The latest report on 1D Mark III AF issues

amorrison wrote in post #3699265
Well, when I got home I ran some tests in 98 degree heat outside using same lens and settings. Several multishot bursts were taken and they showed almost no variation in focus, at least I couldn't see any at 100%. Shot houses in sunlight, trees in sunlight, focus was rock solid. I could not make the camera even hiccup. I'd have to say the window glass was the culprit. Considering focus involves phase detection, and passing light rays through a thick piece of glass at an angle could very well affect the phase of the two light rays at opposite sides of the lens, and thus the focus, right? Ok, guess I am back to "no problems" again. Can I say "nevermind?" I do thank you all for your help and comments. I would not have suspected the window.

Good news for you! It must have been GBRandy's cheap UV filters.

KAC

morehtml wrote in post #3699112
I think if you call and bug tech support they might send you a prepaid shipping label. In my case I ponied up $95 to ship it overnight to them but the work (if they do any) is free under warranty

Mine was $90, with $5K insurance,. the reason, @ $4500.00 you don't tip the "$5K special handlung scale but they bumped it to $5K for free for me..)

scalleia wrote in post #3695960
Sorry to start another MKIII AF thread but I am really baffled. I have one on order in Australia and expect it to arrive in the next couple of weeks. I am an enthusiastic amateur and not a pro, however it is an expensive non-deductible purchase for me and therefore I want it to work as it should. Anyway I have queried the shop (a reputable one) about the AF issue and another local source as well and one has claimed that his problem was limited to pre-production bodies and the other (shop) had little knowledge and claims that they have sold a few dozen and that there have been no returns/complaints. Reading the net (and this forum) it is a mixed bag, and certainly not an issue that can be ignored. I have a 5D but also want something for sports/action shots and find the 5D OK for this but would like a faster frame rate (amongst other things)

Anyway my question is - are there any Aussies out there that have purchased a MKIII and if so are they happy ? Do they do action/sports, i.e. motor sport, horse racing, surfing, etc. Also what did they pay ??

I must admit I am finding this very hard to decide. I want to purchase the camera and have been looking forward t it but don't want to pay so much for something that may have some intrinsic flaw and given Canons lack of response so far am not convinced that if there is a design flaw that it will be addressed adequately.

Anyway thanks for your help/insight.

Regards,

Simon

I've been using the Mark III for around three months now. I shoot AFL, V8 Supercars, club soccer, general events, weddings, editorial, and portraits - a real mixed bag.

I've put around 15,000 frames through mine. I have had a few times where the camera hasn't focused correctly (the worst case was actually in One Shot mode doing a simple portrait). Initially I put it down to user error, but after reading the reports lately I'm starting to think my camera has similar symptoms.

Nonetheless, it's been very isolated and the camera has (overwhelmingly) been a positive experience for me. I do expect the camera to be a bit more consistent - but it's delivering OK at the moment and there are so many other positives about the camera.

I have a second one on order (via Kayell) which should arrive in a couple of weeks.

racketman wrote in post #3698276
First off no problems in one shot mode. Now I thought i'd have a go in the problem area of AI SERVO. My 70-200 f2.8L IS was mounted on monopod and shot through open window at traffic below. Bursts of 4 to 11 shots at 10fps using f2.8 at around 1/2000. Shutter button used for focus/exposure, Auto AF selection point, custom functions of interest:
C.Fn III-2 =SLOW C.Fn III-3 =1 C.Fn III-4 =0 C.Fn III-5 =1 C.Fn III-7 =2 (+1)
C.Fn III-8 =0 C.Fn III-9 =0 C.Fn III-10 =0

result of 90 shots = 61 sharp, 24 borderline, 5 blurred. You will have to take my word as I cant be bothered to process this many boring images ! But here is link to examples:

http://www.pbase.com/r​acketman/ai_servo_test

Now what I would like is for more experienced 1 series users to tell me what changes they would like me to make to see if I can up the % of sharp images.

tried same experiment with settings as above but Manually selected AF point (centre). Of 92 shots 2 were out of focus and 4 borderline.

Tracking # says I get my MK III back Monday

morehtml wrote in post #3701964
Tracking # says I get my MK III back Monday

Cool. I don't really care how long it takes for mine as long as they fix it this time. I'll be extremely interested in hearing the results of your repair.

KAC

Let me start off with...

Filters ar bad.

That said, I got to try a "Bad" body yesterday.

I got a call from the local camera shop asking me if I would come in and check out a camera a costomer is having problems with(they dont stock andything above a 30D and no L lenses, and none of the employees at this paticular store shoot Canon, so They use me as thier "Canon Guy")

This guy brought his camera in saying he was having problems with the AF and he read about alot of problems on the internet, and wanted to return the camera, but his 30 Day return time had expired. So since his only option was to send it to Canon they asked him he would mind if they called me to come down and try it, which I think upset him but he said he didnt mind.

So I tried the camera out, and after a couple hundred shots I was unable find any more than 15 OOF. It was 100 Deg 80% Humidity yesterday with a heat index of 114.

So at this point he isnt happy, becaus enow it looks like he is the fault not the camera. So he tries some shots and his results are simalar to mine, but he has a CF card fulll of OOF shots with him so whats the deal?

Well, we came up with one possible problem.

He didnt take any lenses with him because he thought he was returning it. I took my camera bag with me and had only a few of my lenses in it.

The lens we tried was my 70-200 2.8 IS. which is only 3 months old. So I asked him about his lenses. He said he had 2, a 28-105 that he has owned for more than 12 years, and a 70-200 2.8 NON IS he bought used 6 years ago.

So with his particular camera I have reached two possible causes.

