The battery life seems too short

First check the following conditions:

• The battery is compatible and inserted correctly in the camera.
• You use genuine Sony batteries. Make sure the battery comes from an authorized Sony dealer.
• Let the battery charge several hours before inserting it in the camera.

Furthermore the use of certain functions can greatly affect the battery life:

• The ambient temperature is too high or low (below 0°C and over 40°C). Especially in low temperature surroundings the battery performance decreases. This is not a malfunction.
• Use of the build in flash (if available).
• Use of the movie recording function (if available).
• Prolonged playback of files.
• Frequent insertion/removal of memory card; using cards that have not been formatted over a long period.
• Transfer of image/movie files from the camera to the PC via USB connection.
  Use of GPS and/or Wi-Fi (if available).
  
  Also note that:
• Rechargeable batteries lose some of their capacity over time and repeated charge/discharge cycles. Replace them if necessary.
• The battery can discharge to some degree even when the camera is not used and it is stored over a longer period.
• Remove the battery from the camera if the camera is not used for a longer time.