Lucio Gomes wrote:
I totally understand that a 40D is not a MkIIn; but all the talk about the "greatly improved AF"
was what enticed me to buy this camera. That, along with the higher frame rate, made me think that I could "replace" the MkIIn with the 40D, and save my money to get the new "6D" to finally have a full-frame camera.
Maybe I am a little sloppy in my technique, having had the benefit of AF tracking sensitivity
and focusing point expansion of the 1D series I don't need to be ON the subject all the time.
I just couldn't believe the camera had such a hard time focusing in the shade, even with
an f2.8 lens, while the MkIIn handled it so easily.
And what about the purple cast in the LCD? I read somewhere that a guy had a greenish
cast on his MkIII LCD.
Overall the 40D is a very nice camera, though, and Live View is awesome! ...Show more →
LMAO.......you sound like me. I'm having the exact same thoughts. But remember it's not a Mk2N..........as much as we would like it to be, it's not.
.....and your not crazy regarding the LCD, I returned one because of that. The second was much better. But turn it up to one notch below full, that was close to the histogram plus it makes some of the purple cast go away.
You have the KING of focus in the MkIIn. I now have a MkIII and it does what Jim remarked about the III. I had a MkII and focus was fast, on the mark most of the time and wasn't fussy. The new crop of canons seem to need getting used too and a more miticulous style. The focus on the IIn was the result of 5 generations of that focus system. Eos3, 1V, 1D, 1DmkII and 1DmkIIn. Had each except the IIn and all quite amazing..
Alan321 wrote:
If my 40D comes back from Canon and performs better than it did before then I'll know I'm right. Otherwise I'll just know that the 40D is not for me. You'll hear either way but unfortunately I expect it will be at least another month before I get my 40D back.
- Alan
Why do you say that you expect another month? Have they told you something? Or is that how long things work over there?
The reason forums like this exist is for people like us to exchange ideas and information so that we can confront the manufacturers with a loud voice! There's strength in numbers.
If enough of us experience problems with the equipment we buy, then shout about it all over the internet, the corporations will have to pay attention. I'm sure Canon would not be racking their brains trying to fix the MkIII's AF bug had it not been for sites like this sounding the alarm that there was a defect with the new camera. I know a few people who are checking FM and other sites hoping to read that the AF problem has been resolved before they cough up $4500.
I wanted to see if I'm the only one with a problem camera, or if others who bought a 40D had had similar experiences with their cameras.
It really sucks to send a brand new camera in for service, especially if the manufacturer is
"slow" to admit there could be something wrong with their product.
After reading that some people sent their MkIII bodies to Canon and got them back still "sick," I wonder what they would tell me if I sent mine to Canon Irvine...
monochrome wrote:
Why do you say that you expect another month? Have they told you something? Or is that how long things work over there?
So far they have had my 40D for almost 3 weeks and my 1Ds2 for just over 5 weeks. Neither is ready yet but my dealer is trying to speed things up for me. My 1D2 took two months plus a week and my 100-400 lens took three months less a week. Both of those work far better after the service than they did before, so I know the problems were not just my imagination or my technique. The 1Ds2 had exactly the same symptoms as the 1D2 had so at least I'm confident that it can be fixed. Previously I had a 28-135 serviced and it took about three months but that was by a local repair centre and not Canon proper. Still, my average Canon turn-around time over the past year is two and half months for pro-grade gear, and four weeks plus for the uncompleted jobs. I suspect they need a few more technicians
I also suspect that there are too many CPS members jumping the service queue. My gear cost just as much but is not as important.
Alan321 wrote:
So far they have had my 40D for almost 3 weeks and my 1Ds2 for just over 5 weeks. Neither is ready yet but my dealer is trying to speed things up for me. My 1D2 took two months plus a week and my 100-400 lens took three months less a week. Both of those work far better after the service than they did before, so I know the problems were not just my imagination or my technique. The 1Ds2 had exactly the same symptoms as the 1D2 had so at least I'm confident that it can be fixed. Previously I had a 28-135 serviced and it took about three months but that was by a local repair centre and not Canon proper. Still, my average Canon turn-around time over the past year is two and half months for pro-grade gear, and four weeks plus for the uncompleted jobs. I suspect they need a few more technicians
I also suspect that there are too many CPS members jumping the service queue. My gear cost just as much but is not as important.
