Smaller grip w/o battery as ergonomic add-on

Giklab · 04-30-2012, 10:29 AM

Hello everyone!

I'd like to know if anyone knows about a grip that adds some size to the camera, but not too much. The K-5 fits my hand perfectly, except for the little finger, which is sadly left to hang around. The catch? I have a Kata 144 DL I'd like to continue using, but K-5 + D-BG4 is a combo that wouldn't sit inside the way I like it. So I'm looking for a half-height replacement for the OEM grip. If I don't get an answer I'll DIY something.

lammie200 · 04-30-2012, 12:24 PM

Originally posted by Giklab

If I don't get an answer I'll DIY something.

I seriously doubt that there is anything available that isn't the same dimensions as the OEM grip. You could try an L-bracket, or screw a piece of wood, or metal to the tripod socket. Not very convenient for changing batteries I suppose.

eddie1960 · 04-30-2012, 12:26 PM

nothing available AFAIK. Some people have rigged things up for the KR and Kx though - homemade and generally fugly though

Giklab · 04-30-2012, 01:57 PM

Originally posted by eddie1960

nothing available AFAIK. Some people have rigged things up for the KR and Kx though - homemade and generally fugly though

Yeah I've seen that Turkish thing for a K20D-or-something

Quote:

You could try an L-bracket, or screw a piece of wood, or metal to the tripod socket. Not very convenient for changing batteries I suppose.

I want something that stands up to the camera's ergonomics. The batteries aren't that much of a problem. My plan was to buy a OEM-clone (the "type 2"), gut out the top metal plate & connectors and stick something below that would continue the camera lines. + add extra tripod holes to the bottom.

jessecad · 04-30-2012, 02:19 PM

Originally posted by Giklab

Hello everyone!

I'd like to know if anyone knows about a grip that adds some size to the camera, but not too much. The K-5 fits my hand perfectly, except for the little finger, which is sadly left to hang around. The catch? I have a Kata 144 DL I'd like to continue using, but K-5 + D-BG4 is a combo that wouldn't sit inside the way I like it. So I'm looking for a half-height replacement for the OEM grip. If I don't get an answer I'll DIY something.

You may want to consider WR in your DIY to prevent any moisture from coming in contact with the connectors on the bottom of the K5.

JC

Giklab · 04-30-2012, 03:01 PM

Originally posted by jessecad

You may want to consider WR in your DIY to prevent any moisture from coming in contact with the connectors on the bottom of the K5.

JC

Already thought of that https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-k-5-forum/180849-crazy-idea-re-d-b...r-sealing.html

**Ex Finn.** · 04-30-2012, 03:56 PM

Well, if your pockets are pretty deep, there are rapid prototyping services available. We had something made by Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) process. It turned out fantastic and only cost couple thousand

.

HawaiianOnline · 04-30-2012, 09:24 PM

Originally posted by Ex Finn.

Well, if your pockets are pretty deep, there are rapid prototyping services available. We had something made by Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) process. It turned out fantastic and only cost couple thousand

.

Heck, maybe someday a do-it-yourselfer could run down to their local electronics store and buy their own 3D printer. There are kits now, but low resolution. There are also durability concerns....

Giklab · 05-01-2012, 05:12 AM

Well, AFAIK the cheapest 3D printer is the Makerbot, which could cost ~1500€. Not budget friendly. And the durability bugs me too. The photo club I'm in is based in a technical school centre, and a primary school also has a sort of hobby club, using the school's tech class equipment.

tigerzen · 05-04-2012, 07:52 PM

get some styrofoam and bondo kind of like making a surfboard.

lammie200 · 05-05-2012, 07:49 AM

If you can make a 3-d model you can send it out for 3-d printing. You can search for websites that do it. It is not horrendously expensive, but it depends on what material(s) you want ot use. You can even buy a cheap knock-off of the OEM grip to get the dimensions. You can probably even get that scanned and modify the model to get the shape that you want. Depending on how industrious you want to get, you can probably sell them.

Giklab · 05-05-2012, 11:03 AM

Actually, I thought about buying a knock-off just for the top plate, with connectors and sealing ridges. But that scanning is one heck of an idea.

