Hi there!

My camera resets date, time and location every time I change battery. Really odd... Does anybody else have this problem? A bit boring to have to redo that all the time...

Mine did this last night after not being used for a week. Had kept all the other settings though. Most odd.

Yes, all the other stuff is fine. (Otherwise it would REALLY be a problem.)

Hi there!

My camera resets date, time and location every time I change battery. Really odd... Does anybody else have this problem? A bit boring to have to redo that all the time...

Are you using a Sony battery?

Some third party batteries will do this...

Are you using a Sony battery?

Some third party batteries will do this...

There's a good point! I usually buy Sony but I had a free 3rd party battery supplied with the camera, and yes it was the one that caused the issue.

Shame really as the 3rd party battery (I forget the name) is from a reputable supplier and has a higher capacity than the equivalent Sony.

There's a good point! I usually buy Sony but I had a free 3rd party battery supplied with the camera, and yes it was the one that caused the issue.

Shame really as the 3rd party battery (I forget the name) is from a reputable supplier and has a higher capacity than the equivalent Sony.

I have heard that sometimes it helps if you don't charge the 3rd party battery all the way to 100%. And it may well be that as the battery ages it will start to work better as the top voltage will be lower. I have a bunch of old Swit batteries and they all work fine, but I know they no longer take a full charge.

Try just charging to 75% or so.

I'll keep using it and report back. I can live with the inconvenience for a free battery :-)

Yeah, no. I have two SONY BPL 60s and the original one. No third parties...

It does seem to be related to third party batteries, and only when they're 100% full. Also note that you cannot format media in-camera when you're running on a full third party battery. This is frustrating, because the first things I do on a shoot are a) clip on a fresh battery, b) format a media card. Also, I am notorious for using a battery for just a few minutes and then popping it on the charger when I get home - my batteries are always at 100%.

I'm hoping a firmware update fixes this issue.

Not only does it reset date and time, WITH SONY batteries, the zebra also switches off sometimes for no reason. Any ideas?

Sony FS5 + SWIT S-8U63 troubles on Vimeo

Yeah that's weird. But again, NOT using third party batteries.

Yeah that's weird. But again, NOT using third party batteries.

In that case go back to your dealer for a new battery. Or you may have to have your camera fixed.

If it does not work with original Sony batteries something is very wrong. I suspect a bad battery.

I have 5 Sony BPU batteries and a bunch of Swits and they all work perfectly in the FS5.

Yeah, no. I have two SONY BPL 60s and the original one. No third parties...


I have the same problem Alfred. I am using BPL 60s Sony Brand.

I have been doing a lot of shooting using S-8U63s. I have no issues at all. I wonder if it is a camera issue with only some some cameras?

I have this same problem of date and time reset when I insert a new battery even though that battery is an original Sony. When I went to the dealer and changed it for a pair of new Sony batteries, the problem has not recurred. It seems that even Sony original batteries can have this problem. Apparently some hand shake takes place when a new battery is inserted. And some error in the battery may cause the handshake to fail resulting in the date reset. So the first course of action is to try anothrr set of batteries.

Odd error, obviously. I only use Swit batteries and new ones at that and I have had only one instance where the camera reset the date and time. Other than that, they have been rock solid. I do use the camera regularly, so perhaps it is related to the internal battery in the camera?

Wouldn't it be more likely to be the internal battery? This is from the FS5 manual:

Tip
If you do not use your camcorder for about 2 months, the built-in rechargeable battery gets discharged and the date and time settings may be cleared from the memory. In that case, charge the rechargeable battery and then set the date and time again (p. 162)

i have the same problem with sony batery bp-u60..reset date the camera

My FS5 had the same issue. Not only date and time would reset, but also time-code, which was very frustrating.

I took my camera to an authorized Sony repair facility and they are replacing parts - I assume the internal memory component. Parts are currently on order. Hopefully this will resolve the issue once and for all.

How did you make out? I'm having the same problem.

I just started having this issues ... after 9 months with the camera. Happens with Sony battery. No recent firmware updates. Just suddenly started resetting time / date the other day, and now happens everytime I remove battery to charge.

Any fixes? I'm a thousand dollar flight from Canada, where I bought the camera, and DHL would probably be similar in cost (an envelope sent to the US return is $100).

Thanks in advance.

Not really a fix but... It seems to happen to me if the battery is at a hundred 100%. So when I alternate batteries and newly charged one has been in the bag for a day or two it doesn't reset, other than that, no idea.

Ok thanks. I'll check to see if mine is doing the same thing.

Resurrecting this thread since it was a high search result on Google, we're having this issue with our older FS5 (purchased in 2017, but appears to be made in September 2016). Our newer one (purchased in 2018, made August 2018), doesn't appear to have the same issue. We only have Sony batteries purchased new. We are also having issues with getting the clock reset on startup.

We normally store the camera without batteries in there, and sometimes one of the cameras might not be used for months. I get the internal battery going dead then -- if it's a rechargeable type -- but we'll have it do it after several days. I've tried leaving a battery in, and that seems to circumvent the issue. It does seems to drain the removable, external batteries faster than I'm use to with other cameras.

I initially figured the internal battery would be a replaceable watch-style battery as I have seen in some cameras and other electronics that save settings and have a running clock, but it makes sense that manufacturers for cameras would go to a rechargeable battery. If I remember correctly, the C100s (at least the earlier ones) have a watch-style battery and I never had to redo the clock times unless it was dead, which seem to last for years.

Just curious how this has played out for folks and if any official news on it came out since the last post here.

I have an off brand BPU 90 and if I put it in the camera straight after charging I have to reset time and date but if I leave a day or so before putting it in the camera I don't have to do it. All my other off brand batteries of various smaller capacities are fine.
HTH

Owner here with the same problem. I've already send the FS5 for service under warranty for a problem I can't recall what for today. But I do know these cameras will drain the battery even powered off. This camera isn't a weekly or sometimes monthly workhorse. I'll have to set the date/time everytime I do use it though.