PowerShot A590---battery always dead (even new)

[Cjmajkwu]

Hi,

Just got a new Canon A 590. Every time I put in a new set of batteries, after a few shots (or a few days in between), the camera tells me I need to change batteries. The icon of a dead battery shows up. This is very frustrating b/c I can't believe a brand new set of batteries dies out only after taking 5 or so pictures. What's up with this? Is this model a piece of junk? anyone have any slight idea what I am doing wrong? Seems strange. Please help!

[jekostas]

Are you using Alkalines or NiMHs?

Also, it sounds like you may have a faulty camera - I'd say trade it for another one. If you still have the problem, try a set of low-dispersion NiMH batteries - Wal-Mart sells a cheap (and very, very good set) by Rayovac

[cdifoto]

Try NiMH. Alkalines are crap in a P&S (even good ones). If you're already using NiMH and don't use the camera often, it's likely that the batteries are being self-discharged to the point of deadness by the time you pick up the camera again. They lose a lot of juice in a relatively short amount of time. If you rarely use your camera, try Sanyo Eneloops or similar (search places for "low-discharge" batteries). They don't give you longer life in-camera than standard NiMH but they hold their charge better when just sitting.

[Beowulff]

According to Jeff's review HERE (http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_a590-review/) it's good for 450 shots with 2500MaH NiMH batteries.

Cheers :)

[S_p_i_d_e_r]

Maybe it is a similar issue like this one:

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=PgComSmModDisplayAct&fcategoryid=218&modelid=13390&keycode=2111&id=28799

[Turn]

it happened to my A520 but only with non rechargeable batteries :S

[SpecialK]

Perhaps it is the charger?

[MaDMaXX]

My old A85 started doing this after 4 years of service and using alkies :o

Turned out it was because i was using the computer to format or delete pictures or movies from the memory card. Started letting the camera do it under format or delete and it's been perfect ever since.

[S_p_i_d_e_r]

Turned out it was because i was using the computer to format or delete pictures or movies from the memory card. Started letting the camera do it under format or delete and it's been perfect ever since.

Excuse me, but how can these two remote things be related to each other? :confused:

[MaDMaXX]

Hah! wouldn't you believe it, i was *this* close to having to go out and buy a new camera. I found that recall for newer cameras mentioned above, but it didn't quite apply, it did partially.

I had by this point, several sets of Nmh's to mess with, and on one battery flat episode (i kept forcing it to come back on again) i saw a weird code error, only ever saw it the once and it refered to a knackered memory card.

That just made things worse, card knackerd as well as the camera, not even related issues!
My Dad mentioned on his old Fuji that he had problems with his memory card not reading in the PC sometimes and he had to stop using that and jsut use the camera for clearing the pics off that he'd transferred.

Tried this on a new set of batteries, chose the format option instead of the wipe pictures option and it's been perfect ever since, no more battery issues.

I can only assume that the problem with the memory card causes obnoxious power usage and showed that before the mem card error.