Canon Group
Close Close
Menu Menu Close Close Search
Canon EOS 5D Mark 3 DSLR Camera
EOS 5D Mark III Support
FAQs & troubleshooting

The focus confirmation light does not light in the viewfinder.

Content Id: 8200848300


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.

Caution

Some lenses have indications such as ⋖ 0.25m / 0.8ft⋗ on them.

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
Camera ModelsCustom Function NumberCustom Function Setting
(To cancel the setting, press 0.)
EOS-1D XC.Fn 5Check the custom settings. (*)
EOS-1Ds Mark IIIC.Fn IV -13 to 0
EOS-1Ds Mark IIC.Fn -041 to 0
EOS-1DsC.Fn -041 to 0
EOS-1D Mark IVC.Fn IV -13 to 0
EOS-1D Mark IIIC.Fn IV -13 to 0
EOS-1D Mark II NC.Fn -041 to 0
EOS-1D Mark IIC.Fn -041 to 0
EOS-1DC.Fn -041 to 0
EOS 5D Mark III C.Fn 2Check the custom settings. (*)
EOS 5D Mark II C.Fn IV-13 to 0
EOS 5DC.Fn -041 to 0
EOS 6DC.Fn IIICheck the custom settings. (*)
EOS 7D Mark IIC.Fn3Check the custom settings. (*)
EOS 7DC.Fn IV-1Check the custom settings. (*)
EOS 70DC.Fn III-4Check the custom settings. (*)
EOS 60DaC.Fn IV-1Check the custom settings. (*)
EOS 60DC.Fn IV-1Check the custom settings. (*)
EOS 50DC.Fn IV-13 to 0
EOS 40DC.Fn IV-13 to 0
EOS 30DC.Fn -041 to 0
EOS 20DaC.Fn -041 to 0
EOS 20DC.Fn -041 to 0
EOS 10DC.Fn -041 to 0
EOS REBEL T5i/EOS 700DC.Fn IV C.Fn-61 to 0
EOS REBEL T4i/EOS 650DC.Fn IV C.Fn-61 to 0
EOS REBEL SL1/EOS 100DC.Fn IV C.Fn-61 to 0
EOS REBEL T3i/EOS 600DC.Fn IV C.Fn-91 to 0
EOS REBEL T2i/EOS 550DC.Fn IV C.Fn-91 to 0
EOS REBEL T1i/EOS 500DC.Fn IV C.Fn-101 to 0
EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi/EOS 450DC.Fn IV C.Fn-101 to 0
EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi/
EOS 400D DIGITAL
C.Fn -041 to 0
EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT/
EOS 350D DIGITAL
C.Fn -041 to 0
EOS REBEL T5/EOS 1200DC.Fn IV C.Fn-81 to 0
EOS DIGITAL REBEL T3/EOS 1100DC.Fn IV C.Fn-71 to 0
EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS/EOS 1000DC.Fn IV C.Fn-91 to 0
(*): 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.
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

In Creative Zone modes (except for ⋖A-DEP⋗), the beeper will not sound even when focus is achieved.

Also, the focus confirmation light ⋖ ⋗ in the viewfinder will not light.

AF mode is set to AI FOCUS AF

When focus is achieved in the AI Focus AF mode with the Servo mode active, the beeper will sound softly. However, the focus confirmation light ⋖ ⋗ in the viewfinder will not light.

"Was this helpful?"