Sony Cameras & 3rd Party Battery Warning 

For sure!

yes it is!

Thank you. And yes, now the A7iv gives me the warning when using dummy batteries. That really needs to stop from Sony, as I know a lot of people, yourself included, that need/want to use dummy batteries and a "professional" camera shouldn't slow us down. And yes, I've stopped penny pinching by trying to save $20 on a cheaper battery, I'm sticking with Sony batteries!

I use a Sony FZ-100 and then provide additional power with the FX30's USB-C input, but I make sure my external USB-C power is "Power Delivery" so it can provide the required 9Volts and 2/3 amps. Doing it this way, as long as the battery has a charge, the camera won't use the internal battery unless the external USB-C Power Delivery source runs out or gets unplugged. And even if that happens, the camera will then just use the battery in the camera, AND I can just swap out the external power providing Power-Delivery to the USB-C port, and I can film all day this way

thanks for the heads up , but thats so sad tho :(

@@void911 yes, yes it is. granted, it is ONE click that we have to press on the Sony Camera (clicking OK) to use a dummy or 3rd party battery, and I really don't think sony should limit its "Cinema" cameras in this way, but, I don't work for Sony

@@MarcusHutsell oh one click seems okkk, but is it every time I open up the camera ?

@void911 Not EVERY time you turn on the camera. The warning comes up every time you remove/insert a battery IF that battery is a 3rd party or if it's a dummy-battery. So, the good news is, if I insert a 3rd party battery, the warning comes up, I click OK. But, as LONG as I leave THAT battery in the camera, I can turn the camera off/on and the warning won't come up again UNTIL I remove the battery (or the battery is completely drained and exhausted), and then reinstall a different battery. Same for dummy batteries. If i put in a dummy battery connected to an external power source....I'll get the warning. and if I disconnect that dummy battery from its external source AT ALL, then the warning will come back up when I turn on the camera. But as long as a dummy battery keeps some sort of electrical conenction, then I can turn the camera off/on as much as possible and the warning won't come up. Think of it like this: If the electrical terminals inside the battery compartment "sense" an electrical voltage (even if the camera is off), then it will NOT show the warning. when those electrical terminals no longer "sense" any voltage (again, even if the camera is off), the camera will reset the warning and show you again. make sense?

Thanx a lot Sony!! Oye. Silly little things that they take away. And thank you, sincerely, for the info!

Upgraded my FX3 to 5.0 and same thing. Works but the battery status has gone orange with a no trespassing diagonal across the battery symbol. Such bullsh!!t Sony!!

Good to know. Yeah, I’m gonna stick with Sony batteries from now on. The only similar experience I’ve encountered when my camera doesn’t respond via its own controls is when I’m connected with the smart phone app… The smart phone app seems to override the physical switch on the mode dial on the A7iv. So, if you were in Photo mode on the app while connected the camera… But the physical switch is in video mode, the app takes control and the camera will be in photo-mode. And if you have different settings for all of the different dials and buttons for video mode versus photo mode, then the buttons and other dials will work in whatever mode your camera thinks it’s in… Via the smart phone app.

Good to know! Thank you!

very true! I don't have any of the FZ-100 batteries that have USB-input for recharge, but I've seen them........and because I'm mostly sticking with Sony batteries.......that means I have to carry a dual-charger around in my bag......big, bulky, dual battery charger. Granted, I could power the charger from a battery via USB, but the charger itself still takes up space. Thanx a lot Sony! :-P

Yep, I got my A7iv out of my bag yesterday to take a picture of a bird and mid-shutter-press the warning came up.....luckily the bird stayed there, but I definitely missed a couple of shots. (b/c I forgot I had a Watson battery in my camera that day)

Thank you so much for this info. And yes, the warning popping up using DUMMY batteries (fed via V-mount or otherwise) is ridiculous for a "Cinema" camera. Yes, hopefully they will fix that one issue.

