NOTE: This is a re-poll since many people who originally weren't sure, may now be sure. The original poll is here.

Due to all the rampant speculation that is rapidly flowing about the internet, I thought a simple poll was in order to evaluate the extent of the autofocus problems with the new 1D MkIII. The previous poll led to rather ambiguous suppositions about what is currently going on out there. Whether someone is returning their MkIII does not necessarily indicate that there is a problem. I'd hate to see a whole slew of people return perfectly good cameras if they don't have problems.

It's very simple, if you own it, you can respond above. I would avoid using the "I'm not sure" option if you have NOT tested it, or cannot completely verify if your body has problems (for example, if you are new to the 1-Series, and don't have prior experience with its 45-point AI Servo). If anything, wait to vote until you have tested your body and are fairly sure. Having 80% "I'm not sure yet" replies won't help too much.

Regards,
Jeff

I don't own a 1D3, I'm holding off until these problems are sorted out.

What I would like to know if whether Canon has taken any proper interest in this yet or whether they are still sitting on their hands about the issue

Does anyone know the latest?

David

I'm just not sure yet...sorry but while I do not notice any reduction in keepers...and it seems like more, am paying more attention now and hopefully can be more clear later.

I would be interested to know if anyone has sent a MkIIII back to Canon service complaining of this issue, have it now returned and "fixed" and if that made a difference. Please post a reply if you have this experience....very curious.

dhphoto wrote:
I don't own a 1D3, I'm holding off until these problems are sorted out.


Me too.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

dhphoto wrote:
I don't own a 1D3, I'm holding off until these problems are sorted out.

What I would like to know if whether Canon has taken any proper interest in this yet or whether they are still sitting on their hands about the issue

Does anyone know the latest?

David

I don't think anyone outside of Canon R&D knows anything yet.

Besides, I'm sure they're working on the 1D3N which includes a number of fixes from the 1D3.


Edited by EltonTeng on Jul 01, 2007 at 06:19 PM GMT

i was at the jamesburg facility yesterday. oh, they are aware of the upcoming issue thats brewing. i came in with my 1D3 on a different issue (hot pixel cluster in low light and long exposure) and the young lady saw it as i removed it from my bag and cringed asking "focus problem in bright light?" i said yes but that is secondary to my bigger problem. i'll be picking up my camera tuesday morning.

sjms wrote:
i was at the jamesburg facility yesterday. oh, they are aware of the upcoming issue thats brewing. i came in with my 1D3 on a different issue (hot pixel cluster in low light and long exposure) and the young lady saw it as i removed it from my bag and cringed asking "focus problem in bright light?" i said yes but that is secondary to my bigger problem. i'll be picking up my camera tuesday morning.
You can't get much clearer than that! Thanks for posting.

Hmmm. My original vote was "yes, I have problems", but after looking at little red focus rectangles in about 600 pictures of my wife driving a car at me, varying CF settings, the main conclusion I am able to come to is that the MkIII measures my ability to track accurately with the focus point about as well as I can measure how well it keeps where I was intending to aim in focus.

Now, my re-vote is "I am not sure".... I am coming from a 10D, so I do not have anything better than that to compare to.

If I ask my wife to do any more of this driving, I better make sure I get out of the way when she gets close.

rwalkernm wrote:

If I ask my wife to do any more of this driving, I better make sure I get out of the way when she gets close.
With the price of gas I would be worried you will doubling the cost of the camera
I don't have any issues that pop up but my burst rate is usually only 1-4 shots at a time. I have not had any issues like Jeff's fountain shots that were oof.

Shane Canfield wrote:
I would be interested to know if anyone has sent a MkIIII back to Canon service complaining of this issue, have it now returned and "fixed" and if that made a difference. Please post a reply if you have this experience....very curious.

They don't want the cameras sent in at this point. When you email them about the problem, you get this response...


Thank you for contacting Canon product support. We value you as a Canon customer and appreciate the opportunity to assist you. I am sorry to hear you are experiencing a focusing issue with your EOS 1D Mark III.

We are currently investigating the Internet reports regarding focus concerns. If you feel that your EOS-1D Mark III is exhibiting difficulties regarding focus tracking of moving or static subjects as the Rob Galbraith article suggests, we request some information from you to better help us assess the situation. We request that, if possible, you send us a sample sequence of images that display the problem you are
experiencing, burned to a CD. Any updates to our investigation will be
published on the Canon USA web site (www.usa.canon.com).

Since this concern is still under investigation, we do not suggest sending the camera in for service as little can be done until clarification is received from Canon, Inc. in Japan.

