Third visit, yikes. It took them two attempts to fix the error 99's on my 1D Mark III (not the s), but so far it looks like they've done it. The service order only said "adjustments" both times. Nothing about the whole mirror box being replaced or anything.
That would be great if you could get a new camera out of it.
Mine just went DOA tonight. Fires 1, maybe 2 times - then ERR99. Tried different lenses, different batteries, different CF cards, even without a lens. Same outcome every time. Fortunately it decided to do it around the last shot of the night, so at the least the day wasn't a loss.
Just FYI, - Canon ended up replacing my camera completely because they did recognize that possibly, at least with my copy, it perhaps would have to be fully gutted to get to the problem; however, I think that fact that their repair center had so many miscommunications and was basically a customer service nightmare with me, they decided to keep a customer, they better replace the camera for after 3 times in for the same problem, the question as to whether the camera was worth a damn was highly probable.
Please be a squeaky wheel with the repair guys and get yourself up to customer relations as soon as possible. Since the err99 is a public announcement, you don't have to worry about warranty timing.
I have mixed feeling about Canon replacing the 1Ds3 because its focus seems good and the camera looks like new. There's no real upside in a replacement, because then I'll just wonder if the new camera will have ERR99's too. When it fails, the viewfinder dims a tiny bit. If the camera is left sitting untouched, the mirror usually goes completely up in 10-15 seconds. Then the the mirror goes back down in a second or two. It seems like the mirror box has a problem, but it also could be the control signals sent to the actuators.
If Canon replaces the mirror box, maybe that will do the trick. The 1Ds3 just came back from Irvine on May 12 for AF adjustment (the outer focus points). You can't help but wonder if that service led to the problem...
This experience has shaken my confidence in the camera and if the ERR99's persist after servicing, then the camera will be undependable IMO. The most annoying part is the shipping, waiting at home for UPS when they ship it back and then testing & testing trying make sure it is really fixed. Last September I went through a similar mess the Leica M8. It took Leica about 5 months and 4 roundtrips, but finally they gave up and replaced the M8.
It sounds like a intermittent connection or short. It could be anywhere in the camera, and difficult to impossible to find. The fact that they thought it was fixed twice means its intermittent, a occasional short could damage circuitry over and over.
You sound exactly like me before the 2nd trip back to Canon when the Err99 began happening again after the first fix.
If I were you, I would push to have the camera replaced, but you have to go through at least 2 attempts at repair, else Canon does have a case that you haven't given them a chance to gut it and fix it. I wouldn't try to figure out what exactly is causing the problem, just that you have the problem.
The reason a replacement is worthwhile, if because most of the 1ds3's do not exhibit the problem. I have searched many forums and it just isn't a very prevalent problem.
I believe that Canon put it up as a public advisory because is renders the camera useless, pretty much like it did mine. An AF adjustment needs to be quite obvious before they will put it up for public notice and servicing because at least the camera is working in terms of turning on and shooting shots. This Err99 problem is too severe for them to ignore.
I am disappointed in the fact that I have had lower end models than this camera with absolutely no errors ever, however, I think once you get a good copy, like EB-1 has, you will be good and can actually enjoy the camera.
Yup, I received a new 1DsIII after the third trip back to Canon for err99. That camera spent a total od two months with Canon before they finally sent a new one. Funny thing is I have put less than 600 clicks on that body. I started
using a G10 and now the the DSLR stuff just sits unused.
Dave
They are figuring out that some copies of this model are duds and the time it takes to fix is more costly than grabbing another copy and sending along. The "political" fall out just isn't worth it and the price they charged retail was likely too much for having this type of repair problems.
I am glad to see they replaced y'all's as well. I am not sure if you had to be on the phone with them daily for 15 minutes at a time to get someone who wanted to help you, but at least you got a new camera.
My new one has worked fine and I have a feeling they know exactly what is causing it now and can inspect the new copies they sent you before sending along so that you do not have a recurrence.
