MB-D10 Battery Pack for Nikon D300
It took me long to start writing the review for it, but I'm too limited on time and this is one of the things that always moved down at the list of priorities ;)
Ok, let's start. I'm too lazy to take a photo but you can look at MB-D10 page at Nikon website. You can find the specs there too. All I want to mention is the ability to use three types of batteries: EN-EL3e with comes with D300, EN-EL4 or EN-EL4A from D3 if you have it, and regular AA batteries or accumulators. Last two options - EN-EL4(A) or AA can give you much higher frame rate (up to 8fps) than EN-EL3e. And this feature was the only one reason why I decided to get this battery pack.
Visually the design of the MB-D10 is nothing special. But it's completely another feeling when you hold the camera with it in your hands. The ergonomics is perfect, especially when you hold it vertically. Nikon doesn't lie when they said they spend enourmous amount of time improving the ergonomics of it. They really did.
Given the choiсe between EN-EL4 and AA you definitely will choose AA's for a first try. They are common now and much cheaper than batteries from D3/D2. And you don't have to buy another charger. I already own about a dozen of rechargeable batteries. As you might know the MB-D10 uses 8 of them. This makes the battery pack heavy. And attached to D300 my whole setup with 50mm lens weight about 1.5kg. That's not a joke thing. Be prepared to the pain in your hands after the first day using it.
Now lets talk about bad things. First I discovered than Ni-MH rechargeable batteries didn't last long even if they have big capacity (mine have 2700 mAh). Camera switched to internal batteries after 200 shots. That's very small number! One EN-EL3e usually last at least for 400. The problem seems is in the voltage. Ni-MH battery have 1.2V comparing to 1.5V of regular alkaline battery. And MB-D10 requires 12V to work (1.5V×8=12V). So using rechargeable gives you only 1.2V×8=9.6V. For camera it looks like it has worn alkaline batteries inside. Of course you can set battery type at the menu but... it doesn't help :(
Alkaline AA batteries have their own problems :) D300 just doesn't recognize them! And switches to internal battery. That is well-known problem. If you remove the EN-EL3e from camera and put on the MB-D10 with AA batteries it works perfectly :) And after than you can put off battery pack and insert the internal battery camera now see both AA and internal :) Annoying bug. Sometimes you should make the operation several times before it works.
That's all negative experience I'd learn so far.
Ok, let's start. I'm too lazy to take a photo but you can look at MB-D10 page at Nikon website. You can find the specs there too. All I want to mention is the ability to use three types of batteries: EN-EL3e with comes with D300, EN-EL4 or EN-EL4A from D3 if you have it, and regular AA batteries or accumulators. Last two options - EN-EL4(A) or AA can give you much higher frame rate (up to 8fps) than EN-EL3e. And this feature was the only one reason why I decided to get this battery pack.
Visually the design of the MB-D10 is nothing special. But it's completely another feeling when you hold the camera with it in your hands. The ergonomics is perfect, especially when you hold it vertically. Nikon doesn't lie when they said they spend enourmous amount of time improving the ergonomics of it. They really did.
Given the choiсe between EN-EL4 and AA you definitely will choose AA's for a first try. They are common now and much cheaper than batteries from D3/D2. And you don't have to buy another charger. I already own about a dozen of rechargeable batteries. As you might know the MB-D10 uses 8 of them. This makes the battery pack heavy. And attached to D300 my whole setup with 50mm lens weight about 1.5kg. That's not a joke thing. Be prepared to the pain in your hands after the first day using it.
Now lets talk about bad things. First I discovered than Ni-MH rechargeable batteries didn't last long even if they have big capacity (mine have 2700 mAh). Camera switched to internal batteries after 200 shots. That's very small number! One EN-EL3e usually last at least for 400. The problem seems is in the voltage. Ni-MH battery have 1.2V comparing to 1.5V of regular alkaline battery. And MB-D10 requires 12V to work (1.5V×8=12V). So using rechargeable gives you only 1.2V×8=9.6V. For camera it looks like it has worn alkaline batteries inside. Of course you can set battery type at the menu but... it doesn't help :(
Alkaline AA batteries have their own problems :) D300 just doesn't recognize them! And switches to internal battery. That is well-known problem. If you remove the EN-EL3e from camera and put on the MB-D10 with AA batteries it works perfectly :) And after than you can put off battery pack and insert the internal battery camera now see both AA and internal :) Annoying bug. Sometimes you should make the operation several times before it works.
That's all negative experience I'd learn so far.