Canon 7D MK2 Battery life?

[James G]

Just got my new 7D Mk2 this week.
I'd already picked up on comments in other web fora that the battery life between charges was significantly less than the Mk1 version.

So I've made sure that GPS is deactivated, (since it uses battery even when camera is switched off), and I have gone through general settings and ensured that only the functions I generally need are activated.

Camera has been in my backpack this last three days and not been out or switched on, until I took it out this evening, and out of curiosity switched it on and checked the battery.... 97%

I know the battery was at 100% since I recharged it before packing away, so am at a loss as to where there ins a significant drain given it was switched off. (ie did not switch of electronically)

So, for the present I will be taking it out of the camera after each shoot.

Has anyone else encountered this, or have any explanation as to the drain, when the camera is switched of?


ps, battery aside, I am already impressed with its performance cf the MK1

[Stagecoach]

James,

It could be that the reduction was due to it charging the internal battery (which is possibly a capacitor on some cameras) which ensures the clock is maintained.

On the other hand it could simply be accuracy of readings.

[James G]

James,

It could be that the reduction was due to it charging the internal battery (which is possibly a capacitor on some cameras) which ensures the clock is maintained.

On the other hand it could simply be accuracy of readings.

Grahame, hadn't thought about the internal battery charging... will check it out and report back... thanks

[Manfred M]

The battery in your (and in fact in pretty well any modern rechargeable camera) is a Lithium Ion battery. A characteristic of this battery is that it naturally discharges over time, even when sitting there doing nothing.

[loosecanon]

GD is right that LiIon batteries discharge naturally, and usually from full charge there is a rapid few percent drop. Also all Canon's have some electronics connected even when the camera is off, note the led flashes when changing a card or inserting a battery.