Kier wrote:
Alistair - good luck with your epic calibration. I can't help thinking it will make sweet FA difference, but I hope I'm wrong. I'll be sending my MkIII and all my 20 of my lenses into CPS for calibration after the AF inconsistency is resolved - before then I believe there is the distinct possibility that lenses could be sent badly out of calibration with other bodies by attempting to match them to the all-over-the-place focusing of the MkIII. Just a warning.
Hi Kier, in theory everything should return matched, 2 bodies, 9 lenses, all matched to each other. If AF inconsistency is the problem then I can't imagine it will make much of a difference but certainly on my 300 and 500 the Mark 3 does appear to be back focussing. Sweet FA difference or not, I will certainly let you know!
Sep 18, 2007 at 08:53 AM
Kier Offline Image Upload: Off
•Poll v3.1: MkIII have AF issues?
Fingers crossed for you! I'll look forward to hearing how it turns out. Hopefully it will be for the better.
For my part, I have had my third MkIII for about three weeks now and I am very seriously considering calling it a day with this camera and returning it for a refund. If I were to do that, I would certainly go back and buy another one when I start seeing reports that Canon have issued a working fix, or that the problem has been identified and rectified in newly shipping units. It's a shame, because the MkIII makes SUCH nice images when they are in focus.
Sep 18, 2007 at 10:55 AM
72chevelle454 Offline Image Upload: Off
•Poll v3.1: MkIII have AF issues?
Lasse Eriksson wrote: 72chevelle454 wrote: Alistair Watson wrote: 72chevelle454 wrote:
Alistair... Our next step is to wait for 1.1.1 to come out and cross our fingers it works... if it don't... I guess the camera's go back till they figure this mess out.
Well, I am going to send all my gear in for body/lens matched calibration in 1 week since I do believe my 1D Mark 3 is backfocussing and I can't be bothered with micro adjust. I had a long conversation with one of the product guys at Canon UK this morning and he kept mentioning how many pro sports and news photographers they had helped get the wow factor from the 1D3. So it sounds like calibration, then see if the new firmware helps, if not then send a whole load of images to Canon for their diagnostic software (which apparently is getting alot of use these days!). Calumet the dealer where I bought the camera doesn't acknowledge a fault thus making a refund impossible, the store manager in Bristol even told me that he felt most people didn't even know how to use the camera so that was where the problem lay. I asked if he had ever used or even held a Mark 3 in his hands and his reply was no. Had I had a Mark 3 to hand I did think of a way to test the stength of the magnesium alloy body..... nothing worse than critics who have never owned or even know anything about a 1D series body......
We micro adjusted all of our lens for the 1D3, all of the same lenses that worked just fine on our 1D2's
My brother and I both had to adjust just about every lens we had (except for my 500mm f4) to some degree.. some back and some forward adjustments were needed as much as + or - 12 on the scale. seems real weird to me that the camera can not achieve a consistent focus point at the same target, that for one tells me there is something going on. I'm on my 3rd 1D3 body and yes I had to micro adjust all three cameras for my lens arsenal.. I noticed the same thing with all three camera bodies when micro adjusting them, the camera was somewhat sporadicly focusing on the focus point.
Side note that I would like to put out there is the 70-200mm f2.8 IS lenses seem to work the best for tracking subject in servo mode.. Don't know why, but they do.
I belive people are using that micro-adjustment too much. Just because they got a new toy with their new camera they have to use it. They have used their lenses for years with many cameras and suddenly they must adjust every lens
People have shot film without a LCD screen on the back for many years too..
Sep 18, 2007 at 11:31 AM
Sam Bennett Offline Buy and Sell: On
•Poll v3.1: MkIII have AF issues?
Are we going to do a new poll at some point? I already voted "Show Me The Results", but now I have a Mark III.
Sep 18, 2007 at 01:02 PM
Nill Toulme Offline Buy and Sell: On
•Poll v3.1: MkIII have AF issues?
