The 1D MK III introduces many new technologies. I suspect it will be buggier than some other 1D series. I hope the bugs are all rectified by the time Canon produces their next top body - 1Ds MK III or whatever.
DavidP wrote:
It's "distubring" because the unit is basically ready to ship (within a month?) and they're still having auto-focus issues.
They must be fairly confident that they'll have it fixed before they ship . . but still, it's unsettling.
Probably one of the factors in Canon no longer making early pre-production units widely available to reviewers is what you mention above. Many products go through changes in the last month, some of which have a completely different magnitude of consequences. I design surgical power tools and other medical devices, and I find nothing "disturbing," or even remotely unsettling about Canon disclosing an issue in a camera one month (or more) away from shipping. They could make several changes and go through a more intensive validation process than I'm sure they use in that time frame. The AF system from a hardware design standpoint is simply an evolution of existing technology used in every Canon AF body. Tweaks to algorithms, firmware, etc. really aren't too troubling in a pre-production body that Canon right up front stated was not at production standards.
I haven't read the review yet but the 1D3 AF can be tweaked for different lens models. That could have been done by a previous tester to upset things, but any good reviewer would know to reset everything to default before testing.
I wonder if we will see a "plateau" with this camera, and the presumed soon-to-follow 1Ds3....the technology is really at a point of maturity now...the development time is clearly 36 months, not 18 or 24. No wonder they bumped the shutter life up to 300,000!
The AF issue is a real no go for me...as per the Roy Labraith reviewI our preproduction EOS-1D Mark III is a mess. It can't hold focus on static subjects very well and it can't track moving subjects very well.
I think waiting till the fall is the most prudent course as it won't be a surprise to me that there may be early production model glithes, most notably AF.
DavidP wrote:
It's "distubring" because the unit is basically ready to ship (within a month?) and they're still having auto-focus issues.
David, I know you of all people should know what the definition of a "pre-production" unit is.
Canon is not going to screw up the AF on what is now their flagship product, especially considering the millions of dollars they stand to make on companies like Sports Illustrated alone.
I'm not worried in the slightest. And this is coming from a 50/1.2L purchaser.
Good review on Rob Galbraith's site. looking like an awesome camera and I wouldn't worry about the glitch. This will be the best all round camera to date by any manufacturer. God I hope there is a 1Ds III with the same features and 5fps and 22MP.
wtlloyd wrote:
I wonder if we will see a "plateau" with this camera, and the presumed soon-to-follow 1Ds3....the technology is really at a point of maturity now...the development time is clearly 36 months, not 18 or 24. No wonder they bumped the shutter life up to 300,000!
Canon is already refining the 1D MKVn. They are milking the system.
Just like every other tech company and we fall for it everytime.
I didn't read anywhere in the review the actual date Rob was given the camera so any comments about issues with the AF can only be taken as comments. Seriously, it takes time to put together a review and we don't know the "born on date" of the Mark 3 that was given to Rob. You don't know how long Canon has been working on the AF "issues" and we don't know the dates the photos were taken for the review do we? Well maybe
I did a little research, and the one photo Rob took of the hockey game during the anthem would be a little difficult to "stage". Minnesota played at Calgary on: Jan 9th, Feb 28th and March 17th. So if the shots were taken March 17th, today it would be AT BEST a 6 week old camera given it took a couple days for the camera to get from the assembly line into his hands. A lot can change in 6 weeks... But then maybe the camera Rob was using, was made 10 weeks, 12 weeks ago, or longer?? Most of you seem to be reacting like the AF issues Canon made to Rob were just made last week.
I have no problem getting one of the first units...Just my .02
True, Canon is "sandbaggin" a bit, specially with the 1Dsmk2, they are extending its life as long as they can thanks to the lack of competition. It stands alone at the top of the DSLR heap. The photojournalist and or event shooters market is much more competitive with the Nikon D200 and D2Xs, the latter which costs about the same as what a 1Dmk2N cost last year and about what a 1Dmk3 costs today. Thats why Canon has released 3 1D models in the time they have had the 1Dsmk2.
