5DmkIII firmware, f8 focus!!!

okcomputer wrote in post #15158823
Sounds like a great update. But... April? That is just ridiculous! I can't believe they are serious about announcing an update and then saying it'll be six months before it is available.

The AF point update NEEDS to happen. It's getting really old.

It may indeed be ridiculous that it isn't available now.

Given that they aren't able to push this out before April what would you have preferred? 1. Not knowing about it until April? or 2. Knowing about it now? [I'm not directing this question specifically to you okcomputer, but to everyone...I think it would be interesting to learn how people think about it.]

For my part I prefer to know about it now rather than later. I was actually thinking of selling my 100-400mm, but with this announcement I'll be hanging on to it at least until April to see how it works with the 1.4x III. In other words, this announcement helps me with my buying/selling decisions over the next few months. I appreciate that.

LowriderS10 wrote in post #15158792
I said this about the 1Dx firmware update and I'll say it again...had they done this BEFORE putting the camera on the market, I wonder how many sales they could have made (a lot of people went Nikon specifically because the newest Canons lacked f8)...

okcomputer wrote in post #15158823
Sounds like a great update. But... April? That is just ridiculous! I can't believe they are serious about announcing an update and then saying it'll be six months before it is available.

The AF point update NEEDS to happen. It's getting really old.

It goes to a comment I made before. It appears that Canon is starting to master the art of free marketing to increase sales of a model several months after its release. No better way than to release a great product with a few "deficient" features, then after the sales stabilize or slow down, announce a change to the product that enhances it.

Free advertising all over every single photog forum, blogs, etc, and sales pick right back up again.

Exactly ^

They knew exactly what they were doing, much like the video improvements in the 5D II... It is like "re-releasing" the product to those who were on the fence about it and will now purchase it.

Final firmware update will be removing banding that's 2017 .

I actually find this sad and very Canon-like. So, Canon has had the hardware all along to be able to focus at f/8 and we know that they have the software as the 1D series has done it for years. But, they choose to dumb down the camera and not enable that functionality.

gjl711 wrote in post #15158960
I actually find this sad and very Canon-like. So, Canon has had the hardware all along to be able to focus at f/8 and we know that they have the software as the 1D series has done it for years. But, they choose to dumb down the camera and not enable that functionality.

That's probably the most likely explanation. I've had success at f/8 on all of my Canon camera bodies.

It started with the 7D firmware. Suddenly more buffer is available, firmware crippling, thanks. So maybe they made a few sales from it. I can say this, I would have bought a 5DIII if it had f8 AF. I would, it would have extended the use of a FF sensor. Instead I bought a 1DIV used. Kind of thankful, by April the 5DIII will have dropped in price, if it doesnt I have a pretty brilliant camera already.

I wanted the REd until I saw how it was implemented on the 1Dx. Really disappointing.

I dont have a mark iii but am curious to your issues - do i understand correctly that a mark iii can not autofocus with f stops smaller than f8?

firefighter4u wrote in post #15160438
I dont have a mark iii but am curious to your issues - do i understand correctly that a mark iii can not autofocus with f stops smaller than f8?

It cannot autofocus when the largest aperture is f8. Typically happens when you throw a TC on say a f5.6 lens and lose a stop or two.

huh I see why that can be an issue... thanks for replying.

Scrumhalf wrote in post #15160447
It cannot autofocus when the largest aperture is f8. Typically happens when you throw a TC on say a f5.6 lens and lose a stop or two.

Unless it's a non-reporting TC

I have no use for the f8 focus... AF red points..yeah I need that more.

OK here I'm lost and need to ask. AF red points - please explain? I can set up my view finder so that the FP lights up red but then goes black again. My 7D does the same thing. I'm not familiar or perhaps can't remember any other scenario.

sempaidavid wrote in post #15160386
I wanted the REd until I saw how it was implemented on the 1Dx. Really disappointing.

is it worse than keeping the AF squares black?