S3 IS Battery Life

[Aleksandar]

Hey all, got a quick question about an odd problem. I purchased a S3 for my mom for mother's day and she's been using it since then with no problems. However, starting last week the camera always seems to be flashing the "low battery" icon. She bought a brand new pack of batteries (Rayovacs) and after maybe two times using it for around 5 minutes each time, the low battery icon started up again. If she ever raised the flash the camera would simply turn off (the "Change batteries" message would flash right before it did).

Do you think it has to do with the type of batteries? I tried the same one's in various other devices and didn't encounter any problems with them.

[lfaustino]

my s3is also drains batteries pretty fast...
since i don't use it too much i never did something about it...

lazy me

[mes448]

Get her some Sanyo Eneloops and they should last a long time. They are hybrids and are a big improvement over other rechargeables I have used. Using plain regular batteries does not seem to work as well as rechargeables, and the ones I mention are nice as they hold their charge like regular batts but are rechargeable.

[raimisch]

With a good set of rechargeable batteries I am able to get over 1500 pic's quite easily. With regular alkaline ones, I've found I can kill those in under an hour.

[LeeSC]

Get her some Sanyo Eneloops and they should last a long time. They are hybrids and are a big improvement over other rechargeables I have used. Using plain regular batteries does not seem to work as well as rechargeables, and the ones I mention are nice as they hold their charge like regular batts but are rechargeable.


Eneloops are still difficult to find in store, unless you live near an HHGregg. Rayovac makes a low discharge battery called the "Hybrid" which is based on the same technology as the Eneloop. They are a little easier to find since many WalMarts are carrying them now. I use both the Eneloops and Hybrids and they perform identically.

Also, these aren't "Hybrid" batteries. They are officially called "low discharge NIMHs". "Hybrid" is just a particular namebrand made by RayoVac. Calling low discharge "hybrids" is like calling all fast food hamburgers "Big Macs"!


Lee

[283CID]

E N E L O O P .......... End of battery problems! You can get them very reasonably priced through AMAZON.COM . We have an S2 and an S3 and went through 'too many' batteries, trying to find some that were good for us. We don't decide 'tonight' to charge batteries for a 'shoot' tomorrow; rather we just want the cameras to be ready for 'always unscheduled' use. Other batteries' extremely short shelf life killed us. Now, a set of Eneloops can be in the camera, a spare set in the bag, for a couple of MONTHS and still be pretty darned good...

[tedr]

There are two separate battery performance factors here. One is the battery capacity. Typical alkaline AA is 1500mAh (milliamp-hour) Typical Nicad rechargeable about 1000mAh. Typical NiMH rechargeable about 2500mAh. That's nearly twice as much as an alkaline and translates directly into the amount of camera operating time. More and more now it says the mAh rating right on the battery or the packaging. Then there is self discharge. Batteries run down even when they are not being used. Alkaline are very good, they can be kept for years. Rechargeables vary a lot and have much inferior self discharge rates compared with alkalines. The more recent NiMH rechargeables are better than the older NiCad rechargeables. Don't buy any NiCads. To get the best from your rechargeables purchase them with a charger designed for that type. I would stick with the big name brands, they can afford the latest charger technology that squeezes the most out of the battery capacity. NiMH is a very good battery technology.

[Jon]

As several have pointed out, the type of battery matters. The big question I have is "was she using alkaline or rechargeable AA cells?" I'd expect exactly what you described with alkalines; any NiMH should do better, to varying degrees.

[Aleksandar]

As several have pointed out, the type of battery matters. The big question I have is "was she using alkaline or rechargeable AA cells?" I'd expect exactly what you described with alkalines; any NiMH should do better, to varying degrees.

She was using alkalines since she just bought the cheapest pack of Rayovacs they had. I just find it odd that even the cheapest batteries would only last 10 min after being put in yet still work fine in other devices (such as a cordless mouse).

Anyway, I've tried to convince her to spring for some Eneloops but she's convinced that something is wrong and wants me to send it in to Canon. This whole experience has pretty much soured her impression of the camera. When me and my brothers first got it for her, we told her that the fact it took AA's was great for traveling since she could pick them up at any store in a pinch. Obviously that selling point hasn't held up so far. She was a lot happier with my aging Powershot S30 which had a proprietary battery that never gave me any trouble. In fact, because of this battery issue she left the S3 at home and took the S30 on a trip to Michigan last week.

[Jon]

That's the nature of alkalines and digital cameras. Alkalines are really good at providing a steady flow of current at a moderate level. Digital cameras want sharp peaks of current at a high level. When subjected to those demands, alkalines get tired; after a while they'll recover and can be used for a few more photos (and rested again, for a few more, and so on), or they'll do just fine in a radio, flashlight or other less-demanding device. Using AA NiMH cells you'll get much better life in an S3.

