MtManMD Loc: Beaverton, Oregon

Like many, I've resisted buying spare OEM-branded camera batteries due to their cost compared to 3rd party batteries. I've used 3rd party batteries interchanging them with OEM batteries for years.

During a recent trip to the Tetons my Canon R5 was shooting fine during the day, however when I went to download images in the evening the camera wouldn't turn on. Popped the battery out and charged it about 20-minutes then put it back in. Camera turned on and displayed a message asking if this was a Canon branded battery. Either a Y or N response (with either Canon or non-Canon batteries) resulted in a display of "Battery may be counterfeit, shutting down to protect you". After returning home and preparing to call Canon support, the camera came on and appeared to be working, but then I quickly noticed many of the buttons were not working.

Shipped it to Canon repair (ouch the cost of insuring it with UPS!) and a $496 repair bill later the camera is now working fine again. All 3rd party batteries have been disposed of, and a new $79 Canon battery on order (out of stock and back ordered of course). Fortunately, I now have the R5 and R7 bodies that use the same batteries.

Lesson learned the hard way.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Translation? : We don't want you using any batteries but ours.???
Same with printer ink?

gwilliams6

Sorry to hear about your issues.

For my Sony cameras that i have owned A6500, A7RII, A7RIII, A7III, A9, and current A1, A7RIV, A7SIII I have used both RavPower and Wassabi third party batteries for years for my professional and personal use around the world, without any incidents, as well as Sony OEM batteries .

Yes the newer Sony models will display that you are not using a OEM battery, but they give you the choice to continue using it. I just say yes and go on with my shooting. Never any shutdowns or corrupted camera or memory cards.

Canon cameras may be more sensitive to non-OEM batteries.

I dont know what batteries you used but as long as they have passed the same OEM battery protocols, and have the same voltage and amperage, you should be fine, but maybe not with Canon. My guess, your third-party batteries were not delivering the correct voltage, and yes that can cause camera circuit damage.

Canon has also told all third=party lens makers to stop in releasing any RF lenses.

Here is a test of all the non-OEM batteries for Sony cameras.

ULTIMATE TEST: I BOUGHT EVERY Sony NP- FZ100 battery from AMAZON!!! - Here's the RESULTS!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhuNddhABDw

Cheers and best to you.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Canon batteries apparently communicate with the more intelligent and sophisticated cameras different from other brands.
Older non sophisticated Canon cameras also use non Canon batteries just fine. I have a spare R7 battery also on backorder and will not use non Canon batteries with such a sophisticated piece of equipment.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Probably a new addition to the newer cameras.
I have one OEM and five third party batteries.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I only use OEM batteries. My thought is, if something were to happen to the battery and that damaged the camera, big expense. So you have noted. Why gamble?
--Bob

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

12 years so far for me. I've had third-party batteries eventually quit holding a charge, but no other problems.
(But I didn't say that...just in case they'll hear me.)

BebuLamar

I would use third party batteries if the OEM batteries are no longer available. If OEM batteries are available I would use OEM batteries.

bikinkawboy Loc: north central Missouri

Just like the way years ago you could refill an empty printer ink cartridge and it would work, but then it got where you could refill it but it would never work again after that. Manufacturers insuring you buy their high dollar supplies.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

This is a recurring argument with no real traction on either side. The reality is that you just have to try the batteries that you want to use in the camera where you want to use them and see what happens.

I can tell you that I've tried ProMaster and other batteries when OEM batteries were not available for one reason or another. Yes, the camera powers up, and yes, it takes pictures fine. But the battery doesn't communicate properly with the camera. It doesn't convey correct charge level information, and it doesn't reset the shot counter. So the question becomes, "what else is it not doing correctly?"

Is it going to harm my camera? My guess after 5 or so years is probably not. But who knows, since it is doing at least two things wrong?

I've not bought any other third party batteries since seeing what is going on, and have no plans to do so in the future. The small savings aren't worth the inconvenience and uncertainty to me. You have to decide for yourself what level of risk is acceptable to you.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Some third party batteries are ok and some are not. There's more to oem Canon and Nikon batteries than just a few storage cells. I have a few third party LP-E6 batteries, that were not cheap, that have given me no problems at all. A while back I took apart a Canon LP-E6 battery to replace the dead cells and compared it to a cheap knockoff LP-E6 battery and the cheap one didn't have the circuitry the good one had. I also did the same comparison to a high end third party LP-E6 battery and it too was loaded with circuitry. If you're going to buy aftermarket stuff, get the good aftermarket stuff, and avoid being bitten...

Remember the Canon commercial where the guy was shooting his family and the camera caught on fire because of a cheap LP-E6 knockoff battery?!

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

cmc4214 Loc: S.W. Pennsylvania

You say the camera was working fine earlier in the day, What makes you think the problem was caused by the battery, and not a camera problem to begin with. I find it hard to believe that a battery would cause some of the buttons to not work.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

I have never used OEM except when new supplied with the camera. If a camera company has a self-destruct built in to require OEM only batteries, that is a company I would never deal with.

Reality, if you have a GM car, you do not need to use Delco Batteries; 12/14 V is 12/14 V Amp-hours and Life may vary. The chemistry is the same, likewise with Lithium Batteries. Do not think that China has a special factory for Canon Only batteries. Chemistry is the same, life and amp hours vary... after market often greater.
https://www.batteryeducation.com/2012/12/what-is-the-difference-between-an-aftermarket-battery-and-an-oem-battery.html

Overheating?
"Once your camera exceeds the maximum operating temperature, it will automatically initiate the safety procedure, which will shut it down." That trigger is not in the battery.
"A well-known case is the Canon EOS R5, which overheated within minutes before Canon released a firmware update that fixed the issue. Something similar happened with Sony cameras, but it wasn’t as bad as the R5."
https://www.eventlive.pro/blog/keep-your-cameras-from-overheating-during-live-stream

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

That sounds kinda fishy. You used that battery for a while, right? And it worked fine, right? Why would the camera wait that long to trigger a "warning" and shut down? Looking online, the only possible damage a battery could cause, aside from going up in flames, is corrosion of the terminals. If that happens, you clean the contacts. I've used generic batteries in everything - forever. One camera told me the battery was not from the company. I don't know what camera that was, but I'm sure I don't have it because I use generics in everything.

Do Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Fuji have large factories where they make batteries? Of course not, and neither do Ford, or GM, or Toyota.

Manufacturers are taking more and more control of the products we buy from them. If you haven't heard of "Right to Repair," look it up. Pretty soon, only dealers will be able to work on products.