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EOS M6 Mark II In-camera battery charging

Started May 21, 2021 | Discussions
Larry Cunningham
Larry Cunningham Senior Member • Posts: 1,228
EOS M6 Mark II In-camera battery charging
1

I recently purchased an EOS M6 Mark II, and bought a RAVPower USB C 61W PD Charger (and Anker PD-compatible cable ) for charging the battery in-camera. When I plug everything in, the "Access Lamp" on the back of the camera blinks once, then goes dark again. According to the manual, this indicates "charging problems". I've tried it a couple of times, and it just doesn't work.

Has anyone gotten this combination to work? Any reason why it shouldn't? Do I really have to fork over all those bucks for the "official" Canon charger?

Larry

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Canon EOS M5 Canon EOS M3 Canon EOS M6 II Canon EOS R7 Canon EF 50mm F1.8 II +20 more
Canon EOS M6
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palombian Contributing Member • Posts: 637
Re: EOS M6 Mark II In-camera battery charging
3

Did you try another cable (although yours is high quality) ? Is the battery full perhaps ?

I never had problems to charge the M6II from my desktop PC USB-C port (most probably not PD), and of coarse also from a PD rated powerbank and car charger. With cheap cables from Aliexpress.

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Larry Cunningham
OP Larry Cunningham Senior Member • Posts: 1,228
Re: EOS M6 Mark II In-camera battery charging
4

palombian wrote:

Is the battery full perhaps ?

Yep, that was the problem. In my eagerness to check out my new charger, I tried doing an in-camera recharging after taking only a few dozen photos. Apparently, that was so little drain that the charger considered the battery already full.

I took the camera out today and managed to drain the battery this time (I shot until the battery indicator was flashing red). When I plugged in the charger, the orange access lamp came on and stayed on. The lamp eventually shut off, and the battery is fully charged.

Thanks for the nudge in the right direction!

Larry

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Canon EOS M5 Canon EOS M3 Canon EOS M6 II Canon EOS R7 Canon EF 50mm F1.8 II +20 more
AshleyMC Senior Member • Posts: 2,228
Re: EOS M6 Mark II In-camera battery charging

Glad you got it to work.

Serious question: What is the primary advantage of in-camera battery charging?

Battery consumption has never been something I must be mindful of when using my DSLR cameras intensively in the field — sometimes, a few days would pass with hundreds and hundreds of exposures and the single battery would be in active service.

Not so with mirrorless cameras. So I have bought two spare batteries plus a USB connected charger, and a power pack. In the field, I replace the in-camera battery when needed (which is always the case) and recharge the depleted battery from the power pack via USB, in the backpack while I continue to walk — immediately being ready to shoot again.

Also, that (solar powered) power pack may be used to recharge the batteries of my phone and my notepad computer. When back to a room, one of the first things I do is plug that power pack to a main electrical outlet.

The camera would be “at rest, non-functional” if I were to recharge the battery in-camera.

Larry Cunningham
OP Larry Cunningham Senior Member • Posts: 1,228
Re: EOS M6 Mark II In-camera battery charging

AshleyMC wrote:

Serious question: What is the primary advantage of in-camera battery charging?

Convenience, I suppose. I already wanted a PD-compatible charger for a couple of different applications, and the ability to charge my M6 Mk II battery in-camera was another item to add to the list. I can use it to charge the camera battery overnight, and not have to pack a separate camera-battery charger in my suitcase when I travel. I also carry spare camera batteries, but seldom need the extras. Better safe than sorry.

Larry

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Canon EOS M5 Canon EOS M3 Canon EOS M6 II Canon EOS R7 Canon EF 50mm F1.8 II +20 more
geru Senior Member • Posts: 1,409
Re: EOS M6 Mark II In-camera battery charging

I’ve tried charging the battery in camera but after probably 20 to 30 attempts I’ve given up.

No matter how many cables I’ve tried and I’ve tried quite  few none have worked. They work on my Samsung phone but only in a 2 amp charger.

I also have cable problems with my apple products even though the cables are supposedly certified for apple.

Not to mention data transfer cable problems.

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palombian Contributing Member • Posts: 637
Re: EOS M6 Mark II In-camera battery charging

It is essential you use a cable with USB-C at both sides, not a USB to USB-C.

