Just bought an old EOS 600 (630) and am learning to love it. I see ads in local trading magazines/classifieds for 'grips' (GR10, GR20, GR30 I think). What are these? Do they all provide cable release as I believe the GR20 does? Why would I need these and if so, which is best? I have been able to work out most functions from reading message archives but: on the bottom of the right hand side, just below the battery cover screw, there is a small screw cover below a red mark. When removed it reveals three gold contacts - two small, one larger. What is this? My best guess is a connection for external battery pack.

-- andrew fildes (afildes@rabbit.com.au), June 13, 1999

Answers

Only the GR20 provides a remote release socket. You may already have one though, as the socket you describe sounds a lot like the T3 remote release conection! As far as I know there is no external battery pack for any of the 600 series bodies, with or without the GR series grips.

-- Bob Atkins (bobatkins@hotmail.com), June 14, 1999.

The GR-20 (standard only with the EOS 620) and the GR-30 (standard with the EOS 600/630, 650, RT) are the same size, but as Bob mentioned, the GR-20 has a T3 remote socket. The GR-20 accepts T3 accessories, including the Remote Switch RS-60T3.

The GR-10 (also known as the "GR-10L") has no remote socket but is about 3/4" (2cm) longer than the GR-20/GR-30 grips and makes it easier to grip the camera. The GR-10L also comes with a padded hand strap.

-- Dave Herzstein (dherzstein@juno.com), June 14, 1999.

Gentlemen Many thanks for the advice. You're right, of course - I already have a GR-20 (took it off, examined it minutely and found the little ident. mark). Obviously, I'm living in the past - I assumed that a hand grip was some piece of bolt on gear, probably big enough to mount a big flash gun, sheet music and a couple of pigeons. I'll try and find an instruction manual before I ask my next dumb question. Regards

-- andrew fildes (afildes@rabbit.com), June 17, 1999.