5D Battery discharge

Is it common knowledge that the 5D battery discharges ( albeit slowly) if left in 'sleep' mode rather than fully turned off?

I notice that when I leave the 5D to auto power down and forget to turn it off completely, when I come back to it afetr a few days of non use, the battery is considerably discharged, even completely so if it has been a week since I used it.

Is this normal - I assumed it was but tought I should ask just in case?

As a new 5D owner, I should know the answer, but I don't.

I always turn mine fully off when packed away in the bag, it makes sense that it could possibly drain a few millivolts when in standby leading to a depleted battery if left for any length of time in that state though.

Sure it's not "just" an old or dying battery (or charger)? Some of my batteries do just fine for weeks or even months; others seem to die practically as soon as they go in the camera. I really need to get a better handle on which ones are doing what.

Why not just turn it off when you're done with it??
The fact that the battery is so forgiving might be the reason that you're not paying attention in the first place.
Sounds like a luxury problem to me.

Excellent question - and I don't know the answer .

It would make sense though that there would be a small drain, since the camera is "waiting" for you to either focus, meter, zoom, etc. and it has to be minimally powered in some sort of ready mode to sense that depression on the shutter button or other controls.

Any time it goes back in the case I just turn it off - don't see any point in leaving it on unless I've forgotten.... which does happen .

I Simonius wrote in post #4933753
Is it common knowledge that the 5D battery discharges ( albeit slowly) if left in 'sleep' mode rather than fully turned off?.....

My 20d does not discharge noticeably when left in sleep mode, and I almost never turn it off - seems little point .
I would be suprised if the 5D was less well designed in that way than the 20D - how old is the battery?

The 5D doesn't seem to draw any more power in sleep mode than any of my other cameras. I usually turn mine off when it's put away for storage, but on occasion I've forgotten and when I returned to the camera it's powered up and lasted quite well.

The battery in my 5D seems to last for weeks on end, regardless of wether it's being used or not.

Jon wrote in post #4934345
Sure it's not "just" an old or dying battery (or charger)? Some of my batteries do just fine for weeks or even months; others seem to die practically as soon as they go in the camera. I really need to get a better handle on which ones are doing what.

Dunno, I have 4 batteries. 2 Canon and 2 jessops. The Jessops ones definitely fade sooner than the Canon ones, however they are all only 18 montths old and don't get heavy use

rumble wrote in post #4934446
Why not just turn it off when you're done with it??

it's no harder to make an intelligent comment or to read the question properly - try it

sapearl wrote in post #4934499
Excellent question - and I don't know the answer .

It would make sense though that there would be a small drain, since the camera is "waiting" for you to either focus, meter, zoom, etc. and it has to be minimally powered in some sort of ready mode to sense that depression on the shutter button or other controls.

Any time it goes back in the case I just turn it off - don't see any point in leaving it on unless I've forgotten.... which does happen .

precisely

As you say, we would presume there would be some small drain when not shut off properly, I wndered whether anyone else had noticed a complete drain though? Also the batery might not have had a ful charge when I finished with it, but I do know I hadn't used it much with this battery and that this was one of the Canon batteries

steved110 wrote in post #4935252
My 20d does not discharge noticeably when left in sleep mode, and I almost never turn it off - seems little point .
I would be suprised if the 5D was less well designed in that way than the 20D - how old is the battery?

a couple of the batteries are about 18 months old a couple about 12 months

Generally I don't leave the camera on when not using it but obviously as Im asking I occasionally either forget to turn it off or it gets rubbed inside the bag and turns back on itself .

Im not sure if this happens consistently but as this is not the first time I have noticed it, I thought I d find out what other's experience was of battery life when left on auto off, rather than when swithched off properly

[actually the on/off switch is something I d like to see ina different position for the next version as it turns on and off frequently if walking with it hanging ona strap and rubbing on the body]

I don't believe that turning the camera "off" does anything much but disable the controls. You'll notice that if you insert a card, for instance, when the camera's off the card activity light still kicks in.

Jon wrote in post #4936794
I don't believe that turning the camera "off" does anything much but disable the controls. You'll notice that if you insert a card, for instance, when the camera's off the card activity light still kicks in.

good point - so Im still left wondering whether this si normal to see a dud battery after being left on auto off, or not

For the amount I use the batteries I don't think they should be dying yet - the charger appears to work OK

I rarely turn the camera off and the charge seems good for at least a month or 1,000 exposures which ever comes first.

Gerhard

my 30D with 2650 rechargeable AA batteries does not seem to disrchage them by much if any. Same goes for the 580ex2.

Typically when you charge Simonius, how long on average do you leave the battery in the charger as it charges?

I Simonius wrote in post #4936821
.....For the amount I use the batteries I don't think they should be dying yet - the charger appears to work OK