SL2 Power On/Off Switch

[wchettel]

Several weeks ago I took a few pics with my SL2 but when I put it back in the bag I forgot to turn the power switch off. Last night I pulled it out to take a few more pics and I noticed that it was still turned ON, but the battery level indicator didn't seem to be any lower than it was when I used it the last time.

Is there any harm in leaving the power switch in the ON position when the SL2 is not being used for a lengthy period?

[shadowsports]

Greetings,

No real harm per se except the battery will eventally go dead. The camera will go into a low power state if the power button is left on and no controls are accuated.

You shouldn't store your camera with a battery installed.  A few days, a week, fine.  More than that, remove the battery.

You should turn the power swiitch off when the camera is not going to be used.  When youre done taking pictures, turn it off. 

[ebiggs1 · Accepted solution]

I almost never turn my cameras off.  But I use them a lot.  Even the ones that sit on the shelf because they aren't the one being used doesn't get turned off. This has been my practice for years and years. Once the off timer has been exhausted the camera is essentially turned off.

The two sitting in front of me on the computer desk are both off but their on/off switch is in the on position.

[MikeSowsun]

I almost never turn mine off as well. Even when changing lenses, memory cards, or batteries. 

Once the camera “goes to sleep” it doesn’t use any more power than with the switch off. I once had one go dead after a few days in the camera bag and I just assumed that one of the buttons got pressed. 

[ebiggs1]

"Even when changing lenses, memory cards, or batteries."

Almost with you but I think you may want to turn it off with the on/off switch when removing and inserting CF or SD cards. I do turn it off when doing so. The instant the lens is turned a tiny amount power is cut off.  The last pin to make contact and first removed is the power pin.  I see no danger mounting and dismounting lenses. 

[MikeSowsun]

Opening the memory card door cuts the power so I don't see any point to turnoing off the switch.

[RobertTheFat]

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@MikeSowsun wrote:

Opening the memory card door cuts the power so I don't see any point to turnoing off the switch.

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Just as Rudy Giuliani sometimes makes phone calls by sitting on his cell phone, a camera can do funny things if it gets jostled around in a full camera bag. Call me old-fashioned if you like, but I think turning off a camera when you put it away is a good habit.

[ebiggs1]

"Opening the memory card door cuts the power so I don't see any point to turnoing off the switch."

I know and I agree the chance of a problem is small. Perhaps tiny.  But on this, I choose to error on the safe side and turn the camera off.  I take the extra step and also go slow so any, if any, static that could be left when pulling the CF card is drained. It is just my concern for CF card safety. I have not lost a picture to a bad or corrupted CF card.   I do not intend to have one now either. So I will keep doing the same routine.  I am super careful with menory cards.

Canon tries to make our cameras as fool proof as possible but "things" (not the choice word!) happens. 

[Waddizzle]

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@RobertTheFat wrote:

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@MikeSowsun wrote:

Opening the memory card door cuts the power so I don't see any point to turnoing off the switch.

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Just as Rudy Giuliani sometimes makes phone calls by sitting on his cell phone, a camera can do funny things if it gets jostled around in a full camera bag. Call me old-fashioned if you like, but I think turning off a camera when you put it away is a good habit.

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Same here.  I have had button presses while the camera is in the bag. 

[Waddizzle]

What about tethering and downloading?  Don't you, or shouldn't you cycle power?