Camera batteries on Amazon: I recently bought some extra batteries on Amazon for my Canon mirrorless camera. The batteries had Canon on them and the correct numbers. When I tried to...

Po1949

I recently bought some extra batteries on Amazon for my Canon mirrorless camera. The batteries had Canon on them and the correct numbers. When I tried to use them I got an error message and then a notice that they might be counterfeit and my camera shut off. Be leary of cheap batteries on Amazon.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Po1949 wrote:

I recently bought some extra batteries on Amazon for my Canon mirrorless camera. The batteries had Canon on them and the correct numbers. When I tried to use them I got an error message and then a notice that they might be counterfeit and my camera shut off. Be leary of cheap batteries on Amazon.

Do you see anything to distinguish these batteries from the known genuine Canon battery you have?

Did you purchase these from Amazon or from someone selling via Amazon? If the latter, what is their name?

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Po1949 wrote:

I recently bought some extra batteries on Amazon for my Canon mirrorless camera. The batteries had Canon on them and the correct numbers. When I tried to use them I got an error message and then a notice that they might be counterfeit and my camera shut off. Be leary of cheap batteries on Amazon.

Contact Amazon. They're pretty good about resolving issues such as this. It takes a while sometimes, but they are usually very good a taking the customer's side.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

This argument shows up here once a month. Many of us have never had a problem with after-market batteries, others only buy brand-name. If you didn't pay $60 for those batteries, they probably were not really Canon...

Canon publishes lots of info on how to identify counterfeit batteries:

http://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/explore/product-showcases/about-counterfeits/avoiding-counterfeits

I don't know why a counterfeit wouldn't work - how does the camera know it is a counterfeit and not an off-brand?

leftj Loc: Texas

Po1949 wrote:

I recently bought some extra batteries on Amazon for my Canon mirrorless camera. The batteries had Canon on them and the correct numbers. When I tried to use them I got an error message and then a notice that they might be counterfeit and my camera shut off. Be leary of cheap batteries on Amazon.

Unfortunately Amazon is not diligent about verifying the authenticity of products. I have purchased things like Apple iPhone and iPad power cords that said they were Apple certified and gotten a similar error message when I used them.

drharveys Loc: Holly Springs, NC

I have never had a problem with non OEM batteries for my Pentax DSLRs. Wasabi is the brand I've used.

leftj Loc: Texas

drharveys wrote:

I have never had a problem with non OEM batteries for my Pentax DSLRs. Wasabi is the brand I've used.

This is not the same. He said these batteries were represented as Canon branded batteries.

EdJ0307 Loc: out west someplace

sb wrote:

I don't know why a counterfeit wouldn't work - how does the camera know it is a counterfeit and not an off-brand?

When Keurig came out with a new model coffee maker a couple years ago they did their stock holders a favor by making it so the new models wouldn't work with anything but Keurig coffee pods. Turned out the Keurig pods had a special ink used on the pods that the machine could detect. They took a lot of flack for that and fixed it so the machines would take any brand of pod.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

sb wrote:

This argument shows up here once a month. Many of ... (show quote)

Canon batteries are said to contain a "chip" which communicates with the camera.

johnbhome2 Loc: Wyoming, Michigan

A pox on all OEM's who add code or otherwise manufacture products that can only be used with "THEIR" proprietary cords, batteries, coffee pods, inks. I don't begrudge a company making a honest buck but this has gone to far. It is just another cash grab as well as another parameter one has to consider before purchasing. More than due diligence is required when buying said product such as availability of batteries, cords, etc, as well as will these products work. As a example I have always used HP printers. My last printer after a update stopped working with the after market ink cartridges that worked before the update. The long story short is I no longer use HP printers. They have gone the way of the dinosaurs because of their proprietary baloney. "Let the buyer beware" is more important today than it ever was with the caveat will the said product work with after market parts. Just saying!!!!!!!!!

leftj Loc: Texas

johnbhome2 wrote:

A pox on all OEM's who add code or otherwise manuf... (show quote)

So what brand of printer do you use now?

johnbhome2 Loc: Wyoming, Michigan

Epson.

leftj Loc: Texas

johnbhome2 wrote:

Epson.

Don't they employ the same practices? I have HP but have always thought about Epson. Which Epson model do you have?

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

sb wrote:

This argument shows up here once a month. Many of ... (show quote)

It's a brand new device called a 'chip'.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Po1949 wrote:

Be leary of cheap batteries on Amazon.

Should that be your first clue?