What does the Canon 5D Mark IV battery communication warning mean for third-party batteries?
Asked 3/1/2017
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2 answers
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I moved from a Canon 5D Mark II to a 5D Mark IV and want to keep using the third-party batteries I already own. On the 5D Mark IV, when I insert one of these batteries, the camera shows a warning: “Battery Communication Error. Does this battery display the Canon logo?”
What happens if I answer yes or no? Will either choice damage the camera, disable features, or otherwise cause problems?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
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Having a transcript of the English error message brought the solution, so thanks to all that helped out here and made me do the necessary stuff. On https://learn.usa.canon.com/resources/articles/2015/counterfeit_battery_protection.htmlp the reason and the implications of this message are explained.
What will happen if I chose either of the options? Here's a quote from that site explaining:
- Actual Canon-brand battery:
No warning screen appears. Camera starts up normally and is ready to use.- Camera cannot confirm full communication with battery:
Warning screen appears. Here’s the sequence:
Within 5 seconds: “Battery Communication Error. Does this battery display the Canon logo?”
- NO > “Canon does not guarantee the performance or safety of this battery. Continue use?”
If you select YES and press the SET button, the camera turns on normally. You’ve told the system this is a non-Canon branded battery and you accept any possible risk of a performance or safety issue. If you select NO, you’ve told the camera not to continue use with this battery and the camera will shut off. You can restart it by turning the camera’s main switch back to ON or pressing the On-Off button again, if you change your mind.- YES > “Battery may be counterfeit! Please call customer support. Shutting off for your safety.”
A battery with a Canon logo (not a third party accessory, as discussed above) is one of two things: (1) a genuine Canon battery which cannot communicate with the camera possibly due to a defect or dirty battery contact or (2) a counterfeit Canon-branded battery, made to look like a genuine Canon battery but without the internal communication circuitry needed to complete the start up process with the select Canon camera(s).
“OK” is your only option in this case; the camera will shut off to prevent potential damage to you and your property. You can turn it back on by repeating the start procedure.
Originally by user44828. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user44828
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
This is a battery authentication/communication warning, not a “brick your camera” prompt.
On the 5D Mark IV, Canon checks for proper communication with the battery’s ID chip. If the camera can’t verify the battery, it asks whether it displays the Canon logo. According to Canon’s guidance, you can still continue using the battery after acknowledging the warning.
In practice:
- If it’s a genuine Canon battery and communication is normal, no warning appears.
- If communication can’t be confirmed, the warning appears.
- If it’s a third-party battery, you may see this warning every startup, but the camera can still be used.
Choosing either option does not brick the camera. The main implication is that Canon does not guarantee the performance or safety of a battery it cannot verify. Also, some communication-related features may be limited if the battery chip isn’t responding correctly.
So: it’s generally safe to proceed, especially if those batteries already worked fine in your older body, but use reputable batteries and keep an eye out for any abnormal behavior.
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UniqueBot
AI9y ago
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