(UPDATED with translation) New battery grip for Panasonic Micro Four Thirds cameras
The Chinese company “Ownuser” made a battery grip for all Panasonic Micro Four Thirds cameras except the GF1/GF2. Sadly the only info we got has been posted as an image with Chinese text so I cannot translate it with the help of the google translation tool. Some Chinese 43rumors readers can send us a summary of all the key features of the battery grip? What I can understand from the images is that they have three different grips and that there is also some kind of IR transmitter. The person that send me that news told me that they have made 1.500 of those items.
This is the website of the company with the battery grip page: http://www.ownuser.com.tw/mig_pg2.html
This are the Ownuser products on eBay (Click here) (didn’t find the battery grip…or is it there somewhere? I found the battery grip for Olympus cameras instead)
UPDATE: 43rumors reader “Kolen” translated the chinese text (Hurray for Kolen!)
“The first battery grip from Ownuser:
For Panasonic G2/G1/GH1/G10
MIG-PG2 with camera as shown:
Model description:
MIG-PG2B
MIG-PG2AB
MIG-PG2RAB
MIG-PG2 overview:
1) tripod 1/4 20 screw thread
2) External Shutter release input
3) External AC power input
4) Camera shutter release output
5) screw of the tripod thread
6) hand grip
7) tripod mount
8 ) Left battery cover
9) Right battery cover
10) battery to camera
11) battery contact
12) cable
13) shutter
14) on/off button
volume: about 12.6cmX6.2cmX3.9cm
weight: 110g
Compact, convenient, good build, comfortable for portrait
3 type of battery input for convenience:
1) two Lithium batteries
2) AA Battery (6A/8A)
3) External AC power input
1500 units produced globally, unique for personal style
MINI-IR 2B overview
1) IR output
2) focus
3) shot
4) Bulb
5) clear
6) 10s self portrait
7) battery
The camera with Mini-RHS 2
1) volume is smaller than the DX-RHS2 by 70%. Lighter and more convenient.
2) channel lock to protect interference from other sources
3) timer alarm for accurate dusk/twilight photography
4) Can used together with DX-51R 2 & Mini IR 2
5) Attached to the hot shoe on the camera, e.g. Minolta, Sony Alpha 100.
6) 360 degree rotation ability: can be used together with on camera flash
7) 2XAAA battery
Mini IR 2B
for amateur, indoor photography
channel can be locked to prevent interference
1) 5 key control, simple and clear, perfect fit
2) Focus and shot seperately
3) Bulb / 10s self portrait
Mini-IR 2B basic function
A. Channel lock (must choose the channel first, then lock the channel to prevent interference) (After the first settings, it is automatically saved for future use)
1) press for 5 seconds, red/green light lights alternatively and a beep three times.
2) press the shot button on MINI IR2B, it is finished after the beep
3) press the channel lock once again to complete
B. 4 main functions (IR function will consume battery life. Please shut down when it is not in use)
Focus is separate from shutter to prevent delay. Focus can be set as AE-L or AF-L.
Tele/macro photography
self portrait
LIVE VIEW shot
Single button control without menu
typical camera need to go into the menu for self-portrait, not so convenient
a physical 10s self portrait button is more convenient
in operation, autofocus green light will lights up first. red light flash once per second, continuous red light in last three seconds
(in the figure: autofocus indicator (green), and red light)
Bulb shutter can be used
bulb shutter has a function to prevent false alarm. only after focus, bulb shutter can be activated. Only can be used to end the bulb.
support longest bulb for 10 hours
dusk/twilight night astro
Rhythmic speaker supporting bulb
bulb has a function of beep per second. After activated bulb, use the control button to set speaker.
(In the figures:) control method: On-> OFF -> ON
press setting button once > ON
twice > OFF
again > ON
You can use one hand to control the remote and another hand to cover the camera at the right time.”
This is the website of the company with the battery grip page: http://www.ownuser.com.tw/mig_pg2.html
This are the Ownuser products on eBay (Click here) (didn’t find the battery grip…or is it there somewhere?)
Ben
3 years ago |Any more updates on the official battery grip rumors?
