Various Nikon subsidiaries recently released a warning that the company has discovered counterfeit rechargeable digital camera batteries bearing the Nikon brand name. Tests by Nikon in Japan determined that these batteries lack a thermal safety feature, "and if they get too hot, they might burst and cause damage," says David Dentry, Digital Products Technical Information Manager at Nikon, Inc.

The counterfeit batteries discovered so far include imitations of the EN-EL1 and EN-EL2, which are used in many Coolpix models, and the EN-EL3 used in the D100.

"From what I've been told, they've been seen in all [worldwide] markets," Dentry says. He suggests that the chances of purchasing a counterfeit are much lower if you shop at authorized Nikon retailers, and Nikon has provided a series of photographs with explanatory text to help photographers identify the fakes.