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.

[jrecords]

Hi, I just got an SX280. Wanted to let you know that in my case, a fully-charged Canon battery shoots video fine, it seems, without the flashing battery warning.

However, using a generic battery, which is notably lighter in weight than the Canon battery even though it is marked 1400 mah, shooting video and using a little zoom immediately activated the flashing battery warning light. However, it shot about 20 min of video after that.

Thanks for all your posts on this, and I hope the problems resolve. John

[Davy]

jrecords:

Wow, hang on a bit., are you suggesting everyone is using generic batteries, are Canon really supplying these with their cameras?

If you care to read  the pages,  these cameras have come back from Canon with the same fault... their replacements have done exactly the same... so that ain't generic, 3rd party batteries call them what you will.

The batteries folks are using are what they got with the Camera..... care to tell us the model number or product code?

Davy

[jrecords]

Hi Davy,

I've read most of the  pages and am just speaking to my own limited experience. A Canon battery came with the camera and I bought a couple of third party aftermarket ones to try out.

I'm not casting doubt on the experience of others, just sharing what's going on with me for what it's worth. My camera is still within the return period and based on my experience I'm inclined to keep it. If it keeps performing as it has so far I think it will work for me.

Best wishes, John

[Balb0wa]

Just bought one of these, put the latest firmware on it, shooting video,fully charged genuine canon battery, after 3-4 min the battery flashes and it turns itself off. My 240hs used to shoot video fine for ages.

[ruko]

Yes, the 90+ pages of complaints sure do confirm this behavior. You can also expect the camera to tell you to recharge the battery just before it shuts down even though the battery is fully charged.

[glisten]

The symptoms you describe are identical to so many others. Indeed, identical to mine. There is a workaround listed here. It will mean that you do not have any indication of the battery state.

My opinion is that the problem is in the battery voltage sensing circuit or downstream from there. It is not a battery problem.

I am trying to decide whether to send mine in. My problem is that I bought the camera in the USA but live in Spain. The expense is unlikely to be worth the effort.

The camera will only perform worse. If you decide to use it in still mode, it will intermittently misread the battery and shut down. The video setting is not a requirement for problems.

If I lived in the USA, my decision would be a no brainer, send it back. Insist you get one that works properly.

The problem is well known. It is bad that Canon does not acknowledge the problem and fix it. It is nearly criminal that they continue to sell a clearly defective product.

Jim

[glisten]

Jrecords,

Alas, when I first bought the camera, I recorded a 45 min video. It worked just fine at the start. The camera has deteriorated.  My initial battery and the replacement that I bought were both Canon branded from from a major US electronics chain.

I hope that your experience will be different and that the camera will continue to function correctly.

Jim

[Balb0wa]

im amazed they havent recalled the camera,  they just seem to be ignoring the issue

[jimrac]

Last September I bought the SX280, kept it for a week, but ended up returning it due to the battery issues.  Video is important to us, and not knowing remaining battery life wasn't satisfactory.

I continued to monitor this thread and the Amazon reviews, and at some point towards the end of the year I finally realized that Canon was not going to resolve the issue.  Our prior 2 cameras were Canons, so kind of saddened by this.

Recently we bought a Panasonic Lumix ZS20.  Prices have dropped as newer models have been released.  The ZS20 is comparable in spec to the SX280 and a fantastic little camera. I highly recommend it as an alternative for those of you who are still considering the SX280 but must have satisfactory video function.

Jim

[Davy]

jimrac:

As far as I know the SX and TZ are the same cameras  SX for USA models and TZ for European models.  Wasn't there a dust problem with the TZ series?

Let that be no deterrent because the other day I was watching a video on how to strip the lens and clean it.... and it looked quite easy as long as you are able to handle the tiny screws - it seems a peice of cake to do.

Reason I was looking at this is, I was thinking of getting the TZ30/40 then I looked at the Sony HX50 and slowly 'digging the weeds'.

I was gonna get the SX270/280 as you know they are the same except the gps gimmick, then I looked at the Canons SX50 of which the response seems 'so-so' and declined because of the way Canon were treating their customers.

I do use their A650 IS, I say that was a great camera, be even greater if they forget all the gimmicks and put a x20 lens on it. I'll certainly be buying no more Canon printers thats for sure - their ink tanks are getting smaller and smaller and sometimes I can be waiting a minute before it decides to print - but this is another story and would take this off-topic.

Looking at their S100 len sticking problem which is a known problem, I'd say Canon is on a downhill route right now.... when I return a camera I don't wanna be getting a refurbished unit someone else has had - another thing thats puts me off 'big style' buying Canon products.

Dave