

[buurin]

I ordered a vertical grip for my 30D which came in this morning.

The grip is missing the main dial (shutter speed dial in manual mode).

I ordered directly from Opteka @
http://www.opteka.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=33

My order shipped from 47th Street Photo, which states on their amazon posting @ http://www.amazon.com/Opteka-Battery-Vertical-Shutter-Batteries/dp/B001MUN5FE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1243922875&sr=1-3 that:

Opteka is proud to be allowed to use the same factory and mold as Canon uses for their BG-E2N.


I am confused... Are there multiple versions of the Opteka grip for the 30d? Or is the amazon advertisement inaccurate?

I am thinking I might send the grip back if I can order one with the main dial.

Other than that the grip is nice.

[Rocktoe]

My grip doesn't work correctly... It shows full battery all the time and then just dies without warning. :(

It's the XSi model, though... And since my batteries last weeks in isn't that big of a deal.

[buurin]

I just read the reviews from amazon and others complained about the missing dial as well.

So since Opteka does not make a grip with the dial for the 30d, clearly they are misadvertising that they use the same mold as Canon -- unless Canon has a non-dial mold.

Even though I think the grip is usable, I should return it solely on the principal that they false advertised.

[zelseman]

I noticed that too, and I just got mine this week. I can live with it. Cheaper than getting the canon version, and other than missing the dial, its great.

[gooble]

That is lame but I noticed that the Amazon page says this:

Technical Details
Includes 2 Opteka 2000 mAh BP-511 Batteries for Maximum Power (Also accepts AA)
Latest Version. Fully compatible with the Canon EOS 20D, 30D, 40D, & 50D
Vertical shutter release also makes shooting with the camera in a vertical position just as comfortable as shooting horizontally
Buttons for AE lock, AF point selector, aperture value, shutter
1 Year warranty

Note that it does not say 'shutter value'.

That is very odd. I had the previous Opteka grip that I used long ago on my 20D and it had all the dials and buttons.

[mikekelley]

I got the opteka grip from 47th st photo/amazon and it does have the dial.

Odd.

[buurin]

That is lame but I noticed that the Amazon page says this:

Technical Details
Includes 2 Opteka 2000 mAh BP-511 Batteries for Maximum Power (Also accepts AA)
Latest Version. Fully compatible with the Canon EOS 20D, 30D, 40D, & 50D
Vertical shutter release also makes shooting with the camera in a vertical position just as comfortable as shooting horizontally
Buttons for AE lock, AF point selector, aperture value, shutter
1 Year warranty

Note that it does not say 'shutter value'.

That is very odd. I had the previous Opteka grip that I used long ago on my 20D and it had all the dials and buttons.

It doesnt have a "aperture value" button/dial either.

[buurin]

I got the opteka grip from 47th st photo/amazon and it does have the dial.

Odd.

I'll be making a phone call tomorrow.

Do you have the 30D version (Canon bg-e2 or bg-e2n equivalent)?

Thanks for the info

[bohdank]

You should have 2 back buttons, a shutter release and a dial behind the shutter release.

[buurin]

I do not have a dial behind the shutter release.

In order to set aperture/shutter values I need to rotate the camera back to landscape and use the original dial.

[DDCSD]

Wow, that's unbelievable. I just got the Phottix grip from etefore on ebay. Costs $73 shipped and took about 9 days to get here (South Dakota) from Hong Kong. Seems to be a pretty good grip. Not as solid as the Canon one, but at $100 less its great.

[bohdank]

If it's not as solid, it'a about 95% as solid. I have th Phottix on the 40D and the Canon on the 5D. I notice no obvious deficincies in the Phottix.

[Duncan Frenz]

The grip has no dials on it whatsoever? That would be infuriating to use. The model on both Opteka's and Amazon's site clearly have a dial, and the Opteka grip I bought for my XSi had the dial. You must have got a very old model, though I cannot see why it would even be offered anymore unless they had some old stock. All their new models incorporate the dial, including the one compatible with the 30D. I'd email them and get an exchange. I could never live without a dial on the grip.

-FWIW, I really liked my Opteka grip for my XSi. I would recommend it to anyone.

[buurin]

The grip has no dials on it whatsoever? That would be infuriating to use.

No Dials. None. Zero. Zilch.

[imahawki]

My grip doesn't work correctly... It shows full battery all the time and then just dies without warning. :(

It's the XSi model, though... And since my batteries last weeks in isn't that big of a deal.

Well... my Canon grip does the same thing with the batteries... no real indication that I am losing power and then BAM, dead.

[zelseman]

I just emailed them. I hope to hear back from them soon regarding this issue.
Its bugging me more and more as I use the grip.

[Duncan Frenz]

I just emailed them. I hope to hear back from them soon regarding this issue.
Its bugging me more and more as I use the grip.

I doubt I'd order a grip if it did not have a dial. I find the extra battery useful, but not necessary. It is only required for smaller bodies, and merely a nice addition for the 'pro' bodies.

