So I read about the 1.2.5 firmware, and was excited to hear about the news! I hope this solves any remaining issues with the camera. I've felt fortunate that mine hasn't been very problematic. But on a recent volleyball game I shot this weekend it did have some definite AF Servo errors (i'm not ruling out that it was possibly my fault though.)

I'm curious if anyone else did the update yet and if you noticed any benefits? I haven't gotten to really play with it as it's 10pm here and I was just finally getting to install it.

I know they issued the service fix for the AF system again. But I'm hesitant to send it in for fear it would come back worse than it is now. Which like I said is typically very good (for me and how I shoot.)

Any thoughts so far?

Mine woke up this AM ... I don't see any error messages as I change lens and settings, it fires and saves.

Selecting focus points with the joystick, works fine too.
You can switch functions between two pairs of buttons and there's something about flash settinsg that I can't try on my older flashes.

at least you will get to know more than just Error 99
Select AF 19 points with joystick is definitely nice.

AF tweaks were included in 1.2.3, but 1.2.5 did not have any additional AF fixes over 1.2.3. However if your previous firmware was 1.1.3 then you did get some AF improvements as all of the 1.2.3 changes are also incorporated in 1.2.5

Version 1.2.3 changes:

1. Includes the following new features that were frequently requested by customers to the new firmware.

1. Direct selection of AF points by the Multi-controller is added to C.Fn III-9.

Settings 3, 4, and 5 of C.Fn III-9 allow the user to select AF points directly with the Multi-controller instead of the Quick Control Dial or Main Dial.
* In setting 3, you can select from all 19 points with the Multi-controller.
* In setting 4, your selection is limited to the 9 inner points with the Multi-controller.
* In setting 5, your selection is limited to the 9 outer points with the Multi-controller.

2. Alternate access to Exposure compensation is added to C.Fn IV-3.

Settings 3 and 4 of C.Fn IV-3 allow the user to control Exposure compensation when using the Quick Control Dial to control AF Point Selection or ISO Speed selection.
* In setting 3, AF point selection is controlled by the Quick Control Dial while metering is active. Additionally, the functions of the Exposure compensation/Aperture button and AF Point selection button are reversed, allowing easy access to Exposure compensation through the Quick Control Dial.
* In setting 4, ISO speed selection is controlled by the Quick Control Dial while metering is active. Additionally, the functions of the Exposure compensation/Aperture button and ISO speed set buttons are reversed, allowing easy access to Exposure compensation it while holding the camera.

3. With the camera's External Speedlite control menu, Flash function settings can be used to set the Wireless setting and Zoom.
*This is only for EOS-1D Mark III as it is already incorporated in EOS-1Ds Mark III from the initial mass production.

For details, please see the explanations on the new features (PDF file) that can be download from the bottom of this page.

2. Improves the stability of AF accuracy in AI servo AF when shooting extremely low-contrast subjects.

Improves the stability of AF accuracy in AI servo AF when shooting extremely low-contrast subjects continuously.

-----------------------

AbramG wrote:
So I read about the 1.2.5 firmware, and was excited to hear about the news! I hope this solves any remaining issues with the camera. I've felt fortunate that mine hasn't been very problematic. But on a recent volleyball game I shot this weekend it did have some definite AF Servo errors (i'm not ruling out that it was possibly my fault though.)

The FW 1.2.5 update doesn't do anything for AF.

I've seen several reports that people feel the AF is better with 1.2.5, but that happens every time there's an update of seemingly unrelated functions. I think it's either just a case of seeing what you want to see, or that since people go out with the intent to study the AF they actually take more care in their shooting than normally.

Personally I too don't believe the new FW does anything for the AF and I've not noticed any difference in performance.

Well, with the new FW, the joystick try's to achieve focus when pressed again , this was fixed in the last version of FW 1.2.3, now its back again in 1.2.5, when you tap your Joystick to switch from lets say "single" focus point to "ALL" focus point, the lens try's to activate AF. this sucked in previous older versions of FW they fixed it, now its back to focusing when the joystick is pressed.