camera troubles
My trusty Canon S110 digital camera has served me pretty well for about three years now. However, over the last several months the actual battery life has dropped to near zero. I had two batteries but I seem to have lost one of them, so let's assume I just had one (they both had the same problem). With the old battery, I would be able to take about 10 pictures before the camera decided it had enough and was going to shut down. If I left it for a while it would let me take a couple more pictures. Last time I put the battery in the charger, it went from "charging" to "done" in about 10 seconds. Clearly this is not right.
I've heard from other Canon S-series owners that this is a common problem and that it's a problem with the camera, not the battery. If this is true, then I suppose it would be a problem with the battery voltage sensor in the camera. If this sensor were miscalibrated, it might report that the battery was dead long before it really was. This would cause the apparent short battery life in the camera, and also explain the very quick recharge cycle.
However, I never tested this hypothesis. I'd really rather it be a problem with the battery and not the camera, because the battery is a lot easier to replace. So, optimistically, I picked up a new battery pack for the camera.
Hopefully this fixes the problem, because I don't really want to replace my pocket camera right now. I'd rather get a digital SLR and have both available...
I've heard from other Canon S-series owners that this is a common problem and that it's a problem with the camera, not the battery. If this is true, then I suppose it would be a problem with the battery voltage sensor in the camera. If this sensor were miscalibrated, it might report that the battery was dead long before it really was. This would cause the apparent short battery life in the camera, and also explain the very quick recharge cycle.
However, I never tested this hypothesis. I'd really rather it be a problem with the battery and not the camera, because the battery is a lot easier to replace. So, optimistically, I picked up a new battery pack for the camera.
Hopefully this fixes the problem, because I don't really want to replace my pocket camera right now. I'd rather get a digital SLR and have both available...
Wow I haven't posted to ya in MONTHS! So... keep us updated, good luck, hope its the battery! I was looking at digital SLRs today. Have 35mm and hand digital too. Hmmm... as long as the problem getsfixed before you miss an awesome shot!
![[info]](http://stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
cetan
2004-05-19T13:31:19Z
I'd be willing to bet a new battery that it is NOT the camera. :)
Did you hunt around the dpreview forums at all? They're usually pretty good for nailing down the specifics of hardware issues.
Did you hunt around the dpreview forums at all? They're usually pretty good for nailing down the specifics of hardware issues.
ghewgill
2004-05-19T14:06:49Z
Nope, I'm a slacker and have done no research at all. :)
cowquat
2004-05-20T01:48:26Z
This exact same thing happened to me. I bought a new battery, and while the new battery took maybe 15 pictures instead of 10, it was obviously the camera. I'm pissed. When you consider that I paid $500 for my S100, that's a lot of money per picture. So much for the cheapness of digital photos that you don't print.
cowquat
2004-05-20T01:49:34Z
Oh, and I'm pretty sure this happened to dbaker as well.
cetan
2004-05-20T19:44:51Z
But digital is so much cheaper than film!!
:P
:P
decibel45
2004-05-21T21:04:44Z
You should probably have tested the battery first (measure voltage just after charge and when it's theoretically discharged). If the battery is a NiCd that you think might have developed a 'memory' I have a way to rejuvinate them that's somewhat sucessful.
ghewgill
2004-05-21T21:07:59Z
It's a Li-ion battery. It also has three terminals, labeled (+) (T) (-). So far it hasn't shown signs of dying, but I haven't really abused it very much yet.
decibel45
2004-05-21T21:52:54Z
FWIW, T is probably a thermistor wired to -.
(anonymous)
: My S50 just died
2004-05-25T20:32:05Z
2004-05-25T20:32:05Z
If it's truly dead, I will be really annoyed. I'll be sending it to Canon. I was talking to someone who said Canon studies at the Nokia school of fixing things - I'd just send them the camera and the battery and tell them what's up. Last time I did that with my Nokia 8260 the returned a re-skinned phone with a new battery, and didn't charge me.
2004-05-19T04:41:13Z