canon

thor

Does anyone know anything about canon powershot cameras having an issue with batteries?
I have a canon A590 IS which has been working away happily for nearly 2 years. Yesterday however I noticed that I was getting a battery low icon followed by a message saying that the batteries( AAs) should be changed. It then shut itself off.
It is doing this with new, old, and rechargeables.
I googled the fault to find that there were/are many others who suffered it also but none of the solutions worked.
I am hoping that someone has a clue about how to fix it.
Plus as so many have the same fault, would canon be obliged to offer whtever help it can?

Lirin

Older Powershots did present this prob, Canon don't really acknowledge it. It's something to do with the contacts becoming worn and damaged, I believe, and the camera can't utilise the battery properly.

Only solution I had ever found was to whack very high rated batteries in. Have one old Canon film camera that refuses to work with rechargable batteries at all.

One thing worth checking is the contacts- make sure they're clear and shiny, none are worn or greasy. Sometimes they do loosen in the older cameras, just check and see they're mounted tight enough.

thor

thanks for replying Lirin.
I have checked the contacts and they look to be in tiptop shape. I still cleaned them with some isopropanol as many have suggested when tackling this problem. Sadly it did not fix the problem.
I know canon are not legally obligated to do anything but if it is a widespread fault then they must have designed it with this flaw and I would have thought that they would feel duty bound to do the right thing and sanction a recall to sort them out.
I have bought many canon items previously but now I am very disappointed by them.

Lirin

It can be irritating. The only other thing I can think of if it's a severe of fast drain is that electrics may be dislodged and touching, or an issue with the circuit board. Trying to remember exactly what, as I have come across it in a few Canon's, though not newer models. Have taken quite a few Canon's apart....

LeonP_2

Dunno...I have EOS 1000D and have no problems!...

Lirin

Sorry- I should have edited to mean older compact cameras- wasn't thinking.

Also, should add that Canon's can be very choosy over which battery you use, and the rating of it. Rechargable AA/AAA's aren't particularly great in cameras from my experience- I tend to use Duracell Extra in both cameras and flashes, and save them for the TV remote when the camera draws too much.

Cameras will suffer in colder weather- how fast is the drain Thor? If the camera isn't being used for a while, the battery will drain out anyway- and the 'Off' setting isn't off as such, mainly a very low drain standby mode (not to maintain date/time stamps- that's what the cell battery is for). Cold weather will also accelerate battery drain as well.

Lirin

Thor, remembered now. Took a while, haven't taken Canon's apart for a bit.

Under/ near the shoot button (depending on model, don't have a diag of the guts of yours handy) there's a circuit board. Used to see people pushing the button too hard, or dropping the camera on that area- cracking the circuit board or connections to it. (Sometines it just 'goes' as well- no offense meant there Thor). Would usually end up a couple of ways- either camera works fine, it just thinks it doesn't, or the connection is bridging, creating a drain.

Usually was cracked board, if I remember correct.

Can be repaired fairly easily, but I'd discourage on the costs- will outweigh the cost of buying the camera. Do hope it isn't that, how fast do the batteries drain, over what period of time?

thor

Looking back at my original post I see that I did not explain the problem clearly. The batteries are not draining fast Lirin, it is just the low battery level message appearing, followed by an instruction to change the battery before turning itself off. I checked the batteries after all this and found they were still at full charge and working perfectly well in other devices. I have used all types of batteries in this camera for nearly 2 years without a hitch until just recently.
I may still take it apart to see if there is something blatantly wrong as my guarantee has run out anyway so I will have nothing to lose and I'm pretty good at soldering so may get lucky.