The cable I had available was very cheap, but it was enough to charge the camera.

USB-C cables have many extra pins and chips to handle different protocols.

One pin is used by the PD protocol to negotiate the voltage, classic USB only has 2 power and 2 data pins, the voltage signals are simply not there and a PD device can't negotiate charging.

I connect my M6 Mark II on the USB-C port of my desktop to download the photos, but when I switch the camera off it is also charged, albeit slowly since the PC port doesn't know anything about PD. I suppose the chip in the cable will signal 5V by default, and the camera will charge (I suppose with 500mA).

When I connect to my 18W PD powerbank or car charger, the cable will transmit it is able to deliver 9V 2A.

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AshleyMC Senior Member • Posts: 2,228
Re: EOS M6 Mark II In-camera battery charging

geru wrote:

I’ve tried charging the battery in camera but after probably 20 to 30 attempts I’ve given up.

No matter how many cables I’ve tried and I’ve tried quite few none have worked. They work on my Samsung phone but only in a 2 amp charger.

I also have cable problems with my apple products even though the cables are supposedly certified for apple.

Not to mention data transfer cable problems.

Good marketing, though.

One attention-getting item on the specs sheet.

This place can be quite entertaining. Initial reactions, “Who cares?” Subsequent, seemingly crowd-sourcing persistent reactions, “No in-camera battery charging, no buy!”

I can charge my phone while I walk and talk. In-camera battery charging? Camera inactive.

AshleyMC Senior Member • Posts: 2,228
Re: EOS M6 Mark II In-camera battery charging

palombian wrote:

It is essential you use a cable with USB-C at both sides, not a USB to USB-C.

The cable I had available was very cheap, but it was enough to charge the camera.

USB-C cables have many extra pins and chips to handle different protocols.

One pin is used by the PD protocol to negotiate the voltage, classic USB only has 2 power and 2 data pins, the voltage signals are simply not there and a PD device can't negotiate charging.

I connect my M6 Mark II on the USB-C port of my desktop to download the photos, but when I switch the camera off it is also charged, albeit slowly since the PC port doesn't know anything about PD. I suppose the chip in the cable will signal 5V by default, and the camera will charge (I suppose with 500mA).

When I connect to my 18W PD powerbank or car charger, the cable will transmit it is able to deliver 9V 2A.

Sounds painful to me.

Even if I manage to get it to work (in order to prove to myself that I get my money worth in buying a top-of-the-line camera with advanced features), the camera cannot be used while I am doing in-camera battery recharging.

nnowak Veteran Member • Posts: 9,074
Re: EOS M6 Mark II In-camera battery charging

AshleyMC wrote:

geru wrote:

I’ve tried charging the battery in camera but after probably 20 to 30 attempts I’ve given up.

No matter how many cables I’ve tried and I’ve tried quite few none have worked. They work on my Samsung phone but only in a 2 amp charger.

I also have cable problems with my apple products even though the cables are supposedly certified for apple.

Not to mention data transfer cable problems.

Good marketing, though.

One attention-getting item on the specs sheet.

This place can be quite entertaining. Initial reactions, “Who cares?” Subsequent, seemingly crowd-sourcing persistent reactions, “No in-camera battery charging, no buy!”

I can charge my phone while I walk and talk. In-camera battery charging? Camera inactive.

That is a Canon specific problem.  Most other brands not only allow in-camera charging, but also allow you to fully utilize the camera while it is connected to the USB power source.

AshleyMC Senior Member • Posts: 2,228
Re: EOS M6 Mark II In-camera battery charging
1

nnowak wrote:

AshleyMC wrote:

geru wrote:

I’ve tried charging the battery in camera but after probably 20 to 30 attempts I’ve given up.

No matter how many cables I’ve tried and I’ve tried quite few none have worked. They work on my Samsung phone but only in a 2 amp charger.

I also have cable problems with my apple products even though the cables are supposedly certified for apple.

Not to mention data transfer cable problems.

Good marketing, though.

One attention-getting item on the specs sheet.

This place can be quite entertaining. Initial reactions, “Who cares?” Subsequent, seemingly crowd-sourcing persistent reactions, “No in-camera battery charging, no buy!”

I can charge my phone while I walk and talk. In-camera battery charging? Camera inactive.

