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Fuji re-issues warning over fake camera batteries and how to spot them

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Fujifilm has updated their warning on counterfeit Fuji camera batteries that are currently floating around on the market. The warning was first issued back in 2015, letting people know that they should be using legitimate Fuji batteries and that the forgers are illegally using their logo and don’t conform the safety standards of Fuji’s own batteries.

The update of the warning suggests that counterfeit batteries are on the rise again, and that these fake batteries can potentially kill your gear or even start a fire – which we know lithium-based batteries are certainly capable of. And while the alert doesn’t say this, I suspect that if a 3rd party fake battery blew up your camera, it wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.

Canon wins lawsuit against counterfeit battery sellers on eBay

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I don’t know why, but I always get a shock when I see how many fake products there are out there. Not clearly marked 3rd party alternatives, but products actually designed and branded to look like the originals. We see it with memory cards regularly and even camera strap accessories, but fake batteries are also out there. Canon has been doing something about the latter, though.

Canon has announced that they’ve won a lawsuit against two eBay sellers for selling counterfeit “Canon” batteries. While 2 sellers may not sound like a lot, the fact that Canon even went after them is certainly going to give other counterfeit sellers some pause for thought.

A rare Leica M9-P prototype has shown up on eBay for $50,000

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If you thought the $17,000 White Edition Leica M10-P was expensive, you’ve seen nothing yet. A rare Leica M9-P prototype has shown up on eBay for the staggering sum of $50,000. But, for that price, you do get a lens. Interestingly, it’s the same Summulix-M 50mm f/1.4 that comes with the aforementioned White Edition M10-P, only this one has orange accents, instead of white.

Photographer scammed after selling her camera due to a PayPal loophole

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When buying and selling gear online, you can run into all sorts of scams. UK-based photographer Joanna Rose Hufton recently fell victim to one that makes use of a Paypal loophole. She sold her £1,300 camera through eBay, but due to the scam, she was quickly left without both the camera and her money.

Photographers beware: eBay buyer steals camera and lens by pretending to receive wrong product

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Buying and selling gear online is convenient in many ways, but sadly, it comes with a risk of various scams. Apparently, the scammers have figured out how to rob you even through eBay, the website which is generally one of the safest options. Photographer Liz Moughon was recently subject of one such eBay scam, and she shared her story with DIYP as a cautionary tale for all of you who want to sell your gear online.

This rare Marilyn Monroe contact sheet by Bert Stern can be yours for only $195,000

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eBay is no longer the site it once was when it first started. Initially, you could find all kinds of great used treasures there. These days, it’s mostly a storefront for retailers selling new products. Occasionally, though, a rare treasure does still pop up. Sometimes, you can even get a steal of a bargain.

This one, though, while rare, isn’t so much of a bargain. Photographer Bert Stern shot with Marilyn Monroe for years and this eBay listing purports to be a contact sheet from their Last Sitting. The only original contact sheet from that session. And it can be yours for a mere $195,000.

This video shows why you need to be cautious when buying used online

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I’ve bought a lot of used photography gear over the years. Mostly from the used sections of known retailers, but occasionally I’ll find something on eBay or in a Facebook group that looks like a great deal and piques my interest. And while most used gear deals online are genuine, there are a few unscrupulous sellers out there.

This video, shot in 2015 and uploaded to YouTube in 2017, recently resurfaced on Reddit. It shows how Rob Wolchek discovered one eBay seller peddling stolen camera equipment. How do they know it was stolen? The person it was stolen from actually bought it and confirmed the serial numbers against her boxes and receipts.

Canon’s “Rarest prototype lens on earth” 45-200mm f/2.8 can be yours for a mere $29,999

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Well, it can be yours for $29,999 plus $155 shipping, anyway. But the shipping’s practically a bargain. We often hear about those “rare” lenses popping up on eBay and various other places, but this one does appear to actually be pretty rare.  It’s a Canon 45-200mm f/2.8 (C35) prototype lens, and the seller claims it’s never been sold before in the “whole eBay selling history”.

You can buy the last Leica M3 ever made for $595,000 on eBay

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We’ve seen some pretty amazing eBay camera gear listings (this is my personal favorite). At the moment, an eBay seller is offering the last Leica M3 camera ever produced. The seller claims that it’s never been used and that it’s in the condition “as it left the factory more than 60 years ago.” And this rare piece of gear will set you back mere $595,000.

PSA: Fake SanDisk memory cards are everywhere, including Amazon

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It seems the fakes are out in force again at the moment. I’ve seen a number of posts across Facebook and other social media where people have ordered SanDisk and other SD cards only to receive counterfeit cards. These days, we need to be vigilant with memory cards.

Memory cards are made to varying degrees of quality, and these forgeries are often whatever’s cheapest. There’s no quality control, because there’s no backlash on them. The last thing you want in the middle of an important shoot is to lose all your work. Or, worse, your client’s work.

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