How can I power a Canon Rebel T3i for a multi-day plant time-lapse?
Asked 12/19/2018
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I want to shoot a multi-day time-lapse of plant growth with a Canon EOS Rebel T3i. Since the camera only needs to wake up to take each frame, I was wondering whether an intervalometer can power the camera on and off between shots, or whether the camera's normal sleep mode is enough to save battery. I’m also considering external power options. What’s the most practical way to handle power for a long time-lapse while keeping the camera position fixed?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
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- This could not be necessary, since my experience with a Rebel XSi is that it goes to sleep automatically and doesn't draw much power in this state, I once awoke it after at least two weeks of sleep and the battery was still full. So if you can make the go-to-sleep delay as short as possible (and possibly reduce other consumption such as the rear screen and use manual focus), you could be able to take you whole time lapse on a single battery (in the limits of roughly 400 according to the specs, but likely much more).
- You can double that with a battery grip (holds two batteries)
- There are DC couplers such as this that can power your camera using an external battery pack or an USB charger.
Originally by user75947. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user75947
7y ago
0
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For a Rebel-class Canon, the practical approach is usually to leave the camera in place and let it use its normal sleep mode rather than trying to power it fully on and off between shots. These cameras draw very little power while sleeping, and with the sleep delay set short, reduced screen use, and manual focus, battery life can be much better than the standard single-charge shot rating suggests.
If you need longer runtime, common options are:
- a battery grip with two batteries
- a DC coupler/dummy battery connected to external power, such as a USB power source or battery pack
That avoids disturbing the camera position, which is important for a consistent long-term time-lapse. In general, external intervalometers trigger the shutter; they do not typically control full camera power cycling. So the best strategy is usually: keep the camera mounted, minimize power use, and use either sleep mode or continuous external power.
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