How long can a Canon EOS 7D Mark II sit idle on one battery, with or without GPS?
Asked 12/7/2015
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I’m trying to estimate battery drain on a Canon EOS 7D Mark II when the camera is not being used. I’ve heard reports that it can drain quickly even with GPS off, and I want to know whether that is normal or more likely a specific issue with some cameras.
My main concern is how long the camera can remain turned off or in standby on a single original battery, especially with GPS disabled. I often travel for a couple of weeks without access to electricity, so I need to know how much battery loss to expect while the camera is just sitting idle.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
5
I have the Canon 7D Mk II and I have seen it last upwards of a month if not longer on standby without the GPS on. I don't know what the official length of time is from Canon, but I find it barely uses any battery when in stand by from my experience.
Even the one weekend I left the GPS on, as long as the GPS is locked in, its not to hard on the battery. If the GPS is having issues with locking in, it will kill the battery must faster then normal.
Now I recommend that you have a 2nd battery fully charged in your bag just in case if the one in the camera dies and you are not in a place to charge it again.
Originally by user6327. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user6327
10y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Based on user experience, the 7D Mark II uses very little battery while idle with GPS turned off. One owner reported the camera lasting upward of a month or more in standby without GPS, so significant drain while simply sitting unused is not typical.
GPS can increase battery use, but how much depends on whether it can maintain a signal. If GPS is locked, the extra drain may be modest; if it is struggling to lock, battery drain can become much faster.
So for your use case, the key point is: with GPS off, the camera should generally hold its charge well over a couple of weeks of non-use. If you see heavy drain while powered off or idle with GPS disabled, that would suggest an abnormal issue rather than expected behavior.
For travel without charging access, carrying at least one fully charged spare battery is still a good idea.
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