This common mistake could ruin your camera gear, says Canon – and most photographers don't even know about it

Close-up of a DSLR camera with attached external flash unit and zoom lens against a blurred green background.

Canon has issued an updated service notice warning photographers not to use lithium or lithium-ion batteries in its flash units – but the advice goes far beyond one brand.

While the notice specifically covers Canon products, the same caution applies across the industry, with manufacturers such as Sony, Panasonic, and Nikon all advising against using certain AA lithium batteries in their flashes.