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.

[bkoldys]

The WX300 is fine. You can get a Wasabi external charger and two batteries for around 19.00. The manual modes were nice but what good is a camera if it has such battery issues. I sold mine and got the WX300. Its very small, which is a strong and a weak point. But the battery will run forever compared to the sx280hs. Its wifi mode if you work through it is much better than Canons, ie the Canon uses an existing WiFi connection to transfer photos, the Sony camera creates its own wifi connection which allows you to transfer the images to your phone or computer anytime or place, not needing an external wifi connectinon. The WX300 actually becomes the wifi connection.

[Limmie]

A hard decision but I ended up returning the 280 yesterday.  No camera's perfect and I am willing to put up with some things, but my list just added up.  I decided if it wasn't giving me the warm fuzzies inside (though I liked many things about it) then I shouldn't hold onto it.  I suspect a firmware release could address most of them (except physical placement of the flash and the movie button) but I am not willing to bet on any others appearing.  I could always buy the camera again if a release appears, and the price will likely keep dropping.

I looked at a WX300 while in the store and it's a possibility, though I hesitate to buy something for the same price as the 280 that most ratings say doesn't produce the same image quality as the 280 (and I do a lot of photos under the extremes, e.g., low light).  I also saw a Panasonic ZS19 in a big box retailer.  It's a slightly older model but at slightly under $200 (sale) vs. current price of the 280 I wouldn't feel I have to keep it for the next 5 years.  Again, not the same camera (but got good reviews in its day), but also not the same price. No GPS or wireless (vs. ZS20) but I had the 280's GPS turned off most of the time because it wouldn't work in a car, and for power saving.  I don't need/use wireless.  Both Sony and Panasonic suffer from needing to recharge the battery in the camera, but it seems you can get pretty inexpensive third party chargers and spare batteries.  Of course I would also have a more reliable estimation of remaining battery life.

[mrcmmiller]

Has anyone out there appied the firmware update and had the battery warning/shutdown problem fixed as a result?

I applied the firmware update to my SX280HS.  However, I am still experiencing a mistaken low battery warning followed by shutdown.  If I restart the camera it show 3 to 2 bars of charge at which point I can shoot another minute of video before the next shutdown at which point I can repeat the process.  Not a great user experience!  I would like to have a fix offered or have the ability to return the camera for a refund.  Is Canon offering any hope of an eventual solution?

[Bluestar48]

This camera is a dud, one of the worst compact that has ever been released, Canon should have recalled that lemon long time ago.

[mcasale16]

The camera came out the end of April- I have been a member of this forum since early May- I know of no one who downloaded the firmware and determined that their camera was cured. I worked with Canon Techs and tried 3 different cameras all with the firmware upgrade and all of them still had an issue while taking movies. With my camera I CAN take a minimum of 25 minutes of video (Canon's claim)- usually MORE- but yes the blinking signal begins at some point while recording.

I kept the camera because I rarely take video and the still shots are TERRIFIC. I purchased batteries which last longer than Canon's-so I am always prepared to change out the battery before somehting memorable.  I just went to a concert- I was a football field away from Tim McGraw- in the pitch black night (outdoors) and I have pictures of him on the stage - so crisp  that you can see the muscle tone of his arms down to the veins sticking out. The photos are phenominal! It is too bad the camera has the blinking battery issue- I hope that someday Canon will address it- but for now- I am totally enjoying the camera- It is definitely an individual choice- whether this camera will serve you well.

[rft_canon]

I too ended up keeping the camera.  Disregarding the video battery issues, the camera is excellent.  When the vide is recording, it does a very good job.  I have recorded approximately 20-minute videos with considerable zooming on a partial battery, flashing away like crazy.  The 20-minute length was only because I hit the 4 GB size limit.  I could restart the video and conitnue for many more minutes.  The greatest part of the issue with the flashing and power-down is that you really have no idea when the camera willl turn off.  95% of my use is stills.  I can live with the quirks with recording, mainly zooming while recording.

Now, mcasale16 - you mentioned that you purchased batteries that last longer than Canon's.  What are those batteries: name, model, etc.?

[mcasale16]

Here are the batteries I use in the sx280- I love them- no complaint and price is right =Wasabi

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0049XV5LM/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[LSousa]

I have a official battery, i have made the official firmware upgrade and everything remains the same. I bought this camera to everything work. But i can't make videos... The red icon appears some minutes after the full hd mode recording video... I will return the camera to CANON and buy a NIKON or SONY that really works...
CANON you must to fix that or at least withdraw the video function because if the camera was only for photos was a good device ... but i bought a camera that saids it can record videos...

[VijayC]

I have seen in the forum that almost everyone that used the upgrade, has met with little if any success.

My question is for people who bought the camera that did not need the firmware upgrade (serial number more than 2 in the sixth digit from left). Did they also have this battery issue or is it limited to the earlier models? I was just wondering if Canon did some hardware changes in the later models to resolve this issue.

I ha

[dim]

Good question! I would be interested in me. I would ask if someone removed the defect in service canon.