Quick Answers
It’s generally okay to leave the battery in your DSLR camera when not in use. However, there are some factors to consider:
– Leaving the battery in all the time can shorten its lifespan due to gradual self-discharge. But occasional storage won’t significantly impact battery life.
– For long-term storage, it’s best to remove the battery and store it separately from the camera. Storing at around 40% charge in a cool, dry place is ideal.
– Modern DSLR batteries have protection circuits to prevent over-discharge. But it’s still best practice to remove the battery if storing the camera for several months.
– Some camera manufacturers specifically recommend removing the battery if the camera won’t be used for a few weeks or more. Check your manual for specific guidelines.
– It’s fine to leave the battery in for everyday, short-term non-use like between shooting sessions. Just be sure to turn the camera off completely.
– Leaving the battery in continually can increase the camera’s parasitic or sleep-mode power draw. But this is minimal for most DSLRs.
So in summary, leaving the battery in your DSLR for short periods is generally fine. But for long-term storage of a month or more, removing the battery is recommended to maximize battery lifespan.
Why You Might Want to Remove the Battery
Here are some of the main reasons it can be beneficial to remove the battery from your DSLR camera for storage or during long periods of non-use:
Prevent Gradual Self-Discharge
All batteries gradually self-discharge over time, whether they are in use or not. This slow loss of charge is accelerated by higher temperatures.
Leaving the battery in your DSLR when not in use means it will slowly self-discharge over weeks or months. The constant topping off from full charge inevitably wears down the battery.
While modern lithium-ion batteries are relatively resilient, minimizing self-discharge helps maximize battery lifespan. Storing the battery 40-50% charged in a cool place optimizes this.
Avoid Deep Discharge Damage
Batteries left in a device for months could discharge to dangerously low levels below the cut-off voltage. This deep discharge can damage battery capacity and chemistry.
DSLRs have protection circuits to prevent excessively low discharge. But it’s still smart to store batteries separately and regularly check their charge level if left in the camera.
Reduce Parasitic Load
DSLRs draw a small amount of passive or parasitic load when turned off with the battery still installed. This keeps settings saved, maintains the clock, etc.
While minimal, this tiny, continual power drain adds up over time and also leads to some battery self-discharge. Removing the battery eliminates this parasitic load.
Prevent Leakage or Corrosion
Very rarely, battery seals can leak over time, especially in hot conditions. Leaked battery acid can damage the camera interior. Corrosion from moisture is also possible.
Removing the battery when storing the camera eliminates this small risk. Storing the battery safely in a cool, dry place also helps prevent leakage.
Adhere to Manufacturer Recommendations
Most major camera brands suggest removing the battery if the camera will be stored or not used for an extended period. Nikon, for example, recommends battery removal after just two weeks.
While not always essential, following the manufacturer’s storage guidelines can help safeguard your equipment and battery. The instruction manual will outline optimal storage procedures.
Benefits of Leaving the Battery In
Here are some potential advantages to leaving your DSLR battery installed during storage periods:
Maintain Camera Settings
DSLRs need battery power to keep all your menu options, saved presets, time and date settings, and other parameters. Removing the battery means resetting the camera later.
Leaving the battery in avoids losing your carefully configured camera settings and saves you having to re-input them. Backup batteries allow swapping without losing settings.
Reduce Repeated Recharges
Taking the battery in and out regularly means you’ll have to keep recharging it before use. This topping up from storage voltage (40-50%) adds cycles.
Leaving the battery in avoids unnecessary charges from storage levels. Just be sure to occasionally top up the charge if left installed long-term.
Quickly Resume Shooting
With the battery left in the camera, you can start shooting again right away after a period of non-use. No time is wasted re-inserting and charging the battery.
For short-term storage of a few days or weeks, having the battery ready in the camera maximizes your ability to rapidly resume photography.
Reduce Risk of Losing Batteries
Storing batteries separately increases the chance of misplacing them, or mixing up which belongs to which camera. Keeping it installed avoids battery mix-ups.
Changing batteries frequently also raises the risk of dropping and damaging them during handling. Leaving it in the camera is one less thing to worry about.
Utilize Newer Battery Technology
Latest generation lithium-ion batteries have vastly improved resilience and protective circuits compared to old chemistries. So leaving them in cameras is less detrimental.
However, it’s still wise to balance convenience against maximizing battery lifespan, especially for very prolonged storage periods.
How Long is Generally Safe to Leave a Battery in a DSLR?
There is no absolute cut-off for how long you can safely leave a battery in a stored DSLR camera. But here are some general guidelines:
– Less than 1 month – Generally fine to leave the battery in for everyday non-use like between shoots. Has minimal impact on battery life.
– 1-6 months – Best practice is to remove the battery for storage during this extended timeframe. Keeps the battery fresher for reuse later.
– Over 6 months – Battery should absolutely be taken out and stored appropriately. Leaving it in risks excessive discharge and damage over very long periods.
– Occasional short-term use – Using the camera intermittently for an hour or two in between weeks or months of storage is generally okay with battery installed. Just be sure to regularly check its charge level.
– Per manufacturer guidelines – Many brands advise removing battery after 2-4 weeks non-use. Check your manual as some are more conservative than others.
The key factors are battery age and condition, storage conditions like temperature, and how frequently the camera is being used during the storage period. Use best judgment for your situation.
Tips for Storing a DSLR Battery Long-Term
If you do remove your DSLR’s battery for long-term storage, here are some tips for maximizing battery life:
– Charge to 40-50% before storage – This reduces age-related capacity loss compared to storing fully charged.
– Store separately from camera – Storing the battery alone eliminates any parasitic load.
– Use a cool environment – Storing at room temperature or below is best. Higher temps accelerate self-discharge.
– Avoid moisture – Dry storage environments prevent corrosion. Use sealed containers if needed.
– Check periodically – Every 6-12 months, check the charge level and top up if below 40%.
– Recharge fully before use – Don’t store and then use from partial charge. Fully recharge when taking back into service.
– Consider backup batteries – Rotate multiple batteries to reduce recharge cycles rather than charging from storage repeatedly.
– Discharge gently before re-use – If stored many months, do a gentle discharge/charge cycle to wake up cells.
Conclusion
While leaving your DSLR’s battery installed during short periods of everyday non-use won’t harm it, best practice is to remove the battery for storage longer than 1-2 months. This helps maximize battery lifespan by reducing gradual self-discharge and parasitic load. Leaving the battery in does avoid lost settings and the need to recharge before use. But proper external storage is advised for extended periods to maintain optimal battery health over years of ownership. Use manufacturer guidelines and your own shooting habits to decide what works best. Proper storage conditions and periodic recharge are key if removing the battery for prolonged periods.