5d MkIII red lights in viewfinder on when screen is on

[RickCDrew]

This problem seemed to be random, but now it's constant.  Whenever the screen is on, the viewfinder glows red.  If I remove ther lens I can see that all the RED LED's in the viefinder are illuminated.  Screen off - no LED's.  This makes it impossible to shoot if the screen is on, say displaying settings, etc.  It also makes long exposures impossible if the screen is illininated |(level, etc.)  NOT just the focus points. It's a very bright, red glow.  If the lens is off, I can actuially read by the glow of the red light.

I have seen more and more people asking about this in various places (Flickr, camera groups, etc.) and nobody seems to know.

Here's an image from the web - this happens every time the screen is on. Shooting video, viewing images, looking at the menu - any time.

I have reset the camera. Tried differenent lenses and  no lens. If you search the web it's a fairly common problem.  I have changed all the AF settings.  You name it.  Nothing seems to work. Removed the batteries. No help there.  The only soultions I have seen on the web are "I have to return the camera...."

[ebiggs1]

First thing is to reset the camera.

[RickCDrew]

Been there, done that!  Here's someone else who posted a video on youtube...

Red Light in Viewfinder

[ebiggs1]

In that case send it in to Canon or join CPS if you are unable to return it to the store.

[RickCDrew]

I've had it a year, so it's out of warranty. It's obviously a defect/design flaw. I know 8 people with the 5D MKIII - six of them are now experiencing the same problem!