1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

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Archive 2007 · 1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

brainiac
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p.1 #1 · 1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

Just got my 1D3. It's great, but there are a few disappointments. Apart from the AF issues, which I am unlikely to encounter, what are the things that could and should easily be changed by Canon in a revised version?

Thanks to all for suggestions. Here's the current list from later in the thread:

• fix yellowy monitor
• add joystick focus point selection
• add review zooming
• add histogram over full size review
• reduce clicks to set custom wb
• play button near right thumb in addition to set
• option for * button to review (thanks jvvjvv)
• error 99 problems (thanks slickT)
• plastic plug cover falls off (thanks Hrow)
• button layout disorganised
• separate wb and quality buttons
• switching cards no longer one button (thanks Shane Canfield)
• configure AF ON as X assist (thanks stanj)
• remember separate review and playback settings (thanks stanj)
• show metering scale when using +/- to set aperture in manual mode (thanks Mykal)
• C-Fn menus badly organised, hard to find stuff
• disable AE-Lock on the shutter button
• a 'Register Camera Settings' with both WB AND iso
• zoom review to camera-selected focus point
• white balance on top-plate LCD
• smoother/better-fixed rubber edges (thanks UA935)
• AF in live-preview (thanks apdieb)
• AF assist beam in camera (useful at iso 6400)
• 'Auto' setting for highlight tone priority
• AF assist beam in AI Servo while finger on button
• UDMA support (thanks Lars Johnsson)
• highlight warning not accurate (?) (thanks DavidP)

Edited by brainiac on Sep 20, 2007 at 02:55 PM GMT

Sep 09, 2007 at 10:34 AM

brainiac
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p.1 #2 · 1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

I am going to start with a few things that are already bothering me:

The monitor is yellow. I can't judge colour with it. It is badly at odds with what I get on my computers and print. Does anybody else have horrible yellow colours in skin and elsewhere on the back of the camera?

No joystick focus point selection like on my 5D's. How could this happen? A scroll wheel to go round all of the focus points in order, while there is a perfectly good joystick on the back not being used? Painful.

I still can't zoom into the image review without first pressing play. That is a two-handed two-click operation. This gets really tiring. I moved from Nikon nearly 2 years ago now, and I just can't understand how Canon can't fix this obvious nuisance. I want to look at the image review immediately and just press zoom once WITH MY RIGHT THUMB to zoom in on the focussed area. That way I can keep my left hand on the lens ready to shoot some more. Sucky interface design that must be fixed to stop me returning to Nikon.

No histogram superimposed on full size image on monitor. Why? Because they don't want to copy Nikon? Just mad mad interface decisions not being fixed in a new generation camera. Very depressing.

Setting custom white balance takes how many clicks? About 12. Horrible.

Just to balance the tone of this post, I am enjoying using the camera and there are lots of things I like: usable 6400 iso, fast frame rate, image quality, feel etc. etc..

I just don't understand why Canon doesn't fix the obvious irritations, about most of which I and many others have complained directly to Canon for years.

Sep 09, 2007 at 10:43 AM

kjetils
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p.1 #3 · 1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

"I still can't zoom into the image review without first pressing play. That is a two-handed two-click operation"

If you use the SET-button for image playback it's a one-thumb operation. You don't have to remove your hands from the lens or shutter button.

However, I agree on joystick focus point selection. They could have added a better joystick as well.

K

Sep 09, 2007 at 11:24 AM

Beni
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p.1 #4 · 1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

I like the fact that there isn't a superimposed histogram ala nikon. I love the fact that in one glance I can see the whole image (composition and blinking highlights) and the 3 colour histogram. With Nikon it's either full image, histogram or blinkies. Can't see why that would be better than a screen with all 3 at the same time not obstructing each other.

Sep 09, 2007 at 11:28 AM

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p.1 #5 · 1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

Like many others here, my plastic cover for linking to a computer just fell off on the second day of having the camera. $3 for the piece and $9 for shipping? I don't think so Canon. I stopped being pissed off about it as I get immense gratification every time someone asks why I have tape on a brand new, $4500 camera.

Sep 09, 2007 at 12:42 PM

SlickT
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p.1 #6 · 1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

iam having error 99 problems sometimes camera just locks up,
and i have to wait a while then it starts working,..........
Iam so sorry i bought it.....

Sep 09, 2007 at 02:16 PM

ISO1600
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p.1 #7 · 1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

it's big and heavy and not full frame.

Really, aren't there enough "My 1DIII is the worst camera i've ever spent $4500 on" threads? Is this nearly as bad of a camera as FM makes it out to be?

Sep 09, 2007 at 02:20 PM

Bruce Sawle
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p.1 #8 · 1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

It keeps me away from my family.

