Just got home from a backpacking trip with the family, to find a large number of OOF images, usually at low-f/stop & high shutter speed, many of which have no apparent focal plane, exhibit ghosting, etc. Occurrences are practically random other than most are shot at f/2.8. About the only notable factor is that all shots were taken above 11,000' MSL, for whatever that is worth (IR light?).
I just don't get it. I know I'm focusing properly, etc., etc. Much of the time this camera works as one would expect, other times nowhere near adequately.
-Jeff
PS: No, returning this camera won't help. Until, that is, Canon owns up to it, and there is an actual fix.
Jeff - Don't you know how hard it is to hand-hold a shot at 60mm using only a shutter speed of 1/8000 s? This is especially true when you are shaking with anger at a pro camera that just won't focus!
All kidding aside, sorry to hear of your problems. Mine has been back to Canon 3x, and seems to be working okay, but I remember vividly how frustrating it is when no rhyme or reason exists for the OOF situation. In my case I had an art director over my shoulder reviewing the images and asking why a bunch were soft. Talk about embarrassing...
Jim, the camera's never been below 5000', so I guess it depends on your perspective. At home (6000'), the results are better, but do see this occasionally.
PetKal, .
Rich, I do know how hard it is. Seems to be harder, the faster the shutter speed!
AFAIK, the biggest changes in light as altitude increases are overall brightness and increased energy in the UV part of the spectrum. Of course, the sensor filter is supposed to take care of UV, n'est ce pas?
It really looks like either the sensor cleaning is running during the exposure, or the lens IS is freaking out during the exposure. More likely the sensor cleaning, as I'm not sure the IS is fast enough to create that much shake. The nature of the blur is odd: kind of sharp edged, like birefringence. A finite edge to blurring would be indicated by active sensor cleaning.
Bad luck Jeff. Very frustrating. I remember having endless problems with a Contax RTS3. I am sure it was the timing of the suction film plate. I am suspicious of anything designed to move the film/sensor, as at some point it will inevitably end up doing so during an exposure.
It seems like it is not an AF issue but more ghosting; brainiac is probably on the money! Canon should come up with a firmware right now with which this feature can be completely disabled and just be working if desired. Somehow that darn thing seems to have mind on its own.... . On the positive side, in my experience the dust removal system works like a charm
Jeff, personally if have seen this on a sinlge occasion on my camera and that when I used a high speed burst before the most recent firmware. Your image doesn't seem to be a part of a fast squence of action shots but to be more a single shot mode image, right? Just confirming here....
p.1 #10 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
brainiac wrote:
It really looks like either the sensor cleaning is running during the exposure, or the lens IS is freaking out during the exposure. More likely the sensor cleaning, as I'm not sure the IS is fast enough to create that much shake. The nature of the blur is odd: kind of sharp edged, like birefringence. A finite edge to blurring would be indicated by active sensor cleaning.
Bad luck Jeff. Very frustrating. I remember having endless problems with a Contax RTS3. I am sure it was the timing of the suction film plate. I am suspicious of anything designed to move the film/sensor, as at some point it will inevitably end up doing so during an exposure....Show more →
But the sensor itself does not move, does it? It's the IR absorption glass, which is in front of the AA filter, which is in front of the sensor.
Could be that the vibration of IR filter causes the blur through a varying IR transmission? I don't know. It would explain all the "hot weather" effects. But why would it vibrate? It's supposed to be off!
p.1 #11 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
brainiac wrote:
It really looks like either the sensor cleaning is running during the exposure, or the lens IS is freaking out during the exposure. More likely the sensor cleaning, as I'm not sure the IS is fast enough to create that much shake.....
Well, considering the lens used, it's not an IS issue. I have to agree though that I am more and more suspicious of the sensor cleaning function and wonder if it somehow can have a random, negative affect on image quality... or the way it's physically designed can allow some sort of vibration during capture.
While not directly related to Jeff's problem here, has anyone experienced a high pitched squeeking sound when their Mark III runs the sensor cleaning routine? One of my two cameras does it. And with that camera I can *sometimes* clearly hear that the routine is still running even if a button has been pressed on the camera that should turn it off. If I ever have the patience to do it, maybe I could try to make a capture while the routine is running...
p.1 #13 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
I understand your bewilderment Jeff. The camera is schitzophrenic to its last screw...sell the sucker, as I did, and don't look back until a mk 4 or 5 is announced. If you continue trying to solve the mk3 puzzle, it could leave you scarred for life.
p.1 #14 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
If your common factor is altitude then maybe there is still an issue with the sensor assembly thingy whatcha'ma call it?
I am not sure what I can say that will be of help given that you have been through last year, what alot of us went through since June.
Do you shoot at 1/8000s alot?
Jul 04, 2008 at 02:06 AM
brainiac Offline [X]
p.1 #15 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
A few more ideas. See if you can get your 24-70 to do this on another camera. The subsequent cases of the blur suggest that the moving parts in the lens might not be lining up right when it is focussed or zoomed.
Another way that the filter could do this would be if it moved away from the sensor. The AA effect would then be amplified over a wider radius. Due to the nature of an AA filter, a very small movement could cause this. Try shaking the camera pointing upwards, take a picture, then shake it pointing downwards and take another. If the filter has any freedom to move forwards and backwards, gravity might show it.
p.1 #18 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
Jeff, IMO it's not worth it.
I'll never trust this camera and will be glad when it's gone. I love the IQ when it works, but this thing is too tainted for me to ever be comfortable with it... If you can accept it's many faults, keep it. If you're tired of the inconsistencies, junk it...
Canon will probably replace the camera by PMA 2009, or let's hope they do, and you can forget you ever owned it..
p.1 #19 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
+1
jamesf99 wrote:
Jeff, IMO it's not worth it.
I'll never trust this camera and will be glad when it's gone. I love the IQ when it works, but this thing is too tainted for me to ever be comfortable with it... If you can accept it's many faults, keep it. If you're tired of the inconsistencies, junk it...
Canon will probably replace the camera by PMA 2009, or let's hope they do, and you can forget you ever owned it..
. On the positive side, in my experience the dust removal system works like a charm 