p.54 #2 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
Ron,
I am sure you didn't mean it but your post comes off as being pretty condescending. For example you say, "Perhaps it requires more trial and error learning by the user to better understand and determine the exact limitations of the equipment and then find ways to work around or within those limitations if they cannot be addressed by Canon." The exact limitation is that my $4500 camera doesn't focus. There is no work around. It is not a limitation that can't be addressed. The friggin' camera doesn't work - and it gets worse every time it goes to Canon.
Believe it or not, I have some appreciation of high-end equipment. I got my first F over 30 years ago and spent 15 years as a pro doing multi-projector presentations. All of our field cameras were heavily modified Nikon F2 - F5 registered to 1/1000 of an inch. The studio rostrum cameras were set-up to 1/10,000 of an inch. Not many people here spent $18,000 on a single camera - in 1983 - but I did. I appreciate that this is complex equipment but so is a car. You wouldn't put up with a new car that couldn't do more than 30 mph and the AF function really is that basic. You have to appreciate that we aren't talking about being fussy, we're talking about not even being in the ballpark. And again, it just keeps getting worse when Canon touches it.
In terms of your references to earlier models. Firstly, I don't care. Whether their problems (or Canon's past sins) were real or imagined has zero impact on my camera not focusing. I only care that the 1DMkIII works properly. Secondly, please understand, I am not talking about an erratic lineman confusing the system or the shooter. We are talking about shooting a street sign from a tripod. If Canon can't figure out how to manage such a complex task then it is time to move back to Nikon. Thirdly, I don't think that all 1DMkIII are crap but mine is and so are some others. The easy answer is to replace them with cameras that do work. I am not mad at them for having a problem; sh*t happens and I can deal with it. I just don't want to be told that their problems are my fault because I don't possess the requisite skill or experience to know how to handle such a technological marvel.
In terms of the comments on the 85L, I appreciate your concern but over the years I've had a wee bit of experience shooting with fast lenses. Still I would have bought it much earlier but my main camera has been at Canon. This camera hasn't worked in a usable fashion since mid-December. I would have loved to have ordered it earlier but I'll be damned if I am going to drop $1700 bucks while Canon is futzing around trying to figure out what's wrong.
p.54 #3 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
I know I have stated this several times.. But the fact that a body worked fine prior to Canon "fixing" it, tells me that it's not necessarily a flaw in the body, but can be caused by service techs (at least in Newport News, VA). I am just hoping that what ultimately happened is that the tech that "calibrated" mine after the submirror stopper replacement actually "MIS-calibrated" it.
Regardless, I guess venting here is semi-therapeutic for me at least.
Time to go type an email to my rep to get a service ticket number so I can check on it's progress.
p.54 #4 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
lidesun wrote:
But they are not equal.....
Right. The central one is f/8 capable while the others are f/5.6 capable. Personally I fail to see why - after all the revisions in the AF system - they haven't give them all f/8 capability.
p.54 #5 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
drisley wrote:
Do what most do, disregard lidesun's posts. He never adds much to these threads, but really loves the overuse of ambiguous smiley faces to try to make his often moot points.
Stop such stupid post, and use your head amd make up your mind before you post anything here
You are one of the worst posters that lacking of the basic logical thinking here..
p.54 #6 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
I figured I'd send my mkIII in when Canon get's around to sending me the shipping stuff etc but after reading all these posts from Henry and others who seem to be going backwards in all this I think maybe I'll just wait. I just can't seem to take an oof picture with mine (with my lenses) unless I obviously blow it. I recently checked/tweaked the calibration using that micro adjust image and my LCD and they're all even better now. Thats a great way to do it and so much faster then having to analyze images and readjust! The other beneficial side effect in a way is that I have no desire to sell it and lose my @ss trying to unload an early serial number unit with no blue dot "fix".
p.54 #7 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
312 Images and the camera battery went from full charged to totally discharged.
Prior to sending the camera in for the fix of the sub-mirror fix it seemed like the camera would shoot forever on a charge. I am sure that there was a maximum but I never approached it. When I got it back I found that I went from fully charged to less than half in 200 +/- frames. I reported that when I sent it in for the fix of the fix of the fix. Tested the camera when I got it Monday. Fully charged battery. Took 312 images (7 of which are in focus so maybe I am complaining too much.) Didn't have a chance for more testing until this morning but after I set up a controlled test environment I found that the camera wouldn't turn on and lo and behold the battery is deader than a doornail.
I didn't turn the camera off per se but it had gone into its sleep mode which is typical for how I have used it in the past. A couple of other people have reported battery problems after getting it back from the sub-mirror fix. Any ideas on what might be happening?
p.54 #8 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
The LCD AF target thing seemed to work on mine at first... But as I shot objects further away (same FL mind you), my camera began showing front focus. Further the object away, the worst the front focus (as best I could tell). For instance, a MicroAdjust of +3 on one lens seemed to be correct on the chart...but then I go out and shoot a basketball game later and soon realize that about +10 was needed and even at that its a bit inconsistent.
The longer the FL, the worst the Front Focus too...plus plane seemed off... ie, shoes in focus (albeit soft) but face way off...Not simple DOF...but seriously off.
That was my personal experience...but then again, mine is back at the service center.
I have no doubt that a properly functioning M3 would greatly benefit from that MicroAF method.
p.54 #9 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
It's generally a good idea to keep all accesories at home while the camera is being calibrated at Canon Service. Batteries, filters, CF cards, etc..., the technicians have all they need anyway. Not only would this allow you to avoid potential problems with 'who broke what', but it allows to you control the variables a bit better. (i.e. after the repair is done, whether the battery died, or is the camera just using power at an abnormal weight...)
