dkguill Loc: Elkhart, IN

I just recently received my new 5D Mark 4 and I'm enjoying getting acquainted with it. My initial impression is really VERY positive. I do have a question re using 3rd party batteries. It's no surprise that Canon is trying its best to make anything but a Canon battery uncomfortable. I noted that, when I insert one of my Vivitar batteries, I get the error message that says the camera can't communicate with the battery and it asks if the battery I have inserted says Canon on it. If you say no, it tells you the usual thing about not guaranteeing that the battery will work properly and it gives you the option to continue using it or not. If you continue, you find that the battery info in the menu will not operate, thus you can't see remaining capacity, shutter count, or recharge performance. Not a real big issue because the camera still functions as it should. The only other missing item is the little battery gauge that you normally see on the back and top screens is blanked out, so you have to wait until you run out of juice and the camera quits.

With the Vivitar batteries, I have always had excellent luck using them on 5D Mk 2, and my 7D Mk 2. Both provide normal information on the screens and there is no difference in performance. While it may be too early, I'm wondering if the Wasabi batteries that I see recommended so often on this forum have perhaps found a workaround for this issue, or if Canon has finally managed to make 3rd party choices irritating enough to force the purchase of Canon brands only for the 5D Mk 4.

Any recommendations, experiences, or solutions from those who may have gotten the 5D Mk 4 would be appreciated.

Another issue I discovered is that you apparently must use a pretty fast SD Pro memory card. I slipped in a Sony Class 10 card that only reads 40 MB/s and the camera locked up after shooting a few shots in succession. I switched to a Lexar 400X card and all was well again. This very nice camera seems to have champagne tastes and it balks at average speed cards. Not a complaint, just an observation that may help someone like me.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

I just inserted my Power 2000 battery into my 5DIV. (it came with my 7DII in addition to the Canon battery when I bought it from B&H in 2014). No problem. No messages. Everything is normal. It's not even the LP-E6N, but the earlier LP-E6, which is compatable for both the 7DII and the 5DIV. Some batteries just don't have the proper chip for communicating, but they still work just as well. Of course, Canon will try to push you to only use their brand, and it stands to reason that they won't warranty damage caused by 3rd party batteries. Although, unlike earlier types of batteries, Li-Ion camera batteries don't cause a whole lot of problems. Besides, Canon doesn't make batteries. They buy them from 3rd party suppliers. The only difference, besides the price, is that Canon's name and label is on the battery. As far as I'm concerned, buy good quality batteries and don't worry about it.

Edit: I also just tried a 2-3 yr old Watson LP-E6 that came with my 6D. No problem.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

It would be SOOO much better, if the camera is gonna abuse you and give you a lecture, that at least a VERY sexy voice came on did it instead.
The pill would go down so much better. You might even take the battery in and out on purpose!!!! LoL
SS

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Maybe we can get MT Shooter to do voice over lectures for yours!

Heck, I'd pay just to listen to that!

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Here's what's happened. There are so many Chinese counterfeit batteries flooding the global markets that Canon was forced to add extra proprietary firmware to their LP-E6N and other lithium ion batteries. This was implemented with the release of the 7D II. There are numerous after market batteries available, these are not counterfeits, they are not made to resemble the OEM Canon battery. There has been numerous problems with the counterfeit batteries both while charging and while in use in a camera. Cameras have been damaged by some of these counterfeit batteries. Canon has lost revenues because of counterfeit batteries.

I have about a dozen or so LP-E6 batteries I use in my 60, 70, 80, 5 & 6 D models and my 7DII. Some are EOM Canon and some are aftermarket. So far the 80D has only balked once with one of the batteries and the 7DII has not had an problems with any of my batteries. As for memory cards, to get the best performance I always use either Lexar Professional 600X or 1000X cards. The quicker the processor can offload the data the quicker it can process incoming data.

skingfong Loc: Sacramento

3rd party batteries have to be "fully coded" for it to communicate to the camera. Then you'll be able to see the battery indicator and other battery info.

dkguill Loc: Elkhart, IN

I appreciate your comments. Re the SD cards, you are apparetly 100% correct. I'm increasing my sd card performances to 1000x or higher. Per Adorama's consultant, the Lexar pro 1066 UDMA CF cards are recommended. I have one in my 5Ds and it works well. I guess you just have to update memory cards to keep pace with camera specs.

Suffice it to say that one can certainly use 3rd party batteries, but using proven brands is advisable.

dkguill Loc: Elkhart, IN

Thanks to all for your thoughtful suggestions. In my opinion the 5D Mk 4 is a fine investment. I'm just dealing with tech advancements

haroldross Loc: Walthill, Nebraska

I just tried my Vivitar, DSTE, and Powwer branded batteries that worked in my 5D Mark III and 7D Mark II and they all worked fine in my 5D Mark IV. I was able to register all of them just like the original Canon batteries.

dkguill Loc: Elkhart, IN

Hmmm...when you say you registered them, what does that entail? Maybe I'm missing something
..it wouldn'the be surprising.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I would absolutely use fast cards in this body to insure the fastest transfer from buffer to card possible. I use a Lexar 1066x CF and a SanDisk Extreme Pro SD in my Mk3, and the difference in price compared to a slower card is trivial compared to the cost of the camera. There's a recent thread on the difference in burst performance on a Nikon D750 (search on Samsung SD card vs SanDisk...) using a 40 MB/sec write speed card vs a 90 MB/sec. card, and the max number of shots before the buffer was full was approximately 2:1 - cheap insurance to insure you get the performance you paid for.

dkguill Loc: Elkhart, IN

Knowing what I have recently learned on this subject, I could not disagree with you. I was just surprised when the camera locked up. When you buy a new model immediately after its release, you worry about early product bugs. However, I'm pretty sure this was a case of using a slow card that couldn't keep up with the camera. Thanks for your input.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

The Canon "LP" series batteries have a chip that communicates with the camera.... That makes possible tracking a specific battery's "health" and will recommend replacing it when its performance drops below a certain level (Note: I've got some 5 or 6 year old LP-E6 that are still working fine and have been recharged dozens of times).

When you first insert an "unfamiliar" battery in the camera, it needs to register it to start tracking it.

dkguill Loc: Elkhart, IN

And this is true of non-Canon batteries as well?

cosmo54 Loc: Easton, PA but will travel for photos

Maybe its just me, and I'm probably going to regret saying this but. ......when I bought my 5Diii and 7Dii, I also bought extra Canon brand batteries. I figured after spending that much money, what was a few extra dollars? But like i said, thats just me.