That is a Canon specific problem. Most other brands not only allow in-camera charging, but also allow you to fully utilize the camera while it is connected to the USB power source.

What can I take from that?

I am using Canon cameras and posting in the Canon EOS M Talk forum.

As I said, “Good marketing, though.” (And I mean Canon, OK?)

Now that you brought it up, what specifically are those “most other brands” - including their camera models? Actual information, not conceptual.

nnowak Veteran Member • Posts: 9,074
Re: EOS M6 Mark II In-camera battery charging

AshleyMC wrote:

nnowak wrote:

AshleyMC wrote:

geru wrote:

I’ve tried charging the battery in camera but after probably 20 to 30 attempts I’ve given up.

No matter how many cables I’ve tried and I’ve tried quite few none have worked. They work on my Samsung phone but only in a 2 amp charger.

I also have cable problems with my apple products even though the cables are supposedly certified for apple.

Not to mention data transfer cable problems.

Good marketing, though.

One attention-getting item on the specs sheet.

This place can be quite entertaining. Initial reactions, “Who cares?” Subsequent, seemingly crowd-sourcing persistent reactions, “No in-camera battery charging, no buy!”

I can charge my phone while I walk and talk. In-camera battery charging? Camera inactive.

That is a Canon specific problem. Most other brands not only allow in-camera charging, but also allow you to fully utilize the camera while it is connected to the USB power source.

What can I take from that?

I am using Canon cameras and posting in the Canon EOS M Talk forum.

You appear to be complaining about USB power in general.

As I said, “Good marketing, though.” (And I mean Canon, OK?)

Now that you brought it up, what specifically are those “most other brands” - including their camera models? Actual information, not conceptual.

The list of cameras that support power over USB is far larger than the list of recent cameras that do not.  Fuji, Olympus, Panasonic, and Sony all started offering power via USB in cameras that predate the M6 II, and have continued to include it in the majority of their lineup.  Panasonic and Sony were including this feature years before Canon even added basic USB charging.  Just looking at cameras from 2019 that are similar in price to the M6 II, we have the Fuji X-T30, Olympus E-M5 III, Panasonic G95, and Sony a6400 all supporting power via USB.  Canon and Nikon just started offering the capability in 2020 with the R5, R6, Z5, Z6 II, and Z7 II.

palombian Contributing Member • Posts: 637
Re: EOS M6 Mark II In-camera battery charging
1

AshleyMC wrote:

palombian wrote:

It is essential you use a cable with USB-C at both sides, not a USB to USB-C.

The cable I had available was very cheap, but it was enough to charge the camera.

USB-C cables have many extra pins and chips to handle different protocols.

One pin is used by the PD protocol to negotiate the voltage, classic USB only has 2 power and 2 data pins, the voltage signals are simply not there and a PD device can't negotiate charging.

I connect my M6 Mark II on the USB-C port of my desktop to download the photos, but when I switch the camera off it is also charged, albeit slowly since the PC port doesn't know anything about PD. I suppose the chip in the cable will signal 5V by default, and the camera will charge (I suppose with 500mA).

When I connect to my 18W PD powerbank or car charger, the cable will transmit it is able to deliver 9V 2A.

Sounds painful to me.

Even if I manage to get it to work (in order to prove to myself that I get my money worth in buying a top-of-the-line camera with advanced features), the camera cannot be used while I am doing in-camera battery recharging.

Sorry, it is not my fault Canon doesn't let you use the camera while charging :).

Personally I find it much easier to download files and charge by inserting one connector instead of manipulation the SD card and the battery.

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Abhay Pratap New Member • Posts: 1
Re: EOS M6 Mark II In-camera battery charging

My friend you need reisup dummy battery kit from amazon it doesn't work because it need 5v 3a 9v 3a minimum voltage and amps i buy the reaisup it worked smoothly you already have pd Power bank so you don't need to buy

KEG
KEG Veteran Member • Posts: 4,909
Re: EOS M6 Mark II In-camera battery charging

Abhay Pratap wrote:

My friend you need reisup dummy battery kit from amazon it doesn't work because it need 5v 3a 9v 3a minimum voltage and amps i buy the reaisup it worked smoothly you already have pd Power bank so you don't need to buy

M6 mark II supports USB-C chargers and powerbanks.

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KEG

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