How to I enable focus indication when focusing manually?

Question

I've read that it is possible to have a lamp lit up when your picture is in focus when you are focussing manually. How do I enable this feature on a Canon 5D MkII?

Answer 1

Focus Confirmation is automatic, and should happen on a 5D with all Canon EF lenses.

There are several situations, however, in which the confirmation light may not work. The focus confirmation uses the auto focus (AF) system, so any time that AF is not possible the confirmation light may fail.

Canon has a document that explains these situations in detail but I will list several common ones here.

• AF is not possible due to low contrast.
• An extender/lens combination decreases the maximum aperture past f/5.6, which is beyond the limit for AF.
• The shutter/AE Lock button custom function setting is changed, which can effect AF

Answer 2

Should happen automatically, as far as I know. Unless you are using a third-party lens with an adapter, in which case the adapter needs to have a chip in it that talks to the camera's AF system. Not all do.

Answer 3

Due to the fact that no answers directly solved my problem, and the right one being Matt Grum's comment, I've decided to just post it here as the right answer. All credit goes to Matt Grum:

I think you have to be activating the AF function (i.e. by half pressing the shutter) as the AF system on a DSLR doesn't do anything until activated. – Matt Grum