[283CID]

Yup... it's a crying shame that Canon did not develope a Lithium Ion battery for these cameras, as it did for the "G" series. I have a handfull of BP-[whatevers] that just lay there... charged. Oh, well... you sure tried !

[Jon]

Personally, I'm happy to have a camera that doesn't use the same batteries as my DSLRs - I've had my BP-511 model (only one with me) charger go toes-up and been grateful I had a camera I could keep going with to eke out my BP-511s. AAs are readily available, and if you need a lot of shots while using alkalines, swap 2-3 sets back and forth. Plus I need an AA charger for my flash' batteries too.

[Bootlegger0173]

FWIW- yes the hybrids are really nice, but when I had the S3IS, I had a really decent life span out of Duracells, which is my pref. I have never had much use for Rayovacs. The upper class Everready's are nice, too. Can't think of what they are called, right of hand, though.

[pavelpavel]

I am sorry that I do not know answere on your question. I have one problem with my Canon S1IS . Do you know somebody if my canon has some small batery / no 4AA /. I have to make some reset nad I do not know how . Please help me.:lol:

Thank you

Hey all, got a quick question about an odd problem. I purchased a S3 for my mom for mother's day and she's been using it since then with no problems. However, starting last week the camera always seems to be flashing the "low battery" icon. She bought a brand new pack of batteries (Rayovacs) and after maybe two times using it for around 5 minutes each time, the low battery icon started up again. If she ever raised the flash the camera would simply turn off (the "Change batteries" message would flash right before it did).

Do you think it has to do with the type of batteries? I tried the same one's in various other devices and didn't encounter any problems with them.

[Aleksandar]

Well, mostly because I'm stubborn and want to prove I'm right, I just ordered 4-pack of Eneloops (including a charger) for $25. They should get here Friday and we shall see if they can last more than 10 min. ;)

[Jon]

I am sorry that I do not know answere on your question. I have one problem with my Canon S1IS . Do you know somebody if my canon has some small batery / no 4AA /. I have to make some reset nad I do not know how . Please help me.:lol:

Thank you
It doesn't have a user-replaceable backup battery. Page 68 of your manual describes how to reset the camera. Essentially, turn it on, then hold down the menu key until you're asked if you want to reset the camera. Then select "Yes".

[Bootlegger0173]

Seriously though, I took pics for almost 4 days at this year's event with my S3IS and never even changed batteries. I think I took about 97, with most being keepers and here some that I posted (some that I posted were with my friend's Olympus, but I don't how to tell you how to tell them apart. I know by looking, but that is about all.

http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y141/Bootlegger0173/PLAYING%20IN%20THE%20WOODS%20PICS/PWYP/?start=all

[JWright]

I willing to bet money she's using the LCD screen as a viewfinder. This, coupled with her choice of batteries, and you have low battery life. I know everybody uses the LCD as a viewfinder (and on some cameras it's the only way), but I wonder how many of them realize the negative side of it. One, the LCD eats up the batteries and two, holding the camera at arm's length does nothing but add camera shake.

I have an Canon A70 I don't use often, but when I do the batteries last for quite a while... And I'm using COSTCO/Kirkland generic alkalines.

[Bootlegger0173]

Good points. I never used mine, and had totally forgotten about that. I had the A75 and it was outstanding.

Didn't swim very well, though.

[kathy1]

I have the S3 IS, and have very good luck with Duracell rechargeable 2650 NiMH batteries. I have used a couple of other brands of the rechargeable type, but they did not hold a charge anywhere near the Duracell...however, I have not tried the Eneloops.

[cspratt]

Both my S2 and S3 seem to eat batteries. Don't buy the rechargeable Energizer brand as they don't last at all. Sanyo's last a bit longer.

[slimboydim]

Good Afternoon All.
I got rechargeable Fuji cell AA's from Ebay, have never
had any Battery issues, at all.
They are 2700 Nimh, and seem to last excellently.

[_aravena]

Eneloops are still difficult to find in store, unless you live near an HHGregg. Rayovac makes a low discharge battery called the "Hybrid" which is based on the same technology as the Eneloop. They are a little easier to find since many WalMarts are carrying them now. I use both the Eneloops and Hybrids and they perform identically.

Also, these aren't "Hybrid" batteries. They are officially called "low discharge NIMHs". "Hybrid" is just a particular namebrand made by RayoVac. Calling low discharge "hybrids" is like calling all fast food hamburgers "Big Macs"!


Lee

Where do you live? They have them everywhere here and I'm in Polk County. Aniwho, if you dont get rechargeable, get Energizer Lithiums. Those lasted forever in my S3. I'm only on my second pair and I've had it since february and that's using it a good amount.

To the OP you realize you actually asked if there was a problem when using rayovacs...That's like asking why the car you won off ebay wont run. Go spend some money and get something good to support that nice camera ya got!