A new poll is up to Jeff, but in the meantime you can give me your changed or additional-unit votes and I'll include them in the periodic results snapshots I've been posting.
Hey, maybe we could start a new poll after firmware 1.1.1 is among the masses. We could ask if it seemed to fix the widely known Servo focus issue. Of course one choice in the poll could still be "I had no problems to begin with!"
Sam, out of curiosity, what were you going to vote now?
Sep 18, 2007 at 02:06 PM
Sam Bennett Offline Buy and Sell: On
•Poll v3.1: MkIII have AF issues?
Not sure I'm ready to vote yet. I shot my first sports event this weekend, but I haven't gone through all the photos yet. I'm about 1/3rd the way through (in the portion that was in direct sunlight) and the focus looks dead on so far. I have a 529xxx.
Sep 18, 2007 at 02:22 PM
Garylv Offline Image Upload: Off
•Poll v3.1: MkIII have AF issues?
If you're 1/3 the way through it sounds like your camera performed fine. It's pretty easy to see when the focus is off.
Was it around mid-day, or late afternoon sun? Also what were your lenses and aperture settings?
Gary
Sep 18, 2007 at 02:32 PM
Sam Bennett Offline Buy and Sell: On
•Poll v3.1: MkIII have AF issues?
Well, the focus was "off" in some photos, but when shooting sports I don't expect every photo to be in focus. When shooting Roller Derby I'm literally running while shooting so it's hard to know if its the camera's fault or mine. After getting through culling I will know what my keeper ratio was in comparison to other events shot with the Mark II in the same venue, with the same lenses.
The place I shoot gets late afternoon sun through some very large windows, and I end up shooting backlit for a lot of shots:
I use the 24-70/2.8 and the 85/1.8 for most of the work, typically between f/2 and about f/4.5.
Sep 18, 2007 at 02:43 PM
Wickedfn4u Offline Buy and Sell: On
•Poll v3.1: MkIII have AF issues?
You may not be in the trouble spot with the shorter lenses. Some have seen issue but mostly in the long glass.
Sep 18, 2007 at 03:17 PM
jomor Offline Buy and Sell: On
•Poll v3.1: MkIII have AF issues?
Is there any news out there on the effectiveness of firmware 1.1.1?? It's been a while and it's been far too quiet for my liking!
Sep 18, 2007 at 11:29 PM
arashm Offline Image Upload: On
•Poll v3.1: MkIII have AF issues?
This is only my personal opinion...
but I guess 1.1.1 fixed nothing or we would have heard something good by now....
again this is only my conclusion. (sadly)
Sep 19, 2007 at 12:09 AM
jonbrach Offline Image Upload: On
•Poll v3.1: MkIII have AF issues?
Actually,I think the silence about the new firmware is a positive..it tells me that canon is serious about the issue and i am sure they are waiting with their fingers crossed to see how people react to it...i am sure they want to fix the issue as much as those who own the camera want it fixed..they have a lot riding on this camera and with the resent new cameras from nikon they know they cannot leave their flagship languishing for long...i havent had many problems but that said i truly hope the issue gets fixed to everyones satisfaction soon..the psychic value alone is dramatic..i know that in the back of my mind i still think of the camera as having issues even if i myself am not seeing them..i am sure a lot of people are in the same boat
Sep 19, 2007 at 12:46 AM
bcaslis Offline Buy and Sell: On
•Poll v3.1: MkIII have AF issues?
Assuming that the manufacturing date code in the battery compartment can be trusted (which it seems it can), it would be really interesting to see the data sorted by that. There have been both 515xxx and 534xxx cameras reported with date codes showing they were made in August. Those two ranges in the list also show the highest positive percentages. I think by only looking at the date codes would you be able to tell if problems are fixed or less in newer cameras.
