BG-E2N users a question please?

Hi All

Until Canon in their wisdom bring on a model that includes the AF-On button as they already do with the wireless transfer grip it looks like the only way to 'mimic' that control on the grip is to swap the AF-On & the * button using the CF function.

So the question is ~ as you are swapping the two buttons functions the AF-On then becomes the zoom button for reviewing but does the * button on the grip being used as AF-On revert to zoom when using using image review???

If not then its bad application by Canon IMO but having said that what I find interesting is that the wireless grip "connects" via the special terminal under rubber cover so perhaps we have an example of the camel design i.e. designed by a committee that never all met together but work off a description As such there are no connectors in the body battery housing for making a connection to have the AF-On button in the BG-E2n ~ but as ever no one from Canon would likely put their head over the wall and answer that one! Has Chuck Westfall ever been asked about this oversight???

Indeed if it were possible I would have thought that a 3rd party manufacturer would have brought one to market, wouldn't they?

Any feedback would be very welcome

Remember, the BG-E2n predates the 40D, and needs to function consistently for every camera it fits, from the 20D on. The wireless grip, as you note, uses a separate connector for control connections. If Canon were to make a grip that took advantage of those connections (which didn't exist prior to the 40D; the 20D and 30D used a completely different wireless transmitter arrangement) it wouldn't fit the older cameras and they'd have to either keep both production lines open or build up a largish backstock of the older grip.

Hi Jon

I agree it makes sense to offer backwards compatibility but by doing so it leaves the likes of the 40D & 50D and maybe even the 60D (or whatever they will call) if they stick with the xxD overall body design out in the cold. Surely with two bodies now there could have been a newer design with the AF-On button??? Sods law tells me that shortly after I get the current grip they will introduce such a new one

As I remarked it is interesting that no 3rd party has taken that innovative step and introduced such an updated model???

Jon wrote in post #8419205
Remember, the BG-E2n predates the 40D, and needs to function consistently for every camera it fits, from the 20D on. The wireless grip, as you note, uses a separate connector for control connections. If Canon were to make a grip that took advantage of those connections (which didn't exist prior to the 40D; the 20D and 30D used a completely different wireless transmitter arrangement) it wouldn't fit the older cameras and they'd have to either keep both production lines open or build up a largish backstock of the older grip.

The BG-E2N predates 40D? I didn't realize that.

I'd think Canon could add the AF-On if they wanted to do it. I don't know if there is a way to do it on the current body's but they could add electrical contacts to the redesign. Sure it would be a worthless button on earlier models, but so what?

dan