Little Focus Squares Not Lighting Up in EOS A2 Viewfinder

[Dave Jenkins]

I haven't used my Canon EOS A2 cameras for about ten years, but recently I thought I would dust them off and shoot some film. I installed a new 2CR5 battery, and everything seemed to work properly, except that the five little squares on the focus screen that indicate the point of focus would not light up in red as they are supposed to do when focus is achieved. In fact, the squares were not visible at all, even their black outlines. Any thoughts on this?

Also, since the camera does not lose its data when the battery is removed for changing, I wonder if there isn't a button cell somewhere in the body. If so, where might it be? It surely needs replacing by now.

 

[Peltigera]

There is only the one battery - no button battery to change. With my EOS 5 (A2) the squares are quite visible even when the camera has no battery in it (as mine does not have at the moment). The squares seem to be on the focussing screen itself (I don't know where the red LEDs are) and if they are not visible it might suggest the screen has become dislodged - or do you need to be wearing your reading glasses? If the LEDs are not lighting up, could it be that you need to set the focussing mode? The manual seems to suggest that you need to be in One-shot AF mode for the lights to light up.

 

[Tony-S]

Yeah, the black squares should always be present. That's a strange problem.