topic Re: 6d Mark II Used camera Viewfinder Grid Lines - are these able to turn off? in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

EOS 6d Mark II Used camera Viewfinder Grid Lines - are these able to turn off?

alyssal — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 12:38:38 GMT

Recently bought a used 6d mark II from BH photo. These lines I can see consistently through the viewfinder. Even if I mess with viewfinder settings on the camera, they are always there. Am I missing something? Did this camera have a custom viewfinder installed? Lines appear to be permanent? I took a picture of what I'm seeing through the viewfinder with my phone. My old 6d mark ii did not have these lines.

PXL_20260814_220632475.jpg

Re: 6d Mark II Used camera Viewfinder Grid Lines - are these able to turn off?

deebatman316 — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:22:20 GMT

Hi @alyssal since this camera is new to you reset both the main and custom functions back to factory default.

Re: 6d Mark II Used camera Viewfinder Grid Lines - are these able to turn off?

shadowsports — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:53:40 GMT

Greetings,

Perform a full settings reset, Main and Custom Functions.

If you haven't downloaded a copy of your user manual, do that next.

https://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/9/0300027469/05/eos6d-mk2-im4-en.pdf

Read your manual, 😉. It is the single best way of learning about your camera.

Then, see this for further explanation about the grid lines.

How to Enable the Grid in the Viewfinder on the EOS 6D Mark II https://share.google/Wirhsp5dxK8W69KdL

Re: 6d Mark II Used camera Viewfinder Grid Lines - are these able to turn off?

alyssal — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 01:37:24 GMT

I did perform a factory reset myself - the lines are still there. They are present in the viewfinder even with the camera off. Is there an aftermarket product on the viewfinder that does this? I've never seen lines in any viewfinder like this before.

Re: 6d Mark II Used camera Viewfinder Grid Lines - are these able to turn off?

alyssal — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 01:38:25 GMT

Yep, did that, no change. Lines are still present even if camera is on or off. The lines do not "flicker" per say, they are there permanently if that make sense?

Re: 6d Mark II Used camera Viewfinder Grid Lines - are these able to turn off?

deebatman316 — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 01:52:00 GMT

Hi @alyssal turn the mode dial to A+ and see what happens. The camera uses an LCD overlay in the viewfinder instead of a regular focusing screen.

Re: 6d Mark II Used camera Viewfinder Grid Lines - are these able to turn off?

alyssal — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 02:37:35 GMT

No change. No matter what I do the lines stay there permanently. It doesn't matter which setting it's on when I turn the dial. This is what it looks like inside the camera? For coming from BH photo, should the mirror be this dirty? So there's actually lines on the mirror?

Re: 6d Mark II Used camera Viewfinder Grid Lines - are these able to turn off?

alyssal — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 02:41:09 GMT

Another picture.

Re: 6d Mark II Used camera Viewfinder Grid Lines - are these able to turn off?

deebatman316 — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 03:12:25 GMT

The camera uses an LCD overlay in the viewfinder it may have failed. I would ensure that the grid display is turned off in the menu as @shadowsports said. He provided an electronic copy of the manual for your camera. If it still doesn’t work I would return it to B&H Photo NYC.

Re: 6d Mark II Used camera Viewfinder Grid Lines - are these able to turn off?

alyssal — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 03:28:09 GMT

Yes, all viewfinder gridlines are turned off or disabled. So the lines I'm seeing on the mirror when I take the lens off and look inside is from a failed LCD display? Sorry if I'm interpreting this incorrectly. So the LCD displays onto the mirror, but this one appears to be stuck on displaying lines permanently? Does the mirror appear abnormally dirty for just coming from BH photo today? I just feel like it wasn't even cleaned or tested....

Thanks for helping.

Re: 6d Mark II Used camera Viewfinder Grid Lines - are these able to turn off?

deebatman316 — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 03:32:25 GMT

@alyssal the LCD overlay is above the mirror. But your camera is malfunctioning so return for a refund.

Re: 6d Mark II Used camera Viewfinder Grid Lines - are these able to turn off?

kvbarkley — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 13:28:35 GMT

If you see it in the mirror it could be etched onto the focusing screen which i believe is interchangeable in those models

Re: 6d Mark II Used camera Viewfinder Grid Lines - are these able to turn off?