For customers in the USA willing to provide Canon with sample images:

Please reply to this e-mail being sure to include the full contact information listed below so that we may send a courtesy shipping label for your disc.

OK, well, guess that means that assuming there is a problem, they don't know how to fix it yet. If there is not a problem, they don't know how to stop the bad PR the problem is getting.

Well at least they are not sending a "form" letter as I got a similar but different response. More along the lines, we don't know whats up but when we do will get in touch.

BTW, is there a firmware update yet? Can't find one and this camera has 1.0.8 which seems to be the only one...true?

Regarding the message Ben (and others) received from Canon, I wonder if they have enough sample images now to perform an adequate evaluation. I still haven't contacted them even though Rob G. stated everyone should do so.

I doubt I could document the problem as well as he did, and quite a few people in various forums now have posted they did contact Canon about it. Do they know how wide spread it really is? You would think so. I hope so.



Gary

Shane Canfield wrote:
BTW, is there a firmware update yet? Can't find one and this camera has 1.0.8 which seems to be the only one...true?

A lot of folks discussing the m3 AF subject in the DPR forums reported having 1.0.8 (now that I think about this more let me change my comment from "lot" to "most").

Regards,

Joe Kurkjian

Thanks Joe...wow, you been here since 2002!

Shane Canfield wrote:
Thanks Joe...wow, you been here since 2002!

I don't post much, read a lot, and have found it pays to be aware of what is going on. :-)

Joe

Was I messing things up, or was my last post removed? If so why?

dIggO

I took my Mk III to the Canon USA Service facility in Irvine, CA last Monday along with my 24-105 f/4.0 IS, 70-200 f2.8 IS, and 300 f/2.8 IS. I complained about the out of focus images I was getting in single shot mode. I hadn't use A1 Servo a lot, but also expressed a concern about all the neg. feedback on that issue as well. I everything back 3 days later (they rushed it because I'm headed to Africa in a week and a half). They said that the pcb assemply was out of adjustment causing rear focus. Make electronic adjustments to the pcb assembly and others. They said all the lenses were fine. They cleaned all of the lenses, the Mk III and the 20D I had also left for senor cleaning. No charge for anything.

I've shot about 600 frames since getting it back and it seems to be performing well. No significant problems in single shot and I get about 85 to 90 percent sharp images in high speed A1 Servo. I plan to go out this afternoon for more test shooting at a local skateboard park.

dhphoto wrote:
I don't own a 1D3, I'm holding off until these problems are sorted out.

What I would like to know if whether Canon has taken any proper interest in this yet or whether they are still sitting on their hands about the issue

Does anyone know the latest?

David

I was speaking to Canon CPS in the UK all the week before last. Monday to Thursday they were keen to note down details of the problem. Friday (after all the CPS techs were in a meeting) suddenly they became all official in their responses. Given no assistance at all, I returned my camera to the dealer. Even the dealer tried to call CPS on my behalf to get some sense given that they weren't exactly happy to refund me £3000. The last I heard, last week, was that Canon CPS UK didn't consider the AF on the Mark 3 a problem but were still keen to learn of owner's problems with it.

I am so glad I did NOT plunk down $4400.00 dollars for this thing.
Man, age has been good to me, I seem to be getting more and more patient with age which is so incredibly different than I used to be....say about 5 years ago.
My ego had me in line to get one of these within the first 2 weeks they were available, but my common sense had me hold off until all the "bugs" were worked out.
Thank you common sense, I respect you more now.

Hi Dauv,

Not everyone who owns this thing has had an issue. I did plunk down $4500.00 for this incredible camera.
Glad you are learning the virtue of being patient. When you are privileged to grow as old as I am you may have a set back of patients. How much longer are you going to be on the planet? Have been enjoying this improved technology for a month.
Not sure about the common sense comment. If you do not have this camera you should not comment about its use good or bad!

NIce to read that you are not in photography for the ego.
I am now putting on my flame retardant suit..............

Leehman

Leehman wrote:

I am now putting on my flame retardant suit..............

Leehman

Why

What does someone telling us his personal feelings (somewhat smugly AFAIC) about not buying the camera add to a discussion about 1DmkIII AF issues. I agree with you that maybe it's time for non mkIII owners to get off the field and take a seat in the bleachers.

Thanks Lee, I had bitten my tongue as those type of comments just aggravate me. Oh well I am just clicking away and like you enjoying every time I get to use this. I am going to put it through its paces as I leave for Europe and 2 weeks of soccer.

I agree with you that maybe it's time for non mkIII owners to get off the field and take a seat in the bleachers.