Canon IXUS 240 HS
Canon PowerShot SX240 HS
Nikon D800
Samsung DV300F
Olympus OM-D E-M5
Nikon Coolpix P510
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ30
Nikon Coolpix S9300
Important Notice to Panasonic Camera Owners
Panasonic has issued an important notice to the owners of numerous Panasonic digital still cameras. These include a number of FX, FT, TZ and ZS models as well as the G1 and GH1 interchangeable-lens digital cameras. Panasonic claims that if you use third-party batteries instead of genuine Panasonic battery packs, overcharging, internal heating or short circuit may occur, possibly leading to personal injury. The company has therefore issued a firmware update to all of these cameras that enables them to tell if a non-genuine battery is inserted, and to refuse drawing power from it. This of course means that after updating your camera’s firmware, you will not be able to use third-party batteries any more.
Website: Panasonic Firmware Downloads
Panasonic Press Release
Important Notice for non genuine Panasonic or 3rd party battery packs
(Recommendation for Use of Genuine Panasonic Battery Pack)
Panasonic Digital Still Cameras now include a technology that can identify a genuine Panasonic battery. For the protection of our customers Panasonic developed this technology after it was discovered that some aftermarket 3rd party batteries do not meet the rigid safety standards Panasonic uses.
Some of these aftermarket batteries are not equipped with internal protective devices to guard against overcharging, internal heating and short circuit. If these aftermarket battery packs were used, it could lead to an accident causing damage to your camera or personal injury.
Panasonic’s Digital Camera firmware has been updated on this website to detect these aftermarket 3rd party batteries so such serious safety issues can be avoided.
[ Warning ]
After this firmware update your Panasonic Digital Camera cannot be operated by 3rd party batteries (non genuine Panasonic batteries).
Canon IXUS 240 HS Review
Canon PowerShot SX240 HS Review
Nikon D800 Review
Samsung DV300F Review
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Review
Nikon Coolpix P510
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ30
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS
Fujifilm X-Pro1
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V
#1 David Brown
You must use only Kodak film in your Kodak camera. You must use only HP/Lexmark/Epson cartridges in your HP/Lexmark/Epson printer. You must use only Panasonic batteries in your Panasonic camera.
11:38 am - Tuesday, June 16, 2009
#2 Joost
Ridiculous! So they can make their own batteries even more expensive? I own 2 Pana's and I would centainly not update the firmware if it were applicable. Worse -or better-, this policy might make me reconsider buying a Panasonic again if this so-called protection becomes a standard "feature".
9:44 pm - Tuesday, June 16, 2009
#3 Steve
I've used many 3rd party batteries, never had a problem.
Some bright spark in marketing I expect.
2:06 pm - Wednesday, June 17, 2009
#4 P.J.Coll
Perhaps if Panasonic were to provide a list of defective battery brands....Do I hear the word lawsuit?
3:13 pm - Wednesday, June 17, 2009
#5 Barry Turner
Panasonic don't really live in the real world.
I just purchased a Panasonic SD20 HD camcorder with a 'Panasonic' battery which only lasts for just over an hour. That battery is listed as 'no longer available' at any retailer you care to try.
The replacement VBG130 which is more powerful, costs £80.
Here's the stupid part. The SD20 camcorder is brand new. The replacement battery for it isn't available - ANYWHERE. Not in the UK or the USA could I find one of them even at this exhorbitant price.
Pansonic apologised to me in a short and sweet e-mail after I complained about the lack of availability of the batteries saying the VBG130 won't be available to anybody until the end of July.
Why then, given the high price and lack of availability of their own batteries are they surprised that customers will buy compatibles which may, or may not be safe?
Get you act together Panasonic and spend a bit more time supporting your customers than your profits and shareholders!
3:52 pm - Wednesday, June 17, 2009
#6 Mike Paterson
I wonder how long it will be before online sellers who bundle the cameras with accessories including spare batteries have problems too.
It's a nightmare for buyers and none too good for sellers too.
The only person set to gain out of this is Panasonic accounts division.
Not impressed Panasonic... not impressed at all.
I have a TZ5, LX3 and more recently the TZ7.
This is now my last Panny.
4:14 pm - Wednesday, June 17, 2009
#7 Phil Humphries
This is outrageous! None of the other brands have tried this stunt. I've been using third party batteries in 5 different Canons for years.
The charger should be designed to avoid overcharging any brand of battery. Isn't this illegal? Any lawyer photographers out there?
9:23 pm - Wednesday, June 17, 2009
#8 rob
I suggest that every owner of Panasonic camera should call or e-mail Panasonic Customer Support Dept. with a complaint. This is unbelievable and outrageous!
Not only 3rd party batteries are up to standard, but very often they clearly outperform the branded batteries. This is true even in cases of such reliable brands as Leica. I have 2 Leica-branded batteries for my Digilux 2 camera and 2 replacement batteries from Unomat (bought during a visit in Poland). Both Unomat batteries give me more shots and stay fresh longer when not in use. And they are less than half price of Leica batteries.
9:44 pm - Wednesday, June 17, 2009
#9 Phil Humphries
I tried calling Panasonic, I got a recording telling me the support center was closed. This was at 6:00 PM EST.
This is a cut and paste from their website:
1-800-211-PANA (7262)
Call Center Operating Hours
Mon-Fri 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM EST
Sat-Sun 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM EST
10:07 pm - Wednesday, June 17, 2009
#10 Name
So now I need to learn how to hack my camera's. firmware? OK, I'm ready. I already know how to stop my HP printer from printing light yellow ID coding.
9:37 pm - Monday, June 22, 2009
#11 Steve
I could not find an email address for Panasonic to register my disgust with their anti-competitive decsion. Was anyone able to find where to email to?
5:12 pm - Friday, July 31, 2009
#12 Bill Benson
You can rollback your firmware to 1.1 and undo the BS. The only difference in 1.1 and 1.2 is the battery check. I rolled mine back and no problems.
5:19 pm - Saturday, September 19, 2009
#13 Mike Thornton
Don't bother not installing the firmware - I recently bought a G1, also bought a replacement battery from a company I trust (local, not overseas, did not install any firmware and it will not accept the battery! The crafty sods are shipping new cameras with the block already in place.
12:20 pm - Wednesday, November 18, 2009
#14 J-Boy
Go to Panasonic's website for your country, find the contact us form, or failing that 'phone someone.
6:45 pm - Wednesday, February 17, 2010
#15 sad
theres now a hack for the GH1 - increases in video recording time >30mins, increases in HD quality, Japanese to English firmware and more!!!
See here:
http://www.eoshd.com/content.php?166-Inside-the-Panasonic-GH1
for the hack (and to donate - please do, too because the hacker doesn't have a camera body on hand, he is relying on users to upload the changes so he continue to make improvements) go here:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=206788
7:26 pm - Wednesday, May 5, 2010