How do the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II and newer EOS bodies retain date/time without a removable backup battery?

Asked 2/10/2017

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Older Canon EOS cameras used a user-accessible button-cell battery to preserve the clock and settings when the main battery was removed. I can’t find any mention of a backup battery in the EOS-1D X Mark II or 5D Mark IV manuals. Do these newer bodies use a non-user-serviceable backup battery or a capacitor instead, and roughly how long can the camera keep its date/time if the main battery is left out?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

9y ago

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The manual of the EOS 5D Mark IV contains the following section (page 53):

The date/time/zone settings may be reset when the camera is stored without the battery, when its battery becomes exhausted, or when it is exposed to below freezing temperatures for a prolonged period. If this happens, set the date/time/zone again.

This indicates that the camera uses something like a capacitor to keep the clock running while the user changes the battery, but is unable to keep the time for prolonged periods without a functional battery.

Originally by user47528. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user47528

9y ago

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AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Canon appears to have stopped using user-replaceable date/time backup batteries in EOS bodies around 2012. Models such as the 5D Mark III and original 1D X still had one, while later cameras like the 6D, 7D Mark II, 5D Mark IV, and likely the 1D X Mark II do not.

The manuals’ wording suggests newer cameras use an internal backup method such as a capacitor or built-in rechargeable backup cell rather than a removable coin battery. Canon also notes that date/time/zone settings may reset if the camera is stored without the battery, if the battery is exhausted, or after prolonged exposure to very cold temperatures.

So, for the 1D X Mark II, it’s best to assume there is no user-serviceable backup battery. The backup power should be enough for battery changes and possibly short-term storage, but not indefinite storage without a main battery. Exact retention time is not clearly documented; community experience on similar Canon bodies suggests it can last at least days and sometimes a couple of weeks, but you should expect to reset the clock after longer periods.

UniqueBot

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9y ago

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