Nikon MB-D200 Multi-Power Battery Pack for the D200 Digital Camera (Retail Packaging) by Nikon
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Digital camera reviews of Nikon MB-D200 Multi-Power Battery Pack for the D200 Digital Camera (Retail Packaging)
Digital camera Review: Plasticky but nice
Summary: 4 Stars
In comparisment to the D200 body this grip feels very cheap and plasticky. Also the doors to the battery compartment look like they won't last long.
But those are the only bad things about this grip. It works as it should while adding an extra weight and better balance to the camera.
Digital camera Review: Poor Build Quality
Summary: 2 Stars
I have owned the MB D200 Battery Pack/Grip for eight months. Although the unit functions as designed and is helpful for extending the battery life of the D200, I've found the build quality is greatly lacking. I'm a commercial photographer and often shoot a thousand or more images to accomplish a single assignment. I wanted to improve the "feel" of the D200 and to be able to shoot for extended periods without changing batteries. Unfortunately within three months, the two white battery retaining clips broke off while making quick battery changes. The unit still functioned, however recently the main battery door will no longer stay closed. I have to use a strip of gaffers tape to keep it shut to avoid having the batteries fall out while shooting. I'm sending the MBD200 in for service this week. But I'm very disappointed that a better system wasn't designed to retain the batteries within the grip and a better locking system on the main battery compartment door. The MB is not up o the excellent build quality of the Nikon D200 camera itself. Since only Nikon produces this item, I'm at their mercy for engineering a reliable piece of equipment. The D200 camera is outstanding, but the battery pack/grip accessory leaves a lot to be desired.
UPDATE: May, 2007: The repaired MBD200 was returned after about three weeks at Nikon. In January 2007, the battery retention clips broke again!!! So I'm back to taping the battery door closed. The design is defective. Unfortunately, the grip is now out of warranty.
Digital camera Review: Power pack advantage
Summary: 5 Stars
The pack holds two EN_EL3 batteries and makes holding the camera even easier. By checking the battery power you can determine exactly what percentage of power is left in each battery. It' heavy, but I like that in a camera.Digital camera Review: Quality, useful addition to D200
Summary: 5 Stars
After reading many of the other reviews (especially about build quality), I was a bit nervous about how well I was going to like this item. But once I received it, installed it on my camera and used it a bit - my fears went away. Yes - it's plastic and not alloy like the camera, but it is well made and sturdy (if it were alloy, think how much they'd charge for it!). I really like how the camera handles now - much easier to grip in all cases. It especially makes it nicer to take pictures with the camera in a vertical mode. Someone said that it's a problem that it only has a single attachment point (the tripod socket), but I found that once you tighten it up (which is easy to do with a large toothed wheel), it doesn't budge - feels like it and the camera are a single unit. Yeah, I wish the price were a bit lower - but all in all, I feel like it's a good value: the camera handles better (especially for vertical shots), you can take a LOT of photos without changing batteries, plus it gives you the option to use 6-AA batteries in case you find all your D200 batteries depleted (or if you just prefer to use AA's instead of the D200 batteries). It's not an "absolutely must have", but it's definitely a "really nice to have" sort of item.Digital camera Review: Seems perfectly designed for its purpose.
Summary: 5 Stars
There have been some concerns about Nikon using plastic on a prosumer product. But today's plastics can take abuse. Although I haven't dropped my camera yet, I am comfortable assuming that Nikon made it right.
As people who have handled the incredible D200 know, it is not a lightweight camera (thankfully). I am thrilled that the Battery pack doesn't add a ton of weight. The balance of the camera is still great and the grip surface is the same as on the D200.
I think you will find, as I have, that your people pictures will improve because the combined D200/MB200 unit looks so impressive that people know that you are serious about taking good pictures. And they put extra effort in looking good for your camera.
Any down sides? It could be a little less expensive ;)