joayne wrote in post #16562750
There is the micro-adjusting software that is used by many here..
FoCalI've seen many people solve a lot of focus problems between camera and lenses..and the
ThreadPerhaps there is help ...
... but if the shutter sounds dodgy *shrug*
Thanks for the links, Jo. I will check them out later.
Jon wrote in post #16562816Levina - did you check that the 1D3 had the focus fix? There was a problem with the early (and middle . . . ) bodies autofocus that seemed to sting birders the worst. Canon (eventually) offered a service-center fix that seemed to handle most of the issues; mine was a later release and didn't give me any troubles that I noticed (birds and aircraft were the prime subjects) before I moved on to the 7D (compact size and common batteries are a major concern in my gear selection; 5D2, now 5D3, and 7D gave me what I needed for the Galapagos and beyond).
Thanks, Jon. I did some research. The name of the previous owner was still in the camera and I went looking for him and found him. I won't bother him with anything as I bought the camera from the shop, not from him, but I did find him on a local bird forum where he says in a comment back in 2008 that Canon did the fix in December 2007, just after he had purchased it.
I wish I had the money for a 5DIII but even a 6D is too expensive for me. 
Not having enough money limits one's choices quite a bit. 
Maureen Souza wrote in post #16563552Levina, sorry about your camera setback. Glad you have some time to test it out with the option to return it. I have weird feelings about buying used cameras but not about used lenses; all my bodies have been brand new. I have am 85/1.2 lens that I should sell because I never use it but it is so sharp with amazing bokeh that I can't bear to let it go.
Thanks, Maureen. Funny you say that because I have the exact opposite. I won't buy lenses used (unless they are old vintage MF lenses that I buy for next to nothing), but I am very comfortable buying cameras used, although I only do so from shops so I can return it if something is wrong and they always come with warranty which makes me feel safe.
I went out again today and did some more testing. Hardly any keepers again. I think from the 204 shots I took there are exactly 2 that have that critical sharpness I'm looking for. Thing is I used a tripod this time... However, my shutter speeds were low, my iso was high (1600) but still, this does not explain the bad quality of the shots.
I said something about the clunky shutter earlier. Well, it really is kinda clunky. The shutter on my 1D II N is much smoother, softer sounding and I don't feel it much in my hands. The 1D III really shutters when I press that shutter. It was hard keeping the camera still on the tripod. So I'm thinking that maybe it needs pretty high shutter speeds to not have that shutter shake the camera so. That is the only thing that I can think off. And if this is so, then I have a problem. I live in a part of the world that is not abundantly blessed with sunshine. I shoot handheld most of the time and I can do so with low shutter speeds. I can get sharp bird photos with the 1D2n and the 400/5.6 with really low shutter speeds. I have trained myself how to do it, also using all sorts of things in the vicinity to brace myself e.g. But I can't get sharp images with the 1D3 on a tripod with a shutter speed of 350/s or higher of a bird like a Heron who just stands there without moving and that is just plain weird, especially since the 1D3 is like 135 grams lighter than the IIn, so it should be easier.
However, since I do now have two images that meet my demands in terms of focus and critical sharpness and are just the way I get them from my 1D2n, I have to conclude that the camera must be alright. All I can think of is that clunky, almost violent shutter, shaking the camera too much. Would that make sense?
)
