PowerShot Pro 1 Battery Problems???

[afoktay]

I arrived in Beijing some days ago with an SLR, to be around for some months. Realizing soon I would shoot thousands of pictures here, and finding the prices easonable, I bought a Canon Poweshot Pro 1. Not familiar with digital photography, I am experiencing difficulties: With a fully charged battery pack I get a low battery warning with less than 20 pictures shot!!!!! I undestand the rated 420 pictures is for 23 Centigrade and at lower temperatures - it is below zeroe these days here- one can get the warning much earlier... But could it be that early???? I went back to the shop and changed the camera, battery packs, and the charger.. but the same result. Any suggestions???. Also, even though the user guide says charge till the indicator light stops blinking, some of my friends tell me the battery needs to be charged for at least 8 hours for the first few times. Any comment on this?
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/images/statusicon/user_online.gif

[Avalonthas]

Maybe try picking up a cheap battery off ebay. You can get good prices on Pro1 batteries with 1400Mah +, and buy a charger to which u can get for cheap. Try em out and see if they work any better. My son uses his Pro1 in freezing temperatures here in Toronto and once in Colorado with no problems (battery lasting in excess of 300 shots). He has 1 canon battery and 4 non canon's from ebay and they all wok great in sub zero temps. So i dont know, maybe the store has some faulty stuff :)