Sony a6000 Battery Charge: I have a Sony a6000 that I use as my lightweight travel camera. It takes great photos and performs great. HOWEVER, when put on the shelf its batteries drain...

rdgreenwood Loc: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

I have a Sony a6000 that I use as my lightweight travel camera. It takes great photos and performs great. HOWEVER, when put on the shelf its batteries drain down to dead almost instantly—I have to admit that I’ve not done a scientific monitoring to verify how “instantly” “instantly” is.—but a grab and go shoot is out of the question. Has anyone else had this experience with batteries for Sony a6000 cameras?

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Something you should always do: Remove the batteries when not in use.

rdgreenwood Loc: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

Thank you, but I’m experiencing battery drainage even if the batteries are not in the camera.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

rdgreenwood wrote:

Thank you, but I’m experiencing battery drainage even if the batteries are not in the camera.

All batteries self-discharge - the drop in charge vs time depends on the battery technology, and to some extent, the manufacturer. Whose batteries are you using, and how much charge is lost/week (or month) when removed from the camera?

SteveInConverse Loc: South Texas

rdgreenwood wrote:

Thank you, but I’m experiencing battery drainage even if the batteries are not in the camera.

Are they Sony branded batteries or 3rd party? I never experienced any battery issues when I had the A6000. Rock solid! Check another battery or two and see if you get the same results.

BebuLamar

rdgreenwood wrote:

Thank you, but I’m experiencing battery drainage even if the batteries are not in the camera.

That's the good news. You just need new battery. If you have the drainage only when the battey is in the camera then there is serious problem with the camera.

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

I no longer own the a6000. I now have the a6500. Check the see if you have the "airplane" mode turned on or off. You want it on. This turns off the WiFi. WiFi uses power all the time. To check your battery, fully charge it and don't put it back into camera. Check it after a few days.

MDI Mainer

I bought an A6000 shortly after the model was introduced, and still use and love it (along with two of its more recent cousins). I had one or two batteries that behaved similarly as they aged, but the issue disappeared when I got some new batteries. I use Kastars which I get from Amazon, and haven't had any problem with them. When using it the camera eats batteries, but I can't say I notice any difference between Sony branded ones and these, and a batch of these is much more affordable!

https://amazon.com/gp/product/B00RGCYZ5Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

sorry, duplicate

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

rdgreenwood wrote:

I have a Sony a6000 that I use as my lightweight travel camera. It takes great photos and performs great. HOWEVER, when put on the shelf its batteries drain down to dead almost instantly—I have to admit that I’ve not done a scientific monitoring to verify how “instantly” “instantly” is.—but a grab and go shoot is out of the question. Has anyone else had this experience with batteries for Sony a6000 cameras?

You must have something on the camera turned on. If you cannot find it, remove the charged battery and lay it next to your camera. My a1 and a9 does not do this and I have the battery in the camera. Make sure you have the camera turned off.

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

ORpilot wrote:

I no longer own the a6000. I now have the a6500. Check the see if you have the "airplane" mode turned on or off. You want it on. This turns off the WiFi. WiFi uses power all the time. To check your battery, fully charge it and don't put it back into camera. Check it after a few days.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

rdgreenwood wrote:

I have a Sony a6000 that I use as my lightweight travel camera. It takes great photos and performs great. HOWEVER, when put on the shelf its batteries drain down to dead almost instantly—I have to admit that I’ve not done a scientific monitoring to verify how “instantly” “instantly” is.—but a grab and go shoot is out of the question. Has anyone else had this experience with batteries for Sony a6000 cameras?

I used to have one of them that I used occasionally, and I always had to charge the battery - and bring a spare - when I wanted to use it. With my Nikons, the battery charge seems to last forever.

gwilliams6

MDI Mainer wrote:

I bought an A6000 shortly after the model was intr... (show quote)

epd1947

rdgreenwood wrote:

I have a Sony a6000 that I use as my lightweight travel camera. It takes great photos and performs great. HOWEVER, when put on the shelf its batteries drain down to dead almost instantly—I have to admit that I’ve not done a scientific monitoring to verify how “instantly” “instantly” is.—but a grab and go shoot is out of the question. Has anyone else had this experience with batteries for Sony a6000 cameras?

Yes - my A6000 is one of a host of cameras I own and it’s the only one that has this issue. Batteries outside the camera seem to drain a bit slower - but drain none the less. Since it happens outside the camera it seems to be a battery issue. All of the batteries I own for this camera are Sony originals and age might be a factor. I have been tempted to buy a couple of off brand batteries (like Wasabi) and see if they share this draining issue - that may be the solution and they are rather inexpensive.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

I had an A6000 and now have the A6300. I have the same experience. I have one Sony branded battery and two Wasabi batteries. All discharge whether in the camera or not. Since I don’t use this camera a lot (and that will change this coming summer) I remove the batteries and periodically check the status and recharge them. That way I’m never caught out with a dead battery. To be fair, these batteries are from 2016. I guess it’s a common trait with the A6xxx series cameras.