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.

[robford37]

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

Thanks!

Rob

[factoryguy]

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? 

[myasg]

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.

[canonuser4]

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.

[myasg]

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

[canonuser4]

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.

[dim]

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

[myasg]

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

[Mykolas]

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