I have about 7500 Shutter actuations on mine now and I have to say that I just can't make myself go back to the MkII after using the MkIII. For the most part focus has been great in both speed and accuracy but I have had two occasions where the Camera would not focus at all. It seemed like the AF switch had accidentally moved to the MF position but it had not. This happened once with the 300mm f2.8 and again with the 100-400. I haven't been able to make it happen again but this never happened with my previous camera bodies. I was able to get the AF back working again by removing the lens, switching the camera off, removing battery and then reinstalling and turning back on. Everything worked fine after this and so far it has not happened again.
The menu layout, battery life, weight and ergonomics with the set button on the rear wheel plus the joystick like the D series as well as immediate access to the ISO button are other things that are much better than the MkII. The dust cleaning feature seems to work well and can be set to auto clean if you wish.
I have held on to my MkII because of all the negative news on the MkIII but I haven't used it since I received the new one. Mine is a Blue dot 556XXX NO.
Go ahead and get one and I think you will feel the same.
I have an early MKIII. I have noticed a slight difference in the number of keepers with the upgrades, but that may be attributed to experience rather than the performance of the camera. Sometimes it's difficult to say whether any problems I have had focussing are due to my own ineptitude or the camera's. Pride would say the latter. Leaving aside my pride, the fact that my focusing is improving would indicate that the fault is mine . . . but I'm happy to hear protestations in my defense!
James_R wrote:
...the 1D MKIII will never live down it's early reputation, even if a new firmware had it spitting out gold bars from its CF slots .
Priceless!
I love my 1D3 and am looking to buy a 1Ds3 someday. I've even had to send it in for an ERR99 malfunction, but I still love using it. I don't doubt the ruggedness or the reliability. If the crap hits the fan, that's why we carry backup bodies, right? I don't recall Canon, or anyone for that matter, ever stating that this camera would never fail me or take a dive on me. All of our digital cameras translate our perspectives into 1s and 0s; nothing more. It is a tool and tools do break down and fail. It is to be expected as nothing lasts forever. Except maybe diamonds.
James_R wrote:
The 1D MKIII with all the fixes and latest firmware now has the best AF of any DSLR, especially in low light where nothing touches it (and the D3 fails miserably).
Unfortunately, due to forums like this, and misinformation (even from sales people), the 1D MKIII will never live down it's early reputation, even if a new firmware had it spitting out gold bars from its CF slots .
Not a chance, the CF slot is too thin to let gold bars pass through but gold sheets, on the other hand, now that is a definite possibility
James_R wrote:
The 1D MKIII with all the fixes and latest firmware now has the best AF of any DSLR, especially in low light where nothing touches it (and the D3 fails miserably).
Unfortunately, due to forums like this, and misinformation (even from sales people), the 1D MKIII will never live down it's early reputation, even if a new firmware had it spitting out gold bars from its CF slots .
Gary Petersen wrote:
I just lost my wife after a long bout with cancer. That big Ghurka cigar and the 21 year old single malt (really really really good) was for a bit of a celebration of her life. If I hit the lottery I'd drink nothing but this stuff. My wife used to tell me the chances of hitting the lottery increase if I actually buy a ticket.
