Short answer: the LP-E6NH fits every Canon body that takes the LP-E6 series, including the 5D Mark II, 5D Mark III, 6D, 7D, 60D and 70D that shipped with the original LP-E6, and the 7D Mark II, 5D Mark IV, 6D Mark II, 80D and 90D of the LP-E6N generation. But backward compatibility only guarantees that the body powers up and shoots — it does not guarantee an accurate percentage readout or that every high-load feature is available. The key variable is the body’s firmware generation and power circuit; the older the body, the coarser its battery recognition.
This article keeps three questions apart — will it fit, will it be recognized, will it charge — instead of treating compatibility as a yes-or-no answer.
What backward compatibility actually covers
Canon kept the same shell and contact layout across four generations of the LP-E6 family, and that is the foundation of compatibility. Terminal positions, communication contacts and the latch are identical, so any pack fits any body that supports the series.
Fitting is only the first layer. A complete experience also depends on two more things:
- Recognition: whether the body can read the pack’s model, remaining percentage and cycle count.
- Discharge matching: whether the pack can supply the momentary current a demanding body asks for without tripping protection.
The first layer almost always passes; the second depends on the body. That is why the same LP-E6NH can show an exact percentage in an R6 and only a three-bar gauge in a 5D Mark II.
Performance by body generation
Grouping LP-E6-series bodies by era makes the differences much clearer.
| Body generation | Representative models | LP-E6NH behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Early (LP-E6 era) | 5D Mark II, 5D Mark III, 6D, 7D, 60D, 70D | Powers and shoots normally; charge usually shown as coarse bars; a few firmware versions may report a communication error |
| Middle (LP-E6N era) | 7D Mark II, 5D Mark IV, 6D Mark II, 80D, 90D | More complete recognition; most show a percentage; runtime rises with capacity |
| Recent (mirrorless) | EOS R, R5, R6, R6 Mark II, R7 | Full recognition, no difference from the supplied model |
| Latest (high-discharge) | EOS R5 Mark II | Fits and works, but some high-bitrate and high-speed burst modes may be limited; the LP-E6P should be the primary |
The “may” and “most” in that table are not vagueness for its own sake — the same model really does behave differently across firmware versions. The test is simple: it powers on, it shoots, and the gauge falls at a sensible rate. If so, it is usable.
Three things owners of older bodies run into
One: an inaccurate or jumpy gauge. Early bodies estimate charge from voltage, and the LP-E6NH discharge curve differs from that of the original LP-E6, so the estimate drifts — full bars at insertion, two bars gone shortly after. That is a mismatch in the algorithm, not a fault in the pack. The workaround is to budget shots rather than trust the percentage.
Two: a “cannot communicate with battery” message. This appears mostly with third-party packs and rarely with a Canon LP-E6NH. If it does appear, update the body firmware first; if it persists, the body does not accept that pack’s identification chip, and you can use it as a plain power source or go back to Canon.
Three: dropping early during bursts or long exposures. Older power circuits tolerate less momentary current, and when internal resistance is higher the voltage sags more visibly. A Canon LP-E6NH is usually steadier here than a cheap third-party pack; if this kind of shooting is your main work, batteries are the wrong place to save money.
Chargers — LC-E6, LC-E6E and third-party docks
Canon’s docks for this generation are the LC-E6 and LC-E6E. They share one electrical design, with the suffix reflecting sales region and plug type. Both charge the LP-E6, LP-E6N and LP-E6NH, with charge time growing as capacity rises.
Two things to keep in mind:
- The LP-E6NH has no USB-C charging port. This generation of Canon packs cannot be charged directly; you need a dock, or the body’s USB-C port to charge a pack in the camera.
- Check that a third-party dock lists LP-E6NH support. Older docks labeled only for LP-E6 / LP-E6N may use a conservative cutoff, leaving the pack short of full or stretching charge time. The support list on the label is more reliable than the product title.
For more on docks, see the charger articles in the LP-E6NH category; if you are still on an early LP-E6 body, the LP-E6 baseline models category covers the original specifications.
Mixing four generations — what works in practice
Plenty of bags hold an LP-E6, an LP-E6N, an LP-E6NH and possibly a third-party LP-E6+. Mixing them will not damage the body, but it does add management overhead. Note that LP-E6+ is not a Canon designation — it is how some third parties (YO included) label an enhanced version, so its real capacity and discharge behavior depend entirely on the maker.
- Group by capacity: mark the 2130mAh packs as one set and the 1865mAh packs as another, and shoot the smallest-capacity packs first so good packs do not sit unused. Lithium-ion packs degrade while idle too.
- Use the largest, newest pack for critical work: under heavy load a newer pack has lower internal resistance and holds voltage better.
- Do not leave packs in the body long term: for storage, take them out and keep them separately to avoid over-discharge from slow self-discharge.
- Watch for unusual heat after mixing: warmth during charge and discharge is normal, but a pack that is too hot to hold should be pulled and checked.
If you are buying for a newer body such as the EOS R5 Mark II, the logic changes — see the LP-E6P category. Third-party brands such as YO are price-competitive in the LP-E6NH spec range and suit a backup role, but an older body paired with a third-party pack is the combination most likely to produce recognition issues, so check the supported-model list before buying.
FAQ
Will an LP-E6NH damage a 5D Mark III?
No. The voltage is the same 7.2V and the contacts are identical, which puts it inside Canon’s supported backward-compatibility range. The only likely inconvenience is gauge precision, which has nothing to do with safety.
Can I charge an LP-E6NH on an old charger labeled only for LP-E6?
In most cases it will charge, but it may stop short of full or take longer, because the old dock’s cutoff is set for 1800mAh cells. Using it this way will not damage the pack at once, but it erodes usable capacity, so a dock that lists LP-E6NH is the better choice.
Can I run an LP-E6N in one body and an LP-E6NH in another at the same time?
Yes. Each body manages its own pack independently. Runtime will differ, so make sure the smaller pack does not die at a critical moment.
Why does a new pack seem to drain faster in an older body?
If that is really happening, it is usually a display error from a mismatched charge-estimation algorithm rather than faster discharge. A comparison test with a fixed shot count is more reliable than watching the percentage.