Is there a time limit to leave batteries in a camera?

[wrs1145]

I've gotten back into photography now after about 13 years and have loaded up my old cameras w/ adapters and batteries. So the thought occurred to me as to how long should I expect the batteries to last sitting in a camera?
Anybody care to comment on their experience w/ this?

Thanks,
Bill

 

[former member]

What type of battery and what type of camera?

Some batteries can last decades without problems, then corrode.
Some cameras have electronics that always draw power. A dead battery is more likely to corrode.
Zinc-Air batteries start to discharge as soon as used, last a couple of months. You can cover the vents when not in use- at least I did, using scotch tape.
Some batteries self-discharge, especially those with monitoring circuits in them.

On my Mechanical cameras with battery powered meters- I tend to pull out the batteries, and test and inspect every 6 months or so for ones with batteries in them.

 

[KoNickon]

Depends on the battery you're talking about, and how battery-dependent the camera is (some will be constantly draining the battery). But it's good practice to take the battery out if the camera won't be used for any stretch of time -- a couple of months, say. I think AA or AAA batteries should definitely not be left in the camera -- they will leak and can really mess up the electronics.

 

[former member]

A Special Note: The Batteries in modern Digital cameras, and laptops, etc can develop a Bulge and get stuck in the compartment. I've had that happen with my Leica M8. I got to it relatively soon, and was able to pry it out.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

From practical use of different digital cameras since 2007 - you could keep it camera as long as it makes sense.
Which is - why would you keep discharged battery in the camera? Makes no sense 🙂
And discharge time is variable parameter. Couple of months, half-a-year, if it is healthy battery.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

It is best not to store cameras for extended periods of time with batteries in them. Store the batteries along side the camera. Also, when possible do not store camera with the shutter cocked.

 

[p.giannakis]

I adapted a view that says "If I am not going to use a camera for more than a week, the batteries need to come out". I live my life by this motto. I have seen too many damaged cameras that it doesn't worth forget one in it.

Mind you, cameras that I have and work perfectly well (OM4, F5, EOS5, 700si) will drain a full battery within 6 months. Especially the EOS5.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

If the camera is being used frequently, you can leave the batteries in until they die. If the camera isn't used frequently (more than a week without use) remove them until you're ready to use the camera again.

 

[wrs1145]

Very valuable comments / great advice. Thanks, guys.

 

[joe bosak]

I tend to leave batteries in my digital cameras but check them every month or two and charge any up that have substantially discharged. That's on my understanding (possibly incorrect) that some have internal batteries not accessible to the user for storing settings... and the idea that removing the main battery might make a difference to how long those internal batteries last. Could be complete claptrap of course.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

I do not know about digital cameras but it is not uncommon for batteries in film cameras to leak.

 

[Cyriljay]

I had left my X-pan 2 with the batteries. They had drained faster. Once what I did was left the batteries changing the polarities so the current won't pass. So those batteries last very long. I did this on my Hasselblad 203Fe . It takes a 6V lithium batter to function. So I stored the camera with a battery leaving the polarity and it did not drained but last very long periods. Try this trick and see how it works!!!

One more question!!! Anybody knows what happens when you leave a Quarts watch with a battery in and how to leave the watch with the battery. even when the battery in drains It is not a good idea to leave the watch with a dead battery.
I used to leave my watches with the crown Knob dis engaging to so the watch is not power on. But I hear it is no point to do that and the battery will die soon one day. Only experience on the battery issue on watches???

 

[joe bosak]

All I can say is that button and coin cells do die and leak eventually. Which makes it all the more annoying when you find they have been put into items in such a way as you have to dismantle the item, sometimes destructively, to get to them. I suppose it prevents us (or children or pets) from swallowing the batteries, but it also plays into deliberately limiting a device's lifespan.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

The batteries that I found leak the most are AAs.

 

[Tim Murphy]

The batteries that I found leak the most are AAs.

Dear Steve,

And the absolute worst leakers are the brand that built their reputation on reliability and longevity through advertising.

If I live to be 100, I'll never buy another Duracell product.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg PA 🙂

 

[KoNickon]

I had left my X-pan 2 with the batteries. They had drained faster. Once what I did was left the batteries changing the polarities so the current won't pass. So those batteries last very long. I did this on my Hasselblad 203Fe . It takes a 6V lithium batter to function. So I stored the camera with a battery leaving the polarity and it did not drained but last very long periods. Try this trick and see how it works!!!

One more question!!! Anybody knows what happens when you leave a Quarts watch with a battery in and how to leave the watch with the battery. even when the battery in drains It is not a good idea to leave the watch with a dead battery.
I used to leave my watches with the crown Knob dis engaging to so the watch is not power on. But I hear it is no point to do that and the battery will die soon one day. Only experience on the battery issue on watches???

I have not had problems in this regard. I think watch batteries tend not to leak as a rule -- but I do have a couple of quartz watches with dead batteries that I really need to remove, just to be safe.

 

[wrs1145]

By the way, I've removed the batteries from my cameras but I have a system for labeling the batteries/ adapters To insert them again. They all kept at normal temperatures. We'll see if that works or not.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

Not exactly on topic, but an interesting and useful bit of info I learned lately: Unlike other types of batteries, rechargeable lithiums should not be frozen for storage. They can lose their ability to take a charge if this is done. Recommended storage is at cool room temperatures.