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I have an old Canon S1 IS and it is killing batteries almost instantly. Have you heard of this problem before and have you heard of any recommended repairs or remedies to correct the problem. I really like the camera and hate to replace it if I do not have to.
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Would get about 20 to 40 shots per battery charge. I always carried a spare fully charged battery when I went out. Today my kid has that old camera and asked me if something was wrong with the camera.
I had to tell them no.
Bob
You failed to mention what type of batteries you are using.
Alkaline batteries will last about 30 photos.
Rechargeable NiMH AA batteries should last about 4 times longer (on one charge).
Lithium (non rechargeable) should last about 250 photos.
These have a long shelf life and will not lose power when the camera is just setting around (not being used).
NiMH batteries will lose some charge when not being used.
So you should always recharge them before going out for a day of shooting.
Some of the newer NiMH batteries have much less power loss when not being used.
Kodak calls theirs "PRE-CHARGED"
A note about NiMH batteries:
If the set of batteries don't last long on a charge, it is very likely that One (just one) has gone bad.
If you have a volt meter you can quickly determine which battery is defective.
A charged NiMH battery should read 1.2 volts on a volt meter.
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Sorry. I use rechargable NiMH batteries. After feeling the problem was my batteries, I got a new set, charged them and used the camera for about 20 photos. I then left the batteries in the camera and did not use it for a few days. When I needed the camera a few days later, the low battery indicator was on. It seems that the camera is killing the batteries when not being used.
My new set of batteries wee fully charged and as I said, they lasted about 20 photos and a few days in the camera. The low battery light came on so I removed the batteries for a few days. Reinstalled and the camera would not tuen on, showed "change bateries". I removed and tested with my volt/amp meter. All were at 1.28 V and 1.0 amps. They also run other items fine. I do not believe it is the batteries. It seems like the camera is not ready the batteries properly.
Nimh battery use. Some had to issue firmware to support this. I did not read your manual or look for updated firmware.
Still have it. My Canon S1 IS always got hundreds of shots on a charge. now a brand new set of NIMH rechargeables barely gets 20 shots.
There has been a long thread about this type of problem on one particular Canon A series camera.
Here is what was determined to be the cause:
Look closely at the batteries while they are setting in the battery housing and see if some of the batteries appear to be too short.
Some batteries are slightly shorter than others.
In the A series camera, the batteries did not make good contact with the electrical connections on the battery compartment lid.
Notice that when you put a battery in the battery compartment, that it is resting on a springy surface. This surface was too low and one or more of the batteries was sitting too low and did not make good contact with the battery compartment lid.
On the A series camera, they could push a piece of a wooden toothpick under the electrical surface on the lid (between the plastic lid and its electrical surface) so that it pushed down harder on the battery when the lid was closed.
Let me know what you find on your camera.
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