As a way of comparison, I took 2 lenses in last Tuesday, they called Thursday afternoon telling me they could be picked up, yes that is less than 4 days. This is Canon Irvine in Ca. they did a great job BTW. My heart bleeds for you, that really stinks. They must be sending them back to Japan or something. Maybe you can look into sending your repair work to the US, the shipping cost may be worth it.
Thanks Gene. The gear has to cross the country to Sydney for service. I've read mixed accounts of service everywhere, including the US, but 4 days turnaround is very favourably impressive ! However, here it takes half a week to get a confirmation that they have the gear and then you hear nothing until it is finished or they need money or you make an enquiry. My dealer was confident that I'd have my 1Ds2 back in a week or two. I thought "dream on" and unfortunately I was right. It got delayed by an "urgent job". And then the tech was away for a week. And now another week has passed. Soon they'll be waiting for the parts they need. (now you might sense that I'm feeling rather negative again)
It's not just the speed of service (although the techie is probably doing all he can reasonably do), it's also the fact that my last three cameras have all needed service. I bought the 1Ds2 because I couldn't trust the 1D3 to work reliably, but I seem to have this special winning way with most high-tech gear. The 40D seemed like a good idea at the time but works worse than my 20D. I expected better from it. Not 1D2 performance, but an improvement over the 20D. The Canon reps were not sympathetic so I missed out on a speedy swap for a new one. I'd only had it a few days.
I'm also miffed that I have missed out on using my 1Ds2 for the short-lived but very pretty wildflower season here. But, them's the breaks. At least I can whinge about things here on FM without getting abused by very many people As Lucio said, it's good to whinge - it lets others know that all is not necessarily well out there in camera land, and that it might pay to test everything you buy as soon as you can.
I'll suggest trying the following...
Disable AF button. Shoot AF center point, AF Servo, * button for AF, and it'll track
just fine w/wo TC's. Locks on like a 'monkey on a cupcake.
(Personally I'd exhaust ALL shooting options before starting a thread like this,
OE can impact others buying /selling decisions. The possibility you got a
bad body exists, however mine wasn't real good 'til I set it up properly for BIF)
Interesting, this being discussed in a few posts at Dpreview also.
Myself, experiencing this in distant birds in flight. It's very sensitive, and I do get more keepers with my 20D.
second 40D body. When it does focus it's excellent. But I do throw away a higher percentage. I do need to change my style I believe. As I have not found any focus choices to aleviate the problem. I'll try the focus lock next.
The purple/blue tones are noticeable too. More with some lenses. The older lenses like the 100-400 that are slightly greener do well negating the lavender whites in the 40D.
People keep saying don't expect MKII performance, but all we ask for is 20D quality?
Again, when it focuses and contrasts properly its a great camera especially on larger targets. I think birders are more disappointed and most who don't shoot in higher speeds and do fast shooting don't even notice the rpoblem. Birders are disappointed though because the 40D was hopefully an answer to an upgrade for maximum distance with their lenses.
Interesting, this being discussed in a few posts at Dpreview also.
Myself, experiencing this in distant birds in flight. It's very sensitive, and I do get more keepers with my 20D.
As far as I know everyone with 20D's was complaining about the dreadful focusing accuracy and was asking for better focusing in the next model. The obvious way to get it is cross sensors and more gain. The next step would be to buy an available 1D3 or used 2. Canon gave us exactly what we asked
for :-). I am extremely pleased with the focusing accuracy of my body on static shots but have not used it for BIF. Next week I'll give it a go, if I like my 1D2 better, that's what it will be. You can't have everything, I think there is a learning curve to this camera like anything else either that or operate it on almost dead batteries possibly :-).
