I have bought myself a 2nd hand film camera from the State when I was there in December 08. It is the EOS Elan 7E which is also called the EOS 30 in Hong Kong.
I have been looking for a battery grip for it since I’ve back to Hong Kong, partly because it gives me an extra shutter button when I hold the camera vertically (you will know how important that button is when you shoot a lot of vertical photos like me), partly because it let me run the camera with AA batteries, and partly because it gives the camera a much more pro outlook.
Bad luck, have been searching through the web and many 2nd hand shops and still couldn’t find one. Someone from dcfever.com is selling it together with the camera at $1,000.00. I offered $250 for the grip only and I hear nothing from him since then (my offer is not unreasonably low isn’t it? I mean, how can the grip costs 1/3 of the camera’s selling price?)
Eventually I sought help from Canon. I left them an E-mail, saying that I am looking for a BP-300, which has been discontinued since 2006. The next day a lady called me that it’s out of stock. And then the next next day another lady called me saying that they have found the very last one in their warehouse and I can get it for $610. All the conversations were conducted in a very friendly and timely manner, no bull shit or rought language used at all (see, I am asking them to find a film products when everyone else is shooting digital and that product itself is discontinued 3 years ago. I would not be surprised if my request is being ignored). I am pleased with that.
Yes it may be not worthwhile to buy a brand new battery grip for $610 when my camera only costs me $149 in US. However, this is the funny thing about buying discontinued photography equipment, you can always increase your luck in locating one by paying more. I do not mind to spend more on a battery grip at all, because the money I save for using AA batteries instead of those stupid CR@#654$@54654#!@%@# camera batteries will soon compensate the higher price I pay.
Plus, I do not have to pray and wait for a reply from the seller from dcfever. Thanks Canon for such a wonderful service!
Happy photography everyone!
