p.10 #1 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
Yes, everything was set correctly...check the EXIF or use Canon BreezeBrowser to see the settings...I checked the obvious stuff...The motor moves the focus like it should, but the images are just out of focus...
p.10 #2 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
I am not using the Canon software to figure out where the AF point is, which I assume further in the middle of the image. In this case, this is a severe front focus issue and I am not sure whether it is the lens or the camera and a combination of both. Like lide mentioned further up, probably the 50mm f/1.2L is not a good lens to check the performance of the AF system of the camera as it is reputed to have its own issue. Sorry to hear about the problem......
p.10 #3 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
mdurisseau wrote:
Yes, everything was set correctly...check the EXIF or use Canon BreezeBrowser to see the settings...I checked the obvious stuff...The motor moves the focus like it should, but the images are just out of focus...
The images look a lot like I did have (and some other users too) with the 1Ds3. Canon calibrated mine two times (all 45 AF points), but it didn't cure this weird erratic AF behaviour. Finally they offered me a replacement body.
One third of the 1D3 owners and about half of the 1Ds3 owners experienced AF problems. Of course this poll doesn't prove anything, isn't very scientific or reliable, or maybe doesn't even apply to your situation, but still...
p.10 #4 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
Hrow wrote:
As I mentioned earlier, I have experienced a huge difference in AF accuracy between the 1DMk3 and the 1DsMk3. Basically, I just leave it in Servo now and it is fine for static or moving subjects. I have shot everything from GP cars at Watkins Glen to track and field to butterflies to flowers to politicians and not had the camera screw up (I have - repeatedly - but the camera has been good.)
The only time I have experienced any problems is when shooting with my 300mm F4 across a lake at a small boat. Very erratic but it was also very hot and humid and there is a strong possibility that environmental factors were wrecking havoc with the AF and the shot was a tosser anyway.
I would have to disagree with some of the comments that the AF systems are the same. They may be designed the same way but potentially significant differences exist simply because of the variation in the parts used to create FF and 1.3X bodies. It is certainly possible that while they are intended to work the same that they don't because those differences. Another potential factor is that the software may be different to handle the differing frame rates. ...Show more →
p.10 #7 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
Re: mdurisseau's images
To me, it's the same issue Jeff demonstrated with his camera at the beginning of the thread, maybe a little more severe. The effect looks the same. I see it from mine too. But not often.
There's definitely a problem in the camera's design, or a component, that only shows up occasionally. It's no wonder the service centers can't reproduce it. Even the engineers themselves might be at a loss to explain it.
This is not the same inconsistent AF performance analyzed by RG and others. It's an additional malfunction of some kind. I believe RG has seen it with his test cameras also, but he just refers to it as a totally out of focus shot. He may feel it's a side effect or secondary result from the defective AF system, and is not analyzing it as a separate issue. He might be right, who knows.
Will Canon be able to correctly diagnose and fix it? I seriously doubt it. Not on this model. The next model will probably have some redesigned components that hopefully don't produce this type of issue. Maybe a whole new issue next time.
p.10 #8 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
mdurisseau wrote:
Sorry...as I said, they're unedited...and any change would not prove that it wasn't the lenses, but the camera. Too bad you weren't more constructive in your comment...
Understandable but honestly if you want to post images that are 3mb in size upload them elsewhere and just provide a link. Just a courtesy for those who may not have decent internet access.
For the record I've had no AF issues with my "yellow" dot MK III. I do occasionally get a soft image or two but no more than with either of my MK II's. I shoot primarily with a 400 f2.8, 70-200 f2/8, and 24-70 f2.8.
p.10 #9 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
The weird part about these 'typical' OOF shots characteristic of the MkIII is that I've never, ever seen that the image was improperly focused prior to taking the picture (referring to 'one-shot' examples). It's like the camera somehow goes out of focus in between the time that the shutter button is pressed and the image is captured. I'm certain with how OOF many of these images are that it would have been obvious looking through the viewfinder, and yet you still get these occasional results.
p.10 #10 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
Jeff wrote:
It's like the camera somehow goes out of focus in between the time that the shutter button is pressed and the image is captured.
Or like the photographer was leaning slightly forward or backward between the time the focus was locked, and the button was fully depressed. I've caught myself doing this occasionally.
p.10 #11 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
Curator wrote:
Or like the photographer was leaning slightly forward or backward between the time the focus was locked, and the button was fully depressed. I've caught myself doing this occasionally.
p.10 #13 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
Jeff, on my shots the cameras was improperly focused but not by me. I did everything right, the camera just went nuts.
