I pretty much think Canon can't do anything at this point that would make people happy. I also think a lot of this thread could have been avioded if people just waited a week or two to see the out come of the "fixes". It could be round two of the same or it could be the fix some have been looking for. At this point, it is all just speculation......
My baby's off to VA for AF evaluation. It will be interesting to see if the do anything to it other than evaluate it. I've shot thousands of images using all AF points in every set of conditions imaginable and most of it sporting events with zero problems. If they replace something I'll have to conclude that they believe there's a reasonable probabilty whatever they replace would have failed eventually because there is nothing wrong with this camera. I could track a piece of white rice in a snow storm with this thing. Serial #558...
Cost me over a $100 US to ship and insure. Got the shipping label and return form from Canon but you can't insure it using that shipping label and Canon states they won't be responsible for lost or damaged equipment. Hopefully I get it back in a week. I'll post whatever they do.
My only complaints are the complaints. We have not herd this much critisizm of the camera since the original fix. I have not herd a negative commment aside from a Er99 in the past 6 months. Where did all these bad MK III's come from all of a sudden?
My MkIII's been great too. The problem for Canon is that they've designed such a complex and configurable AF system with potential tweaks for every eventuality that if there's a problem it's going to be very difficult to replicate and therefore fix. Add to that the exhaustive testing and analysis by everyone and they really can't win now. I'm impressed that they're still working on it.
IMO if the original sub mirror assembly problem (admittedly that was a very major focus problem for many) never happened lots of the current issues would never have been noticed. They must be really hoping Rob Galbraith doesn't test the camera again post fix.
The AF system is not perfect but does a great job in most situations from my experience, what's more, acquisition is lightning fast and that's more important than the odd soft frame in a long burst for lots of situations.
I think Canon's latest announcement of the latest 1D3 AF fix is just re-opening old wounds for alot of people. As you say, FM has been pretty quiet on 1D3 AF problems for the last months.
Perhaps people got tired of banging their head against the proverbial Canon brick wall.. who knows but the timing is very odd. When people are expecting a 1D4 (or whatever) to be announced Canon comes up with an annoucement like this? Very strange timing if you ask me. Surely it would have been better to just announce the replacement in 6 months and let the Mark 3 die a quiet death.
Canon should have send out at least 50 beta tester (PJ, Sport shooter, etc.) to field test the "Release Candidate" version prior to releasing any new model. Seems like greed as gotten the best of them, instead they prefer the consumer doing the R/D for them. Canon reminds me of Microsoft > release the sucker first...then patch them later.
Ive been pretty happy with my newer 57xxxx model but like everyone else said if newer firmware and a new adjustment is announced I am all for it. I never thought they would release any new fixes or firmwares for it, so this is a surprise.
Alistair Watson wrote:
Perhaps people got tired of banging their head against the proverbial Canon brick wall.. who knows but the timing is very odd. When people are expecting a 1D4 (or whatever) to be announced Canon comes up with an annoucement like this? Very strange timing if you ask me. Surely it would have been better to just announce the replacement in 6 months and let the Mark 3 die a quiet death.
as I said earlier, the fix is not only for the Mark III, it's for the next release as well for whatever it will be--Mark IIII which most likely will use the same AF system as Mark III, so Canon is doing the right thing for all..
If the fix does improve the AF's performance, and with the newer sersor & digi IV processer, the 1D Mark IV will be a killer camera, otherwise are you willing to buy the 1D IV which has the same AF system as the Mark III, i will not even I am generally happy with the Mark III's AF.... they have to prove the new AF system works... they don't want to put the 1D Mark II's AF system into the new 1D Mark IV, like the 5D II and 5D did..
yauyi wrote:
Canon should have send out at least 50 beta tester (PJ, Sport shooter, etc.) to field test the "Release Candidate" version prior to releasing any new model. Seems like greed as gotten the best of them, instead they prefer the consumer doing the R/D for them. Canon reminds me of Microsoft > release the sucker first...then patch them later.
Actually they sent the 1DMK3 to a lot of beta testers for 5 or 6 months. Of course Microsoft had over 1 million people beta test Vista also.
"Canons biggest mistake on the 1Dmk3 was making the AF so advanced and customizable that 20% of the guys using them still have no idea how to set up the fastest most accurate AF i have ever used."
If the problem(s) were simply that the users didn't know how to use the new AF system to full advantage why the two hardware fixes to the 1D3? If it were simply operator error we should have seen some efforts to educate the users. That would have been much less expensive for Canon.
And that could have created a whole new group of photo snobs - the "I have mastered Canon's oh-so-difficult-to-use AF system" group. Canon could charge for workshops to teach folks how to use AF, and then give them a certificate for bragging rights.
I wonder if a downloadable firmware update (downdate ?) could install the less sophisticated but perhaps more reliable AF system from the 1D2n? People who were concerned could use the older system while Canon continues to iron out ALL the wrinkles in the new system.
WmPat wrote:
...
I wonder if a downloadable firmware update (downdate ?) could install the less sophisticated but perhaps more reliable AF system from the 1D2n? People who were concerned could use the older system while Canon continues to iron out ALL the wrinkles in the new system.
The whole point of the 3-series AF system was that it could be customised.
In many many years shooting sports with the 1D2s and Ns I don't ever recall having to change a focus related custom function, ever.
I doubt a firmware update could 'install the less complex AF system from the 2-series' as there is a fundamental difference with the hardware AF components, 19 points which can be selected plus additional invisible expand points.
Now that this issue has been brought up by Canon, I am starting to realize it wasn't me afterall. I bought mine in July and started to notice some photos that shouldn't be soft, were soft when I chose the focal point, rather than the camera.
I realize I should have had it checked because I knew my skills didn't deteriorate by getting the camera. My only problem is I don't have a free period of non-shooting to send it in for 2 weeks! Is that the time estimate everyone else has been getting?
lidesun wrote:
See this.. Canon USA Service Notice...
I called in yesterday when the post started and got set up to send mine in.
Later I got the emails I needed to send it in so today I started to pack it up for shipment.
I noticed I got two emails with two different tracking numbers going to the same place (Jamesburg, NJ).
I almost sent it in but thought.. hmmmm I had better call and ask why I got two emails with two different tracking numbers going to the same place. I called and was told that what I got was wrong and there was some mix up yesterday in emails sent out and it should go to Virginia, not Jersey and if it went there it would have eventually found its way to Virginia but it would have delayed the service and return considerably.
They are sending me new labels to send it to Virginia but that could take 12-24 more hours so now it probably won't go out today.
So if you got labels yesterday or have already sent your camera to Jamesburg you should probably get on the phone and let someone know the tracking number so your camera doesn't set in NJ for a while.
Just thought I'd let you know in case some were sent before they got the mistake taken care of, my labels came yesterday afternoon (I'm in Arizona) so I'm sure a few more went out with the same mistake. Check your emails and pull the label up again to find the shipping destination.
Canon reminds me of Microsoft > release the sucker first...then patch them later.