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.

[glisten]

I read an interesting review on Amazon. The reviewer made the point that Canon has let us all down. But, in addition, the professional reviewers in magazine, websites, and other sources have also let us down. I thought that was an excellent point.

How much can we trust reviewers who failed to point out the glaring problem with this camera. Specifically, an underdesigned battery. Why are there no follow up articles in the news organizations warning customers about the camera? Why are there no articles demonstrating that the firmware update did not fix the problem?

Jim

[LSousa]

Perhaps Canon picks our money to buy their reviews....

[Davy]

This is why I never trust reviews - how do they make their money?

Think of the scenario-:

Canon brings a new Camera out.... would you be able to trust it? As said earlier if the reviewers said zebras had spots and elephants could whistle some folk would believe them.

After this fiasco I for one wouldn't certainly go and buy it... it would have to be seen being reliable, so that means waiting, waiting years after the release date.

Could you be sure they will give good service should it breaks down, how can you be sure its not like a S100 lens sticker or a SX280 and battery drainer, how can you be sure it will be fixed when you get it back?

As a major company Canon should have known to test their Cameras FULLY before release. One false product can spell disaster for a company. This is were Canon lacks credibility, they simply are not 'dependable' and loses trust.

They are not even shamed!

Dave

[UnionStation]

It's not unusual these days for major corporations to use customers as beta testers as they rush to get their newest technology to market. Think Apple and the iPod/iPhone/iPad. Most companies know there will be some hitches, and are prepared to fix/update the product along the way and heed customer complaints. Canon seems to be following a very different model here. They released a product with obvious flaws, refused to acknowledge the flaws (despite customer complaints), admitted there was a 'teensy' problem, released a half-hearted firmware update and told us to stop complaining - the problem is fixed, even if the battery meter lies to you. There's no possible way the "professional reviewers" don't know about this fiasco. As far as I'm concerned, there's only one option for those of us who've been burned - keep up the heat on Canon and tell everyone who'll listen that this camera (and the company that made it) sucks.

[dmw]

An update. We took our SX280 HS to the Canon Hong Kong customer centre today. They said they would upgrade the firmware and send it back to us. We said "but we already have the latest firmware, 1.0.2" and they said no, there is a 1.0.2c firmware, which is different. They could not explain why this latest firmware is not (yet) on their web site, but assured us that this is different. My guess is that this tweeks the threshold parameters for the voltage meter so that it doesn't give false low-battery warnings during high load. When we get the camera back, I will report back to the forum on whether this fixes the problem.

[Bluestar48]

Good luck, you have faith. For me to believe anything what  they say about this camera is kind of believing the sun has just frozen.

[Davy]

We'll see...  but I doubt it.

 How strange and a new firmware update not yet released, and not a new  firmware number, now that will cause confusion,  no doubt you'll certainly be back with the good news.

So folks you want it fixed take a trip to Hong Kong,  sounds fishy to me, damage limitation perhaps?

Davy

[bradmoss]

Looking forward for your report!! Hope it works!!
If it does work, surely we could find a way of sharing that firmware??

Thanks !!

[UnionStation]

1.0.2c?!?!?!?

LOL. Canon says there's no problem, but they've already gone through an A, B and C version of firmware without acknowledging our consistent complaints that something's still wrong with this camera.

[iamgeorge]

I believe these batteries are Lithium Ion. Since it is only 4.3V, it is a single cell battery. The 3rd pin is used to monitor the battery voltage. Li batteries cannot be discharged below a certain voltage (2.4V I believe). Once the cell goes below 2.4V, it is almost impossible to recharge the cell and you have a dead battery. Secondly, if you charge the cell above 4.3V, there is a good chace the cell will explode or catch fire. There is a small PCB in the battery which controls the voltage during charge and discharge. This is why you never disconnect the 'monitor pin'.