>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.