Canon will throw in a 1D III with every 800 f/5.6L IS + 200 f/2.L IS combo they sell, to make sure you see lot's of BWL at Bejing.

Alistair, you have my sympathy. Mine is wonderful in One Shot mode working on butterflies and scenics but just plain sucks when it comes to action shooting. Fortunately, I don't do much of it as I would have beat myself to death with the camera by now but I must say that I am feeling increasingly pissy toward Canon right now. Once the leaves are off the trees it is going into visit the fine folks at Canon repair.

The thing that throws me is how some people are getting very good results while others who obviously have some pretty good experience have lost the ability to take an in focus picture. There are only X numbers of things that it could be so I can't believe that Canon hasn't figured out the problem yet. My guess is that they know exactly what is wrong and it is expensive to fix. I suspect that they are trying to do a workaround with firmware to fix or at least hide the problem because they don't want to do a recall.

Wow, looks like it's about time for a Class Action.

Can you get a refund when the camera is already a few months old?

Chris Dees wrote:
Can you get a refund when the camera is already a few months old?


I am trying at present with my retailer.

Canon don't want to help so I am hopeful of a positive outcome from my store, fingers crossed.

Canon ignored my e-mails for almost a month, I then got a reply today saying send it in for calibration. I replied referring them to Alistairs post and his experience after he parted with his own cash to have all his gear calibrated.

Chris Dees wrote:
Can you get a refund when the camera is already a few months old?

In Europe you should based on "conformity". If a product doesn't perform in a way that you reasonably might expect it to (so it doesn't conform to specs), the retailer should be given a chance to solve the problem and if that doesn't work, should give a refund. They have a right to deduct a small and reasonable amount for the time you've used it though. The retailer can in turn hold the producer (or wholesale organization from which he got the product) responsible for his loss.

Now there's a difference between the law and real-world practice. They always try to get away with a broken product and gamble that you won't press charges because of all the hassle, time and money involved. Talking from experience here (though not with cameras but with a typical monday-morning excuse for a car).

Alistair Watson wrote:

Now going for a shower after visiting drpreview to get that information!


Best to burn your clothing and do some therapy too (PTSD).

CPS in Holland put firmware 1.1.1 on my 1DMkIII.

I did some initial testing tracking Gul's with my 500mm and so far it's looking better than I hoped. A sequence of 17 and all were in focus.
Of course I have to do some better (real life) testing and the wetter is not hot but for me it looks promising!

Thanks Chris.. keep us posted on your results

Does focussing seem any faster Chris? ie if you are lined up on a target and you drift off then reacquite, does this reacquire seem faster than before?

I was told here in the US that Trip1 was due on Thursday. Keeping my fingers crossed!

sheesh 300pounds and all that "calibration" mumbo jumbo and still no resolution: unreal

i hope things work out , somehow

Come on 1.1.1 !!!!!!!

Alistair Watson wrote:
Does focussing seem any faster Chris? ie if you are lined up on a target and you drift off then reacquite, does this reacquire seem faster than before?
Alistair,
I know you are an experienced user of the 1D's but surely setting Set C.Fn III-2 controls the way the MKIII looses and requires focus, does for me. I perhaps I am misunderstanding what you are asking Chris?

I set C.Fn III-2 to 0 and C.Fn III-8 to 0 no assist whatsoever.

Cheers Nick

below is Canon's explanation of C.Fn III-2

--------------------
C.Fn III-2: AF system sensitivity to sudden subject changes when in AI Servo mode

* 0 — Standard sensitivity (AF tracking will momentarily pause if the AF point sees another subject while tracking)

* -2 — Slow (Tracking will pause for a longer period when AF is disrupted to allow the photographer to find original subject)

* -1 — Moderately slow (Pause length will be in between setting -2 and 0 )

* +1— Moderately Fast (The AF system will respond faster to a change in subject position)

* +2 — Fast (AF system will not pause, if a change occurs camera will instantly re-focus)

This custom function adresses the different focus tracking needs of various photographers. It adjusts how the AF system will
respond if when tracking a moving subject (AI Servo mode), you lose your subject and find your AF point now in the distance,
or if something closer moves in front of you subject. Important: It does NOT change the speed at which the camera can track
a continuously-moving subject. It only deals with how quickly the system will try to focus upon something different, if the active
AF point no longer sees your moving subject.

