For UK based 1D3 users, a Canon rep suggested the best way to complain is to write to
Marketing Dept
Canon UK Head Office
Woodhatch
Reigate
Surrey
RH2 8BF
Including a printed copy of the printable versions of this thread might be a good idea. Also, if you are so inclined, you may want to include a copy of this thread about non-AF shortcomings: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/569705
Unfortunately, Canon UK, Canon USA and the other regional distributors have only slightly more sway with Canon Inc. in Japan than the rest of us, and receive only slightly more information than us too. They are in the dark about the nature of the AF issue and Canon Inc.'s efforts (or not) to correct it almost as much as we are.
we can say there is positive movement within the company in regards to the camera's autofocus difficulties. This hasn't yet translated into anything concrete, like an official acknowledgement of the problems, a release date for new firmware or anything else that might constitute news on the autofocus front, which means the wait to see how all this turns out continues for EOS-1D Mark III owners or prospective purchasers. But we're fully committed to seeing this through to its conclusion, as well as encouraged by the amount of Canon's attention this matter is receiving.
, ok well that is a shimmering thread at best but I will give you the hope. Just that this hasn't yet translated into anything concrete, like an official acknowledgement of the problems, a release date for new firmware or anything else that might constitute news on the autofocus front.
I don't think Canon has an answer yet. I do think they are committed to finding one -- hardware or software. I also think they want to find one ASAP because they know this issue is hurting sales and hurting their reputation.
My guess about the situation?
Because of the length of time this is taking, I would certainly not rule out the need for a hardware fix. The AF hardware may not be sufficiently controllable under certain circumstances. .I hope that's not the case, but I would bet the software people have been working over time and don't yet seem to have a fix. The hardware people may also be doing re-design work. That would likely require more time.
Sep 28, 2007 at 09:06 PM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
slau wrote:
Wonder how long should I warm up the camera. It seems like the Al Servo is really temperature sensitive. Learn something new about the Mk3 everyday .
30 seconds in the microwave will be ok maybe a minute if you have problems with both AI servo and one shot..........
I just had a terrible thought: What if Canon's silence means that they think all is well?
Think about it for a minute. Canon is a mega-corporation with tons of money and tens of years of experience in the SLR/DSLR business. Surely they could have found the problem by now.
The fact that the customers are tired of endlessly discussing the issue means that Canon is no longer receiving bad publicity. With that impetus gone, the possibility of a proper fix emerging becomes even less likely.
This is a truly shocking situation and Canon Inc's continued silence on the matter after so many months and so many reports of the fault is absolutely inexcusable. If the japanese execs thought they could save face by not admitting to the problem, then their plan has backfired spectacularly. Now they have the doubly-damaging reputation of not only producing sub-standard products but also not admitting to the problem and fixing it.
The recent service announcement for one of their Powershot toys illustrates a broken corporate mentality. The camera in question demonstrated an undeniable flaw - no amount of user ineptitude can explain away stray light entering a camera, so they had no choice but to fix it. On the other hand, the problem with the 1D3 can be explained away by Canon as users not being sufficiently competent to use the camera correctly. Frankly I find this insulting.
Kier wrote:
The fact that the customers are tired of endlessly discussing the issue means that Canon is no longer receiving bad publicity. With that impetus gone, the possibility of a proper fix emerging becomes even less likely.
I sure hope that's not the case. But you almost can't help feeling that way.
RG made a great case for the focusing issue and gave Canon everything they would need to further identify and correct the trouble. By now it's obvious the problem is not something they can fix easily.
They may have decided to let it go since a good portion of the customers don't even seem to notice it. With this much publicity about it though and everything that's happened (customer contacts, Osaka testing), it's hard to imagine.
I just don't know what to think at this point.....
Canon isn't going to sweep AF issues under the rug. There is too much riding on this. The company wants pros to use their pro bodies. Right now enough pros are expressing frustration that Canon can't turn their backs. Question is, when will they find a fix. As I mentioned above, this may well require a hardware redesign and fix, in which case it may be a while. Interim firmware update might still help.
FYI. Rob Galbraith has repeated (9/27) his statement that he is actively working with Canon and the company has acknowledged the problem.
Gib Robinson wrote:
FYI. Rob Galbraith has repeated (9/27) his statement that he is actively working with Canon and the company has acknowledged the problem.
Which probably means that they are now actively paying him as 'a contractor'...
Gib Robinson wrote:
Rob Galbraith has repeated (9/27) his statement that he is actively working with Canon and the company has acknowledged the problem.
I find it quite amazing that the sole contact we have with Canon Inc. on this matter comes second-hand from someone not affiliated with the company. RG says he'll report back when there is something to report - so are we supposed to allow Canon leeway to keep quiet for as long as it takes for them to come up with the MkIIIN or the MkIV? That seems to be how it's panning out right now.
Canon Inc. may have acknowledged the problem to Rob Galbraith, but there has still been no official statement. We still have local Canon reps telling us that they either no nothing about the problem or that it's our fault for not reading the manual...
I agree with the previous statement. The fact that there is no interface to Canon other than RG and on very rare occasion Canon's Chuck Westfall is very disgraceful.
I hope that Canon is paying RG as a contractor....he is a straight up guy and won't let them get away with crap. Hey, he called them on the AF issue, and is the link to Canon for us.
I must say that I agree having to go through an independent source to find out if the issue is corrected is a big DISGRACE!!!
I don't own one yet and I'm itching bad to buy one but until this MESS is cleaned up and the camera performs properly!
J
I just informed my store that I would like to take it back (the second body) and just go back to a 2n or even a second 2 again. They are letting canon know, I hope they start to get the message.
In case no one's seen the most recent iteration of 'Shutterbug' (Nov 2007), their 'take' on the MkIII AF issue isn't going to help us much.
Joe Farace enlists the help of a "sports photographer friend whose work he admires" to shoot with the MkIII to assess the AF issues detailed on the 'blogoshpere'. His friend decided "the camera did indeed have serious problems", so what does Joe do? He goes out and conducts his own side-by-side with a MkII and a 70-300/4-5.6 IS. For him, the MkIII works way better than the MkII, and decides "Is difficult for you, is easy for me." Whatever that is supposed to mean.
At least they actually 'reviewed' it (term used loosely), which is more than I can say for most everyone else, DPR included...
With all the issues with "SOME" MK IIIs have, has anyone tried to call Japan directly? If CPS in Canada, USA, and UK are not doing anything for you, get on the phone and make it ring off the hook. Just an idea. I am really serious. If there are so many people that don't want to send their camera to canon service because there is no fix, can't blame them for that, how does Canon no the extent of the issue without direct feedback. CPS does not seem to be forwarding the complaints. Take it into your own hands. Give them a ring! Make it ring off the wall!
, ok well that is a shimmering thread at best but I will give you the hope. Just that this hasn't yet translated into anything concrete, like an official acknowledgement of the problems, a release date for new firmware or anything else that might constitute news on the autofocus front.
.
maybe a minute if you have problems with both AI servo and one shot..........