04-30-2012, 10:29 AM	#1
Giklab Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Slovenia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,182	Smaller grip w/o battery as ergonomic add-on Hello everyone! I'd like to know if anyone knows about a grip that adds some size to the camera, but not too much. The K-5 fits my hand perfectly, except for the little finger, which is sadly left to hang around. The catch? I have a Kata 144 DL I'd like to continue using, but K-5 + D-BG4 is a combo that wouldn't sit inside the way I like it. So I'm looking for a half-height replacement for the OEM grip. If I don't get an answer I'll DIY something.

04-30-2012, 02:19 PM	#5
jessecad Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lat. N35°19'87" Long. W97°27'27" Posts: 31	WR Originally posted by Giklab Hello everyone! I'd like to know if anyone knows about a grip that adds some size to the camera, but not too much. The K-5 fits my hand perfectly, except for the little finger, which is sadly left to hang around. The catch? I have a Kata 144 DL I'd like to continue using, but K-5 + D-BG4 is a combo that wouldn't sit inside the way I like it. So I'm looking for a half-height replacement for the OEM grip. If I don't get an answer I'll DIY something. You may want to consider WR in your DIY to prevent any moisture from coming in contact with the connectors on the bottom of the K5. JC

04-30-2012, 03:56 PM	#7
Ex Finn. Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern Maryland. Espoo. Kouvola. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,975	Well, if your pockets are pretty deep, there are rapid prototyping services available. We had something made by Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) process. It turned out fantastic and only cost couple thousand.

04-30-2012, 09:24 PM	#8
HawaiianOnline Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hawaii Posts: 613	Originally posted by Ex Finn. Well, if your pockets are pretty deep, there are rapid prototyping services available. We had something made by Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) process. It turned out fantastic and only cost couple thousand. Heck, maybe someday a do-it-yourselfer could run down to their local electronics store and buy their own 3D printer. There are kits now, but low resolution. There are also durability concerns....

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04-30-2012, 12:24 PM	#2
lammie200 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: San Francisco Photos: Albums Posts: 1,033	Originally posted by Giklab If I don't get an answer I'll DIY something. I seriously doubt that there is anything available that isn't the same dimensions as the OEM grip. You could try an L-bracket, or screw a piece of wood, or metal to the tripod socket. Not very convenient for changing batteries I suppose.

04-30-2012, 12:26 PM	#3
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	nothing available AFAIK. Some people have rigged things up for the KR and Kx though - homemade and generally fugly though

04-30-2012, 01:57 PM	#4
Giklab Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Slovenia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,182 Original Poster	Originally posted by eddie1960 nothing available AFAIK. Some people have rigged things up for the KR and Kx though - homemade and generally fugly though Yeah I've seen that Turkish thing for a K20D-or-something Quote: You could try an L-bracket, or screw a piece of wood, or metal to the tripod socket. Not very convenient for changing batteries I suppose. I want something that stands up to the camera's ergonomics. The batteries aren't that much of a problem. My plan was to buy a OEM-clone (the "type 2"), gut out the top metal plate & connectors and stick something below that would continue the camera lines. + add extra tripod holes to the bottom.

04-30-2012, 03:01 PM	#6
Giklab Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Slovenia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,182 Original Poster	Originally posted by jessecad You may want to consider WR in your DIY to prevent any moisture from coming in contact with the connectors on the bottom of the K5. JC Already thought of that https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-k-5-forum/180849-crazy-idea-re-d-b...r-sealing.html

05-01-2012, 05:12 AM	#9
Giklab Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Slovenia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,182 Original Poster	Well, AFAIK the cheapest 3D printer is the Makerbot, which could cost ~1500€. Not budget friendly. And the durability bugs me too. The photo club I'm in is based in a technical school centre, and a primary school also has a sort of hobby club, using the school's tech class equipment.

05-04-2012, 07:52 PM	#10
tigerzen Forum Member Join Date: May 2008 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 84	get some styrofoam and bondo kind of like making a surfboard.

05-05-2012, 07:49 AM	#11
lammie200 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: San Francisco Photos: Albums Posts: 1,033	If you can make a 3-d model you can send it out for 3-d printing. You can search for websites that do it. It is not horrendously expensive, but it depends on what material(s) you want ot use. You can even buy a cheap knock-off of the OEM grip to get the dimensions. You can probably even get that scanned and modify the model to get the shape that you want. Depending on how industrious you want to get, you can probably sell them.

05-05-2012, 11:03 AM	#12
Giklab Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Slovenia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,182 Original Poster	Actually, I thought about buying a knock-off just for the top plate, with connectors and sealing ridges. But that scanning is one heck of an idea.