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.

[myasg]

please let me know what you think of the specs of the Sony - i am a semi novice but very pleased.

[myasg]

check out the Sony - http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/926273-REG/sony_dsc_wx300_b_cyber_shot_dsc_wx300_digital_camer...

[UnionStation]

I've been using a site called snapsort to compare cameras:

http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon-PowerShot-SX280-HS-vs-Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX300

[pawl]

You might, if interested, check out a comparison between the Sony and the Lumix (which, btw, also wins over the SX280):

http://snapsort.com/compare/Panasonic-Lumix-ZS30-vs-Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-WX300

[RCJ]

Also the Lumix ZS-25, the non-wifi version of the 30, is now available for around $229 -- major factor, without any of the extras headaches. My previous p/s was a Lumix ZS1, which I loved but unfortunately ran through a complete wash cycle. Don't ask.

[RCJ]

However: The lack of an external charger for those new Lumixes is NOT appealing to me, either. Nobody wants to shoot one set of shots then have to plug their camera in for two hours.

[pawl]

You mean the battery cannot be romoved???

[RCJ]

It can be removed and replaced, as usual, but from what I have read, there's no separate charger made by Panasonic -- or currently, apparently by anyone else. Anyone who owns one care to confirm?

[dswansonil]

The Lumix ZS30 doesn't come with an external battery charger.  There are spare batteries and external chargers available on Amazon and elsewhere but that just kicks up the initial cost another $20.

[myasg]

No external charger is like having no camera.