Waddizzle — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 13:54:54 GMT

My colleagues have suggested that you reset the camera. Performing a full factory reset on a “new to you” used camera is highly recommended. Except that they’re describing how to reset a mirrorless camera.

Unlike a DSLR, which only offers one reset option, the MILC bodies offer two, a Basic Settings reset and a Othrr Settings reset. The reset in your DSLR is a Basic soft reset. There are still many customization settings that are not cleared out.

Your DSLR does not offer any option to perform a full hard reset of the entire camera. To perform a full, hard reset, you are going to need to walk through the entire menu system and reset everything you can find.

A good example of what I am talking about is the Custom Controls menu. You can quickly access it by pressing the [Q{ button and selecting the camera icon on the right side. Many menu options are not multiple choice. They open up to a sub menu of their own, complete with its own reset option. A Basic reset does not touch any of these. Another example is time and date. They are not reset, either.

You will need to walk the entire menu system and peek at every menu option. If a setting opens to a submenu, then reset it. You want to start using the camera with all settings in a known state.

—————-

Back to your grid problem. See below.

IMG_6035.jpeg

Re: 6d Mark II Used camera Viewfinder Grid Lines - are these able to turn off?

alyssal — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 14:29:45 GMT

Thank you. BH photo is closed today but I will be calling them first thing tomorrow. I think at this point after clearing all settings I'm still trying to figure out if this was a camera that has an etched screen? Or if this is an LCD malfunction? I don't think any settings will change these lines that are displayed on the mirror? In the attached picture, you can see the lines on the inside of the camera, and how dirty it was upon arrival. So I feel like there was something misrepresented about this camera.

Re: 6d Mark II Used camera Viewfinder Grid Lines - are these able to turn off?

ebiggs1 — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 15:16:42 GMT

If your example is accurate that is of no focus screen I have ever seen. Really doesn't mean anything because there may be screens I haven't scene but I have several myself. You can do a hard reset. Remove the battery for at least a day or two. Leave it out. Make sure the camera is off and hold the power switch down for a minute or so. Now reinstall the battery and turn it on.

However, I am in favor of you returning it for a different camera because that screen doesn't look 'normal'.

Re: 6d Mark II Used camera Viewfinder Grid Lines - are these able to turn off?

deebatman316 — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 18:25:35 GMT

@kvbarkley Cameras with an LCD Overlay DO NOT have interchangeable focusing screens. The first camera to use an LCD Overlay is the EOS 7D. The EOS 6D Mark II has an LCD overlay in the viewfinder. So it’s not possible to change focusing screens.

Re: 6d Mark II Used camera Viewfinder Grid Lines - are these able to turn off?

Waddizzle — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 19:02:41 GMT

“ Thank you. BH photo is closed today but I will be calling them first thing tomorrow. I think at this point after clearing all settings I'm still trying to figure out if this was a camera that has an etched screen? Or if this is an LCD malfunction? I don't think any settings will change these lines that are displayed on the mirror? In the attached picture, you can see the lines on the inside of the camera, and how dirty it was upon arrival. So I feel like there was something misrepresented about this camera. “

Did you check the setting in the Wrench 2 menu?

That setting controls the OVF. There’s a separate setting for the rear LCD when you turn on Live View mode.

Re: 6d Mark II Used camera Viewfinder Grid Lines - are these able to turn off?

Waddizzle — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 15:10:31 GMT

“ If your example is accurate that is of no focus screen I have ever seen. “

I am certain that the 1Dx has it, too. This is from the 5D Mark IV. You cannot view the 1Dx manual for some reason. )page 61)

https://www.usa.canon.com/support/p/eos-1d-x

IMG_6065.jpeg

Re: 6d Mark II Used camera Viewfinder Grid Lines - are these able to turn off?

ebiggs1 — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 14:09:18 GMT

“ If your example is accurate that is of no focus screen I have ever seen."

"I am certain that the 1Dx has it, too."

I have the screen. It doesn't look like the example shown.

Re: 6d Mark II Used camera Viewfinder Grid Lines - are these able to turn off?

kvbarkley — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 15:24:54 GMT

It looks like a custom guide for something like a microscope camera