Maybe thats a good thing

Sep 09, 2007 at 03:55 PM

Curator
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p.1 #9 · 1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

SlickT wrote:
iam having error 99 problems sometimes camera just locks up,
and i have to wait a while then it starts working,..........
Iam so sorry i bought it.....

So are you going to have it serviced, or are you going to just live with these problems?

Sep 09, 2007 at 05:07 PM

bcaslis
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p.1 #10 · 1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

The LCD on the one I'm testing is very good, the colors are not yellow, they are more accurate than any Canon camera I've ever had.

I agree that not using the joystick to select AF points is dumb. However you can press the joystick in to switch between center and automatic AF points. That is useful.

Sep 09, 2007 at 05:20 PM

SoundHound
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p.1 #11 · 1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

I have occassional error 99s but they all go away if I turn the camera off and on.

Sep 09, 2007 at 10:00 PM

brainiac
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p.1 #12 · 1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

>...aren't there enough "My 1DIII is the worst camera i've ever spent $4500 on" threads? Is this nearly as bad of a camera as FM makes it out to be?

"Happiness writes white."

As I said, the 1D3 is great. That doesn't mean that it is perfect, and it doesn't mean that photographers' opinions about how it could and should be improved ought not to be expressed. This thread could be noticed by Canon if enough people contribute good ideas and opinion about what needs improving.

When I bought my 5D's I sent a long list of design gripes to Canon as well as praise for the camera, in the hope that Canon would listen and do something. One example of how they listened is that my 1D3 has separate auto-rotation settings for camera monitor and computer, so that you can use the whole screen in review, and just turn the camera to view a portrait format picture, while still being able to auto-rotate in your workflow. This is my preference which was not available on the 5D. So maybe they do listen to some of our gripes.

As regards the superimposed histogram, I don't see why we can't have a choice between the existing histogram view, and a new one which superimposes rather than shrinking the image to a useless size.

People have been moaning about Canon ergonomics for years. With a threat like the D3, it is about time Canon took a look at the ergonomics on the Nikons, and did something about it.

Edited by brainiac on Sep 10, 2007 at 01:45 AM GMT

Sep 10, 2007 at 01:24 AM

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p.1 #13 · 1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

> If you use the SET-button for image playback it's a one-thumb operation. You don't have to remove your hands from the lens or shutter button.

1) you still have to press it, so zooming still takes 2 presses
2) I like to use my set button for something else
3) there is already a play button, but perversely it is on the left, and anyway it shouldn't need to be pressed in order to zoom the review image

Sep 10, 2007 at 01:30 AM

brainiac
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p.1 #14 · 1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

The button layout sucks. The Menu, info, function, and picture styles buttons are spread all over the place. Even the 5D is more rational.

Picture styles, iso, wb and exposure compensation buttons should all be in one place as they all affect the capture itself.

Edited by brainiac on Sep 10, 2007 at 01:52 AM GMT

Sep 10, 2007 at 01:36 AM

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p.1 #15 · 1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

And wtf is the function button? There should be one button for wb, another for file type (if file type must have a button). But having one button which toggles itself between those two modes is horrible. Modal input is fundamentally obstructive, error prone, and confusing. It really slows you down. This camera's interface is like Microsoft Word. Anarchy.

Sep 10, 2007 at 01:41 AM

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p.1 #16 · 1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

You mean other than the fact that they held back technology that they no doubt have? I have two real beefs with the MK3, which were changes from previous models for no apparent reason:

1) The "X" assist button has been replaced with the AF-ON button. Now I can understand that most users will benefit from that far more than from an X button (switch to registered AF point). But given that the AF-ON button is already customizable in CFn - why on earth not include an option "behave like the X button"? How much would that cost? I use the back wheel to choose AF points. Sure, I can press the joystick to get to the center AF point, but how am I supposed to do it in vertical mode? Try it. And if you press the joystick twice, you will find yourself who knows where. The X button had the huge benefit that you could press it while bringing the camera up to your eye, knowing exactly which AF point will be active. Critical when you need to get a shot in a pinch. No way to do that now.

2) Playback mode and Review mode are the same. Why? On the MK1 and MK2 cameras, you could set up the review to be "On (Info)", i.e. show image after exposure, with histogram. Then you also set up "Display" which could be 4-up, big image, or Info. Now it's the same: you want to see histogram info after shooting an image? Sure, press the Info button the right number of times. But when I press Play (formerly Display), I want to see the image full screen. To me, these are two different things, or at least I should have the option to do that; simply remember where the user last left the "mode".

It's not that they changed functionality. It's that they replaced something for totally gratuitous reasons, where offering the old approach would be perfectly feasible (case in point AF-ON button already being customizable), but for some strange reason decided not to. It was bad enough that they removed DEP from the 1Ds2. The lack of the X button is driving me absolutely bonkers.

