GH2 Help!! I wuz robbed!! Or was I?

B

berylium

Well-known member
Bought 4 off brand batteries for $40 from emaxland for my beloved GH2.

http://www.amazon.ca/GTMax-DMW-BLC1...2UB5780NRC5IR&s=generic&qid=1317159741&sr=1-1

None of them seem to work... does not charge in the charger and remains dead in the GH2.

My first thought were that they were fake, but it occurred to me that maybe the circuitry in the GH2 and the charger is preventing off brand batteries from being used.

Does anyone else have this experience?

Tried the search thing already.
 
Return for refund, or at least attempt to do so. Not your responsibility to make sure the manufacturer's product works in the way it's advertised.

Tried a few off-brands, and though mine work, I don't think they're worth the bother and the whole $40 each saved vs. buying Panasonic. Endurance is too short and camera feedback is non-existent.
 
It's worth it to spring for the real ones- the fake GH2 batts tend to completely suck. (partially due to Panasonic now requiring a special chip to sense genuine batteries).

Noah
 
i bought 1 genuine gh2 battery.. after tax it was about $90. i shoulda went straight for the DC coupler to air gun battery solution.
 
I got my off-brand GH2 batteries that go by the name of "Up-Start". Except for the lack of a battery meter, they work and charge just fine.
 
Thanks for responding, guys!

I've got 4 new mini-doorstops.

But I loathe paying premium prices for the Panasonic batteries... I'll give the "Upstart" batteries a shot.

JimU.... the dc coupler to airgun battery sounds intriguing.... if you have info regarding the setup can you post it?

Thanks all.
 
The first time I nearly lost a 30minute clip because a generic battery ran out of juice without warning or closing out the file properly, I stopped minding the extra cost per battery.
 
I'm still kicking myself.

When I was purchasing a new GH2 (well, used, but in minto condition) I was given a choice of either a free Panasonic battery or Tenba camera bag. I chose the bag instead, figuring the off brand batteries would do the job. I had no idea the Panasonic batteries were a hot item at the time. If only there was a time machine.... wait... if there was... I wouldn't be buying batteries... I'd be buying gold...

Never mind.

I had planned to shoot some interviews over the weekend with my beloved GH2. But without extra batteries, I must reluctantly dig up my old workhorse, the Canon t2i, with three off brand batteries that work-just-as-well as the Canon one...

Gh2 footage looks quite excellent on Youtube, for some reason. Here's a quickie test with the GH2 and 88mbps vitaly hack:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDhbxna7mS0




 
berylium said:
Bought 4 off brand batteries for $40 from emaxland for my beloved GH2.

http://www.amazon.ca/GTMax-DMW-BLC1...2UB5780NRC5IR&s=generic&qid=1317159741&sr=1-1

None of them seem to work... does not charge in the charger and remains dead in the GH2.

My first thought were that they were fake, but it occurred to me that maybe the circuitry in the GH2 and the charger is preventing off brand batteries from being used.

Does anyone else have this experience?

Tried the search thing already.
Click to expand...

Panasonic warned and had warned about some circuit in the camera that will not work with 3 party batteries. I had a good luck with some that worked with my Pal Gh2 version I don't know about yours. Can't blame the seller.
 
My two cents. If you are semi-pro or pro and need rock solid stability and reliability then this is a no brainer. Fork out and get the approved Pana batteries. Any other hacks and third party options may give issues somewhere along the line although they give great value. Someone somewhere had issues where his GH1 or GH2 got fried by the dc coupler method. Your mileage may vary so choose carefully. I have three and have peace of mind.:happy:
 
You are certainly very insistent on your point, henryolonga. But I agree (I think we only need to hear that message once, though).
 
Tuprware.... oh my gawd.... oh my gawd....
I love you! I want you to have my babies! Thank you! I was about to throw myself into the ocean (after carefully wrapping my precious GH2 in a waterproof baggie of course). My mini door stoppers are door stoppers no more! I don't even have to look for small doors to use them on! You have saved me.... MONEY!
Had no idea that the Hack did anything to the battery situation. Thank you, Vitaly!
The only door stopper I have left now is the Canon t2i. Too scuffed from scraping on the floor to sell on eBay.
Tuprware (sniff) I will sing your praises as when I stuff my newly charged batteries into my beloved Gh2....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top