>Question - is that a myth that you can damage your camera with these

You can damage your camera with some bad battery, yes.
Probability is very low, but you can. I think it happens due extreme discharge and very high temperature of the battery elements.
I do not think that it will be happening with GH2.

Although I'm one of the lucky ones that got hold of 6 Panasonic batteries, I needed some more and tried the DSTE (couldn't get Panasonic any more). I would say it lasts quite a bit longer than the originals, but it scared the heck out of me when it went flat. As Vitaliy mentions, the battery indicator does not work with these. From one second to the next the whole thing just dies, no blinking, just poof. As I forgot I was using this battery so I tried switching it on and off: there might just as well have been no battery: same result. I honestly thought it might have killed or damaged the camera, but as soon as I put a real Panasonic it, everything was fine. I was not recording at the time, so I don't know what it does when it dies writing to the card, but I'm very hesitant about using this battery again.

I like FP's video! I can totally see using two of those together, creating a housing that uses the tripod mount and also incorporates space for a wireless remote. Hey, just like a real 12 hour battery-grip! :)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ownuser-Battery-Holder-Grip-4-Panasonic-G1-G2-G100-GH1-/220759440799?pt=Batteries_Chargers&hash=item336649bd9f

--- it doesnt charge anymore

Help... I have the same problem with all my 3 DTSE Batteries for GH2..... Grrrrr
Any tips and tricks ?

Scope

No bin, please, dispose of at a battery recycler. I don't want it in my morning coffee :)

Does anyone know if the GH2 Panny charger will charge the third party batteries?
Or do I have to get a third party charger?
Had one in for about 2 hrs now, no light yet :(

thanks buddy,
looks like im sending one back.
still, for a 5th of the price of the Panny batts, its worth the hassle.
:)

Hey Folks,

Just now the 3rd party battery I have just started heating up considerably inside my GH2 - I had it on for about 2 minutes - wasn't even shooting or anything. Never had this problem with it before and it performed not bad. My Panny battery never heats up like this. Anyway I panicked and took it out and I won't be using it again - I could be just overly paranoid but I don't care not worth the risk. Here's what mine looks like:

@feha

I never do :-)

This 3rd party battery for cannon HF100,which has a led indicator,,,i have been used it for 2 years,,it works fine.
as i know, it is the bset third part battery producer in china.,but it didn't produce GH2 battery yet,

Any tips how to disassembly dead DSTE battery?

Something that won't work out of the box now, but maybe in the future? :)

http://cgi.ebay.com/8800mAh-DSLR-Rig-BP-Battery-V-Mount-Follow-Focus-5D2-7D-/320724659085#ht_7551wt_1344


Around $270 without battery (8800mah battery $230).
Providing 12V, 7,2V, 5V, USB 5V (nice for charging gopro, ipad etc), and HDMI splitter.
Some might think it's expensive, but compared to stuff like Anton Bauer etc (...).

(If it would work) Biggest benefit for me: longer battery duration for GH2, and posibly also powering a H4n and other stuff. BUT again, this won't work as of now. It would only work - if - GH2 would accept external 7,2V power (pana prevents this in firmware now - or something?)
Also, a battery cage with connectors (DMW-DCC8) or a DIY sollution would be needed.

If running a GH2 on 7.2V via external chord never can happen, maybe it's possible to use a 12V cercuit and reduce it to around 8.6 V (so that the genuine battery check won't trigger), but I'm not sure if that would even work, and if I'm tech savy enough for soldering etc.

@Vitaliy: Maybe impossible to say at this point, but is there a theoretical chance that the "genuine battery check" at 7.2 V can be disabled in future pTool version?

Also: Not sure if this is OT, pleace feel free to move if needed. Posted here to keep GH2 power related issues/sollutions in the same thread.

@fatpig yes, powering multiple devices simultaneously is essential. I expect that to be the case (can't confirm). Someone wrote on this blog.
Anyway, we can't consider this alternative running gh2 on 7.2v unless Vitaliy can do some crazy magic in firmware (correct me if I'm wrong).

@evero:
thats not a problem, you can use the 9v out, its confirmed working!
@madact: wow thats insanely high... no havent tried, but im curious

Amazon has also 1800 mAh GH2 compatible batteries
http://www.amazon.com/Capacity-1800mAh-DMW-BLC12-Battery-Panasonic/dp/B004XJ9ZBY/ref=pd_cp_p_pw_1
Kit with 2 batteries + chargers (for wall socket and car) costs only $25. The battery life indicator does not work on these though (see Amazon review).

If you have any experience with this battery, or the one from my previous post, please share your personal view.

@evero I just brought one of these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5V-9V-12V-USB-Super-Capacity-Recharge-Li-ion-Battery-/280726420534?pt=US_Batteries&hash=item415c993c36

Not quite as high charge, but much, much cheaper. I'll check the 9V output when full/nearly empty with a voltmeter, but it should work with the GH2. The USB 5V could be used to power a Zoom H1 and the 12V a monitor/light - the outputs can be used at the same time. Will also see if I can find a way to mount it on a hot shoe/15mm rails; potentially it could be a very cheap modular power system for the GH2 :)

I just ordered two 1930mAh e-cell batteries. I will do a small report when I receive them. It sucks that they don't show a batter indicator but I figured the runtime must be > 2 hours so I will just swap them in and out when I change SD cards. If it turns out problematic, I will order two original batteries for video and keep these clones purely for still shooting (so in the worst case scenario, I will just lose 1 picture not > 1 hours of video).

I still hope Vitaily can fix this battery issue in the firmware, so it always shows a battery indicator.

@Vitaliy Any chance to enable (with the hack) the battery life indicator for 3rd party batteries in this new 1.1 firmware for the Gh2? Thank you Mike

today i receive this 2 batteries http://www.ebay.com/itm/130542457807?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649. Almost 90 minutes of recording HBR mode 25p PAL with one battery. Very satisfied and for maximum safety i will use the non genuine batteries for half an hour each and the genuine for long term!

I am a bit concerned about these 3rd party batteries damaging my GH2. Vitaliy says they should be ok. Thanks for you info Sohus, do you have any links where i can read these reports of batteries killing GH2's ?

Vitaliy_Kiselev May 2011 : " You can damage your camera with some bad battery, yes. Probability is very low, but you can. I think it happens due extreme discharge and very high temperature of the battery elements. I do not think that it will be happening with GH2."

Problem: Because the GH-2 won't shut off to indicate battery is low. The battery just discharges below operating voltage. Internally the battery has a safeguard that turns off the output voltage when it drops to a certain voltage. Here is the problem. The stock charger reads the battery as zero volts. It can be charged. you will get the blinking green light. Charge for a while. remove, charge again. then your seemingly dead chinese battery will be fully charged. I have two and they are fine. Other option is to switch out batteries after some shooting so you never drop the voltage too far.

I think we should wait for DrDave's tests about them. In his post above he says he wants to try one. The price is worth a try.

I was not able to snag this battery as they all sold out immediately. If anyone has one, please report.

the word we have to search for is decoded- then the batt indicator will work. this site claims to have a decoded battery: http://www.ecvv.com/product/3141676.html

edit, also found it here: http://www.diytrade.com/china/4/products/9005220/New_decoded_for_DMW-BLC12_replaceable_batteries.html and here: http://www.ecplaza.net/trade-leads-seller/new-decoded-for-dmw-blc12--7668109.html

The seller (the recently sold-out ebayer) shipped me a pair two days ago. if nothing else turns up, I'll let you know in like 25 days if it works as advertised. In the battery grip-thread, @lsf2000 said he had two, and another two on the way. I PM'd, asking to confirm if they work properly.