(Battery Grip errors on 20D) vacation story

I just got back from a four day trip to Newport RI. Had a very difficult time getting anyone to take a photo of my wife and me. Half of them were too intimidated by it (20D body, grip, and large Sigma 24-70) that they didn't want to handle it. The other half had no idea how to compose a picture as their hands trembled as the took it. I kept telling them to snap away, ITS DIGITAL...DON'T WORRY. Not one person took shots at will.

Anyway the real problem was that half the time I gave someone the camera to take a photo, the battery indicator would say it was dead, though the shooter said each time that the photo was taken. Not wanting to make them feel bad I took the camera and said, "nice shot, thanks." After a quick flip of the grip's battery compartment latch, I popped the battery out and back in, then searched for the next passerby.

I must have had a half dozen occasions where the camera went into that wacky mode. Is it the Sterlintek batteries or the 20D itself? Has a workaround been discovered for this yet? I haven't been following this issue much since I first heard about it last year.

Could be a battery grip issue you are experiencing.

dont know about the battery issue, but thats why I carry a remote shutter release or use the self timer. In Catalina I whipped out the Mini Tripod, set it on a trash can, and snapped a few shots of my wife and I

-Johnny

coeng wrote in post #3541709
Has a workaround been discovered for this yet? I haven't been following this issue much since I first heard about it last year.

The only workaround I know of is cheap, easy and fast!

2 pieces of tape....

On the top of the grip , (the flat section that rests against the bottom of the camera body) put some tape on the far left.

The idea is to increase the contact pressure at where the grip power connection occurrs.

The first post I read regarding this workaround suggested 2 layers of tape. I used 3 layers of electrical tape. After I taped my grip , I had several months without a problem , I rarely got through a day before the tape.

wolf wrote in post #3541807
Could be a battery grip issue you are experiencing.

I called Canon up and they told me my serial number was not in the listed range. They said I could still send it in (grip + body) and they would give me an estimate to repair (whichever was the culprit).

The question is, how can they reproduce the problem (since it is usually quite random, and at the worst times at that) and hence guarantee that it was repaired correctly?

In any case, I was told that I would receive an email from them indicating the cost before any repairs were to be made. Since the grip was purchased more than a year ago, the warranty has already expired, unless they determine that my grip exhibits the same problem as the earlier affected units.

OK, I really need to solve this issue one way or another.

I've sifted through numerous threads and even tried the electrical tape on the left side of the grip that Choderboy recommended.

I still get the no battery life indication from time to time. Popping the battery out and back into the grip and it works again. Batteries are brand new Stirlingteks.

Here are my options:

1) Get a new BG-E2 grip and hope that its a grip issue.

2) Send the grip and body in for repair (which I'm not even sure what they'll do)

3) Try another homemade solution that someone can recommend.

I just realized I had the three year Mack warranty on the body. If I take it there will they be able to resolve this issue?

can Mack resolve the grip issue?

Since technically nothing broke, is this something Mack knows how to resolve?