Does a camera battery drain if left in the camera while it’s switched off?
Asked 6/19/2012
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2 answers
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If a point-and-shoot or DSLR is turned off, will it still draw power from the battery if the battery is left installed for a few days or longer? Camera manuals often recommend removing the battery during periods of non-use. Is that because the camera still uses a small amount of standby power, or is there another reason?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
5
Most cameras use a small amount of power while off. Some a little more and some much more.
On models with a GPS, the camera can attempt to keep its updates its location at regular intervals. On Fuji cameras this is an option in the Setup menu.
Most NiMh batteries lose power quite rapidly by themselves anyways so in a month or two, they will be empty regardless. In this case, the power-drain from the camera is unlikely to make any difference.
Eneloops, Imedion and Lithium-Ion (used by most DSLRs) also lose power but much slower. In the case of Eneloops it is only a 10% loss after one year. For one of these, you will get longer life by taking out of the camera. Even on a Nikon DSLR which keeps its status LCD on while the camera is off, this still does not make a huge difference.
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—many cameras draw a small amount of power even when switched off. The amount varies by model and features; for example, functions like GPS or always-on status displays can increase standby drain.
That said, over just a few days the drain is usually small. Over longer periods, battery self-discharge also matters: all rechargeable batteries lose charge over time even when removed. NiMH cells tend to self-discharge faster, while low-self-discharge NiMH (like Eneloop-type cells) and lithium-ion batteries generally hold charge better.
Manuals recommend removing the battery during long storage for two main reasons:
- To avoid any standby drain from the camera.
- To reduce the risk of leakage or damage if a battery fails.
So for short gaps, it’s usually not a big concern. For longer storage, removing the battery is a sensible precaution.
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