Jeff wrote:
The weird part about these 'typical' OOF shots characteristic of the MkIII is that I've never, ever seen that the image was improperly focused prior to taking the picture (referring to 'one-shot' examples). It's like the camera somehow goes out of focus in between the time that the shutter button is pressed and the image is captured. I'm certain with how OOF many of these images are that it would have been obvious looking through the viewfinder, and yet you still get these occasional results.
p.10 #14 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
Jeff wrote:
The weird part about these 'typical' OOF shots characteristic of the MkIII is that I've never, ever seen that the image was improperly focused prior to taking the picture (referring to 'one-shot' examples).
Agreed. You'd be able to see the lens re-focus if it's moving that much. The lens focal distance doesn't seem to change. That's been my experience too.
It's like the sensor or something else related to the focal plane goes out of alignment very briefly as the shot is taken. Or just prior to that moment.
I've seen some that were way out, and there's no way the lens moved that much without me seeing it. You can easily see even small to moderate changes in the viewfinder if the lens focal distance changes.
p.10 #15 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
Depends. The fastest focusing lenses can make large jumps in distance in an amazingly small fraction of a second. Sure, you might see it if it happened while you were just observing the scene, not firing, but what if it happened after the mirror began to rise and black out the view? An 85/1.8 can probably drive focus from 20 ft to 10 ft in .03 seconds (just guessing, to try to make a point). Also, what if the AF motor continues to operate while the shutter is open? Obviously that's not supposed to happen, but what if? There wouldn't have to be mysterious gremlins affecting AF performance if there were some glitch in the basic programming of AF operation.
I'm sure I'm grasping at straws, but we've had so much speculation about stuff like the sensor cleaning cycle going on during exposures that I wonder why I haven't seen any discussion of AF not stopping when it should.
BTW, just shot a wedding - ca 900 shots w 1D3, ca 100 w 1D2. The AF performance of the 1D3 was flawless, including tons of stuff shot in very low light with servo AF to handle moving subjects. Fast primes as well as zooms.
p.10 #17 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
Any processing on this image?
Jeff wrote:
And I just shot 80 at a swim meet yesterday morning (70-200/2.8L IS w/1.4x), this being pretty typical of the AI Servo performance (at 7000' MSL):
Jul 13, 2008 at 09:31 AM
brainiac Offline [X]
p.10 #18 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
Jeff wrote:
The weird part about these 'typical' OOF shots characteristic of the MkIII is that I've never, ever seen that the image was improperly focused prior to taking the picture (referring to 'one-shot' examples). It's like the camera somehow goes out of focus in between the time that the shutter button is pressed and the image is captured. I'm certain with how OOF many of these images are that it would have been obvious looking through the viewfinder, and yet you still get these occasional results.
That would be consistent with this being a problem with forwards/backwards movement of the AA filter. Don't forget that forwards backwards movement of this filter by a tiny tiny amount would lead to dramatic loss of sharpness.
Jeff - have you tried my suggestion of shaking or tapping the camera while it is pointing downwards and shooting, and then upwards, to see if you can get a repeatable result? Please try this - I am really interested to see if we can work out how to repeat your bad results. Mirror movement, with the pressure wave it produces inside the mirror box, could lead to the shifting backwards or forwards of the filter, if it is able to come loose at all.
Right now, I think these cameras have multiple flaws, mainly in the focussing system. I sure hope Canon gets this sorted out. They will continue to die in the pro market if this goes on. Pros will migrate to the system which is more reliable, no matter how many pixels it has or whatever features it has. I am enjoying my 1Ds3 but a D700 is going to replace my 5D. I have never relied on Canon AF, even with a 5D, and with irreplaceable shots like wedding stuff, I'm not going to start relying on a demonstrably flawed AF system now.
p.10 #19 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
Jeff wrote:
... It's like the camera somehow goes out of focus in between the time that the shutter button is pressed and the image is captured. ...
Been away from the forum for a while, Jeff is still talking about 1D3 AF. Man, 1D4 is about to come out
Jeff, you are paying the price for living at the bleeding edge.
DSLRs were good enough. But Canon had to pull out more magics. So far, my perception is that 1D3 AF is kind of like performance cars - Fantastic performance with reliability issues.
p.10 #20 · This frickin' 1D MkIII just ain't right!
mdurisseau wrote:
Any processing on this image?
Just a touch of fill light to open up the shadows a bit. Why?
brainiac wrote:
Jeff - have you tried my suggestion of shaking or tapping the camera while it is pointing downwards and shooting, and then upwards, to see if you can get a repeatable result? Please try this - I am really interested to see if we can work out how to repeat your bad results. Mirror movement, with the pressure wave it produces inside the mirror box, could lead to the shifting backwards or forwards of the filter, if it is able to come loose at all.
Maybe I will at some point, I just don't have the time right now for any of this.
Pondria wrote:
Been away from the forum for a while, Jeff is still talking about 1D3 AF. Man, 1D4 is about to come out
I have been away for quite awhile as well, and only really re-engaged about two weeks ago when finally having some seriously poor results from the camera.