Sep 19, 2007 at 01:13 AM
stiksandstones Offline Buy and Sell: On
•Poll v3.1: MkIII have AF issues?
bcaslis wrote:
Assuming that the manufacturing date code in the battery compartment can be trusted (which it seems it can), it would be really interesting to see the data sorted by that. There have been both 515xxx and 534xxx cameras reported with date codes showing they were made in August. Those two ranges in the list also show the highest positive percentages. I think by only looking at the date codes would you be able to tell if problems are fixed or less in newer cameras.
Ya, the whole serial number thing is proving to be worthless really-if the date codes are read.
Sep 19, 2007 at 01:14 AM
susi Offline Image Upload: On
•Poll v3.1: MkIII have AF issues?
I just got mine back from canon and it was noted : Al-servo inoperable-repaired and firmware updated.
Haven't been able to test it yet, but will let ya know how it goes!
hoping for the best!
susi
Sep 19, 2007 at 02:11 AM
Tom_W Offline Buy and Sell: On
•Poll v3.1: MkIII have AF issues?
Thanks, Susi. If you get a chance, please check the firmware version.
Sep 19, 2007 at 02:49 AM
susi Offline Image Upload: On
•Poll v3.1: MkIII have AF issues?
firmware 1.1.0 and it stated that 'electrical adjustments' were made.
Sep 19, 2007 at 03:14 AM
Tom_W Offline Buy and Sell: On
•Poll v3.1: MkIII have AF issues?
Thanks.
1.1.0 and "electrical adjustments" seem common among those that have sent them in.
Sep 19, 2007 at 03:35 AM
Garylv Offline Image Upload: Off
•Poll v3.1: MkIII have AF issues?
Agreed. We've seen it a number of times.
At any rate, Susi, let us know how it works for you.
----------------------------
This is my thought on the firmware 1.1.1 silence, copied from my dpr reply:
It's possible 1.1.1 hasn't corrected all the trouble yet, but Canon obviously wanted feedback from RG and all the photographers who were in Osaka. And it's easy to understand why Canon probably asked them to not disseminate any information about performance of the Beta version. It's a work in progress. There's enough panic already about the 1D Mark III. (understandably)
It may very well be 1.1.2 by the time they finalize it and make it available for download. Or even 1.1.3!
I don't think the silence should be interpreted as bad news.
Sep 19, 2007 at 03:43 AM
deadeyedick Offline Image Upload: Off
•Poll v3.1: MkIII have AF issues?
I don't think the silence should be interpreted as bad news.
My feeling as well. I have no doubt the problem will be corrrected as soon as it is technically possible. In the meantime, I am getting better acquainted with my 1d3
Sep 19, 2007 at 04:00 AM
Wickedfn4u Offline Buy and Sell: On
•Poll v3.1: MkIII have AF issues?
deadeyedick wrote:
I don't think the silence should be interpreted as bad news.
My feeling as well. I have no doubt the problem will be corrrected as soon as it is technically possible. In the meantime, I am getting better acquainted with my 1d3
Me too. So far I makes a great door stop, Mantle piece, relay baton and some day a really good camera.
Sep 19, 2007 at 04:34 AM
PrecisionPhoto Offline Image Upload: On
•Poll v3.1: MkIII have AF issues?
Funny comment from a major camera store chain said the people of FM don't know what there talking about as far as the so called focus issue goes and the camera has many powerful custom functions that would neutralize the issue if there was one.
That's right I made the same face
Sep 19, 2007 at 06:56 AM
Alistair Watson Online Image Upload: On
•Poll v3.1: MkIII have AF issues?
Comments by people who have certainly never shot with a 1D Mark 3......
Sep 19, 2007 at 08:02 AM
Kier Offline Image Upload: Off
•Poll v3.1: MkIII have AF issues?
Unfortunately, salaries in the retail industry dictate that it's now extremely rare to find someone who is a bina fide expert on the items they are selling.
Camera equipment with all its complexities is right at the top of the list of things sold by people who have no idea what they are talking about.
•Poll v3.1: MkIII have AF issues?
