I'm considering purchasing a lightly used Canon 1D Mark III and wanted to know if those that have sent their camera to Canon for the sub-mirror fix and other issues get a receipt or document to verify that the camera is working properly.

If it is not working properly after Canon fixes it will they check it out again and hopefully fix it, no charge.

Is the receipt or proof of fix only good for the registered owner or does it go by serial no.

Thanks for your input.

Jay

It's whether or not the camera has had "the latest fix."

1) It should have all the paper work from Canon for any repairs or fixes;
2)If the AF doesn't perform up to your standard or expectation you can send it in, but free or not will depend on lots of factors, if you want to get a free service again--repeat service, you really need to work hard on talking with Canon for repeat repair b/c you are not the one who sent the camera in for the last repair or fix;
3)see above, Canon has records for all the repairs, and who, when the camera was sent in for whatever the reasons etc.

For my own experiences, when I sent in the Mark IIIs I bought used for new FIX, no any problems asked; But for the Mark IIIs had the latest fix, Canon really gave me hard time, and wanted to charge me a fee, after long serious talk, they gave me the free repeat service for what I asked for, free shipping label and repair....

Good luck !

If you shoot action, then I would not buy a mkIII that doesn't have proof of the latest fix - it was officially called "outer autofocus point calibration" and was performed from February '09 to present. Whoever is selling the camera should have the shipping receipt, plus Canon always sends out an email survey afterwards, so it should be easy for them to provide proof.

That last fix is what fixed the entire autofocus system on my MKIII. They did a lot more things than just adjusting the outer focus points in that fix. Canon knew what was wrong with the camera and they brought in a special factory service team to a facility in Virginia to perform the autofocus fixes. I have been 100% happy ever since that fix.

If the fix has not been performed then get the serial number from the seller and call Canon and ask them if they will do the job under your name at no cost. If not, then don't buy the camera.

BTW--The service center in VA is no longer to service Mark III, the camera has to be send to NJ or CA service center...

Canon might have also put a white dot in the battery compartment - mine has two which I can only imagine were added by the service center. Anyone else got one (or two)!?

Yeah, Canon would fix it for free regardless...if it does not work or if you just want to be sure, send it in.

They will try, but based on my experience everything in this last Rob Galbraith update is dead on:

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-8740-9068-10086

Here is what my paper work said after getting the Mark III back after the latest fixes.
"Service Details"
"We have examined the product according to your request, and it was found that the adjustment of the AF assembly was incorrect causing inaccurate auto focus from time to time. All adjustments and corresponding testing have been completed to Cannon factory standards. Firmware was updated to the latest version. **Shot Count: **"

And it comes with 6 month warranty, my Mark III is spot on in both AI Servo and one shot, don't think I will ever let the Mark III go, one very happy camper here

Ray Still

My mk III made in April 2008 and doesn't required any fixes, no dots on box. I did cleaning recently and they replaced something same time but not as anything was wrong before this. Still great camera and no plans to replace yet, no need of high mpx or video as well.

DETELTED, I read it wrong...

This is when I lost respect for RG. He had just received two cameras that had the "latest fix" and then went on to say there was no improvement in the autofocus. That is in total disagreement to many world-class photographers here on FM. So you can either believe RG (who is now a Nikon shooter) or you can believe those of us here on FM that have been through the whole experience with the AF fix. Here was my proof that my MKIII was working well - http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/781567/0

anyone with a fixed MKIII could get the results I did with my test

and here is what RG says on his site -

Q. Does the revised AF calibration or firmware v1.2.5 bring an improvement in tracking autofocus?

No. The EOS-1D Mark III with these changes does not capture a greater proportion of properly focused or nearly focused frames when continuously tracking a moving subject. As before, the camera has a tendency to spontaneously focus in front of where it should - though it will at times shift the focus behind for several frames too, especially when Assist AF points are enabled - and it happens often enough to produce an unacceptable number of missed peak action moments.

With a quick-focusing lens like the EF 300mm f/2.8L IS, the EOS-1D Mark III remains able to rapidly acquire focus when a subject is moving and the AF system is first engaged. If the picture is taken immediately after focus is acquired, focus is often accurate too: the EOS-1D Mark III remains a killer strobed volleyball camera for this reason. Tracking, however, is still the camera's Achilles heel. This is true regardless of the tested AF point configuration, and regardless of whether single frames, short bursts or long bursts are captured.


