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

[alyssal]

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?

[Waddizzle]

Welcome to the community.

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

[alyssal]

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.

[Waddizzle]

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

[kvbarkley]

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

[LeeP]

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.

[alyssal]

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?

[shadowsports]

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.

[alyssal]

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.

[deebatman316]

@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.