Camera body storage - with or without batteries inserted / installed: In a recent thread (camera batteries swelling) some respondents said they remove batteries from bodies that are...

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

In a recent thread (camera batteries swelling) some respondents said they remove batteries from bodies that are not in active use - a matter of weeks not months or years. Is there any downside to following this practice of removing batteries from camera bodies not in active use? Are there any in-body functions that require current from the battery?
I know with Li-ion batteries some manufacturers (e-bikes for example) recommend removing these from a device for even short term inactivity (2 weeks or more). I shoot Nikons, but doubt if there is any difference among manufacturers in this regard.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

DaveyDitzer wrote:

.../... Is there any downside to following this practice of removing batteries from camera bodies not in active use? .../...

Three:
► Losing track of their location
► Forgetting to check them periodically.
► Not checking their charge before using. They were not used, so still fully charged... Right.

Still, it is always best to remove any and all batteries from a device that is seldom used. That includes ALL devices and not only camera stuff.

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

If the battery is removed for an extended period you will need to reset the clock/date functions. This can affect interval timer usage. The internal clock battery will hold onto these settings for about a month once the regular battery is pulled out for storage.

If you do pull the battery, try to have it in a middling charge state. Best if not full or way low.

info courtesy of thom hogan.

BebuLamar

If you keep the battery out of the camera for more than 1 month the internal battery is depleted. If it stays in that condition too long it would go bad. Once it goes bad you will lost the time when you remove the main battery from the camera and worse it would keep drawing power from the main battery to charge it but if it's bad it's never full so it would draw current all the time.
Except for some high end cameras this internal battery is not user replaceable and thus you have to send it in for them to do that. If your camera is old they may not do it for you.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

The only down side is if it's a prolonged period the little battery for the clock keep-alive may drain beyond any future usage. You'd have to reset the date/time.
I've no idea on longevity of keep-alive batteries. Some have said that a dead (bad) keep-alive battery will be an extra drain on the camera battery when inserted. It may keep trying to charge the internal battery.

I leave batteries in mine, but check them monthly.

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

Longshadow wrote:

I leave batteries in mine, but check them monthly.

What do you check them for? Just state of charge?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

DaveyDitzer wrote:

What do you check them for? Just state of charge?

Yes.
I check the one in the camera (X of 4 bars); swap batteries; check another battery; check another,.....
I currently have five batteries.
2 bars or less I pop them in the charger.
(On occasion it may be 2 months.)

rangel28

DaveyDitzer wrote:

Is there any downside to following this practice of removing batteries from camera bodies not in active use? Are there any in-body functions that require current from the battery?

Yes, you will run down the internal battery, and you will have to set the date and time everytime you use the camera. I imagine you may also use any customization you did on the camera, such as user presents (U1, U2, U3 on the Nikon cameras) once the internal battery wears out and how you initially set up the camera. I think the camera would reset back to how it left the factory.

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

If I summarize the responses I've received in this thread; the downsides of removing the batteries from the camera body is that the internal battery may lose charge and no longer fulfill its function of retaining basic settings. The downside of leaving batteries in the camera body can risk swelling of a battery in the battery chamber. The basic recommendation is to leave batteries in the camera body and periodically check the level of charge and avoid either full discharge or storage at full charge. I have all Nikon branded batteries and will leave these in their respective camera bodies. Thanks to everyone who helped.

BebuLamar

rangel28 wrote:

Yes, you will run down the internal battery, and you will have to set the date and time everytime you use the camera. I imagine you may also use any customization you did on the camera, such as user presents (U1, U2, U3 on the Nikon cameras) once the internal battery wears out and how you initially set up the camera. I think the camera would reset back to how it left the factory.

I think the internal battery is only for the clock which must be running. U1, U2 etc.. settings are saved in flash memory and don't need battery power.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

BebuLamar wrote:

I think the internal battery is only for the clock which must be running. U1, U2 etc.. settings are saved in flash memory and don't need battery power.

Most likely.
The clock (oscillator) needs power to run.

CaltechNerd Loc: Whittier, CA, USA

Rongnongno wrote:

Three:
► Losing track of their location
► Forgetting to check them periodically.
► Not checking their charge before using. They were not used, so still fully charged... Right.

Still, it is always best to remove any and all batteries from a device that is seldom used. That includes ALL devices and not only camera stuff.

RetCapt Loc: NorCal mountains

I have never had a battery swell or otherwise malfunction. This includes OEM as well as third party batts.

Nevertheless I am in the remove for storage camp.

I have a number of old(er) cameras that have been given to me. On two of them the memory battery is gone. So each time I change batteries I have to input my settings. An inconvenience but not a big deal. Any camera I take out for a photoshoot I start with a fresh battery. So I reset before I even leave the house.

I keep the batts and chargers in two locations, one each for cameras in frequent use and one for stored cameras. I then rotate these locations as I rotate cameras.

I have enough cameras that I would find it an inconvenience to remember to check that batts on any kind of a regular basis. With the batts out I know the camera is safe without looking at it.