I have a Canon digital camera -- a PowerShot A1100 IS (12.1 Mega Pixels). It's a great camera, takes great shots and is very convenient to use. My wife & I bought it new about 2 years ago. Only has one problem -- it uses up AA batteries like crazy.
After one hour of constant shooting, it needs to have its two AA batteries replaced! I'm in Ireland at the moment, visiting various historical sites or (today) an outdoor garden railway museum, and I barely had enough battery power to get through the day. When I go out somewhere, I bring at least two sets of replacement batteries with me.
My previous Canon Camera -- a slightly older version of this one that I bought around 2008 -- had exactly the same problem. Is this a common problem with Canon Digital cameras ... has anyone else had this problem & have any advice?
Thanks in advance,
Rob
I don't know about Cannon, but my first digital camera also used four AA batteries, and they would drop out at around 25 or 30 shots. I had the same problem as you, carrying around a pocket full of batteries. You can use rechargeables, I tried that, but they don't last as long either. I used NiMH batteries because of their capacity, but I found that they charge up with slightly less voltage than the NiCad ones and the net result is that, although they still have a charge, there's not enough voltage to run the camera. I finally sold that camera, and now I have a Kodak that seems to go for hundreds of shots on a proprietary battery.
ezdays Wrote:I don't know about Cannon, but my first digital camera also used four AA batteries, and they would drop out at around 25 or 30 shots. I had the same problem as you, carrying around a pocket full of batteries. You can use rechargeables, I tried that, but they don't last as long either. I used NiMH batteries because of their capacity, but I found that they charge up with slightly less voltage than the NiCad ones and the net result is that, although they still have a charge, there's not enough voltage to run the camera. I finally sold that camera, and now I have a Kodak that seems to go for hundreds of shots on a proprietary battery.
Thanks, Don. That's exactly what I found as well -- that re-chargeables are even worse, maybe lasting half as long as regular batteries.
My son has a Kodak camera that we bought him that has its own rechargeable battery -- I think we're also going to start using that more. At least it can't hurt to try -- and will be cheaper & more convenient.
Cheers,
Rob
I have 2 different Fuji cameras that use 4 AA batteries. One is an S9000, (9MP) the other is an S2800 (14MP)that I'm using for video because it will take a HD movie.
I took 198 pictures on June 21 and still had enough charge to download the camera to 2 different computers. I use NiMH 2300 MAH batteries that I recharge on a 15 minute Everready charger. The S2800 did a little over an hour of video (set to 740x setting, not HD) and I'm still using the same battery charge. Just for information, the cheap S2800 Fuji camera ($175) is a replacement for a $750 Canon digital camcorder that is 5 years old (my good retirement video camera)and took 5 hours of digital movies before refusing to eject the tape (a common problem with the Canon digital camcorders). I won't spend a minimum of $130 for Canon to repair it when the new HDTV cameras are about half the price and no longer use tape, but flash drives.
Check your settings and try turning off the sounds, and if the focus can be set to only focus when you depress the shutter part way instead of working the focus motor constantly you may be able to prolong the battery life.
The Everready fast charger is the only charger I have found that will charge the AA and AAA batteries to their max. I always thought the slower the charge the better, but this sure changed my thinking.
Charlie
I drop the batteries out after shooting what I want - some seem to use power keeping the settings alive when switched off - it is easy enough to drop the batteries back in again when you want to use it. Theother thing is to use the viewfinder when possible - the screen on the back will eat batteries
They're a bit dear, but Lithium batteries will give you much more life than alkalines. If you know you're going to be shooting all day, it might be worthwhile investing in some.
If you want a rechargeable battery, rather than regular NiMH batteries, you could look at low self-discharge rechargeables like Sanyo Eneloop batteries. They don't suffer the same voltage drop under load that regular NiMH's do, and will give you (apparently) up to 4x more life than regular rechargeables. NiCads may work, but they're getting harder to find, don't come in the large capacities that NiMH's do, and are relatively environmentally-hostile compared to NiMHs.
shortliner Wrote:I drop the batteries out after shooting what I want - some seem to use power keeping the settings alive when switched off - it is easy enough to drop the batteries back in again when you want to use it. Theother thing is to use the viewfinder when possible - the screen on the back will eat batteries
One problem with that on some cameras, such as my Kodak, is that changing or removing the batteries resets the clock and calendar. I have to go through the startup procedure each time I do, I don't care how short a time it takes to change them. I'm talking one battery pack and a few seconds...
