topic EOS R7 draining battery even in sleep mode - no aftermarket products in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

EOS R7 draining battery even in sleep mode - no aftermarket products

alyssal — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 14:10:36 GMT

Brand New R7 - My Canon battery was completely charged before I used it before a family session. The camera had 3/4 left after session. Brought it home, it was left in On mode, but is set to sleep after 3 min of no use. I noticed about 5 hours later the camera was warm as was the battery and it was also dead. Is that normal? Do these cameras always need to be turned off? My DSLRS would last for days even in sleep mode and I never had an issue like that before. No after market products, Canon battery and Canon 28 - 70 RF lens with it. Is there another setting that would drain or make it warm just sitting in sleep mode?

Re: R7 draining battery even in sleep mode - no aftermarket productss

Waddizzle — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 22:14:05 GMT

Welcome to the community.

Which DSLR models are you referring to? One major between high performance DSLR and MILC is wireless communications.

Re: R7 draining battery even in sleep mode - no aftermarket productss

alyssal — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 23:32:45 GMT

I also have a 5D Mark IV, and a 6d Mark II. Both are great on battery life and will last for about a week even on sleep mode. This r7 didn't even make it a full 12-hour day even on sleep mode, and it was only used for about 30 min for photos. It had the battery it was bought with new, no aftermarket products, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth were not on.

Re: R7 draining battery even in sleep mode - no aftermarket productss

Waddizzle — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 00:00:30 GMT

I suggest actually switching the camera OFF and see if that makes a difference.

Re: R7 draining battery even in sleep mode - no aftermarket productss

kvbarkley — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 01:52:30 GMT

Also try without the lens. They are connected directly to the battery

Re: R7 draining battery even in sleep mode - no aftermarket productss

LeeP — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 23:45:44 GMT

I guess I'm not following...What would be the benefit of NOT turning the camera off when you're not using it? I'm not understanding why leaving the camera on is desirable.

Re: R7 draining battery even in sleep mode - no aftermarket productss

alyssal — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 03:10:59 GMT

When I have sessions throughout the week back to back it's sometimes easier just to leave it on sleep mode, as I did with my DSLR's and never had a problem. Or sometimes I simply forget to put in off mode. I wasn't aware that mirrorless cameras can't handle the battery well in sleep mode? I guess that big of a difference in sleep mode battery drainage was surprising to me?

Re: R7 draining battery even in sleep mode - no aftermarket productss

shadowsports — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 11:27:14 GMT

Greetings,

Likely causes for a depleted battery overnight when your camera is left on and enters sleep mode.

Leaving Wi-Fi or Bluetooth enabled consistently is #1. This Is documented and should not be surprising.

If you leave these features on when the camera is sleeping (for an extended period) the battery will be depleted. If you choose to use the camera in this manner, your battery will go dead. Unless you are actively using the features, I'd turn them off.

A hardware issue with the lens, body or battery might also cause a depleted battery.

Canon does not recommend leaving a battery installed in your camera for an extended period. (DSLR or Mirrorless). Irregardless of previous experience or use, it is not recommended. Moving the power switch from off to on is inconvenient, This is muscle memory for most when picking up their camera.

Leaving a battery installed for an extended period with the camera powered on and sleeping is your choice. I suggest you not do this. If you insist and disabling the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth doesn't help, you should confirm the health of your battery and have your body / lens inspected by Canon.

Re: R7 draining battery even in sleep mode - no aftermarket productss

alyssal — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 13:38:17 GMT

So if I switch it to airplane mode - that should make sure that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are always turned off? I never have wifi or Bluetooth on, on any of my cameras so those are currently disabled on the r7 right now. So when I shoot a wedding, what's my expectation with the battery life for the r7? For a wedding I need a 12-hour day, it will have to stay on sleep mode because I'm constantly grabbing or switching between cameras and sometimes all I have is a split second to react. If my expectation for battery life is not good and it can't handle even being in sleep mode all day, is that normal? or is that something that is a defect with this specific camera? Normally my DSLRs would last a full day on one battery for a wedding.

Re: R7 draining battery even in sleep mode - no aftermarket productss

deebatman316 — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 13:46:40 GMT

@alyssal You cannot compare battery life between a DSLR & Mirrorless camera. Mirrorless battery life is getting better as time goes on. As it should with battery technology getting better.