They couldve done the same with the 1Ds, they didnt.
Thankfully they released the 5D, which frankly was a surprise since no mfg had or has a fullframe model out yet. It also stands alone...id be surprised if they update it anytime soon...but u never know...
I just wish Nikon releases something killer soon, for us Canon users sake, more competition = lower prices, better products.
I suspect one reason Canon is holding off on the 1Ds3 is that they want to make sure the various new technlogies work well in the 1D3. It would have been a big risk for them to put both cameras with new technology in the market at the same time. Next fall, I would guess we'll see a 40D with the new technology and then a 1Ds, maybe by Christmas or early next year. I would guess the schedule will depend somewhat on the kinds of issues that come up for users of the 1D3. This is their anniversary year and they my try to do all three bodies before year end. Some lenses too, I hope. Personally I'd love to see a few long lenses with IS and slower, lighter glass. Since Canon has done so much to make high ISO usable, they can really revolutionize long-lens use by producing something like a really high quality f/5.6 500 IS lens. Makes me salivate!
Edited by Gib Robinson on Apr 23, 2007 at 10:29 AM GMT
Hi,
I just sold my 1DM2 because I wanted the larger LCD on my 5D. However when I took some basketball games with it, it seem sluggish even at 3 fps. I am impatiently waiting for the M3.
Hi,
If I remember correctly, the 1DM2 came out several months before the 1DS. So they are following a similar pattern.
Gib Robinson wrote:
I suspect one reason Canon is holding off on the 1Ds3 is that they want to make sure the various new technlogies work well in the 1D3.
Edited by Gib Robinson on Apr 23, 2007 at 10:29 AM GMT
One of the pictures of the Womens Basketball game with Laval was taken during the 2007 CIS Womens Volleyball championship at University of Calgary. Laval played both march 1 and march 3. This would suggest that Rob Galbraith had the 1D3 around the end of February and beginning of March
This may have been asked so please forgive me if it has, but the MKIII has lovely new lightweight battery system - anyone know if this is retro-fitable to other 1 series bodies?
Thank in advance,
Rich
RichShortland wrote:
This may have been asked so please forgive me if it has, but the MKIII has lovely new lightweight battery system - anyone know if this is retro-fitable to other 1 series bodies?
Thank in advance,
Rich
Nope, completely incompatible systems.
beewee wrote:
One of the pictures of the Womens Basketball game with Laval was taken during the 2007 CIS Womens Volleyball championship at University of Calgary. Laval played both march 1 and march 3. This would suggest that Rob Galbraith had the 1D3 around the end of February and beginning of March
Team pictures for NHL teams are generally taken around the same time frame (end of February/start of March).
This was really an excellent review as Rob pointed out the application of a lot of features that I hadn't really considered or thought of as mear window dressing when I the initial press release, but by the sound of it, these features can substantially improve the ergonomics and making some of the features more efficient to use. With the 5D i just got, i'm finding that the user "C" setting allows me to have instant access to MLU which is cool and by the sounds of it, the 1DIII allows much more user customization.
I'm also very excited about his evaluation of the quality compared to other cameras and the fact that the files from the 1DIII pretty much beats everything else up to know (except for resolution, which the 1dsII still is tops), really has me excited. By the sounds of it the 1DIII blows away the D2X even though that camera has more resolution. I guess if there is anything else i could have hoped for on the 1DIII is that it did have resolution closer to the 5D's.
I'm not to concerned about the AF issues, Canon already told him there were issues with the prototype and I can't see them releasing the camera before the issue is resolved.
I'm hoping we will see some more reviews before the camera is released. In response to my question, Michael Riechman on the LL site indicated he would be getting a a 1DIII at the end of February and was hoping to take it with him on an Amazon shoot at the end of April. Hopefully we may see a review on the LL site soon.
Anyways, i'm really pumped and can't wait until they come in. I'm hoping to have mine on Vistek Calgary's initial order. I guess it will depend how many they get in.
