p.50 #3 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
I agree. We need a poll.
After 7 months of not being able to use the camera, I got the "fix". It's better now. Very good indoors and in dim light. NOT good in bright light or servo. I wonder what will happen when the weather warms up. Maybe it will be a "winter" camera.
Sorry that some of you are having so much trouble.
p.50 #4 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
Hrow wrote:
2. The fix is to insert shims and reposition the lens mount. I have been assured by the nice fellow at Canon (and I am not being snide, he is quite nice) that this is standard practice and is part of the build process as well. I don't know enough about camera manufacturing but this wasn't what I expected to hear as the implication is that each camera has to be tested for individual variations and shimed accordingly - after it is mostly built.
3. He didn't have an answer (and I didn't really expect him to offer one) as to why my camera took two journeys to Canon Factory Service and the problem wasn't detected. Given the obvious nature of my problem when properly tested on their equipment the service history of this camera is not cool and suggests that they are grossly incompetent or don't have a clue as to what they are dealing with or how to handle the problems. Neither is an acceptable answer at this stage of the game.
...... However, unless someone can convince me that all cameras need to adjusted like this and that I am just being naive in thinking otherwise, I'll never recommend that anyone buy a 1DMkIII as it appears to be an absolute crap shoot as to whether you get one that will focus or not.
AND
Just got back from dinner with a friend who has been a working pro for 30 years. He almost spit his beer all over his wife - seriously, when I told him that Canon had shimmed my mount to get it to line up correctly with the sensor. This was immediately followed by a "they did what?" After a great deal of ragging on Canon, we talked it through and came to the alcohol enhanced conclusion that such a fix could theoretically work but that Canon has a huge design flaw if this is what is required to get these cameras performing to spec. I then had to sit there while he told me how well his D3's were working out (I already knew this - five or six times) and the ladies discussed lady things specifically tailored to ensure non-participation by any male within 50 feet. Thank God for beer or I would have had to use the steak knife on my wrists.
That's a link to the parts manual for the EOS-10D...
Look on pg. 9: Part CB1-2659 "spacer"... you'll note it's quoted as "service only" and is available in 6 different thicknesses. I feel this very nicely proves that this is a "standard service option" for the entire EOS range, rather than a one off fix for the Mark III because it's also listed here: http://f20c.com/stuff/canon/partslist/EOS%20D60.PDF on pg. 15 - the same part for the D60. If you look at http://f20c.com/stuff/canon/partslist/ you'll note that the 1D and 1Ds parts lists don't list that part... however, that does not mean that part can't be used since the lens mount parts for the 1D series are the same as the 10D, D60, etc...
The request by Canon to calibrate your lenses to the camera is not unique. This is something colleagues of mine have had to deal with in the past with the Mark II and Mark IIN cameras. If everything is sent in, the ideal would be for each item to be calibrated to a standard. Once this is achieved each lens will work with each body. If you purchase a new body or lens, so long as it's "within standard" there should be no issue using it in your system.
Just want to point out that what the Canon service rep is telling you is truthful and not a unique fix for your camera or the Mark III specifically. AF focus accuracy issues are not unique to the Mark III. It's something I've experienced with EOS bodies going back to the EOS-1.
As for asymmetrical distances between the mount and the sensor or the general bad luck you've been having with the camera...... again, not to diminish the serious problems you've experienced but we can't really say it's unique to the Mark III. But perhaps there is a greater number of problem cameras this time around?
p.50 #5 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
simonella_viru wrote:
oh lord. i just dropped mine off at purolator to have it sent to canon for fix #1. my expectations are abysmal at best.
*rolls dice*
I sent in one of my two Mark IIIs to Canon Canada last month and so far it seems to be working fine. Haven't shot much outside with it, so that remains to be seen but I have noticed better One Shot focus reliability.
According to the work order turn around was ~4 days but for some untold reason it sat around for another few days before being shipped...
p.50 #6 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
Jeff wrote:
I don't know what's "funny" about it. I did a search several days after RG's announcement, and found several people who confirmed it (i.e. they themselves were present at one of the briefings). I don't have the time to go looking for them again, but I'm sure they are still there, though not by searching title of thread. Simply read every MkIII thread you run across starting with the most recent, and sooner or later you'll find one. The threads over there aren't very long, and there actually aren't very many MkIII threads (compared to here, at least).
Yes, that's the one... note the comment by Robert Hannashiro, a highly respected member at that forum (essentially the founder of SS) and USA Today photographer...
p.50 #7 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
rscheffler wrote:
I sent in one of my two Mark IIIs to Canon Canada last month and so far it seems to be working fine. Haven't shot much outside with it, so that remains to be seen but I have noticed better One Shot focus reliability.
