I am considering the purchase of an EOS-3. What are my options for a bottom grip?

Has to hold AA's Has to have a shutter release must be sturdy (I use a 70-200mm/2.8) does NOT have to increase fps

cheaper is better...

-- Pete (gregarpp@icqmail.com), March 26, 2002

Answers

PB-E1 and PB-E2.

PB-E2 is the better choice, as it is designed for the EOS 3 and EOS 1V, while PB-E1 is designed for the EOS 1 and EOS 1N. PB-E1 has only shutter and exposure compensation, while PB-E2 has the main dial and focus point selection buttons also.

The battery pack BP-E1 is also an option, although this has no controls at all.

-- Isaac Sibson (isibson@hotmail.com), March 26, 2002.

Will these also work with NiMh batteries?

-- Pete (gregarpp@icqmail.com), March 26, 2002.

Pete:

The PB-E2 and BP-E1 work fine with NiMH batteries. The PB-E1 unit has a caveat saying that the older ones without a "*" symbol should not be used with lithium batteries--I'm unsure how that relates to NiMH batteries, maybe someone with more expertise could tell you.

I do know that the older PB-E1 unit is out of production so they'll be a little more difficult to find. I have seen a unit or two on Ebay though. On a person note; after using the PB-E2 on an EOS 3 and then on a 1v, I found it too heavy and bulky so for the past 6 months or so have been using the BP-E1 on the 1v and really enjoy it. I never did use the vertical controls much anyway, and like you, don't need the added fps.

-- Gary Russell (gr_russell@earthlink.net), March 27, 2002.