D850 9fps issues - UK ONLY

trolley

So belatedly (probably due to not spending much money recently) I decided to look at boosting my D850's frame rate. Mostly due to my finding a reasonably priced grip.
But 3rd party covers, batteries and chargers - it's a nightmare!
I can't seem to get DSTE stuff in the UK. Nor Dr. Watson.
The end battery compartment covers for taking an EN-EL18 - £28 for a Venidice (looks like an Mcoplus one). I could get one from China for £10 - and it should be exempt from import duty etc - but I don't think shipping companies have a clue. Nikon is £36
Chargers? Not a hope in hell!
Unless I buy Nikon - and that puts the price up a lot.
There is one exception - a site called Grandado. But they're shipping from Hong Kong - so we're back into the Sales tax/Duty mess. And I don't know anything about them.
Has anyone in the UK got any suggestions? Amazon has some 'equivalent' batteries, but so many seem not to work/ be recognised it's a minefield

Pistnbroke

Most of it is on Amazon Grip ,battery " Durapro" EN EL 18 is fine £26.99 ,MH 26 charger prices seem to have doubled but available on ebay or try Bangood they are reliable.Grandado hae it a £47 .MPB have one for £56.use your credit card if you are worried .If it comes from the US add 20% for tax.The BL5 is cheapest on ebay ...look for speedpak and ignore their delivery time quote. You can just push the battery in without the BL5 to test it . Remember must be in Hc and Grip battery first in the menu.I sold dozens of kits of parts in the UK

trolley

Cheers Pistn - some reviews said the Ex-Pro works as well. The charger's the real problem. And the reviews for Grandado are 'interesting' to say the least!

Pistnbroke

`They have a charger genuine nikon at MPB.....£56

trolley

I did a search - it said none in stock I'll look again

photobunny

trolley said:

I did a search - it said none in stock I'll look again

Sent you a link to it, get it quick before I nab it!

trolley

I replied

Pistnbroke

there is one here item on ebay 373626364617 speedpak will only be about 7 days
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/373626364617?_trkparms=ispr=1&hash=item56fddde2c9:g:Yc4AAOSwPY5g1HXl&amdata=enc:AQAGAAACkPYe5NmHp%2B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkPrKr5t53CooMS

trolley

But it’ll be liable for duty & vat

Pistnbroke

Not in my experience thats a delivered price ..you are over thinking it all.

Pistnbroke

Just checked MPB have another SKU 1221413 at £56 you wont find cheaper.

trolley

But does the MH-22 charge all of the EN-EL 18 batteries? I can't find a reference that says it does. I don't want to get lumbered with a charger I can't use. Especially if I use a 3rd party battery

Pistnbroke

You want MH 26 I think the MH22 is for like D2/3 which had nicd

trolley

MH-26 is the one.
The link is for the MH-22 which was for the D3.
I had a reply from Nikon:
“ With regard to your query I can say that the EN-EL18,EN-EL18a,EN-EL18b and EN-EL18c Rechargeable Li-ion batteries will require the MH-26 or MH-26a battery charger to be recharged.

The MH-26 charge will support the recharge of the EN-EL4 or EN-EL4a battery, however the same does not hold true to the MH-22.”

Pistnbroke

There is this one on ebay 373626364617 if you get stung for duty add about 25%.
Considering the problems its a good buy. Or there is one at £29 ..probably just an internal fuse ..send it straight to me for fixing.

trolley

I tried one from China on eBay - but it wouldn't let me check out & pay. A warning perhaps?

trolley

So I have a functioning Mcoplus MB-D18 and a BL-5 on the way.
On to stage 2

photobunny

Ah, just buy a D6 man, it comes with a free charger and battery.

trolley

Not exactly free, @photobunny

photobunny

On a more serious note, I do wonder why that charger costs so much. There must be a might mark up on it when for most it will be a 'free' accessory in the box. Perhaps they'll go Apple route soon and decide everyone has a charger and no longer put one in the box.

Pistnbroke

The chinese knock offs are identical to the Nikon .They cost about £56 and the Nikon at least £265

PB_PM

Outside they are identical, but is the circuitry as well made? Good solder joints? Proper gauge wiring? Proper over voltage protection? Proper charge cut offs? Proper calibration data for the batteries. When it comes to chargers and power supplies, that’s not a place to get the cheapest thing you can find. Is the Nikon model over priced, absolutely. I would want to see an electronics expert crack it open and go over a third party one on YouTube before buying.

MrFotoFool

Too bad you're in UK. I bought a third party setup on Amazon (USA) and it works great but it's a bit too heavy for me. After only a couple uses I am trying to sell it and would take any lowball offer just to get rid of it (B&H was not interested at all on tradein). Shipping overseas is too much trouble, as I think you have discovered.

trolley

@MrFotoFool Up until recently I wouldn't have had a problem, but global shortages, boats stuck in the Suez & especially Brexit, means there's a shortage of stuff generally. I shipped a bit of kit to a colleague in Germany which he needed to take to Spain. Despite us being a large multi-national, had all the paperwork etc, and shipped expedited, to arrive no later than last Friday, it was due to be delivered today And he's in Spain without the eqipment!

Pistnbroke

Amazon UK do have a charger in stock ..the one that takes the batteries vertically for £60 search MH 26

trolley

I saw that. It doesn't have a calibration button. Not sure if that's essential?