Emile - the concern is over Mr. Westfall's statement that cameras being shipped would be above the issue range, and those within the range have been requested to be returned.
1) The Canon service advisory relates to a range of serials between 501001 and 546561
2) Mr Westfall is quoted as saying:
"Any bodies currently being shipped to dealers in the USA, says Westfall, already contain the fix and have a serial number outside the range noted above."
But now, 'Blue dots' are found on boxes within the issue serial range as well.
In the end all that matters as you say is that it's OK now, but the serial number range in Canons service advisory , may play into a III's resale marketability?
Red Grainger wrote:
If I understand Andy, the fix hasn't worked, at least on the body he purchased. Hopefully I have misunderstood or Andy is incorrect.
Red
Red ,
You do understand, though I made my basis on 500 images shot last weekend. I will be shooting at least another 1200 soccer images this weekend on the 544xxx body with in the dreaded SN range, WITH a "blue dot". and a 300 2.8 in servo. I will let you guys know how I feel. The only thing I will be in North Carolina where temps wont be above 65 degrees.
JackCnd wrote:
Emile - the concern is over Mr. Westfall's statement that cameras being shipped would be above the issue range, and those within the range have been requested to be returned.
1) The Canon service advisory relates to a range of serials between 501001 and 546561
2) Mr Westfall is quoted as saying:
"Any bodies currently being shipped to dealers in the USA, says Westfall, already contain the fix and have a serial number outside the range noted above."
Blue dots are found on boxes within the issue serial range as well.
In the end all that matters as you say is that it's OK now, but the serial number range in Canons service advisory , may play into a III's resale marketability?
I was (and still am) under the impression that 'blue dot' means fixed. Over here they've recalled all stock and are fixing them - at least, that's what my dealer told me. If they are fixed, they'll head back to the stores. I presume with a blue dot. And within the S/N range, otherwise they wouldn't be recalled for the fix, right?
Then again, I know I shouldn't assume (or presume or whatever)
I still hope I'll be picking mine up next week and will try to get an answer. In the meantime I hope I'm making sense.
edit: Jack, you might be right about resale value from 1D3's within the S/N range. I'd rather have one beyond the range. Still, as others have said, resale value isn't what I buy a camera for. dSLRs are a bad investment anyway, so I rather shoot with them. And who knows what happens: if the fix works, this whole thing might blow over rapidly without any impact on resale value.
FYI: Just received 1D Mark III from Dell with blue dot. Serial # is 5488xx. Dell packing on this item is pretty poor. Outside shipping box is a lot bigger than 1D box and they only put one brown packaging paper as cushion
I'm waiting on mine to be delivered today. Dell's packaging is typically poor. I've bought 3 mark II's from them and each were packed just like splate described.
Splate, when did you order your's and where did it ship from? Mine is coming from PA to NY.
Currently shipping bodies have S/Ns outside the range, the fix, and a blue dot.
Any EOS-1D Mark III that shipped from the factory since early in October 2007, in or out of the S/N range, have the fix and a blue dot.
I interpreted that from the last line where its clearly stated that:
the box containing a fixed EOS-1D Mark III will have a round blue sticker on the UPC code label.
So, it would seem (to me anyway) that any camera received in a box with a blue dot is "fixed", regardless of what serial number the body carries.
ifxbonz wrote:
So tell me what is the reason for the "blue dot"is? If SN's within the the range of recalled mk3's are being shipped with blue dots. its a contradictory statement!
You may want to read the entire quote.
RG "Quote"
Any bodies currently being shipped to dealers in the USA, says Westfall, already contain the fix and have a serial number outside the range noted above. In fact, he says, any EOS-1D Mark IIIs that shipped from the factory since early in October 2007 to Canon sales companies globally - including the USA - already contain the sub-mirror fix. It's a safe bet that dealers around the world have been receiving fixed bodies into their inventory since roughly mid-October, though various factors mean that some dealers will have started receiving fixed bodies sooner than that, and others later than that. In the USA, and perhaps elsewhere, the box containing a fixed EOS-1D Mark III will have a round blue sticker on the UPC code label.
