Canon XTi lacks focus points inside the viewfinder??

[Bobby C 01TA]

A friend of mine just bought an Xti/18-55 kit lensoff Ebay.. Its in great shape and takes excellent pics... I wanted to check it out for myelf and used some of my glass on it. I noticed that in the viewfinder there are no focus points?? I dont have an Xti so I dont know if this is normal or not? I look through the viewfinder and all I see is a circle in the middle.

For example, on my XT, you look through the viewfinder, see the focus points and a little red dot appears wherever the camera focuses. On his Xti, there are no focus points and no red dot. It focuses just fine and the pics come out sharp.

Did he get a "messed up" camera or what? He enjoys the camera as its his first SLR and I dont even think he knows lol.. Any help/suggestion is appreciated! Thanks!

[txphotog]

sounds like someone put in a custom focusing screen... best I remember the xti should have the 9 focus point diamond in the viewfinder.

[livinthalife]

Agree. But it still focuses? Kinda sucks that your friend won't be able to select which focus point they want to use.

[toverman]

I no longer have my XTi, but mine did show the focus points. Your friend's camera might just have them turned off, as my other bodies let me do that.

[duronboy]

An unmodified XTi has 9 un-turn-off-able focus points. There is no circle in the viewfinder. Even if the focusing screen has been modified, focus points can easily be seen and selected from the rear LCD by pressing the focus point selector button.

[ldelacruz]

It has focus points for sure. I will read my manual and let you know if it can be disabled?

[Bobby C 01TA]

Thanks for the replies guys!! Yea its really weird.. not one focus point.. just a circle in the middle of the viewfinder which has a line going down the middle of the circle. The camera focuses great. I messed with the evaluative/middle focus and it works fine. I just cant see the red spot where the camera is focusing. If theres a way to turn the focus points on and off please let me know.. thanks!

[ldelacruz]

I know my 1D has a way to turn them off but not sure about the Rebel?

[Bobby C 01TA]

Originally Posted by ldelacruz

I know my 1D has a way to turn them off but not sure about the Rebel?

Its just weird lol.. There are no issues with the pics.. here are a few I took with his camera

[kayumangi]

Does the camera have a battery grip? if so, is it the generic one like Opteka?

I had a similar issue with my XT before, for some unknown reason when I was in Auto/Non-Flash mode and the Shutter Speed Priority mode, the focus points went hay wire. When I took off the grip, the focus points were fine again.

Maybe he needs to bring it to a technician for a professional opinion.

[Bobby C 01TA]

Originally Posted by kayumangi

Does the camera have a battery grip? if so, is it the generic one like Opteka?

I had a similar issue with my XT before, for some unknown reason when I was in Auto/Non-Flash mode and the Shutter Speed Priority mode, the focus points went hay wire. When I took off the grip, the focus points were fine again.

Maybe he needs to bring it to a technician for a professional opinion.

Yes! It has a battery grip but its a OEM Canon BG E2 or whatever its called. I'll take out the grip and see if that does anything.

[jsbraby]

Originally Posted by Bobby C 01TA

Thanks for the replies guys!! Yea its really weird.. not one focus point.. just a circle in the middle of the viewfinder which has a line going down the middle of the circle. The camera focuses great. I messed with the evaluative/middle focus and it works fine. I just cant see the red spot where the camera is focusing. If theres a way to turn the focus points on and off please let me know.. thanks!

Sounds like the camera has an after-market split prism focusing screen (circle with a line through the middle would be how I might describe it) like one of these:

Canon 400D Focusing Screen - KatzEye Optics

The focusing screen will not change the operation of the autofocus system since that's happening at the bottom of the mirror box.

On most Canon EOS' (all the one's I've owned with multiple focus points) you can turn off the focus point indicator in a custom function. This will not help if it is a replacement focus screen that doesn't have the indicators, as those are etched into the screen to refract light from the edges.

[Bobby C 01TA]

Joel- Thats exactly how it looks. I'm assuming that its a aftermarket focusing screen.. Hmmm.. Well that sums it up.. I think.. Thanks!!