Yakim Peled wrote:
The 1Ds Mk III and 1D Mk III share the same focus mechanism. In light of this one has to wonder how one is misbehaving so bad while the other is behaving so well.
Yakim, some people think Rob Galbraith is right-on with his MkIII focus analysis, others think he's just trying to make trouble for Canon and drive more traffic to his website.
I personally think he did a fantastic job trying to nail down an inconsistent, elusive problem with the MkIII AF system. Working with Canon, not against them.
Here is a quote from his last update. More to come very soon:
"While we haven't published anything about EOS-1Ds Mark III autofocus to date, we've used the high-resolution camera extensively since mid-December 2007 and can say that its autofocus strengths and weaknesses echo the EOS-1D Mark III"
i don't think that Rob's motivations are impure. especially since his findings echo what i have seen first-hand, as well as what the multitude of other users have witnessed.
however, interesting statement about the 1ds III. in theory, since it shares most of its guts with teh non-s version, it makes sense that it could potentially exhibit the same issues. fun, fun...
I don't think Rob conducted himself inappropriately in any way. What would he have to gain by doing so? I doubt he cares that much about hits to his website. He was simply reporting what he found, IMO.
I have got 40,000 shots through my MKIII now. I shoot mostly birds-in-flight and r/c helicopters with either the 400 5.6 or 300 2.8 attached. I have done a fair amount of side-by-side shooting with my MKIIn and MKIII so as to really get a feel for any defiencies of the MKIII. Recently I shot 8000 frames at an R/C heli contest with the MKIII over the first two days, and then shot another 2000 through the MKIIn on the third day.
When I was learning how to use my MKIII I became very frustrated and I wasn't satisfied at all with the results until I went back and used my MKIIn in exactly the same shooting enviroment. It was only then that I began to appreciate the MKIII's capabilities. Funny how that works. My body was produced in Feb 08.
Here is what I've found:
1. The MKIII has trouble when the subject is small in the frame. It also has trouble locking onto a distant subject when there is a busy background.
2. MKIII does fine when the subject fills at least 1/8th of the frame.
3. The MKIII finds focus faster than the MKIIn, and I've captured a couple of rare shots because of that.
4. The MKIIn focuses more sharply on small fast moving objects more consistently. It's not a night and day difference though.
5. With the 10fps of the MKIII some of the missed focus are negated.
6. I use center point and the fastest aquisition speed on focus.
******** final verdict for me........ I'm enjoying this camera very much now.
Here's an R/C gallery where I have both MKIII and MKIIn pics - just hover your mouse over the pic and click info to see which cam shot it.
Gary Petersen wrote:
Arizona sunlight (ought to be bright enough) and the temp over 100F. My 1D at least seems to work. Most likely all the newer ones do just as well.
Gary, most of the trouble reported with the focus system was tracking moving subjects with a narrow DOF. Much of RG's testing was done with a 300 f2.8, using an aperture of f2.8.
Shooting at f8 as you did in that sample would most likely mask any slight focus error, and the subject was stationary. You might still be able to see it, but probably not as much.
To get a good understanding of what "all the fuss" was about, RG still has the analysis on his website for people to review:
Garylv wrote:
Yakim, some people think Rob Galbraith is right-on with his MkIII focus analysis, others think he's just trying to make trouble for Canon and drive more traffic to his website.
I personally think he did a fantastic job trying to nail down an inconsistent, elusive problem with the MkIII AF system. Working with Canon, not against them.
Here is a quote from his last update. More to come very soon:
"While we haven't published anything about EOS-1Ds Mark III autofocus to date, we've used the high-resolution camera extensively since mid-December 2007 and can say that its autofocus strengths and weaknesses echo the EOS-1D Mark III" ...Show more →
I know that. That's exactly why I was so surprised to see that Henry is finding the AF in his 1Ds Mk III so much better than his 1D Mk III.
Yakim Peled wrote:
I know that. That's exactly why I was so surprised to see that Henry is finding the AF in his 1Ds Mk III so much better than his 1D Mk III.
