"Cannot communicate with battery" error on 5D Mk2 with 5 of my 6 batteries

[lanimilbus]

I recently got a Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera and am currently on a photo trip using it for the first time. I have 6 batteries for the camera, one that came inside the box, one that the seller (photoloon.com) included for free additionally and four extras that I bought off eBay.
I bought the 4 extra batteries off eBay since the LP-E6 battery sells for $130.00 normally and I didn't want to have to pay over $500.00 for four backup batteries so I got all 4 off eBay for a total of $31.00 including shipping.
The battery that came with the camera works fine, but today it died and when I went to replace it with one of the backups I leanred that when I use any of the other 5 LP-E6 batteries it gives me a black screen that says "Cannot communicate with battery" and gives me the option to either cancel or continue. I selected continue but noticed that the battery level was shown to be empty and I figured I could be damaging the camera somehow so I stopped using it.
So my question is, why is it giving me this error, what does it mean, and does it make any difference whether or not I just choose to continue and shoot with one of the 5 other batteries and ignore the empty power level signal and the error message?
Thanks in advance for any help.

[Duncan Frenz]

They are cheap for a reason. They do not have the chip that communicates with the camera. Seriously, what did you expect for ~$8/battery???

[HyperYagami]

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-Phottix-Battery-for-Canon-LP-E6-5D-Mark-II-Charger_W0QQitemZ170343996040QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBa tteries_Chargers?hash=item27a94b1a88&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A1|66%3A2|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1| 293%3A1|294%3A50

Important notice:


1. The battery can not be charged with original Canon charger but the charger in this auction can charge the Canon and third party LP-E6.

2. Once you put the battery into your camera, there will be "No communication with the battery cell, whether or not to use this", promptly confirm "OK"


3. When you put the batteries in the camera you need to turn the camera on then off then on again. Only then will the canon 5D MK II read the third party battery and ask if you want to use a battery that doesn't communicate with the camera.. answer ok and you're ready to go (you just need to do this first time you use the battery)


4. There will be no battery power information on LCD but you can use it normally


This is NOT made by Canon

[Anke]

It usually never pays to go too cheap. Do you really need six batteries though?!? That must last for thousands and thousands of images.

[slitherjef]

You spent nearly 3 grand on a camera and got 8 dollar batteries? After spending all that money on a camera, whats another 130 bucks for the real deal?

[lanimilbus]

It usually never pays to go too cheap. Do you really need six batteries though?!? That must last for thousands and thousands of images.

There are going to be long periods on the trip where I won't have access to any sort of outlet for the charger and I wasn't sure how long the Mark II batteries lasted. I have 7 batteries for my point and shoot and each one only lasts for about 30-45 minutes so I constantly need to switch them out and I wasn't sure if it would be the same type of deal with the Mark II.

You spent nearly 3 grand on a camera and got 8 dollar batteries? After spending all that money on a camera, whats another 130 bucks for the real deal?

I spent all my money on the camera and lenses already, by the time I got to the batteries I was pretty much all out. I'm a 20 year old college student and have been saving up enough money just for this camera for roughly a year now so if I could pay $30 for what appeared to be the same thing as I would pay $520 for elsewhere it seemed obvious to take the cheaper option.
Plus, from what I gather now the batteries actually work just like the $130 ones, the only difference appears to be the battery power level display.

[n1as]

My 5D gives about 600 shots on one (Canon) battery. I have one spare and take the charger with me on vacation.

[ben_r_]

Seriously! 6! I have never needed more than two!

Also, never go generic, LEAST of all crap from fleabay!

[RDKirk]

Plus, from what I gather now the batteries actually work just like the $130 ones, the only difference appears to be the battery power level display.

From what I've heard so far, the deficiency is no communication at all with the camera. So except for that, you should be okay. One thing, though--be sure not to drain the batteries too far. Because the camera can't "talk" to them, the camera can't cut itself off when the battery voltage drops below 7.2, and an extremely drained Li-Ion battery becomes a danger when it's recharged.

[Duncan Frenz]

From what I've heard so far, the deficiency is no communication at all with the camera. So except for that, you should be okay. One thing, though--be sure not to drain the batteries too far. Because the camera can't "talk" to them, the camera can't cut itself off when the battery voltage drops below 7.2, and an extremely drained Li-Ion battery becomes a danger when it's recharged.
Amen! Ask some Sony and Apple owners...