Alan321 wrote:
So far they have had my 40D for almost 3 weeks and my 1Ds2 for just over 5 weeks. Neither is ready yet but my dealer is trying to speed things up for me. My 1D2 took two months plus a week and my 100-400 lens took three months less a week. Both of those work far better after the service than they did before, so I know the problems were not just my imagination or my technique. The 1Ds2 had exactly the same symptoms as the 1D2 had so at least I'm confident that it can be fixed. Previously I had a 28-135 serviced and it took about three months but that was by a local repair centre and not Canon proper. Still, my average Canon turn-around time over the past year is two and half months for pro-grade gear, and four weeks plus for the uncompleted jobs. I suspect they need a few more technicians
I also suspect that there are too many CPS members jumping the service queue. My gear cost just as much but is not as important.
I'll suggest trying the following...
Disable AF button. Shoot AF center point, AF Servo, * button for AF, and it'll track
just fine w/wo TC's.
CF IV-1-2 may be a better choice for BIF although I haven't tried it . All CF IV-2 does is switch position of the * button and focus on buttons, nothing more. The AF focus on button is already there and functional for that purpose. I don't see much advantage in switching the buttons unless you have short thumbs maybe .
geniousc wrote:
CF IV-1-2 may be a better choice for BIF although I haven't tried it . All CF IV-2 does is switch position of the * button and focus on buttons, nothing more. The AF focus on button is already there and functional for that purpose. I don't see much advantage in switching the buttons unless you have short thumbs maybe .
gene
Well.....the 'monkey does have opposable thumbs (big and fat as they may be)
and I like ALL the body's I shoot with to feel the same. The AF ON button's a freakin' joke,
if Canon wanted to really do something trick it would be a dedicated MLU. The
proof's in the BIF keepers, I'll shoot what works for me thank you very much!
I've switched mine too Trenchmonkey - feels just like my
30D now. I had to keep hunting for the AF On Button in it's
little fingerwell and it would slow me up but not anymore.
I'm glad Canon included AF On Button but they should have
made it the same size as the other two if not larger but swapping
them solves the problem.
Lucio I'm sorry for your troubles and maybe you should send
it in to Canon if you're sure it's nothing to do with possible
mis-setting of those myriad menu/function variations.
if Canon wanted to really do something trick it would be a dedicated MLU
They have already done it. Just make all of the settings that you want to use for MLU and assign it to C3. Switch to C3 and you're ready to go with MLU instantly. I assigned MLU setting to C3 and Live view settings to C2, try it!
I don't consider the focus button a joke, I have mine set to go from single shot AF to Servo mode when depressed. I also assigned the button to push button AF in live view mode, a worthwhile add on in my book . A nice feature in fact!
Why is it that if anyone criticises a canon camera they are accused of being a troll on these forums? Is this the same with the Nikon thread? I would hate to buy the 40D as an upgrade to my 30D and have a genuine problem and look for info in here. However it is nice to see that there are people who are prepared to read and help with issues
aladyforty wrote:
Why is it that if anyone criticises a canon camera they are accused of being a troll on these forums? Is this the same with the Nikon thread? I would hate to buy the 40D as an upgrade to my 30D and have a genuine problem and look for info in here. However it is nice to see that there are people who are prepared to read and help with issues
FYI, I have apologized for this remark in the thread and in a PM. You may want to read the reply below .
After checking the OP's website, I have to eat some crow. He is a skilled photographer who is well qualified to complain about his camera.
geniousc wrote:
FYI, I have apologized for this remark in the thread and in a PM. You may want to read the thread .
fair enough, i must have missed it. I have noticed this trend though over the last few weeks in some threads. Im not sure if there are people who just put in complaints about various cameras just for a stir or not. I would like to think Im right in thinking that maybe no-one does this but I guess I am wrong. my attitude is why would anyone bother to complain about a camera just to make it look bad? whats in it for them?
I had a problem with purple today it drove me nuts as the matte black top on my bird feeder looked bluish purple. I reset all camera settings to factory. Deleted the three picture styles I got from Canon and it went away. I then reset it up the way I had it and it did not return.
As Lucio said, it's good to whinge - it lets others know that all is not necessarily well out there in camera land, and that it might pay to test everything you buy as soon as you can.