topic Re: SX280 - battery life shooting video in Point & Shoot Digital Cameras

SX280 - battery life shooting video

factoryguy — Sun, 05 May 2013 14:54:20 GMT

UPDATED May 5:

I apologize to the forum for mixing two different problems. They are unrelated.

Problem #1: User error. I thought I was using a class 6 SD card but I was wrong. The yellow "!" indicates a pathologically slow card. Upgrading to a class 10 resolved this problem.

Problem #2: UNRESOLVED. Red battery indicator comes on prematurely. On a fresh charge, it'll turn red after recording for a couple of minutes. On a partially drained battery, it turns red immediately upon entering movie mode or pressing the record button. Turn the camera off and then right back on in "still" mode and it shows full charge and works fine ... until trying to shoot video. I have not precisely measured recording times but it'll record for at least 20 (maybe 30?) minutes while flashing red.

Re: SX280 - battery life shooting video - resolved

robford37 — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:59:51 GMT

I have the same problem. Can you tell me how you performed the hard reset?

Thanks!

Rob

Re: SX280 - battery life shooting video - resolved

factoryguy — Sat, 04 May 2013 13:43:52 GMT

One email from Canon support referred to "letting the camera sit with no power" (and SD card removed) "for about 20 minutes" as a "hard reset". Seems like this happens every time I recharge the battery so I'm not sure why they call this a "hard reset". Maybe removing both the SD card and batery does something ... I don't know. Anyway, after this procedure, and with the new SD card in place formatted (low-level), it seems to work a lot better.

I have not had time to measure how long it'll record before the battery dies but it's more than 20 minutes. The red battery indicator flashes for most of that time but it records ok.

Unless the battery has a full charge, putting the camera in video mode triggers the red battery indicator and it continues to flash regardless of mode. If I turn the camera off and right back on the battery indicates a full charge. Does anyone else see this kind of bahavior?

Re: SX280 - battery life shooting video

myasg — Sun, 05 May 2013 01:30:39 GMT

thanks - i do have a class 10 card and it happened anyway - i am trying the reset now and see what happens. i will report back. maybe the class 10 card is faulty. if it still does not work i will replace the card and try again - then exchange the camera if it still does not work.

Re: SX280 - battery life shooting video - resolved

canonuser4 — Sun, 05 May 2013 02:07:58 GMT

I'm having the same issue with the battery. Your description helped me define the problem. I wasn't sure what was causing the red low battery to go off, but sure enough it's when I shoot a movie.

Has anyone called Canon about this? That would be helpful so they will know it needs a fix. I have 12 days of time to return the camera. I'd rather keep it, if a fix is going to happen.

Re: SX280 - battery life shooting video

myasg — Sun, 05 May 2013 02:37:31 GMT

still happening after 'hard reset' - what now. is everyone having this problem?

Re: SX280 - battery life shooting video

canonuser4 — Sun, 05 May 2013 03:55:50 GMT

I'm not having any issues with the memory card, only the battery. I have a SanDisk extreme 30MB/s card, which is class 10.

Re: SX280 - battery life shooting video - resolved

dim — Sun, 05 May 2013 20:13:21 GMT

I too have the same problem. And I buy a SX280 in the Czech Republic. We'll see what to do Canon.

Re: SX280 - battery life shooting video - resolved

myasg — Mon, 06 May 2013 02:25:27 GMT

after spending that kind of money i do not need the aggravation - love the camera but returning it.

Re: SX280 - battery life shooting video

Mykolas — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:13:38 GMT

Hi factoryguy!

We are glad to see you posted about this. We would love help to speak with you directly over the phone about this. Any of our technicians will be more than happy to help. Please refer to the following link for contacting us by phone:

http://bit.ly/ContactCanon

Re: SX280 - battery life shooting video - resolved

dim — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:21:54 GMT

I spoke with the techniques of canon representation of the company in Czech Republic. He knew nothing about this problem and the only advice to them was: put it in for service ! After three days of use in service ! Mockery.

Re: SX280 - battery life shooting video

plfeist — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:19:42 GMT

I have the same battery problem. (Problem #2 of factory guy.)

It only happens while shooting video: the battery icon goes to red and flashes, thus indicating low battery. It shoots the movie anyway. I turn the camera off and on, and the battery icon shows "full charge".

So: I can still shoot movies, it's just irritating having that red battery light flashing all the time.

I ordered an off-brand battery and the same thing happens.

I called Canon support, and they had never heard of this.

I tried to run down this battery by taking stills. I snapped about 800 photos and more movies before it finally, truly ran the battery down.

Re: SX280 - battery life shooting video

canonuser4 — Wed, 08 May 2013 01:50:04 GMT

There's another thread on this issue:

http://forums.usa.canon.com/t5/PowerShot/battery-flashes-red-when-taking-movie-sx280/m-p/23323#M902

Re: SX280 - battery life shooting video

snikda — Wed, 08 May 2013 03:32:31 GMT

I'm having the exact same problem with my new camera.

Re: SX280 - battery life shooting video

smith — Thu, 09 May 2013 03:36:56 GMT

Same problem here! So aggravating! Will Canon offer a solution or explanation other then sending it in for service? Will service actually fix the problem? Hard to know since Canon claims they haven't heard of this issue. =/. Anyone out there find a resolution or have a good outcome with service? Please post!

Re: SX280 - battery life shooting video

Gog — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:53:40 GMT

So what do i do now???

MySX270HS, which was experencing the 'red battery flashing' problem was less than 1 week old. I telephoned Canon UK. They told me they did not know about such a problem with this camera!!! And advised that I return it to my supplier (Amazon). This is did - have now received the replacement camera - It has exactly the same problem.

So what do I do now?

Contact Canon again? (Seems a little pointless).

Get another replacement (which will no doubt have the same problem).

Get it replaced with an entirely different camera? If so which model?

Live with a 'flashing red battery icon'?

Not happy with Canon.

Re: SX280 - battery life shooting video

canonuser4 — Thu, 09 May 2013 22:51:12 GMT

Somebody needs to be willing to send their maifunctioning camera into Canon for repair. They won't know what to do to repair the issue until that happens.

Unfortunately noone has done that yet.

Re: SX280 - battery life shooting video

Gog — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:23:43 GMT

Really not happy about sending a day old camera back to Canon for repair/investigation and Canon Helpdesk could offer no real solution.

However problem is now solved: My (2nd) Canon SX270HS has now been returned to Amazon and is being replaced with a Panasonic.

Re: SX280 - battery life shooting video

smith — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:33:00 GMT

Certainly a legitimate consideration. Which Panasonic did you choose? I'd like to know how it compares. I was sold on the Canon though for my uses. Supposedly best in its class. I hope Canon provides a firmware update. Canon? You there? I'm sure you've had several returns of this product by now, mine included. Keeping fingers crossed that my replacement will be better, but I'm not very optimistic.

Re: SX280 - battery life shooting video

Gog — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:40:05 GMT

After a lot of looking around I have gone for a Panasonic TZ35. Seems to have pretty good reviews. (I didn't need WiFi etc).

Quite fancied an Olympus SH-50 but they are still only available for pre order in the uk (with no firm idea of when available) and I need a camera for a planned holiday.