YouDidntDidYou
3 years ago |great news can see myself ordering one of these very soon
Bulli
3 years ago |Seems like a Taiwanese product, according to the web info.
artunee
3 years ago |From this picture, I think it is in Chinese, not Japanese.
hazna.com
3 years ago |MMmmmm delicious..
Rado Stefano
3 years ago |Nice
Mick
3 years ago |I’ve got one Ownuser grip for my E-510 and I can thoroughly recommend their products and after sales service.
GreyOwl
3 years ago |Tempting…..
Brod1er
3 years ago |I will be using my gh1 away from recharging points for 2 weeks in May. This could be an interesting option although it will probably be easier /cheaper to buy more generic replacement batteries.
I have yet to find a practical travelling recharger- solar units are usually not compatible with camera batteries and just don’t have enough power. Any ideas anyone????
Duarte Bruno
3 years ago |Did you see that it runs on common AAs? You can get enough of those to build you 3 or 4 sets and recharge them on solar.
Andi
3 years ago |If it is not too expensive I might order one(=
GreyOwl
3 years ago |Made in Taiwan.
Jerodequin
3 years ago |Looks like it doesn’t support the GH2 either (due to the new battery I expect)
khoumphonh
3 years ago |couldn’t there be atleast some continuity in design? it looks terrible imo.
Kolen
3 years ago |Hi. It is Chinese, from Taiwan, not Japanese from Japan.
I translate it In the order shown in the picture (put aside with the picture and hopefully you understand that, and I am not professional so I paraphrase it):
The first battery grip from Ownuser:
For Panasonic G2/G1/GH1/G10
MIG-PG2 with camera as shown:
Model description:
MIG-PG2B
MIG-PG2AB
MIG-PG2RAB
MIG-PG2 overview:
1) tripod 1/4 20 screw thread
2) External Shutter release input
3) External AC power input
4) Camera shutter release output
5) screw of the tripod thread
6) hand grip
7) tripod mount
8) Left battery cover
9) Right battery cover
10) battery to camera
11) battery contact
12) cable
13) shutter
14) on/off button
volume: about 12.6cmX6.2cmX3.9cm
weight: 110g
Compact, convenient, good build, comfortable for portrait
3 type of battery input for convenience:
1) two Lithium batteries
2) AA Battery (6A/8A)
3) External AC power input
1500 units produced globally, unique for personal style
MINI-IR 2B overview
1) IR output
2) focus
3) shot
4) Bulb
5) clear
6) 10s self portrait
7) battery
The camera with Mini-RHS 2
1) volume is smaller than the DX-RHS2 by 70%. Lighter and more convenient.
2) channel lock to protect interference from other sources
3) timer alarm for accurate dusk/twilight photography
4) Can used together with DX-51R 2 & Mini IR 2
5) Attached to the hot shoe on the camera, e.g. Minolta, Sony Alpha 100.
6) 360 degree rotation ability: can be used together with on camera flash
7) 2XAAA battery
Mini IR 2B
for amateur, indoor photography
channel can be locked to prevent interference
1) 5 key control, simple and clear, perfect fit
2) Focus and shot seperately
3) Bulb / 10s self portrait
Mini-IR 2B basic function
A. Channel lock (must choose the channel first, then lock the channel to prevent interference) (After the first settings, it is automatically saved for future use)
1) press for 5 seconds, red/green light lights alternatively and a beep three times.
2) press the shot button on MINI IR2B, it is finished after the beep
3) press the channel lock once again to complete
B. 4 main functions (IR function will consume battery life. Please shut down when it is not in use)
Focus is separate from shutter to prevent delay. Focus can be set as AE-L or AF-L.
Tele/macro photography
self portrait
LIVE VIEW shot
Single button control without menu
typical camera need to go into the menu for self-portrait, not so convenient
a physical 10s self portrait button is more convenient
in operation, autofocus green light will lights up first. red light flash once per second, continuous red light in last three seconds
(in the figure: autofocus indicator (green), and red light)
Bulb shutter can be used
bulb shutter has a function to prevent false alarm. only after focus, bulb shutter can be activated. Only can be used to end the bulb.
support longest bulb for 10 hours
dusk/twilight night astro
Rhythmic speaker supporting bulb
bulb has a function of beep per second. After activated bulb, use the control button to set speaker.
