Is there a substitute for the BLC-1 charger?

[dustyE1]

I have a prestine HLD-2 battery/grip which I enjoyed using with my E1. I never had a charger and don't recall how I charged this battery. Now, trying to play catchup I am looking for the BCL-01 charger. Thinking that I might be able to adopt the BCM-1 charger I ordered one. Alas it looks like I am out of luck. There are a few BLC-1 chargers for sale but for over $100. I'll buy one if I have to but for now I'll hold out for a used unit. Is there a third party charger which will substitute for the BLC-1?

[blu-by-u]

Have you tried Evil-Bay? I am sure there 3rd party ones.

[dustyE1]

Have you tried Evil-Bay? I am sure there 3rd party ones.

Yes, I have a search for the charger on that site. Haven't found a 3-rd party substitute yet. Thanks of the thoughts.

[blu-by-u]

If I am not mistaken, Olympus kept the same battery for 8080, E-500, E-300, E-330 and all the way to E-30 Other than the E600 series and the E400 series used a smaller battery.

The grip,HLD-1, on the E-1 however uses a much longer battery (PS-BLL2). I think you may be out of luck for that.

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympuse1/4

[griffljg]

Yes. The E-300 and E-3 use the same battery and so does the E-5 which was Olympus' last DSLR. They all use the BLM-1 battery.

[dustyE1]

Thanks to all for comments. Looks like this will be a waiting game on E*ay. The grip makes the larger lenses so much easier to use. I'll keep looking.

[Ian]

When we first launched this site nearly 20 years ago, Olympus gave us dozens of E-1 grips to give away to members - anyone here remember that?

[Bikie John]

There are generic chargers around - I use a Unipal Plus from Hahnel (a few years old now) for odd batteries for which I have lost the dedicated chargers. It is sometimes a bit of a faff but seems to do the job.

Sample link to Hahnel Irish website: https://www.hahnel.ie/irish-shop/unipal_plus/

Hahnel are a big operation so they are probably available in the US.

John

[Ian]

Thanks to all for comments. Looks like this will be a waiting game on E*ay. The grip makes the larger lenses so much easier to use. I'll keep looking.

Be aware rthat the E-1 grip takes a dedicated large capacity battery, not two BLM-1s (or even a single BLM-1).

Ian

[peak4]

The charger for the E-1 grip is the BCL-1 for BLL-1 batteries. (N.B. Not BLC-1)
There were several folk who reckoned that using the grip improved focus time with the larger lenses; I didn't notice it much myself, as I the got the E-3, & later the E-5, before I purchased the bigger glass.

In the UK there still seems to be after market charger & batteries available if you search hard enough; or maybe just fall lucky.
This seems stupidly cheap, but I'm not sure if they ship outside UK/Europe

https://www.batteries-mart.co.uk/charger/olympus/ecoy003su.htm#

See also, where you will see another link, to what appears to be the same charger at a higher price

https://www.batteries-mart.co.uk/digital-camera-battery/olympus-ps-bll1.htm

[dustyE1]

The charger for the E-1 grip is the BCL-1 for BLL-1 batteries. (N.B. Not BLC-1)

Thanks Bill of the correction and with that I found this...

https://www.battery-for-camcorder.com/chargers.php/olympus+BCL-1+charger.htm?gclid=CjwKCAiA-vOsBhAAEiwAIWR0TQe9tbfk7S9oMAIGwqpNTrYRWXgx2e2aq3kIHcVvwm34Ps_mVEnewhoCBCsQAvD_BwE

I am building a small collection of these things which all look alike. Hoping that this one does the trick. Meanwhile I have it on my KEH wish list.

Btw - I really enjoyed looking at the PUMP HOUSE pic in your collection, How would you compare the IQ between the E1, E3 and E5?

Thanks again!

[peak4]

Each was on onward progression of the previous, though I do like the colours of the E-1.
E-3 was/is good, with higher usable iso then the E-1, better monitor etc, and again the E-5 improved on most if not all aspects.
These days I normally use the E-M1 Mk1 & 2 or E-M1x, very occasionally the original EM-5 when I take out the 3.5mm fisheye, as the 220° angle captured the hand grip.