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.

[bkoldys]

received 5 days ago in reply to email.

Thank you for contacting Canon product support.  I am sorry to hear that you are having issues with the battery indicator while recording video on your PowerShot SX280 HS.

Canon INC and Canon USA are currently working toward a resolution resolution regarding this matter and will provide an update to our customers shortly.  Unfortunately, we do have a direct ETA on when any possible firmware updates will be released.  Please check www.powershot.com for any future updates regarding this matter.  You can also contact us directly via email for support. 

I hope this information is helpful to you.  Please let us know if we can be of any further assistance with your PowerShot SX280 HS.

Thank you for choosing Canon.

[pawl]

Clearly, nobody has yet to receive their repaired (updated) camera back.

Meanwhile, we're all in the dark. One would think that a company the size of Canon would have a team of engineers working 24/7 on correcting this and getting a fix out there. Really, if this were so, could it possibly take as long as it is? Is it possible that such a team could be working around the clock on this and still be coming up without a solution after so many days and nights focused on correcting this? 

Instead, it's looking more like Canon has had just one person working on it, who left two weeks back on a planned vacation. Egad!!! What happens if this product engineer's vacation plans are upset and they're unable to return to work for several more weeks?

I'm really surprised that it's taking this long. But then again, the first owners of this camera probably amount to just a very small percentage of Canon's customers. Maybe .00001 percent, if you consider the myriad products they manufacture.

[RCJ]

Agree and it's only going to get worse as they keep selling the thing! I don't expect a fix overnight. I do expect to at least be kept informed about what's going on. 

[pawl]

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@UnionStation wrote:

 Perhaps I just got lucky, but the customer rep helped me without hesitation.

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Without knowing just how much beyond your 30-day return window, I suspect it was just a few days beyond it, and they include some select returns within a few additional days. If not so, I'd love to know.

[mcasale16]

I had shipped mine back to Canon for a fix- I received acknowledgement today that Canon received the camera, that they will work on the issue, clean and check all functions and return it to me within 7 days of today. The wait continues.

[mcasale16]

Holy Moly I just heard from Canon AGAIN- they logged my camera's arrival into Irvine California - this morning, this evening a 2nd communication stating that it has been repaired, and is back in UPS's hands on it's way back to me in NY! No other information was offered, fyi- The issue I complained to them on the accompanying application was of the blinking battery indicator issue (not short battery life)

[clrdogrl]

I have been stalking this thread waiting for the first person to receive the camera back from Canon and what the result is!  I haven't yet purchased the camera and I've been trying to wait it out to see what happens and purchase a new camera once Canon ships the "newest" ones to retailers.

The suspense...it's killing me!  Hurry Canon, hurry!

[smith]

Thanks mcasale16. That's encouraging news. Please continue to keep us posted! Surely hundreds of us are anxiously awaiting the outcome! 😊

[dazzlerbe]

I asked!

Actually I already posted this on 28/05 (its on page 23 in this thread) that my wife's SX270 is having the exact same problem.

The empty battery indicator is flashing when making video, but the battery is not actually empty.

I'm waiting for a statement from canon on a firmware update - I hope we can perform it ourselves.