Edited by NickRno77 on Oct 17, 2007 at 01:49 PM GMT

Alistair Watson wrote:
Does focussing seem any faster Chris? ie if you are lined up on a target and you drift off then reacquite, does this reacquire seem faster than before?

NickRno77 wrote:
Alistair,
I know you are an experienced user of the 1D's but surely setting Set C.Fn III-2 controls the way the MKIII looses and requires focus, does for me. I perhaps I am misunderstanding what you are asking Chris?

I set C.Fn III-2 to 0 and C.Fn III-8 to 0 no assist whatsoever.

Cheers Nick


Hi Nick,

I could have asked the question in a better way, you are right, I just saw Chris' post and quickly composed a reply. I know that CFn III-2 controls the way the Mark 3 loses and reacquires focus, personally I believe this to be on of the problems with, certainly, my body. When a rugby player is running towards me I have lock, then he jinks right and instantly focus is obtained on the background, there seems to be a big delay once the AF spot is back over the player in acquiring focus lock again though stabbing the AF-ON button always seems to get the object back in focus. Thinking about it, this is probably because the player is a low contrast part of the scene but no matter what I set CFn III-2 to the AF seems reluctant to reacquire the player without hitting the AF-ON button.
Canon seems to hate comparisons to the 1D2N saying that this is a different AF system, much more advanced, much more sensitive, but in the situation I have mentioned the AF on the 1D2N refocuses instantly, even on the low contrast object. Quite quite odd.....! And before anyone asks, yes I have tried the assist points but these don't help that much and at other points in the game assist causes me other issues when the players are all close together.

Alistair Watson wrote:
Alistair Watson wrote:
Does focussing seem any faster Chris? ie if you are lined up on a target and you drift off then reacquite, does this reacquire seem faster than before?

NickRno77 wrote:
Alistair,
I know you are an experienced user of the 1D's but surely setting Set C.Fn III-2 controls the way the MKIII looses and requires focus, does for me. I perhaps I am misunderstanding what you are asking Chris?

I set C.Fn III-2 to 0 and C.Fn III-8 to 0 no assist whatsoever.

Cheers Nick


Hi Nick,

I could have asked the question in a better way, you are right, I just saw Chris' post and quickly composed a reply. I know that CFn III-2 controls the way the Mark 3 loses and reacquires focus, personally I believe this to be on of the problems with, certainly, my body. When a rugby player is running towards me I have lock, then he jinks right and instantly focus is obtained on the background, there seems to be a big delay once the AF spot is back over the player in acquiring focus lock again though stabbing the AF-ON button always seems to get the object back in focus. Thinking about it, this is probably because the player is a low contrast part of the scene but no matter what I set CFn III-2 to the AF seems reluctant to reacquire the player without hitting the AF-ON button.
Canon seems to hate comparisons to the 1D2N saying that this is a different AF system, much more advanced, much more sensitive, but in the situation I have mentioned the AF on the 1D2N refocuses instantly, even on the low contrast object. Quite quite odd.....! And before anyone asks, yes I have tried the assist points but these don't help that much and at other points in the game assist causes me other issues when the players are all close together.

Hi Alistair, I have tried shooting motorbikes coming towards me, when the focus point drifts off target yes focus is lost but comes back just as quick to re acquire AF? I'll have to get to a football match sometime now the race season has finished to do some testing. IMO Canon have made the AF to fast, stating the obvious they should have left the AF alone but updated everything else.

Cheers

Nick

NickRno77 wrote:
Hi Alistair, I have tried shooting motorbikes coming towards me, when the focus point drifts off target yes focus is lost but comes back just as quick to re acquire AF? I'll have to get to a football match sometime now the race season has finished to do some testing. IMO Canon have made the AF to fast, stating the obvious they should have left the AF alone but updated everything else.
Cheers
Nick


I have also tried cars coming towards me and it works fine, I can drift off target and reacquire the target very quickly, even with tracking sensitivity set to 0. Cars and bikes are nice, bright high contrast areas to focus on. Rugby on the other hands, especially now it is getting darker earlier, is a pain in the backside. The AF does not seem to be able to reacquire though funnily enough when I hit the AF-ON button it comes right back..... This happens even with the camera set completely at default.

