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Even with fresh batteries my camera shuts down - lens closes after opening - and the low battery light flashes. Is this a common problem, and is there a fix or workaround? Thanks!
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yes - it is common
there is a workaround - like this
you can also use your preferred search engine and search for: powershot toothpick trick
crwdns2934105:0crwdne2934105:0
++ LMAOOO Markus, you are something else. Where do you get these pics from??? LOL It seems like you have a pic in your library for every possible electronics situation.
should i really tell you that? - i'm a bot - lol. my library is the internet, i use search engines like every one and i use them in more than one language - nothing special at all ;-)
I had a similar problem with a canon camera. The solution was to use litium batteries. The canon camera need needs the extra power.
use energizer ultimate lithium batteries...
I read on a web site where a person solved this problem by repairing the contact in the bottom of the compartment where the battery goes in + end down. They used a slender dental pick with a crooked tip, reached under the contact, and gently bent it upward.
That raised the battery up about a millimeter or so, making the tops of the two batteries even, and it then made proper contact. Apparently the springiness of the metal at the bottom of that chamber diminishes over time, and the battery descends into the compartment until it no longer makes good contact on the negative end. Sounds like the most elegant and permanent fix, if you can get a hold of a tool of that shape and delicacy.
I haven't had this problem yet, but will bookmark this site (for when the inevitable happens), then I'll be prepared to deal with the issue.
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According to Canon customer service, one should follow the following steps to re-set your camera. It did work for me and the camera works OK
Power Reset
1. Make sure the camera is off, and then remove the battery and memory card.
2. Close the battery door.
3. Press and hold down the on/off button for 1 minute.
4. Release the on/off button, and reinsert the battery and memory card.
5. Power the camera on.
Settings Reset
1. While the camera is on, press the menu button.
2. At the top of the menu move over to the tools tab (wrench and hammer).
3. Go all the way to the bottom of the tools menu list to "Reset All".
4. With "Reset All" highlighted press the Func./Set button.
5. To complete the reset highlight "OK" and press the Func./Set button again.
It works
crwdns2934105:0crwdne2934105:0
Thanks! The other day I thought my camera was useless. I had the "change batteries" thing and I looked at my battery contacts and thought they were good, but the camera wouldn't stay on. Then I found this last night and followed the instructions. Shot pictures all day on the same batteries the camera kept rejecting the other day. I have the Canon Powershot SX 130IS. Don't know about other Canon models, but unless you can see a real problem with your batteries sitting right, I would definitely try this before messing around with toothpicks.
It worked for me just now, didn't work at 1st, then did the toothpick thing and back to this..thanks everyone for your help...was beside myself--aluminum foil worked for a few days, and then found this page...whewwww, happy! Canon Powershot A1100 IS
Worked for me---this was the simple easy answer--they should add it to the manual.
Hasn't worked for me, I have been disappointed on so many occasions with this camera not working even with brand new expensive batteries in it.
Check this out https://www.dpreview.com/articles/197119...
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There is often a second, concealed "button" battery that can produce these symptoms. Test or replace it. The manual has instructions for locating and removing it.
crwdns2934105:0crwdne2934105:0
This camera uses AA batteries.
my apologies I have my Canon a540 for 12 years and never knew about that button battery. I just found it! SMH! Hope that's all it is.
I have this button battery door on the side of my SX110. This one is however for Time and Date... will try replacing and see what happens
i used a screwdriver to pop it out. ill replace it later because im going to clean the drawer that where i keep things and thats where i remembered i had a cr1220 on there
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Hi,
I had the same problem with a powershot A1200, and I found a proper way to fix it: I'm almost sure it may also apply to most of the powershots :
Repairing Canon Powershot Camera indicates low battery and shuts down
crwdns2934105:0crwdne2934105:0
I had the same problem.
1) You have to clean the battery contacts in the camera.
2) Check the contacts of the charger (if you are using rechargable batteries).
3) See if you need to get new rechargables.
4) make sure you use rechargables with more that more that 2200mAh power ratings value .
crwdns2934105:0crwdne2934105:0
you're right - the frist steps should be like this - but he tried that and it didn't work. many powershots have the contact problem and can be "fixed" with the toothpick trick
Yes, toothpick trick works!! Thanks!
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Had problem with batteries since purchase, extremely short life or "change batteries" immediately with new batteries. Bought one brand of ultimate lithium that worked the best, but still too short. Per advice here, I have bent contact up. But then I put a small piece of foam under the contact to maintain the change. Hopefully this will keep me from having to go back and re-bend the contact, thus breaking it. I'll let you know...
crwdns2934105:0crwdne2934105:0
I am having the same problem. Lately I want to add a new problem which is enormously found. Every time I start my camera canon powershot, it opens with the display of time & date setting. Everytime I fix that. But it appers everytime I on the Camera. Please help me.
There is another, small, battery for date and time settings. This will need replacement, I suppose, I had the same issue.