Must admit that I don't bother with the clock/date
shortliner Wrote:Must admit that I don't bother with the clock/date
It comes in handy now and then, especially when you want to file your pictures chronologically. Regardless, when you change the battery and turn the camera on, it goes to the "set time/date" menu and you either set the time/date, or have to navigate your way out of the menu before you can take pictures. Either way, it takes time. Maybe my camera isn't working right, but I would think that it should be able to memorize that info for a few minutes anyway.
ezdays Wrote:shortliner Wrote:Must admit that I don't bother with the clock/date
It comes in handy now and then, especially when you want to file your pictures chronologically. Regardless, when you change the battery and turn the camera on, it goes to the "set time/date" menu and you either set the time/date, or have to navigate your way out of the menu before you can take pictures. Either way, it takes time. Maybe my camera isn't working right, but I would think that it should be able to memorize that info for a few minutes anyway.
I had trouble with my S9000 loosing the settings. It was fine at first but I let it get to near the car heater on a trip and it kept losing them. now after 2 years, it is retaining them most of the time when I remove the batteries. I am guessing there may be a capacitor that helps hold the memory.
With the information stamping that is automatically done I would not want to skip the date and time. It is nice to have this all in the photo properties list and windows will arrange the pictures by date taken if you want it to.
I have a Samsung PL100. The rechargeable battery in it is a champ! I've never seen a camera go so long in between charges, even after heavy use. When it needs charging, it only takes a few minutes before it has a full charge.
The camera before that was a Sony Cybershot. It'd chew through AA batteries like a goat on roids. It was also a brick compared to the newer more compact camera.
I think the problem described is symptomatic of some digi cams. Depending on the age and make. I've heard other make similar complaints in different cameras.
Charlie B Wrote:I had trouble with my S9000 loosing the settings. It was fine at first but I let it get to near the car heater on a trip and it kept losing them. now after 2 years, it is retaining them most of the time when I remove the batteries. I am guessing there may be a capacitor that helps hold the memory.
With the information stamping that is automatically done I would not want to skip the date and time. It is nice to have this all in the photo properties list and windows will arrange the pictures by date taken if you want it to.
A small five-cent capacitor to retain the memory is all it should take. Mine can do that for weeks and weeks without any noticeable drain on the battery, a small capacitor should hold a charge for hours and keep the memory intact. Like I said, maybe mine should have one in the circuit but doesn't.
I'm now using the eneloop rechargeables.
When I bought the camera, i putt the supplied batteries in and went through the initial setup. I then went downstairs to take a photo and the batteries were dead.
I have a Canon S51S that I've had for about two years now and have never had any problems with the batteries (4 AA's) dying very fast. I use the camera to shot both photos and video's and the batteries seem to last a long time. Several times this past year, when I've been rail fanning, in addition to shooting plenty of photos; I've shot as many as 6 video's, each lasting from 2 minutes to as long as 6 minutes and still had plenty of power left. So I can't comment on why some others would be eating up batteries so fast. I do always carry plenty of spare batteries, because as you well know, they will go dead at the worst times.
I must admit that when I purchased the camera, I thought that I'd be changing batteries rather frequently, but have been very pleasantly surprised to find that hasn't been the case. Takes great photos!
My wife has a little Olympus digital camera that uses 2 very hard to find and expensive batteries and that little thing will eat up those batteries very fast. Then it's time to go on an expedition to try and replace them!
I often refer to a website that evaluates many things electronic: I know that can be dangerous, but it often gives some direction.
Under digital cameras, they have your camera: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-cameras/canon-powershot-a1100-is/4505-6501_7-33528998.html?tag=mncol;lst">http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-cameras ... =mncol;lst</a><!-- m -->
They consider is a good camera for the money, but under 'The Bad" they say "Short battery life".
So apparently you are not the only one to find a problem with the battery system.
dwight77