In short, there's nothing in the over 4000 frames we've shot leading up to this article update to suggest that the revised AF calibration or v1.2.5 firmware have improved the camera's principal remaining autofocus weakness. If you shoot sports, or something equivalent to it, and therefore require strong autofocus tracking, the EOS-1D Mark III will continue to disappoint. It can capture some in-focus tracking sports pictures at wide open apertures, as demonstrated by the several example photos sprinkled up and down this page. But, it continues to flub the focus on more frames than it should for this level of camera. And it's still easily outclassed by its predecessor, the EOS-1D Mark II N (and the EOS-1D Mark II before that).

...too late to simply delete, got a little carried away.

FWIW, I too would and will buy another Mk3.

i have had two that needed the fix. both came back dead on fixed.

i suggest before you buy a used 1d3 call canon with the serial # and see what they say. i recently bought a used 1d3 called canon and they said it needed the fix even though it was a blue dot box. on return it works perfect with details of what they fixed.

i would not hesitate buying a used 1d3.

If a camera had the fix in Feb 2008 and warrantee was extended by a year were there any fixes after that?

feb 09 was the autofocus fix

Damn I just bought a 1D3 second hand, should have read this first

Sorry for being a newbie on this but absent of paperwork, there is no way I can check that it has had the latest upgrade right? The seller told me he'd had it serviced every 6 months or so for a checkup and clean to canon...Should I book it in and get it checked out? (I assume my warranty would be gone)

MSC wrote:
Yeah, Canon would fix it for free regardless...if it does not work or if you just want to be sure, send it in.
How about if we purchased second hand and we don't have proof of purchase?

Dawei Ye wrote:
Damn I just bought a 1D3 second hand, should have read this first

Sorry for being a newbie on this but absent of paperwork, there is no way I can check that it has had the latest upgrade right? The seller told me he'd had it serviced every 6 months or so for a checkup and clean to canon...Should I book it in and get it checked out? (I assume my warranty would be gone)

MSC wrote:
Yeah, Canon would fix it for free regardless...if it does not work or if you just want to be sure, send it in.
How about if we purchased second hand and we don't have proof of purchase?


Well I would say a couple of things. First, only some of the cameras had a problem to begin with. Someone posted a link with the serial numbers affected...it is on the Canon site too somewhere.

Second, it seems that some with cameras within that range never had the submirror problem so you might just want to make sure.

Third, you could call Canon and see the track record in the service dept for your camera.

Fourth, ask your seller for the paperwork, they give you paperwork when you have it fixed.

Finally, you could send it in. Get it cleaned, checked for any repairs not done and needed, updated, get a shutter count (you can't do this yourself, they have to do it).

I would not worry about it, those that had the problem are stellar after they got fixed, and most of those produced did not seem to have any issues to begin with.

Have you noticed it won't track fast, eratically moving subjects? That depends on your reference point I know...I had Mk2s for years before so I noticed a difference. Got it fixed and problem gone.

Oh, I can't imagine that fix would cost anything...it was a defect and there was no charge for any of them to be fixed. For mine, they even paid for shipping.

Andrew J wrote:
They will try, but based on my experience everything in this last Rob Galbraith update is dead on:

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-8740-9068-10086

^ ouch

MSC wrote:
Well I would say a couple of things. First, only some of the cameras had a problem to begin with. Someone posted a link with the serial numbers affected...it is on the Canon site too somewhere.

Second, it seems that some with cameras within that range never had the submirror problem so you might just want to make sure.

Third, you could call Canon and see the track record in the service dept for your camera.

Fourth, ask your seller for the paperwork, they give you paperwork when you have it fixed.

Finally, you could send it in. Get it cleaned, checked for any repairs not done and needed, updated, get a shutter count (you can't do this yourself, they have to do it).

I would not worry about it, those that had the problem are stellar after they got fixed, and most of those produced did not seem to have any issues to begin with.

Have you noticed it won't track fast, eratically moving subjects? That depends on your reference point I know...I had Mk2s for years before so I noticed a difference. Got it fixed and problem gone.

Oh, I can't imagine that fix would cost anything...it was a defect and there was no charge for any of them to be fixed. For mine, they even paid for shipping.



Thanks heaps! I'll get on that right away, I'll ask seller to send me some documentation. I haven't received the camera just yet but it's a 55--- serial (says is beyond the affected range) and he says it tracks very well

Thanks again!