Happy shooting,
Yakim.
PROBABLY because AF problems between the 1D3 and 1Ds3 exhibit themselves differently. Also, maybe there's more to it than the AF only. Different sensors, different FPS and maybe different software calculations
p.6 #10 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
Daan B wrote:
PROBABLY because AF problems between the 1D3 and 1Ds3 exhibit themselves differently. Also, maybe there's more to it than the AF only. Different sensors, different FPS and maybe different software calculations
But why would the problems exhibit themselves differently? It's the same focus mechanism.
Other issues beside AF are not what I asked about. We all know these are superb cameras.
p.6 #11 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
Yakim Peled wrote:
But why would the problems exhibit themselves differently? It's the same focus mechanism.
Other issues beside AF are not what I asked about. We all know these are superb cameras.
Happy shooting,
Yakim.
Yes both are superb cameras... That is not my point
All I am saying is that the AF can't be seen as an isolated part of the camera. There is interaction between components that may well be have an effect on AF. It may be that this interaction takes place differently for both cameras, because both cameras have different components as sensor and different specs as FPS and possibly different software calculations to control AF routines. But even the difference between FF and 1.3x crop or difference in pixel-density may have different effects on the AF...
Edited on Jul 08, 2008 at 02:02 AM
Jul 08, 2008 at 02:01 AM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
p.6 #12 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
Yakim Peled wrote:
The 1Ds Mk III and 1D Mk III share the same focus mechanism. In light of this one has to wonder how one is misbehaving so bad while the other is behaving so well.
Happy shooting,
Yakim.
But do you know that ? or do you just expect it to be exactly the same for both cameras?
I have reed it here a few times but never seen anything from Canon about it. Do you have a link to something that can confirm it ?
p.6 #13 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
Lars Johnsson wrote:
But do you know that ? or do you just expect it to be exactly the same for both cameras?
I have reed it here a few times but never seen anything from Canon about it. Do you have a link to something that can confirm it ?
p.6 #14 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
Lars Johnsson wrote:
But do you know that ? or do you just expect it to be exactly the same for both cameras?
I have reed it here a few times but never seen anything from Canon about it. Do you have a link to something that can confirm it ?
From the 1Ds mkIII white paper:
The state-of-the-art AF sensor in the EOS-1Ds MarkIII is shared with the EOS-1D MarkIII. The AI SERVO AF algorithm has been optimized to match the continuous shooting speed of the EOS-1Ds MarkIII, approximately 5 fps. Also, due to the full-frame CMOS sensor, the area AF coverage with respect to the viewfinder is slightly smaller than with the EOS-1D MarkIII. The AF speed and predictive AF performance are the same as with the EOS-1D MarkIII. All other AF-related specifications not mentioned here are also the same as the best-in-class EOS-1D MarkIII.
p.6 #15 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
Yakim Peled wrote:
The 1Ds Mk III and 1D Mk III share the same focus mechanism....
But why would the problems exhibit themselves differently? It's the same focus mechanism.
Happy shooting,
Yakim.
Maybe the AF components are the same, but are they ?
For one thing, the mirror box is bigger on a full framer, so perhaps these same components (if they are exactly the same spec wise) are implemented a bit differently for the full frame vs the 1D3 crop body. Only Canon knows for sure...frustration continues.
I don't own a 1D3, but do own a 1Ds3 as my primary body for shooting wildlife (mostly birds) with long focul lengths. After shooting for 4 days in TX in 95 degree humid heat and sunshine and 4 more days in SE Arizons in bright 100+ degree dry heat, the AF (critically sharp keeper rate) is at least as good if not better than my 1D2N. I should note that I exclusively shoot with 1 focus point only, mostly in the center or one click above center. The saga continues...
Edited on Jul 08, 2008 at 10:10 AM
Jul 08, 2008 at 10:10 AM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
p.6 #16 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
morganb4 wrote:
Its confirmed on Rob Galbraiths site
