40D WiFi Grip - WFT-E3A, Who's getting one?

Upon release of the 40D, I was excited to to hear about the new WiFi enabled grip. I really thought this was Canon's way of pushing the 40D to the pro market. Browsing throught the online retailers, it appears as though this grip is going to run $800 and now my excitement is tempered.

While the grip is a great idea, I think Canon missed the boat on this one. I think they have priced themselves too high. If the grip fit on multiple camera, it would be easier to digest the cost, but seeing how it is only for the 40D, it appears to be a luxory item at this point. Anyone else feel this is rediculously priced?

For those of you getting one, what do you plan on using it for? Maybe I'm missing some use I hadn't thought of. Looking to see how many will be justifying the $800 price tag.

Change the WFT to WTF!? $800?

I would like to try it out, but that's about it. I don't think I will be paying for the grip as such. I like the camera with out the grip. I also like the idea of connecting a external HDD to the grip for extra storage as well

but at the end of the day my shooting doesn't require such a thing

BigBlueDodge... You said it yourself.. If they're marketing it towards the pro-market, people might find that they need it to do their job, and the price won't be such a big concern. But yeah, it's ridiculous.

It is WI-FI. Does anyone think that it will transfer files quickly enough to actually be of any value, except as a novelty?

It's the $800 dollar AF-ON button grip with the added bonus of WIFI.

how about the speed?

BigBlueDodge:
"While the grip is a great idea, I think Canon missed the boat on this one."

Very well said.

WiFi or better Bluetooth should be:

1) Built in.

2) If in form of add on grip, price should not be any higher that 60 to 80 percent of available power grip on the market today.

3) If a separate grip is to be built, Canon needs to consider incorporating a GPS in it too specially if the price is to be so high to justify at least for what one gets (Competing better with Nikon is the other issue).

4) If the camera body had a USB2 or Firewire socket, (As many other olden days Kodak Hybrids had) surely a third party could add an accessory WiFi for a lot cheaper (Looking at market today for pc) of course that is surely not what Canon like to sell.

Bottom line, I like the idea for WiFi and am sure that the initial price will not be the one we will see in the street.

I paid $749 for mine. After using it the past 3 days I know it was worth it for me. I like being able to send shots straight to my website and have the RAW copy saved to my card. I also like the fact I can connect my WD 2.5" Passport HD to USB port and have the RAW files go to it while I can have jpg's go to the card.

That thing about having bluetooth incorporated, what did you want to do with the bluetooth? Control the camera? I sure wouldn't want to use bluetooth to transfer a RAW file. At 3mbit/s max, it would be mighty slow. Now if it was incorporated so you could use it for remote shooting now we're talking.

I do agree on having the GPS built in, but having to plug it to my Garmin GPSMap 60CSx via the USB port is no big deal. Actually I would prefer it this was as to not kill the battery that powers the grip.

I started a post about this grip in the accessories sub forum this past Thursday. Here is a link to the picture gallery of the grip and my 40D:

http://gallery.mac.com​/tristanmolina#100035

Link to the other thread:

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=380945

Hopefully me, function photography will be made a little easier, they can pic the frame they prefer from the laptop instead of my chimp screen!

No Bugster wrote in post #3991579
Also, what is wrong about this transmitter, in addition to lack of Wireless-N protocol, is the battery compartment.

I understand it takes one of the 2 batteries in the grip to power the wi-i/usb part of it, but what about a switch, that allows you to switch power to power the camera with both batteries, when not using the aforementioned.

It takes one battery in the grip to power it. The battery in the grip is dedicated to the grip and not the camera. The power is turned on when you turn the camera on. The other switch on the side functions the same as the BG-E2 where it turns on the functions of the dial, buttons, and shutter release. The camera body uses one battery as well which is dedicated to just the camera. I'm sure some will complain to the fact that you have to remove the grip to swap out the battery in the body. Doesn't bother me much. Here is where I bought the grip:

http://www.pictureline​.com/products/14902/Ca​non_WFT-E3A_Wireless_File_Tran​smitter_(40D)/

I called them before I bought it to confirm that they would indeed have this. They told me that I was the first person to inquire about it and put me on the top of the list. 2 weeks later I go an email saying that it was in stock and shipped. FWIW they offer free UPS ground shipping on this thing.

Also about the N protocol not being used. Not many laptops even come with cards that use one of the flavors of N, either Pre-N, MIMO, or Draft-N. This protocol won't be published till 2009. Im not making excuses for this as Im one of those that would really like this as I have Draft-N wireless in my home. Remember...we're talking about Canon here . I'm glad that they at least put G in this grip.

I just don't understand the $800 price point. 802.1g cards for a laptop cost $40. Next, someone who is willing to drop $800 on a grip is probably a pro shooter... but the 40d is not a professional camera. If this grip had a list for $499 and a stree price of $350 I would be more inclined to buy it.

Cheers!
Rian

Dr. Flynn wrote in post #3999620
I just don't understand the $800 price point. 802.1g cards for a laptop cost $40. Next, someone who is willing to drop $800 on a grip is probably a pro shooter... but the 40d is not a professional camera. If this grip had a list for $499 and a stree price of $350 I would be more inclined to buy it.

Cheers!
Rian

One reason a wireless card is $40 is because there are so many different manufacturers of such cards. Canon designed and manufactures this grip for one device, the 40D. Also, who says it's not a "professional" camera? When I was younger and used do roofing i used a $5 hammer for work. My buddy bought a hammer, a professional one that cost a boatload, for fixing stuff around the house only. Mine did the same exact thing as his...it drove nails into wood. I got paid for doing that he didnt. The point of this being, the camera is a tool, what matters is the end product of its use .

I will be buying this grip when the price goes down drastically. Otherwise, I'll deal without one for now but I will get one at some point.