(In the figures:) control method: On-> OFF -> ON
press setting button once > ON
twice > OFF
again > ON
You can use one hand to control the remote and another hand to cover the camera at the right time.
inorog
3 years ago |and it’s not for GH2 … shame, we need some repalcement for gh2 pana batteries …
bookervrk
3 years ago |Perhaps Several month later, we will see the one for GH2, I’m glad to see The Grip, but i will not buy it, for replacing My gh1 with gh2 .
Esa Tuunanen
3 years ago |Panasonic should contract this company to make those also for GH2 and what ever they have coming unless they can finally figure out how to improve ergonomy.
Miklos Rabi
3 years ago |It is ugly. Very ugly.
And what a stupid power connection it has? See the left side of the left photo. Terrible.
Jules
3 years ago |This is an ugly solution to an ugly problem.
Battery grip was not thought out from the original design. …the A G1 with a 45-200 is not pocketable already. Imagine with a battery grip :p
Archer Sully
3 years ago |The uglier thing hanging off the side is the data connection for the shutter release.
GreyOwl
3 years ago |A practical solution to a battery problem for video heavy stills users. It may be ugly to some eyes, but if it solves a problem who cares?
joose
3 years ago |How long before Panasonic upgrade the firmware to make this incompatible.. The Gits.
Mal
3 years ago |All credit to Ownuser for producing something that Panasonic and Olympus should already have done. It makes more sense putting a grip on the small m43 cameras to make handling of larger lenses easier. And as noted the extra battery life will come in handy.
But, why oh why do they make them so bulky and unattractive? It could be 15mm high and no thicker than the camera. Once fitted it could look like it is part of the camera and simply make the camera look like it is slightly taller. It could have a huge high quality battery like those used for remote control models and be very compact as well. It could provide a better hand grip for horizontal and vertical orientation for those cameras like GF1/2 and EPL1/2 that don’t have a very good grip to begin with.
I just don’t understand why they cant make these much better for half the price.
Mal
3 years ago |I should have said that all camera manufacturers make these ugly things. Its a comment not just directed at Ownuser.
Angry Olympus Owner
3 years ago |Its a start.
Its not drop dead gorgeous, I mean by no means at all. But it solves the problem
If priced right I might buy one for GH1, and then get the official grip from panny for a GH2 later
Hope Panny announces theirs soon
pdc
3 years ago |Admin – have Panasonic announced such as accessory? – a definitely useful product especially for the GH2.
Joel
3 years ago |AT LAST.. Doesn’t look like a perfect solution but certainly better than anything Panasonic has offered… Ohh wait Panasonic haven’t bothered offering any solution?.. I will certainly buy one once available..
P.S. I don’t care about the extended battery or even the portrait shutter release, I simply won’t the extra grip bulk for bigger lenses (100-300, 45-200 and some adapted lenses)…
mclarenf3
3 years ago |Honestly, I don’t care if it makes the camera “look” ugly. Unlike some people here, I’m not taking photos OF my camera, but WITH my camera. If it helps me take photos more easily in portrait mode, or extends my battery life I’m all for it.
When I want something smaller, I simply take it off. Options are a good thing.
Esa Tuunanen
3 years ago |Exactly, camera is a tool and should fit like a glove instead of making work harder.
This kind battery pack/vertical grip would make GH’s entry-level standard lousy ergonomy more tolerable though ergonomy of controls wouldn’t get any better.
kman
3 years ago |Agreed. Until all of the 4/3rd camera manufacturers wake up and start treating their own technology as if it is something that they are proud of, then we need ugly accessories like this. We’ve invested in these companies, but they only give us promises of what they might be working on, and consistently delivering less-than-desirable line of accessories.
the 3rd party accessory manufacturers shouldn’t be blamed for making ugly add-on’s to our beautiful equipment. We should be blaming the camera manufactures for not seeing the need and delivering useful accessories.
juavel
3 years ago |I had one of these for the E510, the grip was OK but the comunication is done through the USB cable, that means that the USB connection door is open all the time.
RDM Photography
9 months ago |OK so its been 2 years now. So many on here said they would buy one once available. I am curious who actually has done that?
SO far in the past 2 years I have only ever read about one person who purchased this and he did not like it .
Please post about it if you have or had one and used it.