The firmware is available - or soon to be so - for Panasonic cameras which use three specific battery packs. According to Panasonic, third-party versions of these packs sometimes fail to include devices that are designed to protect against overcharging, overheating, and short-circuiting. The firmware doesn't specifically detect batteries that lack these features, but instead disables all third-party battery packs altogether, including those which include the safety features. Once the firmware has been applied, it is only possible to use genuine Panasonic-branded batteries with the cameras in question.
The battery pack models for which firmware updates are being released are the DMW-BCF10, DMW-BCG10 and DMW-BLB13. Cameras with update firmware are as follows:
DMC-BCF10 battery pack:
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX40 / FX48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX550 / FX580
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT1 / TS1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS4
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS6
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS7
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS8
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS25
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS62
DMW-BCG10 battery pack:
DMW-BLB13 battery pack:
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
The new firmware is available currently for all of these cameras, with the exception of the DMC-G1 and DMC-GH1. Firmware for the two Micro Four Thirds cameras is said to be coming soon. For more details, read Panasonic's website
