250swb
Well-known
I missed out on the v1.3 update because I still wanted to be able to use my aftermarket batteries in my G1. But the v1.4 updates seemd good enough to go for, so I updated my camera thinking my spare batteries would now be junk. But whats this..... it still works with my aftermarket batteries!!!!
I don't know if this is a full reversal from Panasonic, or because I missed out on v1.3, or is it the brand of battery I have? But it will be interesting to hear from anybody that went with v1.3 and see if they can now use aftermarket batteries again? And will this also be the case with the GH1 and the new v1.2 update? Perhaps Panasonic are a listening company after all?
Steve
I don't know if this is a full reversal from Panasonic, or because I missed out on v1.3, or is it the brand of battery I have? But it will be interesting to hear from anybody that went with v1.3 and see if they can now use aftermarket batteries again? And will this also be the case with the GH1 and the new v1.2 update? Perhaps Panasonic are a listening company after all?
Steve
Steve1Burton
Newbie
What make aftermarket batteries are you using???
Frank Petronio
Well-known
I've been afraid to update, I have some SIDO batteries plus two OEMs just in case...
250swb
Well-known
No 'make', they are just branded 'Digital Video Battery - Replace BLB13' got them off Ebay
Steve
Steve1Burton
Newbie
If panasonic use incremental updates rather than a complete update of the firmware it may well be that by skipping the battery update you have been lucky!!
ed1234
Established
To be honest, I will skip the after market batteries, had heard too many horrible stories of after market batteries exploded on phones. You never know which after market battery is questionable and which one is not. I am not sticking a time bomb right in my face.
Steve1Burton
Newbie
From what I can work out (someone just posted on the lumix forum) panasonic released a version of the 1.4 update that allowed third party batteries but quickly removed it from the download site and released a different version of the 1.4 update that then blocked them. Think you may have got an early version!!
JoeV
Thin Air, Bright Sun
Just to make sure, Steve should reinstall the most current "version" of v1.4 from Panasonic's website, and let us know what happens. If he loses use of his 3rd party batteries, at least it will be a good learning experience for the rest of us. What do you say, Steve? Ready to do the leg work for us? 
Myself, I have two Panasonic batteries, and have no problems, nor do I expect any. Heck, the price of one good polarizing filter is higher than a Panasonic battery, so I don't see what all the fuss is about. Photography, if you're going to do it right, costs a bit of change. I'd rather have peace of mind about my batteries when out in the field, than risk missing photo opportunities.
~Joe
Myself, I have two Panasonic batteries, and have no problems, nor do I expect any. Heck, the price of one good polarizing filter is higher than a Panasonic battery, so I don't see what all the fuss is about. Photography, if you're going to do it right, costs a bit of change. I'd rather have peace of mind about my batteries when out in the field, than risk missing photo opportunities.
~Joe
Steve1Burton
Newbie
Just to make sure, Steve should reinstall the most current "version" of v1.4 from Panasonic's website, and let us know what happens. If he loses use of his 3rd party batteries, at least it will be a good learning experience for the rest of us. What do you say, Steve? Ready to do the leg work for us?
Myself, I have two Panasonic batteries, and have no problems, nor do I expect any. Heck, the price of one good polarizing filter is higher than a Panasonic battery, so I don't see what all the fuss is about. Photography, if you're going to do it right, costs a bit of change. I'd rather have peace of mind about my batteries when out in the field, than risk missing photo opportunities.
~Joe
Joe, apparently you can't do that, once you have whichever version of update 1.4 installed you can't swap it for the other 1.4 version. Lots of discussion on this over at the dpreview forums. Think I lucked out as I have the re-issued version of the update!
JoeV
Thin Air, Bright Sun
Whatever works for you, Steve. I've been on vacation now for a week, in the US southwest. I'm currently at Pagosa Springs, Colorado. I haven't had a bit of problems with battery life, nor have I ever in the 9 months I've owned my G1. And I only have two batteries, not a whole handful like some others have reported. And I don't sweat about having to remove the battery from the camera if it's not in use; I leave the battery in all the time. I get great battery life.
If you're happy with aftermarket batteries, then that's fine. I personally don't care one way or the other why you would choose to purchase aftermarket batteries. But if I had to guess, it would not be because of battery life concerns, but more about cost.
