Don't buy a Panasonic camera, or update Firmware one one, till you have read this!

buglawton

A firmware update will prevent you using generic batteries (even those already working in the camera), and I assume that all new Panasonic cameras will come loaded with this.

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/06/25/panasonic_battery_drm/

Pity, this means that the last Panny camera I bought was the last I'll ever buy of that brand.

avantra

This is due to some after market Chinese made batteries exploding and damaging camera and photographer (according to DP Review), can't see what's the big deal spending a bit extra to safeguard you and your equipment good move in my book.

fwor

avantra wrote: »

good move in my book.

If you look at the extortionate prices that Panasonic (and other camera manufacturers such as Canon) charge for "genuine" batteries with their brand name printed on them, it's hard to see it as a good move.

For example, if you buy a "compatible" version of the NB-2LH battery used in many Canon digital cameras, it will cost about £6 (source: 7dayshop). If you buy an original one it will cost at least £50 (7dayshop sell them at £51, Jessops want £55).

That doesn't look to be "a bit extra" to me. I gave a Canon example, but Panasonic are pretty much the same.

Panasonic's move is the sort of thing that Neelie Kroes department should be looking at, rather than wasting their time on academic disputes with Microsoft about bundled browsers (IMHO, of course).

buglawton

Whenever missus & I upgrade/buy a new camera, within a week or 2 of the purchase I order a good brand substitute battery, costing 25% of the camera maker's brand price. This is cos we always carry 1 spare charged battery on hols for each cameras (happen to have 2 Pannys right now). So this move by Panny, had it been done earlier, would have added £80-odd to cost of buying the kit. We would of course have avoided Panasonic in that case. Wonder if their marketing people are reading this thread? Certainly the UK resellers must be incensed.

Jaffa.

Don't mess with the firmware then

if it's working - leave it alone?