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EOS 5Ds Support
FAQs & troubleshooting

The focus confirmation light does not light in the viewfinder (EOS 5DS / EOS 5DS R)

Content Id: 8202601500


This section explains what to do if the focus confirmation light does not light.

In the following cases, the focus confirmation light may not light.

The lens focus mode switch is set to [MF]

If the lens focus mode switch is set to [MF], the AF mode can be selected, but the autofocus will not operate.

Set the lens focus mode switch to [AF].

The subject is closer than the lens’s minimum focusing distance

When you are too close to the subject (closer that the minimum focusing distance of the lens), the camera will not focus. Please move away from the subject to shoot. For more information on the minimum focusing distances for individual lenses, please check the lens specifications on the Canon homepage or in the product’s instruction manual.

An extender (sold separately) is used

If a separately-sold extender is used together with a lens whose maximum lens aperture value is f/5.6 or higher, the autofocus will not operate.

*Support requirements may differ depending on the camera’s AF point specifications.

Check the maximum lens aperture value of your lens. In addition, see the instruction manual of your extender.

Custom function settings are enabled

If [Shutter/AE lock button] is assigned to something other than the default [AF/AE lock] function in the custom function (C-Fn) settings of the camera, the autofocus will not operate and therefore, the focus confirmation light may not light in certain settings even if the shutter button is pressed halfway.

Change the custom function setting by referring to the following list.

Custom Function Setting by Model
[ AE Lock is set when the shutter button is half-pressed ]
Camera ModelsCustom Function NumberCustom Function Setting
( Setting to [ 0 ] disables the function)
EOS 5DSC.Fn3Check the custom settings*
EOS 5DS RC.Fn3Check the custom settings*
*If the autofocus function is not assigned to the shutter button using the [Custom Controls] function on the Quick Control screen, the autofocus will not operate even if the shutter is pressed halfway, and therefore the focus confirmation light does not light.

AF (auto focus) mode is set to One-Shot AF

Depending on the shooting conditions, the camera may not focus and the focus confirmation light [ ] may blink even if the subject remains still. In this case, an image will not be captured when the shutter button is pressed completely. Please try recomposing the picture, or refer to the following methods for focusing the camera.

Focus on an object at the same distance as the subject and lock the focus before recomposing (Focus Lock).
Set the lens focus mode switch to [MF] and focus by turning the lens focusing ring until the subject looks sharp in the viewfinder. If you press the shutter button halfway during manual focusing, the AF point which achieved focus will flash briefly in red and the focus confirmation light [ ] will light in the viewfinder.

Caution

AF (Auto Focus) can fail to achieve focus on certain subjects such as:

Low-contrast subjects. (eg. blue sky, solid-color walls, etc.)
Subjects in low light.
Extremely backlit reflective subjects. (ex. car with a reflective body)
Overlapping near and far objects. (ex. animal in a cage)
Repetitive patterns. (ex. Skyscraper windows, computer keyboards, etc.)

AF mode is set to AI Servo AF

With AI Servo AF, the beeper will not sound even when focus is achieved. Also, the focus indicator [ ] in the viewfinder will not light up.

AF mode is set to AI Servo AF

When focus is achieved with AI Focus AF with the Servo operation active, the beeper will continue beeping softly. However, the focus indicator [ ] in the viewfinder will not light up. Note that focus will not be locked in this case.

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