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.

[videophan]

Bluestar48, are you saying that AF at 20x is indicated as done by the camera but object is not in focus or are you saying that camera cannot focus in this situation? Also, are you comparing the same aperture, ISO, shutter speed when you are saying the SX280 is better and camera shake is not giving the illusion of poor focus? What focus mode were you choosing for comparison? In AUTO mode the SX280 certainly appears to have very good low light performance but it comes at the price of high automatic ISO settings and some/lots of noise introduced. It doesn't matter if you are just posting images on Facebook, but does otherwise.

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@Bluestar48 wrote:

I have returned my SX280 and have taken the Panasonic ZS30/TZ40, well I not happy with it. Focus at the longer end is very bad both with stills and video. You can bet better result on auto but still not that good, but shooting in P or A mode is impossble as focus is just a hit and miss. I will return it tomorrow. The SX280 is way better at focus indoor, it would have been a top camera without the battery issue.

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[MarioV]

You can have a look at my HX50V gallery at DPR

http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/8024660727/albums/sony-hx50v

[dswansonil]

Thanks!  I started browsing the dpreview Sony forum but there's a lot to dig through.  I did note your name in some discussions about the HX50 video stabilization.  It seems for SX280 alternatives (ZS30, HX50), there are pros and cons on the video performance in every forum making it seem like there's no clear cut choice.

[scupking]

Dswansonil,

What sold me on the ZS30 was the video review from Graham Houghton on youtube and also the review from Gordan Laing...

[eazycanon]

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@Naomi wrote:

Hi everyone,

We want to address the comments we’ve seen regarding the early battery warning on the PowerShot SX280 HS in movie mode even after installing the latest firmware.  Because a greater amount of power is consumed by recording movies than for shooting stills, the battery warning is designed to appear early in order to safeguard your recordings.  This is more likely to occur if the zoom is used frequently during movie recording and when the video quality is set to FullHD Mode.  However, movie recording can still be carried out for the officially stated length of time (25 minutes on a full charge).  If you need further support, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly.  For contact options, please click here.

Thank you.

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Thank you Naiomi for the update.

HOWEVER, Canon are now officially  stating that the sx280 can take a 25 minute video BUT only on a FULL battery !. As you'll beware, in the UK this means that it is more than likely that Canon are breaking the Sale of Goods Act 1979 as the camera is 'not fit for purpose' as no user  of a camera would be expected to only take a single full length movie, they should be able to take multiple movies before  having to be forced to change the battery (unless they have a very sympathetic judge). I'm just waiting for the professional media or professional publications in the UK to get hold of the story.

Either that or Canon issue a revised firmware update and supply a stronger battery to existing and new customers of the SX280.

[UnionStation]

I think you're misunderstanding the purpose of the camera, eazycanon. Canon built the sx280 for consumers who have more dollars than sense, who intend to tell all their friends that they have the bestest camera ever made. The mistake we've been making, as Naomi points out, is actually using the camera - trying to shoot video, zooming and the like.

In all seriousness, everyone reading this note should realize by now that Canon has zero intention of making this debacle right with its loyal customers. So your choices are returning the camera if you can, or raising so much cain that the company will think twice about ever doing this again. Apologies to the fellow users weary of my rants, but I chose to do both.

[pawl]

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@UnionStation wrote:

Pawl: Have you sent your camera in twice - or is it just now coming back after you sent it in the first time. What's the turnaround time, just out of curiosity?

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First time for the return. One week turnaround. (I'm here in SoCal, near the service center.)

[pawl]

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UnionStation, your more conscientious posts are undermined by your more sarcastic ones...just my opinion.

[UnionStation]

Just trying to keep the conversation lively, pawl. There's a method to my madness - and my anger.

[mcasale16]

Union Station, I AM a tad weary of your rants- but that aside.... Naomi clearly stated that we all have the option of CONTACTING Canon- if we have an issue- Canon is NOT indicating that there is NO recourse for "this debacle". After 5 weeks on this forum- it is clear to me that this is not the place where Canon intends on DEALING with the sx280 issues of we consumers. They prefer one on one- whether WE like it or not. I have had good results communicating with a Canon Customer Service Rep,,,,,, even though admittedly it took me awhile to find one willing to listen and understand. I recommend, the phone, the email, tweeting or messaging through FaceBook. It worked for me.