SX280 - battery life shooting video

[factoryguy]

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.

[RandomBaritone]

Just wanted to add my experience in case someone comes across this ancient thread in 2017. 🙂 Canon has at long last acknowledged the serious battery problem affecting the SX280 and other cameras manufactured around the same time with a new service bulletin:

https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/support/product-advisories/detail/?current=true&ur...

Canon provided a shipping label, I sent mine in, and four days later I'm the owner of a gorgeous refurbished SX710 with a new battery. I guess sometimes it pays to wait. The program is valid through December 2019, so it would appear they realize they screwed up royally. Hope someone sees this and it helps!

[ruko]

Thanks for the update. Ya, Canon maliciously screwed up for sure. I have the SX280 and sent it in to be "fixed" some time ago. It came back with the same problem. I don't think they even looked at it. Just changed boxes and sent it back to me. I eliminated some of the problem with a piece of tape over the center electrode of the battery which must be removed when it's being charged. It turned me off completely from Canon. The camera does take good pics when it's working.

[samintx]

I love my SX280 with all its problem. I have overcome them like you...and continue to use the camera.

[GON22]

I called Canon and they will check my SX280HS camera! I will be very happy if they correct the battery priblem as it is otherwise a great camera.

[GON22]

This is great news!! Contacted Canon and they will check camera SX280HS! Thanks

[UnionStation]

Nice find, RandomBaritone! Four years ago, Canon was insisting there was no problem with the camera, and many loyal customers decided to just suck it up and stick with a camera we all knew was defective. Says a lot about customers - and it says even more about Canon. One last thought: Take a good look at that service advisory. All of those other cameras have serial numbers with zeroes as the sixth digit, suggesting tens of thousands of cameras potentially affected. The SX280 numbers are 0 to 4 as the sixth digit, meaning hundreds of thousands. Canon refused to admit this camera was a lemon because the camera market was bottoming out at the time, and they chose to throw customers under the bus than own up to its own mistake. 

[samintx]

You are so right. I have not read on report of a customer sending in their 280 and getting back fixed from Canon. I guess we are defective and not the camera as far as Canon is concerned.

[sneader]

Thanks for letting me know about the advisory!  I called in tonight and they say they are sending me a shipping label.  Interestingly, they claim I have to take the camera to a UPS Store to let them package it, because of the Lithium-ion batteries.  Anyway, it will be worth the effort, especially if I get a refurb back, but even if they just fix the darn camera, it will be a great day.

UPDATE: Canon received my camera, and instead of fixing it like they said they would in the advisory, they sent me an ESTIMATE TO REPAIR and they want me to pay them $93.90 to repair it!!!  I called but they are closed, so I emailed. I was surprised to get a quick reply... they said the estimate was generated because "there is no serial number associated with your camera".  Makes no sense, because the serial number is clearly indicated on the bottom of the camera (I took a picture of it, before sending the camera in), and I told them this.  Waiting for a reply.

UPDATE 2: I called in today and after a lengthy hold I was told that "after speaking to my supervisor, we are going to do this as a one-off courtesy, and provide the repair at no cost".  I started to ask about WHY this is being done as a "one-off courtesy" and not just simply no-charge, per the Advisory, but then I told them 'never mind... I will accept this solution, thank you!" -- I did not want to mess this up.  I received an email shortly afterwards, confirming the no-cost repair/replacement being done.

- Scott

[pe4710man]

The advisory said "free of charge" and Friday I got a invoice for $98 to replace the camera I sent as it cannot be fixed.  I have sent them an email rebuking the request for $98 based on their offer to fix it for free or replace it.

Am waiting for a reply.

[Stephen]

Hello pe4710man,

If you have questions about your repair, you'll want to contact our Service Information Group at 1-866-510-1335 and reference your repair number. They will be able to advise you on the next steps to get this resolved!