[Rocktoe]

Well... my Canon grip does the same thing with the batteries... no real indication that I am losing power and then BAM, dead.

Ah, maybe it's a firmware bug or something. Thanks for this information. :confused:

[tekkie]

if I remember there are 2 different ones, one with / one without the dial

why the hell they would make one without a dial is beyond me

I am pretty sure I got mine from 47th through amazon a few years back and it has it

[buurin]

My mail to Opteka:
I ordered the following grip:
http://www.opteka.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=33

I was under the impression the grip had a main dial for setting the shutter speed / aperture value.

The dealer who shipped me the grip (47th Street Photo) states:
"Opteka is proud to be allowed to use the same factory and mold as Canon uses for their BG-E2N."

This is clearly not the case with my grip.

I am requesting either a return with complete refund (shipping both ways included) or an exchange for the proper grip (again, shipping included).

I have spoke to others who also ordered the grip and they received a copy WITH the dial.
Optekas reply to my mail:

I apologize for that. The current version of that Opteka grip does not have a dial.

Matt,
Opteka

Glad they just ignored my return request.

[imahawki]

Why would you return it to someone who didn't sell it to you? Return it to 47th Street Photo. Not only would that be logical under normal circumstances but they're also the one who had the inaccurate product description.

[Burnaby]

This is what your grip should look like... (Linkdelight-Meike $65 + $10 S/H)

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u89/LS460/IMG_3068.jpg

I apologize for that. The current version of that Opteka grip does not have a dial.

That's not a strong apology. Looks like they got themselves a batch of the cheap ones and are trying to pawn them off on unsuspecting buyers. Unsuspecting because their description in very ambiguous. Sell it on Craiglist, and order one from Linkdelight. You'll still be further ahead than the OEM grip's price, and you'll probably find other good deals at Linkdelight. Otherwise you'll be pissed every time you pick up the camera.

This is Linkdelight's description:

This is a Professional Battery Grip for the Canon EOS 50D/40D/30D. Having the same function as Canon original BG-E2! It can hold 6 AA batteries or two BP-511A li-ion batteries, doubling the battery capacity of your camera. Vertical shutter release button on the Battery Grip makes shooting with the camera in a vertical position much easier, adding stability to the camera. Beware that the batteries should be put into the magazine before inserting the magazine into the grip!

In this professional edition, it comes with several functional buttons as the flash above showing. It will be much convenient while using. It provides additional shutter release, main dial, AE lock/FE lock and AF point selection controls for easier vertical shooting.

[buurin]

Why would you return it to someone who didn't sell it to you? Return it to 47th Street Photo. Not only would that be logical under normal circumstances but they're also the one who had the inaccurate product description.

I ordered it from Opteka.com.. The packing slip said it shipped from 47th street.

[bohdank]

The Opteka website does not give any description at all other than it has a shutter button.

Still, pretty poor customer service, imo.....

[buurin]

The Opteka website does not give any description at all other than it has a shutter button.

Still, pretty poor customer service, imo.....

Yeah thats why they might have some grounds to deny me a full refund.

However even the instruction manual that came with the grip states it has a dial!

[imahawki]

I ordered it from Opteka.com.. The packing slip said it shipped from 47th street.

My bad.

[bohdank]

Yeah thats why they might have some grounds to deny me a full refund.

However even the instruction manual that came with the grip states it has a dial!

Paid using a CC ? Call the CC company and explain that the seller changed their product specs without any announcement... see if you can get your money back that way. Give Opteka a call and let them know you will not accept the grip.

[cpforyou]

Keep us updated on this as well. =D

[NeutronBoy]

Hey - thanks for the info on the LinkDelight - looks great. Once again - POTN to the rescue - I was going to order one of these soon.

[Burnaby]

You won't regret it...

[JamesH]

This is Linkdelight's description:
Beware that the batteries should be put into the magazine before inserting the magazine into the grip!



Whats that all about?? Is that talking about just the AA magazine or the regular battery pack also?

It would be kinda lame if you had to remove the grip everytime you changed a battery.

[andydajo]

Whats that all about?? Is that talking about just the AA magazine or the regular battery pack also?

It would be kinda lame if you had to remove the grip everytime you changed a battery.

That description above doesn't say you have to remove the grip, only the magazine:p

[JamesH]

Crap... I need to go to bed... lol

[Burnaby]

Whats that all about?? Is that talking about just the AA magazine or the regular battery pack also?

It would be kinda lame if you had to remove the grip everytime you changed a battery.
That's just Chinglish speak for you... :)

[JWright]

This whole discussion just points up the old adage that "you get what you pay for."

My cameras get nothing but Canon grips. I have three different gripped cameras and I can honestly say I have never had any issues with them. The BG-E2 I put on my 20D was subject to the recall only because it's serial number fell into the effected range. It never gave me any of the problems others had.

I learned many years ago of the pitfalls of "buying cheap" in things like tripods, lenses and accessories... Now, if I can't afford quality, I save until I can instead of settling for a lesser product. I know I'm going to end up getting the good one eventually, so why spend the money twice...