As for exploding or thermal issues with batteries, that's happened to OEM batteries with other manufacturers and products, true enough. And because they're OEM batteries, you can expect to get some recourse from the manufacturer. I'd like to see you get recourse from a 3rd party battery manufacturer.
And your experience with Olympus batteries has absolutely no meaning to the G1 with Panasonic OEM batteries. I'm sorry about your Olympus battery problems, but they're totally unrelated to the G1 or Panasonic.
I think the most honest objection to Panasonic's battery policy is the firmware upgrade issue, where they're trying to lock you in to using their brand of batteries. I agree, that's a problem. I also understand their position vis-a-vis the legal obligation they have pertaining to product safety. But don't blow smoke up our @ss and try to convince us that 3rd party batteries are better. If my batteries have problems, I can expect Panasonic to honor their commitment to fixing the problem. Not so with 3rd party batteries. When you buy a product you're buying more than just the hardware, but the reputation of the manufacturer to stand behind the product. Buying 3rd party batteries is plainly and simply bone-headed, stubborn stupidity. You're not going to get your camera covered by Panasonic in the case of a battery-related problem.
It's your money; do what you want.
~Joe
If you're happy with aftermarket batteries, then that's fine. I personally don't care one way or the other why you would choose to purchase aftermarket batteries. But if I had to guess, it would not be because of battery life concerns, but more about cost.
As for exploding or thermal issues with batteries, that's happened to OEM batteries with other manufacturers and products, true enough. And because they're OEM batteries, you can expect to get some recourse from the manufacturer. I'd like to see you get recourse from a 3rd party battery manufacturer.
And your experience with Olympus batteries has absolutely no meaning to the G1 with Panasonic OEM batteries. I'm sorry about your Olympus battery problems, but they're totally unrelated to the G1 or Panasonic.
I think the most honest objection to Panasonic's battery policy is the firmware upgrade issue, where they're trying to lock you in to using their brand of batteries. I agree, that's a problem. I also understand their position vis-a-vis the legal obligation they have pertaining to product safety. But don't blow smoke up our @ss and try to convince us that 3rd party batteries are better. If my batteries have problems, I can expect Panasonic to honor their commitment to fixing the problem. Not so with 3rd party batteries. When you buy a product you're buying more than just the hardware, but the reputation of the manufacturer to stand behind the product. Buying 3rd party batteries is plainly and simply bone-headed, stubborn stupidity. You're not going to get your camera covered by Panasonic in the case of a battery-related problem.
It's your money; do what you want.
~Joe
250swb
Well-known
You know Joe, it is.
But the question that needs answering is when a post offering information regarding a firmware upgrade is usurped by somebody who intends the world to know he sits on the self-righteous moral high ground, about batteries!
I'm sure you'll agree, you see it a lot. Somebody asks a question or offers information concerning a product, call it XX, and a few posts down somebody joins in who has a more expensive this or that and suggests because their standards are so high (and therefore superior) they wouldn't be seen dead using XX. Its human nature I guess. People do the same thing when their kid gets potty trained before another on the block and say 'look at this trick he/she can do'. People leave the new car on the drive for just a few hours longer than normal, just so the neighbours can partake of the superiority offered by moment.
But I just never thought I'd get the old 'whatever works for you' sarcasm and be called stupid, stubborn and bone headed for buying a generic battery! Some people are so rude aren't they? Obviously having the money for expensive batteries doesn't also make that person polite. And all very curious particularly when you consider that batteries tend to be manufactured in large factories, and Panasonic branded versions will come out one door, Olympus out another, the generic version out another, and so on. It matters not who the factory is owned by, but the label on the battery is just as important as that displayed on a pair of jeans, for those who like the world to know how they splash their money around.
You might also want to question the logic of Panasonic imposing the battery ban regarding your smug view of supposed safety. If they have done it not to make money outright on batteries, they are therefore working very closely to a fine tolerance between battery and camera, which implies they have marginalised any safety tolerance like that found in other manufacturers equipment who are not needing to ban generic batteries. So while Canon can allow generic batteries because they have safety measures that can cope, Panasonic are playing fast and loose by hoping no rogue batteries of there own enter the market accidentally. Thats not much of a safety margin even for OEM batteries Joe, and not one to make anybody sleep well at night considering the exploding phones and laptops of recent years.
Steve