Sep 10, 2007 at 05:19 AM

stanj
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p.1 #17 · 1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

Jeff wrote:
Honestly, once this focus issue is resolved, I'll be completely happy. Image quality is second to none, disregarding resolution.

I agree that it's mainly about what images you can get out of the camera. For ages Nikon may have had the best user interface but sucky sensors. That should not have prevented Canon from actually improving the user experience. I have shot literally 1% with Nikon and 99% with Canon in my life, but always, without exception, have immediately understood any Nikon camera that was handed to me.

The dual action buttons on the 1-series so far (press & hold button while twiddling wheel) were all fine and good, and always touted as a pro feature. And I agreed. Now they are gone, for ease of use as they say, (a) without an option to work the old way and be indeed error proof, and (b) without having gained any of the Nikon simplicity.

Sorry if I sound angry. I am. I have said it from the day the 1D3 was announced that it was a very sad showing, and got plenty flames for it. That was even before Nikon showed actually some innovation, with what may be a decent chip inside to boot. Yes, it still takes great pictures. Doesn't change the fact that it could be far better, easier, and probably neither more expensive to buy nor to produce.

Sep 10, 2007 at 05:28 AM

Studio58
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p.1 #18 · 1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

I am with Jeff. It is a great camera & the IQ is just fab.

Sep 10, 2007 at 05:51 AM

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p.1 #19 · 1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

My vote also goes with Jeffs comment. IQ is far better than I could have anticipated. I am also sure the AI-Servo issue will be resolved very soon, and at the end of the day I would not to return my camera even if the offer was made. The pluses exceed the drawbacks by quite a considerable margin.

Sep 10, 2007 at 06:18 AM

Ron Hew
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p.1 #20 · 1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

deadeyedick wrote:
My vote also goes with Jeffs comment. IQ is far better than I could have anticipated. I am also sure the AI-Servo issue will be resolved very soon, and at the end of the day I would not to return my camera even if the offer was made. The pluses exceed the drawbacks by quite a considerable margin.

+1 for me too!

Sep 10, 2007 at 06:35 AM

Alistair Watson
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p.1 #21 · 1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

I personally love the camera handling, the only menu I use is My Menu, well 99% of the time anyway. I have also enabled the Set button to be image display.

My only gripe is when switching focus points on the fly. On my 1D2N I can go from centre point in either portrait or landscape format using the WB button to say the far left AF point in landscape, or top in portrait using the * button. Very useful for sports shooting. There doesn't seem to be a similar way on the Mark 3 and I have to reposition my thumb to use the joystick on the back. A small gripe....

Otherwise IQ and ISO blows me away everytime I use it. As soon as Canon sort the AF out I will be trading my 1D2N for another one.

Sep 10, 2007 at 08:33 AM

Gijs
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p.1 #22 · 1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

brainiac wrote:
The monitor is yellow. I can't judge colour with it. It is badly at odds with what I get on my computers and print. Does anybody else have horrible yellow colours in skin and elsewhere on the back of the camera?

Yes, I noticed the same thing. When looking at skin tones on the LCD screen I often think that my parameters are way off, but on the pc the colours look fantastic. Didn't have this problem on my lowly 20D.

Sep 10, 2007 at 09:14 AM

brainiac
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p.1 #23 · 1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

...and how about the way the custom function menus are organised? At first there seems to be little rhyme or reason. Given time, you can study the menu titles and learn which functions Canon thinks should go together. But it still doesn't feel as though Canon has looked at it from our point of view.

Sep 10, 2007 at 11:56 PM

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p.1 #24 · 1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

Hi everyone.
A few months back, there was a post about the price drop of ID MK11/11N, when the 111, hits the counters. I offered-what if its a dud? Might i have had good vision? Thats a lot of money for something that may not work properly and may not have a fix in sight. I am not anti Canon, having owned and used their cameras for 43 years, just some thoughts on there current engineering and marketing policies. A very smart camera store owner (repair shop), told me its un-wised to buy new techonology as it hits the counter, wait awhile.
Cheers
Harry

Sep 11, 2007 at 12:33 AM

brainiac
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p.1 #25 · 1D3 shortcomings NOT AF

>...A very smart camera store owner (repair shop), told me its un-wised to buy new techonology as it hits the counter, wait awhile.

...yes, only buy it if it is placed gently on the counter.

This has been said, but it needs to be said again lest this thread loses balance: my 1D3 is giving me better image quality than I have ever seen. If you don't rely heavily on high fps focus tracking, this is simply the best digital SLR available in the shops now, and it's cheap for what you get. It has unprecedented high iso performance for low light freaks, all of the 1D body goodness, beautiful skin tones and a thousand other things to commend it. It's true that the 5D runs it a close second in price/performance, but if you want a higher frame rate, or better tone, or higher iso, and you don't need fast focus tracking reliability, then look no further.

Sep 11, 2007 at 09:22 AM


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