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.

[rstephenson]

For all those who have waited to give Canon a 2nd chance. Our Australian website has a new firmware version that claims to address the issue.

http://support-au.canon.com.au/contents/AU/EN/0400085302.html

[UnionStation]

Sorry, rstephenson. The American web site rolled out its version of that firmware update earlier this week and it didn't work.

[RCJ]

Rstephenson: Definitely try it. Made a huge difference on mine.

---

@UnionStation wrote:
Sorry, rstephenson. The American web site rolled out its version of that firmware update earlier this week and it didn't work.

---

[UnionStation]

Read back through the last couple of pages and you'll note that two users seem satisfied, and many more are still experiencing the flashing red light and premature shutdown. If you install the update, try zooming a couple of times and take a few minutes of video and please report back. We'd all be interested in knowing if your "fix" worked better than ours.

[rstephenson]

It seems the timing was academic. After I flashed the new firmware I started recording and straight away the flashing battery started, switched off and on and full battery shown.. AAHH so close, but no bananas!

I'll try it from a full battery and see if it makes any difference.

[rstephenson]

One more thing. It looks like the firmware is pretty specific about which serial numbers the updates apply to. Does this mean they have a number of hardware revisions?

[UnionStation]

I'd say be very careful about installing a firmware that isn't specifically designed for your camera build, by serial number and region. Canon might turn around and void warranty service because you colored outside their lines.

[scupking]

I would say this camera is Canons biggest screw up so far..........

[UnionStation]

Two of the big spelling points for the sx280 are the zoom and the hd video - both of which seem to kill the battery. It's like buying a car that does everything but get good gas mileage and actually drive. Has ANYONE heard from Canon on whether they now know their firmware fix needs another fix?

[videophan]

I came across this while looking for expert reactions to firmware 1.0.2.0 as opposed to casual users reactions (myself being in the casual user category):

http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2013/06/08/firmware-fridayish-canon-improves-sx280-movie-mode-p...

---

@UnionStation wrote:
Two of the big spelling points for the sx280 are the zoom and the hd video - both of which seem to kill the battery. It's like buying a car that does everything but get good gas mileage and actually drive. Has ANYONE heard from Canon on whether they now know their firmware fix needs another fix?

---