Re: R7 draining battery even in sleep mode - no aftermarket productss

LeeP — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 14:14:23 GMT

I intend no disrespect in saying that turning a camera off is neither laborious or time consuming. It's just commons sense to turn a camera off when it is not it use. And turning it back on for another session is equally quick.

Re: R7 draining battery even in sleep mode - no aftermarket productss

alyssal — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 14:40:50 GMT

Sure, I understand that. But when I have two cameras strapped to me for a wedding day and I need them for a full 12 hours, I'm not going to turn them off. They need to be on and ready. I'm simply trying to figure out what I can expect as far as battery life, and I need to figure out if this is a camera flaw, or if this is how it's going to be. This is my first mirrorless camera, so I want to act accordingly on a wedding day if I need to bring extra batteries, and how many. But if this is a camera flaw I would like to act within the time frame to return it, or try different things to see if it is truly a flaw. I understand turning it off between sessions during the week, but on a wedding day I need all my cameras working and on at all times, because most of the time I have two strapped to me and an extra one in my case.

Re: EOS R7 draining battery even in sleep mode - no aftermarket products

Waddizzle — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 14:58:09 GMT

“ Brought it home, it was left in On mode, but is set to sleep after 3 min of no use. . I noticed about 5 hours later the camera was warm as was the battery and it was also dead. “

“, I'm not going to turn them off. “

—————

I suggest that you contact Canon Support directly.

Re: R7 draining battery even in sleep mode - no aftermarket productss

shadowsports — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 15:14:18 GMT

Greetings,

I can only share my experiences with the body's I've owned. I've never used airplane mode. I've only ever disabled Wi-Fi and Bluetooth unless needed (using actively). I've never had any issues with battery performance. Draining or longevity. I don't leave batteries in my camera for days at a time. Maybe a day or two but never longer. I'm also one who turns power off frequently, and doesn't chimp much, except for weddings. This is the same for any Rebels I owned and the 6D mKII prior to the R5 C.

If I were switching between two body's quickdraw, I may leave the cameras on and allow them to go to sleep but not with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled. I'd probably use some type of dual sling or spider holsters. I also have two to three batteries in my pocket ready to go and I wouldn't leave the camera on for days at a time.

I know some people use airplane mode but I've never seemed to need it. With it enabled Bluetooth and Wi-Fi definitely won't drain the battery unless there's another problem.

Re: R7 draining battery even in sleep mode - no aftermarket productss

LeeP — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 15:35:49 GMT

Context is everything. In your case the solution is simple: extra batteries.

Re: R7 draining battery even in sleep mode - no aftermarket productss

alyssal — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 16:17:49 GMT

Thank you. Yes I intend to always leave Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off as I never use those on my camera. Just trying to figure out if Canon has an actual number on how long it will go on sleep mode and being used occasionally in that time frame? Just trying to figure out if this is the right camera for me, or if I should return it while I still have that window open. I'll keep testing it in different ways.

Re: R7 draining battery even in sleep mode - no aftermarket productss

alyssal — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 16:22:22 GMT

Correct. And I always bring plenty of charged batteries with me. I'm just trying to see what my limits are with this camera before I actually bring it to a wedding day. I want to be fully prepared and know what to expect in terms of battery life. So I'm just trying to figure out if I leave it on sleep mode all day and use it randomly throughout the day, how long can that camera last on one battery? I was trying to get other peoples experience with this specific camera. It was ordered new, so I can return if it's not for me.

Re: EOS R7 draining battery even in sleep mode - no aftermarket products

alyssal — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 16:26:39 GMT

Yes, I will probably reach out to Canon. I want to test my limits with it before I go to an actual wedding day. I just find it strange that even on sleep mode it gets that warm. Simply trying to get people's experience with this specific camera. Yes I can go online and see what the battery life expectation is, but I don't think that's specific to sleep mode. But maybe I'm wrong.

Re: EOS R7 draining battery even in sleep mode - no aftermarket products

jrhoffman75 — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 19:56:32 GMT

I also agree you should contact Canon support at 1-800-OK-CANON. Having camera on and letting it Auto Power Off is a common mode when traveling/sightseeing for example. Something is going on if the camera is warm to the touch.
I suspect Canon’s statement about removing battery is related more to a general good practice. Batteries can leak.

Re: EOS R7 draining battery even in sleep mode - no aftermarket products

shadowsports — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 20:28:11 GMT

If weddings will be your primary focus, I'd consider a full frame body over an APS.-C body.

https://www.canon-europe.com/get-inspired/tips-and-techniques/aps-c-vs-full-frame/