Counterfeit Batteries

[Cadwell]

It seems there are a number of counterfeit batteries doing the rounds pretending to be Canon, Nikon, Olympus and Panasonic originals.

There's a website here

CIPA?Lithium-ion Battery Packs for Digital Cameras Notice Concerning Counterfeit Battery Packs

with some help identifying them

and some fairly graphic examples of what can go wrong here

CIPA?Lithium-ion Battery Packs for Digital Cameras Notice Concerning Counterfeit Battery Packs

Lots more information on the CIPA home page

Don't get caught out and risk damage to your expensive camera.

*note these are counterfeit batteries, not off-brand but reputable ones from the likes of Energizer.

[Mark W]

thanks for the warning Glenn.

[Piano]

I know this thread is a bit old but thought I'd ask the question. Canon batteries are very expensive compared to other alternatives and clearly one wouldn't touch the counterfeit ones - if you managed to spot them that is. But, are there reputable ones that will do the same job as the Canon ones, just a bit more cost effective? Anyone got recommendations? I'm looking for the LP-E6 type for the 5D MK ii.

[neptuno]

The problem is that anything other than the genuine Canon battery wont register the battery info on the lcd, ie shots taken and charge left and additionally wont charge in the canon charger. My wife has a spare non Canon one which came with its own charger and whilst it works fine as a back up, she has no idea when it will run out until it does

Stan

[Piano]

That's what I thought I'd read - don't think I can be doing with that kind of problem. I've got enough things to think about when I look at the screen without worrying if I'm going to run out of juice as well.

[Brian N]

The problem is that anything other than the genuine Canon battery wont register the battery info on the lcd, ie shots taken and charge left and additionally wont charge in the canon charger.

I think that that needs a bit of qualification for those of us at the cheaper Canon body end of the market! I have a couple of Canon plus one Hahnel battery for my 40D and swap them around freely in the grip and Canon charger. Using the two-battery grip, I get a battery state indicator in the full/half/empty display but have never gone low enough for it to matter - a couple of freshly-charged batteries last me a typical day's shooting. I don't get a "shots taken" counter!

[neptuno]

Brian

Brian
We are particularly talking about the LP-E6 batteries which fit the 5D Mk II and 7D. Cheaper non canon batteries from the likes of 7Day Shop etc are fine for the likes of the 40D, 50D, 400D etc and yes they will register on the front screen a representation of how much charge is left as well as full/half/empty on the lcd screen and will happily re charge in a canon charger.
The LP-E6 is completely different as they are "smart" if you like, and the charge and number of shots taken is shown on one of the menu options . It is only the genuine canon batteries which will give this information and only canon batteries will re charge in the canon charger

Stan

[Brian N]

I noticed that Piano in the post that started this particular discussion referred to the LP-E6 but it was not explicit that he meant only the "high-end" batteries. Had I not been an existing user of a non-Canon battery in my 40D I might have misinterpreted the thread - just wanted clarity for someone else as ignorant as me! I'm not smart enough for a smart battery...

Limiting factor for me on a day's shooting is the weight of the lens - the batteries last longer than my left shoulder can

[neptuno]

Hi Brian
Hope all is clear now.
Both my wife and I have a 7D and its quite annoying to have to pay close on £70 for a spare Canon battery ( the equivalent ones are not much cheaper ) when we could buy two for a tenner from 7Day Shop when we had the 40 and 50D's

Stan

[Piano]

[QUOTE=Brian N;105586]I noticed that Piano in the post that started this particular discussion referred to the LP-E6 but it was not explicit that he meant only the "high-end" batteries.

Sorry for confusing you there Brian - but I did state 5D camera. As Stan says, its a heck of a chunk of cash to stump up when I've been used to 7 Day Shop prices with the 40D.

[200Tdi]

If you just want a back up battery do you really need the shots remaining etc or is it the charger thats the problem?