According to the work order turn around was ~4 days but for some untold reason it sat around for another few days before being shipped...
Ron
danke. should be interesting. man oh man, i really hope that canon fesses up a mighty good (public) response to all this crap. i think we all deserve it, after all these months...
p.50 #8 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
Henry, if you decide to send all your lenses I think you may want to send your other bodies as well. Otherwise you may find that your 1D Mk III is perfect but all your bodies are having focus problems.
p.50 #9 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
Yes, thatīs what i found too.
Again: Just a few post in SportsShooter site and ALL of them are simply refering to RGīs article!
Or is my bad english missing something here?
I am NOT denying the real problems with 1DM3 here.
But itīs strange that all leads are taking us to simply RGīs article only with this RUMOURED
MoAF (like somebody said it good : Mother of All Fixes)
*EDIT*
Ok, found it:
Hanashiro: "I have received numerous emails from people asking me to post any details that I may have gotten here ... but Rob has done a good job outlined the official information that Canon has been giving to Mark III users. "
p.50 #10 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
I'm in the same boat as Henry.
Next week I have an appointment with the service centre to calibrate all my gear (3 bodies, 11 lenses). If, after this, the 1DMkIII still isn't working properly they swap it.
I can't understand why they need everything but they can have it. In one way or other I'll have a proper functioning 1DMkIII in a couple of weeks. Not bad after 9 months
It will take some time to test everything.
p.50 #11 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
Question: (Because I fully expect them to ask me to do the same thing once it returns and it still misfocuses) - Who pays for the shipping on all these lenses? That cannot be cheap at all... Might be cheaper to get a flight out to CA....
p.50 #12 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
Distances are not that far in Holland.
I can bring them to CPS (5km) and have it back one week later.
Or I just drive 150km and wait for it and have it the same day.
I choose for the last one
p.50 #13 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
Ron, Thank you for the references to the service manuals, it helps explain what is going on.
What it doesn't answer is; How do I rent or borrow a lens and have any confidence that it will work? When I buy a new lens why should I have to send in both the camera and the lens to have it calibrated? Will Canon provide a loaner and how long will Canon cover the cost of that service? I literally was going to buy an 85L this morning if everything was working properly. Is it reasonable to expect that I should spend $1700 for a lens and have to pack it up immediately to send it and the body back to Canon to get it work right?
I am glad that they have these options to fix broken cameras. My camera is not broken, it is new - it just never worked right. That is a huge distinction that can't be overlooked. Imagine, if you will, Canon telling a newspaper with 30 bodies and a hundred lenses that they had to send in all of their gear to get 5 (which is about the percentage consistently reporting problems) of their new 1DMkIII's to focus. Ain't going to happen and when you look at from that perspective, their response starts to look pretty stupid.
p.50 #14 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
the only thing i can say about this whole thing is that i wish that Nikon wouldn't charge soooo much money and have such a crappy availability for their long VR super tele's.
p.50 #15 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
Just wanted to report after a 2week turn around I just got back my Mk3.
Factory report on the Mk3 says:
We have examined the product according to your request and it was found that the product performed according to specifications. The AF did not operate properly. Focus, exposure, wb, color matrix adjustments were carried out. Other electrical adjustments, inspections and cleaning were carried out.
For all of my lenses sent in they said this:
We have examined the product according to your request and it was found that the product performed according to specifications. The AF did not operate properly. Electrical adjustments were carried out on the pcb assembly. Inspection and cleaning were carried out.
p.50 #16 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
I got my MIII back yesterday. All lenses had to be recalibrated with micro adjustment...
A quick test with AIS says that it still doesn't work properly. The fastest lenses are the worst. My 50 1.4 is all over the place and can't be used with AIS...
Severe testing will be done this week. But that I'm p*ssed, is an understatement.
p.50 #18 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
perfectpixel wrote:
so the factory specs are for the AF to NOT operate properly...?
I know... makes NO sense at all to me. I just tried my 70-200mm and it looks good. I don't want to get too excited here. I've got more lenses to try out.
p.50 #20 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
momv630 wrote:
I know... makes NO sense at all to me. I just tried my 70-200mm and it looks good. I don't want to get too excited here. I've got more lenses to try out.
I noticed that bizarre juxtaposition also. I assume what they mean is that after they went through the whole process of examining and fixing per the customer request it was operating to spec and that the problem was the AF was not operating correctly in the first place. Jeez. They just need a little help with some basic editing.
? 