I did some basic testing with the new firmware and 500mm with tracking Gul's.
I set C.Fn III-2 to moderate/slow (-1 according Nick)
and C.Fn III-8 to 2 (all assist points)
So far everything looks good. I made several series and 80/90% were in focus. I had a serie of 17, all in focus. It's quite hard to track those birds, they never fly in a straight way
I did some testing my 70-200/4.0L IS with athletics (childrens high jump and spear) and all where in focus.

This weekend there's the Marathon of Amsterdam and I'll do some tests with my 400DO (I sold the 300/2.8) and shorter lenses.

So far the results are promising.

Not looking to hijack the thread, but were you having problems with one-shot mode focus problems before? Are you seeing any improvements with 1.1.1.? My MkIII is horribly inconsistent in indoor low light conditions. If the single focus point is on something of relatively low contrast it often 'jumps' to an area of higher contrast often far away from the intended area. This with both 35L and 85L mkII!!

Alistair Watson wrote:
NickRno77 wrote:
Hi Alistair, I have tried shooting motorbikes coming towards me, when the focus point drifts off target yes focus is lost but comes back just as quick to re acquire AF? I'll have to get to a football match sometime now the race season has finished to do some testing. IMO Canon have made the AF to fast, stating the obvious they should have left the AF alone but updated everything else.
Cheers
Nick


I have also tried cars coming towards me and it works fine, I can drift off target and reacquire the target very quickly, even with tracking sensitivity set to 0. Cars and bikes are nice, bright high contrast areas to focus on. Rugby on the other hands, especially now it is getting darker earlier, is a pain in the backside. The AF does not seem to be able to reacquire though funnily enough when I hit the AF-ON button it comes right back..... This happens even with the camera set completely at default.

Yeah, cars, bikes, planes...this is an easy task for AF on any 1D body, even coming right at you...field sports are very different and much better AF test.

Like Chris Dees I had this weekend the oppertunity to run some tests with 1.1.1. My subjects were (groups of) mountainbikers and yesterday I did some birding. Mainly using 100-400,1600 ISO at shutter speeds 1/1000. I set C.Fn III-2 to 0 and C.Fn III-8 to 2 (all assist points).

My first impressions are equal to Chris (80/90% in focus) but to be honest I don't have a long experience-base on this particular body, therefore missing the "before-after"comparison possibillity.

In some cases AF didn't do the job but for sure due to operator error. And yes Shane, i agree, field sports are a more challenging task for the AF. Perhaps next weekend I'll give it a try!

Regards

Frank

Frank Kaat wrote:
Like Chris Dees I had this weekend the oppertunity to run some tests with 1.1.1. My subjects were (groups of) mountainbikers and yesterday I did some birding. Mainly using 100-400,1600 ISO at shutter speeds 1/1000. I set C.Fn III-2 to 0 and C.Fn III-8 to 2 (all assist points).

My first impressions are equal to Chris (80/90% in focus) but to be honest I don't have a long experience-base on this particular body, therefore missing the "before-after"comparison possibillity.

In some cases AF didn't do the job but for sure due to operator error. And yes Shane, i agree, field sports are a more challenging task for the AF. Perhaps next weekend I'll give it a try!

Regards

Frank


Hoi Frank, welkom bij FM! (sorry, can't resist welcoming a first-time poster from my native country in my native language)

Quick question: how come you had 1.1.1 installed on your body? Had problems before? And where did they install 1.1.1? I'm planning on getting the 1D3 in a few weeks when I'm in the Netherlands - better price than over here @ Kamera Express - and would like to get one with 1.1.1 installed as I've read many positive reports...

Tx Emile!

This lucky guy (OK ... that's still to be seeing ... ..) is in a " Try before you buy" situation.

Two weeks ago my LCS (yes indeed Emile "KE") had a "Demo-weekend" and Canon-Holland (CPS) placed it on the new body's.

I wonder why RG has not got to play with or has written up anything I am dying here. I would love to try or hear some official test on this.

Are you talking about 1.1.1.? RG already posted about using it. It did not solve the problem. See his latest update.