new update for the a7rv just came out a few days ago

😁

Hi there. Yep, this update now means our dummy batteries give the same warning. HOWEVER, I never *really liked the dummy-battery option b/c if for ANY reason the external power gets shut off......you accidentally remove the V-mount/external power supply, or the AC power you're plugged into gets unplugged.......you're still SOL and I've lost footage this way when I had a small power dip and BOOM.......the recording was corrupt b/c of my dummy-battery situation. So.....what I'm now doing is: 1. Legit FZ-100 battery always in my Sony cameras. 2. Small Rig NPF-Battery plate (the new one with the USB-C output, the USB-C output has a max of 36 watts of power, plenty for the Sony Cameras): amzn.to/49Vqx8H 3. Large NPF battery (usually with an additional USB output so I can power other things from the same battery).......but any NPF battery will do. 4. Mount the battery plate anywhere on/near the camera, or on the tripod. 5. Use the USB-C output of the Smallrig Battery plate to feed over to the USB-C input of the A7iv or the FX30 because remember, most Sony Cameras now accept USB-C *POWER DELIVERY* .....and require 9V and 2 or 3 amps (which equates to 18 to 27 watts), which means that Smallrig battery plate at a max of 36 watts works great! This way, if the NPF battery runs out or gets disconnected, the Sony camera will stay ON (assuming the FZ-100 battery has enough charge), and you can record for a LONG time. The Camera will use the EXTERNAL USB-power first, while NOT using its own FZ-100 battery, then, only if the external power runs out will the camera then use the internal FZ-100 power. And when the camera is not recording, the external battery will charge the FZ-100 through the camera! Much smaller and cheaper than using V-Mount batteries, but of course V-Mount batteries are also an option. I hope that helps, the Smallrig plate is only about $50, and NPF batteries are affordable for even 2 or 4 packs. Happy Recording!

@@MarcusHutsell Just gonna take the time to say thank you :) really appreciate it

@@void911 You're welcome!

Yep. It’s a bummer for sure. I was using those Watson batteries (and still do) but yeah, no percentage any more and it made me miss a shot the other day too!

@@MarcusHutsell I will send an email to Sony HQ to let them know that I don't appreciate their anti-consumer behavior and hope lots of other people do the same, maybe they will revert their decision with the next update.

@DrMagicWolf 😁

Hi there. Yeah, I have just been sticking to Sony Batteries. Sucks for my wallet, AND for being able to "easily" charge the Sony batteries (b/d I have to carry a charger in my bag instead of being able to charge the batteries via a USB-C input like some 3rd party FZ100 batteries), but.....I guess until I work for Sony and engineer these things myself, I'm stuck with what any company offers in their products. Aaaanyway. I honestly have never used the HEIF image option in my A7iv, I still just shoot with RAW + JPEG. However, I switched over to test this and.......unfortunately the HEIF vertical images shot with the camera DO import into Light Room as horizontal.....so, I guess that's not fixed. I figure I'll still use JPEG, and JPEG is usually just a backup for me as I always edit with the RAW files anyway.

@@MarcusHutsell Thank you for this,so much helpful, Can't believe they haven't fixed the HEIF , Mainly use HIEF for family photos. So much headroom to edit for small size

Is previous version of v3 did not get error? Im still at v1.01

whoa!! That sucks! I think the last 2 Sony Batteries I bought were from B&H. I *usually go with more direct-dealers on some gear (B&H, I've even used MPB and KEH For used gear), or Adorama. *hopefully we know we'll be getting genuine products through B&H and Adorama. It's amazing what humans will go through to trick other humans for monetary gain. *maybe there's a glitch with the firmware, but yeah, seems like probably a counterfeit battery :(

Amazon (UK) were understanding and issued a full refund. I've now bought a replacement direct from Sony which is working perfectly. Still quite concerning that a fake item got into Amazon's supply chain.

@leighhaynes that’s great that Amazon refunded! I was going to suggest that but you said it had been 9 months, that’s really great though.

As far as I know, you cannot go back or downgrade the firmware. Once updated, it’s forever on the new version.

Hi there. I was able to use Google Translate to read your message!! So, for the Sony A7iv, with Firmware 2.01, you will get the warning if you use a dummy battery as well. And yes, that is disappointing. So, if you use V-mount batteries with a D-Tap and a dummy battery, then, yes, you will most likely get the warning. With the FX30, I prefer to use a Sony Battery in the camera, while using the USB-C port and a power delivery charger like the Anker 747 instead of using a dummy battery. But I agree that a cinema camera should not have such restrictions.