This says nothing about MK3's being shipped within the SN range AND being marked with "blue dots" thats the confusion.............................
I'll be getting mine tomorrow, but it's not from Dell. I asked the salesman on the phone if the number was outside the range Canon specifies and he assured me that it is. I the camera that arrives has a S/N within the affected range, it's going right back.
Edward Rotberg wrote:
I'll be getting mine tomorrow, but it's not from Dell. I asked the salesman on the phone if the number was outside the range Canon specifies and he assured me that it is. I the camera that arrives has a S/N within the affected range, it's going right back.
Sadly the Chuck Westfall statement isn't as clear and concise as one would like when you are the one holding a newly purchased MK3 within the dreaded SN range and the box has the blue dot. We can assume what we want but until the message is clear we won't really know.
The quote says nothing concise about MK3's being shipped within the SN range AND being marked with "blue dots" thats the confusion.............................For the consumer it leaves the statement up to assumption.
As someone with a newly purchased MK3 within the dreaded SN range and the box has the blue dot, I totally agree with Andy. In addition, there is nothing on Canon's website about units with the blue dot being fixed.
"The EOS-1D Mark III cameras that could have this problem can be identified by serial number: If the serial number on the bottom of the camera is between 501001 and 546561, the camera might require an adjustment of its AF mirror mechanism. Please note that the issue occurs only in some EOS-1D Mark III cameras within this serial number range. If you are satisfied with the AF performance of your EOS-1D Mark III camera now, it will not be necessary to have it repaired for this issue. "
The question is do I or don't I have a repaired sub mirror assembly in my 1DMK3 SN 344xxx with the DOT? and no one can answer that from C.W's statement you can only assume and thats not good enough!
BuLLets wrote:
I'm waiting on mine to be delivered today. Dell's packaging is typically poor. I've bought 3 mark II's from them and each were packed just like splate described.
Splate, when did you order your's and where did it ship from? Mine is coming from PA to NY.
Bullets,
I ordered mine on 6th, shipped next day and received today (8th). It is from TX to KS. I used their regular free shipping.
ifxbonz wrote:
The question is do I or don't I have a repaired sub mirror assembly in my 1DMK3 SN 344xxx with the DOT? and no one can answer that from C.W's statement you can only assume and thats not good enough!
Andy
Why don't you call Canon and ask the question? It would be interesting to find out what they say.
I just got mine, it's a 545XXX I was hoping for a +546561, but it at least the date code is OV1005. I checked it over real good, no marks, no nothing. All the screw heads are fine, doesn't look like it's been bench fixed. I suspect it's the out of sequence serial number thing from Canon. I'm curious now what the over 546561 serial number units have date code wise. If it matches mine, like everyone else's, I'll be happy. Can someone with a over cut off serial number post their date code please.
Red Grainger wrote:
First let me say that I am a big boy and I can afford all of my gear. I had hoped to buy another Mark III for my wife but now I have decided not to do so. I will be selling my Mark III just as soon as it has had the "fix" applied. Threads such as this one, even if incorrect, will destroy the value of this body.
Not if you intend to use your camera to take pictures. Assuming the fix works, the camera will subsequently work 'as advertised'. If you are only interested in resale market values of digital cameras, I'd suggest not buying one. A year from now, none of this will matter...
I also have just received a 1DMIII from Dell within the problem range.
545XXX OV1005 and blue dot on the box.
I will test the camera. However where I am the hot weather is long gone.
I suspect these are not refurbs but early Oct production bodies with the fix and within the serial number range. Canon serial numbers are somewhat of a mystery. Still could this be anymore confusing. Now we have bodies from a reputable dealer within the range that have the sticker.
I called Canon repair 800 828-4040 which now has a 1DMIII specific call in area and was told this camera might require the fix since it was within the range. I did not even argue. I just said great.
I do not think this is the case but it was the only info. this tech had. When I gave him the build info. OV1005 he did not seem to care.
I have sent an email to Canon support hoping to get clarification.
I returned a 1DMIII in July with focus problems even in single shot.
I will checck back in once I hear from Canon and have checked the camera out on some sports in servo.