I did wonder about another battery needed, not sure where to find that. will have a look at the manual :(
The reason that Time & Date setting reappears each time the camera is powered on, is that this function is powered by a small coin battery. It's usually located on the side of the camera, like in my SX110; the door has "CR1220" engraved on it. The battery is sitting in the tray. It's fairly easy to pull it out, replace the battery and then reinsert the tray & push in to close. Hope this helps
Sometimes this coin battery is sitting inside a battery door, like in A480. This design was obviously not thought up well by Canon, considering that the battery door is vulnerable already as it is
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Poor contacts are always a big problem with low voltage D.C. a) because voltage = 'pressure' and any limited resistance [i.e. dirty contacts within the camera or on the batteries] will impede the flow of electrical current, and b) direct current tends to 'plate' any metal connections/contacts [read: fur them up]. So - thoroughly clean all connections with Isopropyl Alcohol. Also [as mentioned by others] gently re-tension the camera battery bay contacts and if possible fit a small pad of very thin foam rubber underneath each. I did this with my Fujifilm A700 [which has been annoying me for ages] and it's been fine ever since.
crwdns2934105:0crwdne2934105:0
Canon Knowledge Base recommends using a DRY cotton swab. No mention of isopropyl alcohol like you suggested
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Hi.... I´ve read about "toohtpick" problem.... if the main problem is, that one battery is slightly lower then other, and batteries will not make contakt on "doors" there should be easy solution.... like putting some conductive material on doors..... its just connect two sides of batteries together...
So you can use some metal foil, or even better... use soldering gun, and solder a small "blob" on doors contact....
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In my case the solution was to replace the CR1220 lithium battery that is located next to the memory card in a Canon Powershot S5
crwdns2934105:0crwdne2934105:0
I never knew there was an additional button battery on my camera. I purposely bought it because it had AA batteries. Who knew? Not me, I've had it for 12 years! Thanks!!!!
Idk my CR1220 tray is not coming out it’s just opening a little and then off again:((
A common problem with these camera's is that in the contact within the camera springiness resulting in one of the batteries sitting 2mm lower than it should and not getting a good sitting.
Ideally this should be fixed properly (idea for a ifix walkthrough) but I've not been prepared to do this as yet and settled for a workaround fix which I posted about and is already linked on this site (also below)
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It worked for me for awhile. I had to keep doing it. Now, tonight I broke off one of the contacts, darn. Now I do not know what to do. Anyone have any thoughts?
Thanks
crwdns2934105:0crwdne2934105:0
What worked for you? If you can give us some more information, we might find a solution. Also post an image on here so we can see where and how it is broke,
See my update status below, I said I bought a parts camera on ebay and replaced the broken contacts that I broke from using the toothpick trick too many times. The contacts now work, but I still need to use the toothpick trick often.
I tried the toothpick trick, and it seemed to work occasionally and then go back to the same old, "Change Battery" I did it for over a year and finally I broke off one of the contacts. I bought a parts camera on eBay for $10 and took the contacts out of it and put them in my own camera. At least the contacts do work but I still have to use the toothpick trick. It is really aggravating. Canon should make a better camera, shame on them.
Next time, I will not buy a Canon.
crwdns2934105:0crwdne2934105:0
Same problem with my brand new canon SX 160 when using imported batteries these do not have a flat -ve base (they have circular indentation with fine black print on it), If you use batteries with a flat base they work just fine!
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Cannon should recall all the power shots. They all suffer from bad connections. Add more power and it may over come the connection problem, but that only over rides the real problem. BAD DESIGN OF THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT. I am going to try a external battery pack. Love the camera, but the battery tray was poorly engineered.
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I just bought a used Powershot A590 and it has the same low battery indication even with new batteries. I suspected a contact problem so I cleaned the contacts on top and bottom of the battery case area with a little rubbing alcohol on a Q-tip and let it dry. This seems to fix the problem, however based on what I read here I suspect the problem will recur. I like the solution with the L-shaped dental pick used to bend (pull) up the contacts SLIGHTLY and I will be doing that if the problem recurs. If you get unlucky and break off the contact you may be able to carefully fold a small square of aluminum foil and drop it into the battery hole to make contact with the remaining metal.
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I had the same problem. Contacts were good and AA batteries were good. Although it didn't seem logical, as a last resort, I replaced the CR1220 button cell. This solved my problem on an SX160.
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hi can you guys help me to fix my canon powershot a400? i dont know what happening in here.
its just opening a bit then off again
Same it’s just opening a little and then off again
hi everyone im also facing this problem. its a new camera but its been unused for years since purchase. no batteries were ever installed. so I tried to use the camera for the first time today. popped in new AA batt in and the camera powers on. set the date and before I can take a photo it shows battery is low and seconds later it shuts down. where is the cr1220 slot please? cant find it anywhere in the manual. the model is Olympus fe170. thanks
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Thanks markus. I saw your answer and fixed the camera. it works just like it should with the toothpick tips under the battery contacts. I lost the web page and was not able to find it to thank you until now. I appreciate your help. Thanks
crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0 John Blish crwdne2934271:0
thanks for the feedback, glad that it worked
crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0 markus weiher crwdne2934271:0
Thanks , I bet the foil or solder will fix my camera bugfoot - 1
bugfoot Charging my battery's fer a foil try , then a silver solder blob.
crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0 jsutherland60186 crwdne2934271:0
First check the coin battery which is situated on the bottom lefthand corner of the camera adjacent to the A/V out plug.It is a CR2012.
crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0 Maurice crwdne2934271:0
Maurice, this uses AA batteries
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