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:

  • Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 / ZS3

  • Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ6 / ZS1

  • Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ65

• 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