Manufacturer Warranties and Protection Plans

[ASV]

My Canon Camera SX130 has pretty much been out-of-service ever since I bought it a year ago. I have all the bells and whistles when it comes to Best Buy's Warranty's.' But, I just can't get my problem fixed!!! Even after bringing it back 2 times, they still can't find the problem and just tell me to get new batteries. But, the fact is I am using those batteries so fast its wasting all my university money that I could use to pay for books. ..I really don't have time for this, I am deep into school studies & I need a working camera to complete them on time. The problem is quite simple..My camera's batteries die very fast for some strange reason. Its happened to me even when I'm taking pictures leaving my camera's lens's still open. I think the Repair Center cannot see this problem because they only turn it on very briefly. ....I shop at Best Buy all the time & have never had a problem with anything else before. I just want a useable camera, that's all. Could I please get some help with this issue?

[xl]

Do use the LCD a lot? Do you zoom in and out a lot? Do you take a lot of flash pictures (I like flash)? All the above reasons will drain your batteries quicker.

I don't think it's the batteries, but the type. Any reason you are not using rechargeables? Call a few quality electronics or photography stores and ask for Sanyo "Eneloops". Known as "low-discharge NiMh", these AA's are incredible!

[ASV]

I don't  think its the batteries I think that it's the camera. I use the LCD. And I rarely use the zoom. And I quit using the flash when it first started to die easier. I was using rechargables but they stopped working even faster than the ones I have been using lately. When I bought the camera one of the staff suggested that I buy certain rechargable batteries with my camera so I got those. I used them for the first time when I was out at work in a camp. And after about 5 pictures it died with the lens open. And I couldn't do anything about it because I was working out in the field. I've used different types of camera batteries now and the charge won't last more than a day. 

[xl]

• Do not buy Energizer rechargeables.... they are the worst.
• what is the LCD brightness level?  I hope it's not set to MAX.
• by any chance are you using Eye-fi SD cards?  The wireless capabilities drains batteries even quicker.

[Ryan-BBY Senior Social Media Specialist]

Hello ASV -

Allan from our Social Media team, will be reaching out to you regarding your concern. Thank you for your continued patience!

[ASV]

Sorry I meant to say that I don't use the LCD and no I don't have an Eye-fi SD card. The rechargable batteries that I had weren't Energizer. But when I went back to Best Buy the second time to pick up my camera they gave me Energizer rechargables to see if that would fix the problem, because I had been spending a lot of money there on batteries.

[xl]

Well since you have rechargeables now....  I assume they are open.

• Charge up the Energizers overnight
• stick it into the camera and repeatily take pictures
• how many shots do you get with NO flash?  More than 5?  Can you get 50?  Can you get more?

The key thing about "NiMh" versus "low-discharge NiMh" batteries is they MUST be charged up the just before you use it.  After a few days, the NiMh will lose significant amount of power.

[Allan-BBY Community Connector]

Hi ASV,

It sounds like you have had this camera out for repairs a couple of times, and they have not been able to find anything wrong with the camera. It is true that the service center would have to be able to duplicate your concern before they could address this, but if the batteries are dying in 5-50 shots I would expect this could be duplicated easily.

It sounds like you have tried everything, and the suggestions that xl gave you are all valid. Have you tried Lithium Ion AA batteries? To be honest I have never heard of any batteries being completely drained in 5-50 shots, and I don’t even see how a defect in the camera could even cause this. I guess it could happen if you were using flash, in very dark environments, with the LCD set to max, and constantly zooming the lens.

If after exhausting all energy sources you are still not getting the performance one would expect my suggestion would be to post back to this thread, and I will see what other options we could possibly extend to you. Most likely we would have to send this camera back out for repairs another time before we could decide how to proceed.

Thanks for posting,

[ASV]

Hi, 

I actually haven't had a chance yet to try out the new batteries but I will in the next few days. The problem is that I can't have the batteries charged right before I'm going to be taking a picture. It doesn't matter how many pictures I can take after it is charged. If it won't hold the charge for a few hours to a day or two afterwards the camera is absolutely useless to me. I'm not going to be taking pictures from inside my house all the time. Most of my work is  outside where I may be in the field for up to 2 weeks. Last time I used the charger that was suggested to me I charged the batteries overnight. And within an hour they were dead and I was on a mountain working for the day with no camera. And a camera that I couldn't even put back in the case because the lens was stuck open. 

I haven't been doing anything that would drain the battery fast. After it began to die I stopped even using the zoom which I really needed to use and it would still die. I honestly don't see how this is the batteries, I've been buying great camera batteries for this all of which have been suggested to me at Best Buy and none of them work. If a camera isn't going to work on some of the best ones I don't see why it should be for sale or why anyone would be buying it.

The problem is is that when I eventually return the camera for a third time Customer Service told me that they didn't think I would be able to get a new camera even though I have the plan for one. Because the warehouse couldn't find a problem with the camera and sent it back twice with no fault found they can't do anything about it. But there is obviously something wrong with it. If they tried it out over a day it would die on them. The warrenty doesn't state anything about them having to find a fault with the camera. Just because they can't find it doesnt mean it isnt there. I bought this camera so I could have it when I worked up in the Yukon all summer. And within 2 months it broke and there was no Best Buy for me to return it to. I haven't been letting my camera sit around for 10 months because I want a new one. I need a new one because the one I bought is useless.

I don't mean to sound rude, but I'm going travelling in 2 months and I'm really sick of not having a camera.

[Allan-BBY Community Connector]

Hi ASV,

I have a feeling I now know what is going on, and to be honest it is likely there is no perfect answer. Is this camera being used outdoors in cold weather? Are you referring to the Yukon Territory in Canada?

Most people are not aware of the effect that temperature has on batteries. Batteries run on DC current which is generated by a chemical reaction that happens when a circuit is completed. This chemical reaction is affected by the temperature the batteries are being used in. Batteries that are being used will last their longest when warm, and will drain the quickest when cold. The colder it is the quicker the batteries will drain.

On another interesting not the opposite is true for batteries that are not being used. A stored batter will slowly drain its charge over time, and this drain is slowed down when the batteries are stored in a cold place (such as a refrigerator). With that said you should let the batteries, which are stored in a cold place, warm up to at least room-temperature before using.

I have to imagine that the Yukon is a very cold place, and if you are using this camera outdoors in the cold there is likely nothing you will be able to completely fix your dilemma. The best suggestion is to keep the camera in a warm place (i.e. inside your coat next to the core of your body) until you need to take some shots, and to limit your shooting times. You will also need to bring backup batteries to swap out, and these should also be stored in a warm place.

I have to say that cold weather shooting is one of the most challenging types there is, and even professionals with very expensive equipment struggle with keeping their camera batteries charged in extreme cold weather. Getting a new camera is not likely going to help much, and to be truthful no Point-and-Shoot camera is designed to operate outdoors in the cold weather.

I have heard that a Lithium Ion battery will last the best in cold weather, and we do sell the Energizer E2 Lithium Ion AA batteries that could help. If I'm totally off-base on this cold weather stuff just let me know, and I will do my best to help.

Thanks,