Loss of viewfinder flash of red light

[jonathan7007]

I was shooting our local 4th of July arade which went through dusk I realized that the [lame]viewfinder illumination wasn't working in my 5DMk3

The choice to make a black-box focus-target indicator on the focus screen was throwing me big time in the ever-darker street. Worse, I was getting NO flash of red and a sense of which target was activated. The first thing I can't do anything about. The second: I know the 7D people pt up with it. Had never had or handled one, ever.

Has anyone had their "viewfinder illumination" die? Looks like a trip to Irvine.

Boy I hope they put in a different system on the 5D-whatever-is-past-Mk3.

 

[PicaPica]

and you took a look at the manual?

just asking as many people complain about things they simply don´t know because they never read the whole manual.

 

[2n10]

I was shooting our local 4th of July arade which went through dusk I realized that the [lame]viewfinder illumination wasn't working in my 5DMk3

The choice to make a black-box focus-target indicator on the focus screen was throwing me big time in the ever-darker street. Worse, I was getting NO flash of red and a sense of which target was activated. The first thing I can't do anything about. The second: I know the 7D people pt up with it. Had never had or handled one, ever.

Has anyone had their "viewfinder illumination" die? Looks like a trip to Irvine.

Boy I hope they put in a different system on the 5D-whatever-is-past-Mk3.

I have a 7D and have set it so I get the red flash. You must have changed one of your settings. Time to consult your manual as stated by PicaPica.

 

[Loswr]

As stated, check your settings. The VF illumination has an auto setting, the camera may not have thought it was dark enough. Also, it doesn't work in AI Servo mode.

 

[bseitz234]

As stated, check your settings. The VF illumination has an auto setting, the camera may not have thought it was dark enough. Also, it doesn't work in AI Servo mode.

This was my first thought as well.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

If it was in AI Servo, it does not illuminate. This is simply because AI-Servo takes a photo even if not focused.

 

[Loswr]

If it was in AI Servo, it does not illuminate. This is simply because AI-Servo takes a photo even if not focused.

It's useful to know which point(s) are active during Servo focusing. On the 5DIII (and 7D) I think it's more of a technical limitation – focusing and metering are continuous, and the illumination affects metering so it's disabled. Canon 'solved' the issue for the 1D X by having the VF illumination 'blink' in Servo (and maybe by ignoring red contribution to metering, which would be possible with the RGB metering sensor).

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

If it was in AI Servo, it does not illuminate. This is simply because AI-Servo takes a photo even if not focused.

It's useful to know which point(s) are active during Servo focusing. On the 5DIII (and 7D) I think it's more of a technical limitation – focusing and metering are continuous, and the illumination affects metering so it's disabled. Canon 'solved' the issue for the 1D X by having the VF illumination 'blink' in Servo (and maybe by ignoring red contribution to metering, which would be possible with the RGB metering sensor).

I hope they fix this on the next generation 7D / 5D MK IV/etc. I'd like to think that its on their high priority list.

 

[jonathan7007]

I'm the OP. The problem is improper operation of the user manual.

Haven't been shooting event images in the dark without strobes recently. I use back button focus and like setting that at AI-Servo. So as the country music song says, "There's your Trouble".

Line item "VF Illumination" in the menus is set for "On". I checked that but I had forgotten the use case exception for Servo. ...and that makes sense as Mt. Spokane indicated. I mostly wanted reminder of focus point as I shot, and although I'm at fault I still don't like the passive black-box feedback. The 1Ds Mark3's I use are a little slower in some of the darker situations but I love the positive feedback.

Although somewhat chagrined I appreciate the feedback. BTW, Canon in VA didn't catch this - usually their advice or feedback better...

 

[Loswr]

...I still don't like the passive black-box feedback. The 1Ds Mark3's I use are a little slower in some of the darker situations but I love the positive feedback.

The issue is the transmissive LCD, which cannot be side-lit at as steep an angle as the etched screen of older bodies.