This is what he said -
" Nikon's latest DSLR cameras are not compatible with batteries made by third parties. Only authorized ones can be used."
You want Nikon you have to pay for it.
I'm good with that.
Consumer protection laws...interesting...wonder if that is what drives the price inequality?
Nikon D700, D300s and other products no longer shipping in Japan | Nikon Rumors
Is not the difference between a Nikon and a Mieke that the Nikon is in cast aluminium and the Mieke Plastic ? Mind you its still held with a single 1/4 screw and the Mieke has a very big metal plate in the base.
The price on the battery and lack of third party batteries is because Nikon has the patent on the technology that sends the code from the battery to the camera to tell the camera its a genuine nikon battery..applies to ~En-EL 14 and 15
Check out the INSIDE of a MIEKE grip!! This guy had a pin broken in shipping and opened it up! There is more this than you would first think!!
Meike D800 grip….the inside story! - FM Forums
It is not a simple product, as I first thought! So, the next question is.... can you use this EMPTY on your camera, no battery inside it, and not damage the camera?
In other words, just use it as a grip?
I may just strip the lead off and just attach it, never putting a battery in it.
The problem if you use this product once it damaged your camera, no one will ever help you out to get a replacement camera and that is the sad plain truth.
Sorry, I'm going to have to raise the "BS" flag on this one. Something goes wrong with the electrical system on your camera Nikon will fix it. They don't ask the "how's or why's" they simply fix it. This, my friend, is the not so sad truth.
There is a fine line between being "cheap" and being stupid. Giving Nikon USA $616 US
MB-D12 Multi Power Battery Pack from Nikon
for a grip and an additional $220 US for a battery (EN-EL18),
EN-EL18 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery from Nikon
you are just plain stupid. Call me CHEAP. They will never see DIME ONE from me on this grip at these prices. $836* plus tax sits very well in my cheap little pocket, thank you. I can buy Nikon glass with that and get more value for my money than being skinned for a grip.
* slightly less in Canada, surprise, surprise.
What you are seeing is Nikon tying to recoup some of the cost of a 36 meg pro body that is way less then the D4 that has a built in grip. Not many people are going to buy the D4 at 5900 dollars for 16 megs, when they can now get a D800 for 2999, and most reviews are saying the 800 beats the D4. If you are pro and need the extra fps boost and the verticle grip that $836 on top of the 2999 is still a bargain compared to the D4. Nikon is a BIG company, it really boils down to marketing and money. They have to deploy products to the entire world, think of how much that costs for just one camera body, and then they have to support it. When you look at it like that, it doesn't seem all that bad.
I disagree - the D7000 grip is over priced as well. As for the D800 being better than the D4 - you are comparing apples to oranges. One is not better than the other. I have a D3s & aD800 both great cameras both are very diffrent in design and use.
If I had the cash I'd buy a D4 over a D800 any day of the week...but then again if I had the cash I would buy a S2...but I don't so I'll stick with the guns I got and admire you guys...hahaha
What you are seeing is Nikon tying to recoup some of the cost of a 36 meg pro body that is way less then the D4 that has a built in grip. Not many people are going to buy the D4 at 5900 dollars for 16 megs, when they can now get a D800 for 2999, and most reviews are saying the 800 beats the D4. If you are pro and need the extra fps boost and the verticle grip that $836 on top of the 2999 is still a bargain compared to the D4. Nikon is a BIG company, it really boils down to marketing and money. They have to deploy products to the entire world, think of how much that costs for just one camera body, and then they have to support it. When you look at it like that, it doesn't seem all that bad.
If you are a PRO, you will NOT buy the D800 if you do sports photography or anything that requires high ISO and fast frame rate capture.
The D800 simply isn't up to speed! And, fire off a long burst and the buffer fills up! This camera takes stellar images, but at a price in some performance. I think a Pro will sling a D4 first and maybe as a second, a D800.