@@MarcusHutsell muito obrigado por responder abraço...

Boa noite @jolvanefer estamos passando pelo mesmo problema... Conseguiu solucionar o problema?

@@fakesobrenatural3295 oi sim consegui resolver, comprei duas baterias novas no Aliexpress e mostram a % normalmente como se fosse original, comprei da batmax loja oficial no Aliexpress

Hi there. Have you never heard of "knocking wood?" or "knocking on wood?" If not, it's a silly superstition thing, I say and use it all the time.....(it's one of the only things I'm a bit superstitious about)........ If you say something like "oh, that rock will NEVER fall from where it's sitting, it's fine and safe, go ahead and walk under it,"...... the superstition is that you may have just jinxed yourself and that rock ISN'T Safe, and is going to fall. But if you "knock wood" when it cancels out the jinx and what you said is now safe/true. Here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knocking_on_wood Anyway, I haven't tried any K&F Concept batteries, but, knowing what I know now about Sony's Firmware......I can't *almost guarantee that the camera WILL throw up the warning, as K&F Concept is a 3rd party battery. So, I'm just sticking with Sony batteries.

@@MarcusHutsell i got it bro , almost the same meaning here 🤣

@nicolaussuryadharma I was actually wondering when I was replying if you were asking why I was knocking on the desk and making some unwanted sound in the video… Or whether you may have not understood exactly what I was doing (I’m older than I look so a lot of my sayings and mannerisms are different than younger generations)… so I went with the latter assumption, sometimes over talk. Anyway, later. ;)

yeah......WTF Sony..........WT-Ever-lovin'-F. Especially the warning coming up when using Dummy-batteries!! That's atrocious, I can't believe Sony puts out a "Cinema Line" but then won't let professionals use dummy-batteries and V-Mount batteries without interruption. My solution is to use a Sony FZ100 battery ALWAYS in my A7iv or FX30......then use an external battery or AC power source with USB-C Power Delivery and use the USB-C Port on the camera for backup/main power. This method works great, you just have to ensure it's a USB-C "Power Delivery" source, not just regular USB so the camera can pull the necessary 9Volts from the USB-C Power Delivery Port. I've run my FX30 all day using the USB-C Port on the camera and this method. And......if my external power source (battery or if the power cable gets unplugged from the wall, etc), then the FX30/A7iv will just use the FZ100 battery.....it's a really good setup for constant power with a 100% reliable backup (FZ100 battery in the camera).

I guess that depends on whom we trust: Sony, or all of the 3rd party knockoffs that.....may, or may not be safe. I've had no operating issues with my (3) 3rd party batteries OTHER than them causing my A7iii and (now) A7iv to show the warning......but, as I said, that warning has caused me to MISS some shots. Granted, the camera will ONLY show the warning once when it detects a 3rd party battery......as long as you don't take that battery OUT of the camera, then reinsert it. So, I continue to use all of my batteries, but I try not to use my 3rd party batteries when I take my cameras out "on site" for work, I just take my sony batteries for the important shoots.

That’s makes more sense now. Thank you for your opinion.

Sony 3rd Party Battery Warning ru-vid.comC9N8n71Y6mE?feature=share

hi, it's me, I've watched the entire video. or at least just have it playing in the background. lol

Thanx! I'll certainly try getting a life. Makes me wonder why you bothered commenting if you feel this video, my content, and you're watching of my content is a waste of time. But I appreciate the suggestions. btw, having the warning pop up when I didn't expect it has caused me to miss some photographs and some recordings, so, it's important to me. Photography and videography are not only hobbies, but also are important in my live-production work, videography work, and therefore how I make my living. Both photos and videos allow me, us, to document life so we can watch those old home movies, look at our photographs, and remind ourselves of things we've done, and places we've been in and on this earth. So, yes.....when I miss a shot because of a silly thing like this, it's important, because memories are all we have as the ticking clock of life continues on until we are done. So if I helped one person "not" miss the shot, then this video was worth it. Cheers :)

@@MarcusHutsell Thanks for the reply. Now we know how petulant you really are, unable to handle the slightest annoyance or criticism, onlywanting and tolerating fawning praise. Thanks for clearing that up.

@@hedydd2 You're Welcome :)