11 replies to this topic

[dragon49]

Here is the main Reddit thread:

https://www.reddit.c...rking_with_the/

Google searches on the subject bring up the situation on other webpages as well.  Looks like a firmware update disabled the non-OEM batteries, as one of the comments near the top describes a third-party-battery that used to work but is now blocked with an LCD warning.  Many Z8 users with third-party batteries inserted receive the LCD warning, "This battery is unable to provide data to the camera and cannot be used.  For safety, chose a battery designed for use in this camera."  Ironically, the battery is able to provide enough data to the camera to display the error message, and was good enough to power it enough to take photos and videos before Nikon bricked it.

I'm extremely happy with my third-party "knockoff" En-El20 batteries for My P1000.  The disheartening news is now making me sure to NEVER upgrade the firmware on my camera.  I just downloaded the current, latest, (V 1.6) firmware and made a few backups, to cover the event that Nikon gets really scummy and has Snapbridge on my iPhone trick me into upgrading the firmware, or otherwise has the software or some other sneaky OTA trick upgrade it against my will and brick my perfectly safe and perfectly working batteries.

What's going here?  Is this really, really a safety/overheating issue, where OEM batteries are safe, and third-party ones are not, or is this an unethical, disgusting money grab?  One can buy the OEM from Nikonusa for $72.95:

EN-EL15c Rechargeable Li-ion Battery | Nikon

Or from B&H for $69.00
 

https://www.bhphotov...on_battery.html
 

Or they can get a two pack (same capacity) from Amazon for between $26.63:

https://www.amazon.c...01M27X25G/HJ1ZQ

and $42.42:

https://www.amazon.c.../dp/B08KSHD5X9/


 

[La Bikina]

Company tricks are so old, the PlayStation and Xbox users know about, sometimes actualize the firmware take consequences of third party joysticks and accessories that not pay further the licenses and stop working.

Here I think is the same, but we have an advantage camera works fine usually without the last actualization consoles sometimes need it for online playing, and you must do it.

Always before actualize firmware, read about what consist the actualization if you don't need better not touch the camera. Not only Nikon, all trademarks do the same.

And one free tip, collect all the firmware versions of your camera before still not for download in Internet, sometimes companies delete it deliberates. And you need the old firmware factory versions like 1.00 or 1.01, and it's almost impossible to find.

.... Remember if something is working better not touch it, Microsoft Windows users believe this credo.

[fallout666]

from this site nikon will not work with some or all third party batteries 

 

The Nikon Z8 Won't Work With Some Third-Party Batteries: Report | PetaPixel

https://www.diyphoto...n-the-nikon-z8/

[La Bikina]

To everybody :
So be careful with updating the firmware with the oldest cameras, since finding original batteries is expensive and difficult because there is no new stock. If the update prevents third-party batteries from working for our safety .... we're screwed.

[fallout666]

To everybody :
So be careful with updating the firmware with the oldest cameras, since finding original batteries is expensive and difficult because there is no new stock. If the update prevents third-party batteries from working for our safety .... we're screwed.

they build the camera not use them unless company's make way to get around thing nikon did make them not work. as for me will never get third party battery's 

[La Bikina]

Yes, I prefer to use original Nikon batteries until the batteries are out of stock in all the stores and the price is quite awful.

But for my cameras happened already, En-el4 and En-el18 are out of stock and the price is horribly expensive, so the only choice is third party ones, like it or not.

[Tony]

Company tricks are so old, the PlayStation and Xbox users know about, sometimes actualize the firmware take consequences of third party joysticks and accessories that not pay further the licenses and stop working.

Here I think is the same, but we have an advantage camera works fine usually without the last actualization consoles sometimes need it for online playing, and you must do it.

Always before actualize firmware, read about what consist the actualization if you don't need better not touch the camera. Not only Nikon, all trademarks do the same.

And one free tip, collect all the firmware versions of your camera before still not for download in Internet, sometimes companies delete it deliberates. And you need the old firmware factory versions like 1.00 or 1.01, and it's almost impossible to find.

.... Remember if something is working better not touch it, Microsoft Windows users believe this credo.

 

You are correct, Lupe.  It comes down to the old saying;  "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."  True story.   

[Merco_61]

The problem for Nikon is that half the BMS is in the chip in the batteries. If a thermal rush or some other event happens with a third-party battery that doesn't have the failsafes the originals do, Nikon could still be held accountable in some jurisdictions. This is a risk they won't take. There is very little risk involved, but the value is larger than 0.

 

There is always some unused parts in the communication protocols that are reserved for future functions. These don't show up when a third-party manufacturer scans the bus to reverse-engineer the protocol. This is what the original manufacturers use to shut them out.

[dragon49]

The problem for Nikon is that half the BMS is in the chip in the batteries. If a thermal rush or some other event happens with a third-party battery that doesn't have the failsafes the originals do, Nikon could still be held accountable in some jurisdictions. This is a risk they won't take. There is very little risk involved, but the value is larger than 0.

 

There is always some unused parts in the communication protocols that are reserved for future functions. These don't show up when a third-party manufacturer scans the bus to reverse-engineer the protocol. This is what the original manufacturers use to shut them out.

Appreciate the info.  

Just chiming in now that I've had my P1000 for a little more than ten months now and have had no problems with the "knockoff" EN-EL20 Newmowa batteries.  

There is no way I'm ever updating the firmware though, for fear of new versions disabling the non-OEM batteries.

[La Bikina]

Dragon49, the idea is that you have a backup of the previous version in the Hard Disk to downgrade it if anything happen. Or if the new firmware doesn't have anything interesting to you, don't upgrade.

My cameras are old, so I suppose no new firmware in the future, so for me not problem at all.

 

EN-EL20 Newmowa batteries, passed the test period.

[dragon49]

I'm glad the batteries worked out for you.  Regarding the firmware, I'm very happy with the camera, and it's extremely unlikely new firmware will have an advantages that would interest me.

Dragon49, the idea is that you have a backup of the previous version in the Hard Disk to downgrade it if anything happen. Or if the new firmware doesn't have anything interesting to you, don't upgrade.

My cameras are old, so I suppose no new firmware in the future, so for me not problem at all.

 

EN-EL20 Newmowa batteries, passed the test period.

[fallout666]

nikon said will be doing this for all new camera body's that come out. will make so only one nikon make will work on them only