battery flashes red when taking movie? sx280

[myasg]

in shooting mode on the sx280 it shows a full battery - when i go into movie mode the battery flasshes red - why is this - please assist.  [Mod note - removed email address (for your safety) - please see FORUM GUIDELINES].  canon sx280.  thanks.

[mikearm]

much more information can be found in another Canon forum:

http://forums.usa.canon.com/t5/PowerShot/SX280-battery-life-shooting-video/m-p/24169/highlight/false...

[videophan]

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@rstephenson wrote:

The SX280 has just arrived in Australia. I have just returned my first camera because of the battery level indicator problem (Canon has a 14 day DOA policy in Aus) and found my second has exactly the same issue. I then found this forum. Canon Australia is unaware of any problem and told me to take the first back to the store because it was probably faulty. I'm hoping this can be firmware fixed. Like most who have found this problem I ran out and bought a spare battery. Unfortunately my 6 year old son's first school presentation can't be recorded again. The camera died after 3 seconds into it. The picture I should have then taken was the dirty look my wife threw me after I told her the battery went flat.

I've made a youtube video just in case anyone needs a reference when complaining. Hopefully the symptoms are common.

http://youtu.be/_yjS-mFPXhk

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Thanks for the Youtube link, but when I sent a Youtube link to customer support in the US, I was informed that, because of security issues, they could not access Youtube links.

I contacted the vendor from whom I bought the camera and explained the issues I was having. I asked if I should request them to send another camera or just return the camera I have for a full refund. The vendor suggested I return the camera for a refund. Canon may be denying that a problem exists with the SX280, but this vendor is certainly not in denial. I am returning the camera with a prepaid shipping label for a refund. If Canon ever addresses the issue, great, but if they don't, I would rather not be stuck with a camera with severely limited video capabilities.

[videophan]

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@canonuser4 wrote:

Yes, I will post about my replacement however I won't receive it until next week.

Also I don't believe it's a short battery life issue. It's that the battery icon flashes AS IF it's low when shooting video, when it actually isn't low.

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I am not  convinced it is solely the battery level sensor. I used the SX280 until, in auto mode, it displayed battery level with one of the diagonal bars missing. I changed to video mode (of course the battery level indicator started flashing red after the mode change) and started shooting a video. After about five seconds of video, I zoomed in to 5X. I got another second or two of video and the camera shut down with a warning to recharge battery. I conjecture that if there was still sufficient battery power, the video should have continued as it does in other scenarios. It just seems that shooting video and zooming the lens puts a very high demand on the battery. If it is not fully charged, the battery cannot handle these demands.

[Jessica]

Hi everyone, thanks again for all of your valuable comments on this topic. We’ve confirmed premature display of low battery level while shooting in movie mode with the PowerShot SX280 HS. We are currently working towards a resolution and will provide an update shortly.

[lostlake]

I also experienced the same issue, was only able to take 20 plus minutes of video with the red warning flashing most of that duration.  We've been a Canon family going through 4 different ones in the last 10 years, trying to catch up with the technology.  We are still using a Canon G5 but I need a pocket camera for a weeklong vacation coming up, so I bought two more replacement batters of 3.7v with 1600mAH output hoping it would help, and hopefully I would be able to make a decision about keeping it or returning it by the time I come back from the vacation.

 The photoes I've been testing in both indoor and out so far are way better than a Nikon Coolpix my hubby bought last Christmas.  So I am hoping this Canon issue is fixable.

[completelocks]

Had mine a day. Found this forum and read more people having same problem with video/battery indicator.  Rang canon, they knew nothing about it.

I own a canon camcorder, and an EOS DSLR. I am sending my SX280 back and switching to Nikon now. I can't believe the way canon have fobbed people off.

They've lost a sale and a long time canon user.

[picvik]

hi canon,

i'm considering to buy Powershot SX280 but i head about this problem with red battery flashes while taking movies.. is the problem already solved? if it is - when i'll buy the camera will i should download some upgrade to solve the problem or something?

thanks

[dswansonil]

Official Canon people rarely respond with definitive answers on the forum.  Go to

http://forums.usa.canon.com/t5/PowerShot/SX280-battery-life-shooting-video/m-p/24169/highlight/false...

to read 60+ forum pages on the SX280 battery issue.  If you're primarily taking still photo's and get the firmware upgrade you'll probably be satisfied.  If you want to shoot lengthy video's, most people still think the battery indicator issue is a sugnificasnt problem.

[picvik]

thanks dswansonil!
i dont think i'm going to shoot many videos.. i'm just looking for some really good camera for still photos (almost professional but small and light as it possible..). but anyway - i prefer my stuff the best and without bugs 🙂

[Guyp16]

Still no solution?