IMHO one of Canon's strengths is that its service centers (at least the big one which they have here in Hong Kong) has a front end that is so professional - the staff kicks ass. Problem is of course there are too many customers who wanna get stuff calibrated and fixed!
p.54 #10 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
Levendis wrote:
It's generally a good idea to keep all accesories at home while the camera is being calibrated at Canon Service. Batteries, filters, CF cards, etc..., the technicians have all they need anyway. Not only would this allow you to avoid potential problems with 'who broke what', but it allows to you control the variables a bit better. (i.e. after the repair is done, whether the battery died, or is the camera just using power at an abnormal weight...)
IMHO one of Canon's strengths is that its service centers (at least the big one which they have here in Hong Kong) has a front end that is so professional - the staff kicks ass. Problem is of course there are too many customers who wanna get stuff calibrated and fixed!
They didn't get the battery or any other accessory. The first time back to fix the fix they claimed that they made multiple electrical adjustments to try to get it focus and since then the battery life has been awful.
p.54 #11 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
Hrow I run my battery down to 1 or 2% as I have a back up in pocket so no worries. I always get 4200 + and the last one I got 4900. I even use the back focus button so it is always working the motor which suck some too.
p.54 #12 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
Could someone repost the url of the LCD calibration trick? I downloaded the image a while ago but have totally forgotten what to do with it
Another question while we're off-topic: how do you guys calibrate the AF of your zooms? I believe I've read somewhere one should use the maximum focal length for calibration, right? I'm kind of worried because I noticed that my 24-70 was all over the place at different focal lengths.
p.54 #13 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
Emile Gregoire wrote:
Could someone repost the url of the LCD calibration trick? I downloaded the image a while ago but have totally forgotten what to do with it
Another question while we're off-topic: how do you guys calibrate the AF of your zooms? I believe I've read somewhere one should use the maximum focal length for calibration, right? I'm kind of worried because I noticed that my 24-70 was all over the place at different focal lengths.
p.54 #14 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
That's about the battery performance I have been getting.
I'll be running another round of tests this afternoon but a quick lunch time check showed that the camera is doing exactly what it has been doing all along, that being it won't focus on the same point consistently. 7 shots of a focus target, each defocused in-between - 3/4 different focus points - no more than 2 in focus. Tripod mounted, cable, mirror up. Same thing happened with the 300 F4, 180 macro and the 70-200. One Shot - each with a focus confirmation.
p.54 #15 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
Hrow wrote:
312 Images and the camera battery went from full charged to totally discharged.
Prior to sending the camera in for the fix of the sub-mirror fix it seemed like the camera would shoot forever on a charge. I am sure that there was a maximum but I never approached it. When I got it back I found that I went from fully charged to less than half in 200 +/- frames. I reported that when I sent it in for the fix of the fix of the fix. Tested the camera when I got it Monday. Fully charged battery. Took 312 images (7 of which are in focus so maybe I am complaining too much.) Didn't have a chance for more testing until this morning but after I set up a controlled test environment I found that the camera wouldn't turn on and lo and behold the battery is deader than a doornail.
I didn't turn the camera off per se but it had gone into its sleep mode which is typical for how I have used it in the past. A couple of other people have reported battery problems after getting it back from the sub-mirror fix. Any ideas on what might be happening? ...Show more →
Exact thing happened to my new Blue Dot; never happened with the old 'non-focusing' unit, which I always got 2500+ per charge. Haven't used the new one enough to drain it, but at least I haven't found it dead-in-the-bag since that first time. I still wonder if I accidentally pressed the 'Set' button and initiated Live View until it died...
p.54 #16 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
Hey Jeff,
Live view will turn off after a while. The camera monitors the temp of the sensor and deactivates live view when it gets too hot. Maybe you pressed the review button and had the review time set to Hold. That would do it.
Regards,
Z
p.54 #17 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
Hrow wrote:
That's about the battery performance I have been getting.
I'll be running another round of tests this afternoon but a quick lunch time check showed that the camera is doing exactly what it has been doing all along, that being it won't focus on the same point consistently. 7 shots of a focus target, each defocused in-between - 3/4 different focus points - no more than 2 in focus. Tripod mounted, cable, mirror up. Same thing happened with the 300 F4, 180 macro and the 70-200. One Shot - each with a focus confirmation.
It's time for the replcement Mark III, no more game.....
Try to talk with someon in the Customer Relationship Group in the Canon USA HQ....
p.54 #18 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
Emile Gregoire wrote:
Could someone repost the url of the LCD calibration trick? I downloaded the image a while ago but have totally forgotten what to do with it
Another question while we're off-topic: how do you guys calibrate the AF of your zooms? I believe I've read somewhere one should use the maximum focal length for calibration, right? I'm kind of worried because I noticed that my 24-70 was all over the place at different focal lengths.
p.54 #19 · ['NEW Fix' UPDATE!] - MkIII AF still broken
Emile Gregoire wrote:
Could someone repost the url of the LCD calibration trick? I downloaded the image a while ago but have totally forgotten what to do with it
Another question while we're off-topic: how do you guys calibrate the AF of your zooms? I believe I've read somewhere one should use the maximum focal length for calibration, right? I'm kind of worried because I noticed that my 24-70 was all over the place at different focal lengths.
My 24-70 was all over the place too. I sold it.
With zooms, from what I understand, it can be a crap shoot with micro adjustments unless it is off by the same amount at both ends of the zoom. The suggestions I see is to adjust based on the focal length you use the most.
If I could do it over again, I would have sent the 24-70 to Canon for calibration at the time. For now, I am happy with my 24-105 (on my 5D).
