The focus confirmation light does not light in the viewfinder.
19-Sep-2014
8200848300
Solution
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.
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>.
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.
REFERENCE
Some lenses have indications such as < 
0.25m / 0.8ft> on them.
0.25m / 0.8ft> on them.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.
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 Models | Custom Function Number | Custom Function Setting (To cancel the setting, press 0.) |
| EOS-1D X | C.Fn 5 | Check the custom settings. (*) |
| EOS-1Ds Mark III | C.Fn IV -1 | 3 to 0 |
| EOS-1Ds Mark II | C.Fn -04 | 1 to 0 |
| EOS-1Ds | C.Fn -04 | 1 to 0 |
| EOS-1D Mark IV | C.Fn IV -1 | 3 to 0 |
| EOS-1D Mark III | C.Fn IV -1 | 3 to 0 |
| EOS-1D Mark II N | C.Fn -04 | 1 to 0 |
| EOS-1D Mark II | C.Fn -04 | 1 to 0 |
| EOS-1D | C.Fn -04 | 1 to 0 |
| EOS 5D Mark III | C.Fn 2 | Check the custom settings. (*) |
| EOS 5D Mark II | C.Fn IV-1 | 3 to 0 |
| EOS 5D | C.Fn -04 | 1 to 0 |
| EOS 6D | C.Fn III | Check the custom settings. (*) |
| EOS 7D Mark II | C.Fn3 | Check the custom settings. (*) |
| EOS 7D | C.Fn IV-1 | Check the custom settings. (*) |
| EOS 70D | C.Fn III-4 | Check the custom settings. (*) |
| EOS 60Da | C.Fn IV-1 | Check the custom settings. (*) |
| EOS 60D | C.Fn IV-1 | Check the custom settings. (*) |
| EOS 50D | C.Fn IV-1 | 3 to 0 |
| EOS 40D | C.Fn IV-1 | 3 to 0 |
| EOS 30D | C.Fn -04 | 1 to 0 |
| EOS 20Da | C.Fn -04 | 1 to 0 |
| EOS 20D | C.Fn -04 | 1 to 0 |
| EOS 10D | C.Fn -04 | 1 to 0 |
| EOS REBEL T5i/EOS 700D | C.Fn IV C.Fn-6 | 1 to 0 |
| EOS REBEL T4i/EOS 650D | C.Fn IV C.Fn-6 | 1 to 0 |
| EOS REBEL SL1/EOS 100D | C.Fn IV C.Fn-6 | 1 to 0 |
| EOS REBEL T3i/EOS 600D | C.Fn IV C.Fn-9 | 1 to 0 |
| EOS REBEL T2i/EOS 550D | C.Fn IV C.Fn-9 | 1 to 0 |
| EOS REBEL T1i/EOS 500D | C.Fn IV C.Fn-10 | 1 to 0 |
| EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi/EOS 450D | C.Fn IV C.Fn-10 | 1 to 0 |
| EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi/ EOS 400D DIGITAL | C.Fn -04 | 1 to 0 |
| EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT/ EOS 350D DIGITAL | C.Fn -04 | 1 to 0 |
| EOS REBEL T5/EOS 1200D | C.Fn IV C.Fn-8 | 1 to 0 |
| EOS DIGITAL REBEL T3/EOS 1100D | C.Fn IV C.Fn-7 | 1 to 0 |
| EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS/EOS 1000D | C.Fn IV C.Fn-9 | 1 to 0 |
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.
> 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.
REFERENCE
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.)
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.
> in the viewfinder will not light.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.
> in the viewfinder will not light.