Camera indicates low battery and shuts down.

"yes - it is common

there is a workaround - like this

you can also use your preferred search engine and search for: powershot toothpick trick"

"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.

Update

It works"

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.

"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"

"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 ."

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...