1. This guy was totaly unfamilar with the 1D cameras and needed time to learn how to use it.

2. Older lenses or lenses that have seen alot of use may have some warn parts that if out of spec will have thier age and use stressed out by the new AF system.

I think in this case it could be a combination of the two, since with my lens he was able to get alot more shots in focus. Which got me thinking, I wonder how old Rob Gs lenses are, and how much use have they seen?

Now Im not saying some of the earlier release bodies didnt have issues beyond this but I still would like to hear from others with problems how old thier lenses are and How much use thier lenses have seen. And if possible, can any of you with older or well used lenses try and see if you can try a newer or less used lens on your body.

Im thinking since I can see a differance in focus speed with my lenses(Which are brand new) compared to my other bodies that perhaps some people may have AF motors that are warn to the point they are not capable of performing well on the new AF system.

I know you guys are probably getting tired of trying things, but after what I saw yesterday it seems like it could be a legitimate area to check.

wilvoeka wrote in post #3702665
I wonder how old Rob Gs lenses are, and how much use have they seen?

that theory can already be ruled out [at least in RG's case], as for RG's latest round of tests, Canon themselves provided Rob with freshly calibrated lenses and observed the testing performed by RG.

amorrison wrote in post #3699265
Well, when I got home I ran some tests in 98 degree heat outside using same lens and settings. Several multishot bursts were taken and they showed almost no variation in focus, at least I couldn't see any at 100%. Shot houses in sunlight, trees in sunlight, focus was rock solid. I could not make the camera even hiccup. I'd have to say the window glass was the culprit. Considering focus involves phase detection, and passing light rays through a thick piece of glass at an angle could very well affect the phase of the two light rays at opposite sides of the lens, and thus the focus, right? Ok, guess I am back to "no problems" again. Can I say "nevermind?" I do thank you all for your help and comments. I would not have suspected the window.

Good to hear! Windows, bad filters, both suspects in OOF pictures

wilvoeka wrote in post #3702665
Let me start off with...

Filters ar bad.

That said, I got to try a "Bad" body yesterday.

I got a call from the local camera shop asking me if I would come in and check out a camera a costomer is having problems with(they dont stock andything above a 30D and no L lenses, and none of the employees at this paticular store shoot Canon, so They use me as thier "Canon Guy")

This guy brought his camera in saying he was having problems with the AF and he read about alot of problems on the internet, and wanted to return the camera, but his 30 Day return time had expired. So since his only option was to send it to Canon they asked him he would mind if they called me to come down and try it, which I think upset him but he said he didnt mind.

So I tried the camera out, and after a couple hundred shots I was unable find any more than 15 OOF. It was 100 Deg 80% Humidity yesterday with a heat index of 114.

So at this point he isnt happy, becaus enow it looks like he is the fault not the camera. So he tries some shots and his results are simalar to mine, but he has a CF card fulll of OOF shots with him so whats the deal?

Well, we came up with one possible problem.

He didnt take any lenses with him because he thought he was returning it. I took my camera bag with me and had only a few of my lenses in it.

The lens we tried was my 70-200 2.8 IS. which is only 3 months old. So I asked him about his lenses. He said he had 2, a 28-105 that he has owned for more than 12 years, and a 70-200 2.8 NON IS he bought used 6 years ago.

So with his particular camera I have reached two possible causes.

1. This guy was totaly unfamilar with the 1D cameras and needed time to learn how to use it.

2. Older lenses or lenses that have seen alot of use may have some warn parts that if out of spec will have thier age and use stressed out by the new AF system.

I think in this case it could be a combination of the two, since with my lens he was able to get alot more shots in focus. Which got me thinking, I wonder how old Rob Gs lenses are, and how much use have they seen?

Now Im not saying some of the earlier release bodies didnt have issues beyond this but I still would like to hear from others with problems how old thier lenses are and How much use thier lenses have seen. And if possible, can any of you with older or well used lenses try and see if you can try a newer or less used lens on your body.

Im thinking since I can see a differance in focus speed with my lenses(Which are brand new) compared to my other bodies that perhaps some people may have AF motors that are warn to the point they are not capable of performing well on the new AF system.

I know you guys are probably getting tired of trying things, but after what I saw yesterday it seems like it could be a legitimate area to check.

I don't think it's the lenses. In the second Rob Galbraith test Canon supplied the lenses.

I have issues with all my lenses regardless of micro-focus adjustments and they work fine on my 20D and 5D.

I'm totally unsure what the difference might be in the situation you describe though, unless on evaluation there is some camera shake issue or something like that.

Interesting that he got a higher keeper rate when testing than what he'd had.

KAC

yeah the lens thing can be ruled out immeditaly. we all tried it with many lenses and it didn't make a lick of difference. my 500 f4 is 3 months old and the problem was exactly the same as with my 100-400.

wilvoeka wrote in post #3702665
Let me start off with...

.......
1. This guy was totaly unfamilar with the 1D cameras and needed time to learn how to use it.
......

Why should this play into it? Is there something you have to do or know in particularly with the 1D series to get it to focus?

I sort of blamed myself for several weeks at first with mine thinking that maybe I just needed to "learn" the camera, but I now feel that had nothing to do with it, but by the time I realized it and worked through other solutions and did hundreds of comparison shots between my 20D and the Mk III it was too late to return to the dealer. Hopefully others won't make the same "mistake" thinking it is them or their lenses etc.

KAC

kenyc wrote in post #3703275
Why should this play into it? Is there something you have to do or know in particularly with the 1D series to get it to focus?

I sort of blamed myself for several weeks at first with mine thinking that maybe I just needed to "learn" the camera, but I now feel that had nothing to do with it, but by the time I realized it and worked through other solutions and did hundreds of comparison shots between my 20D and the Mk III it was too late to return to the dealer. Hopefully others won't make the same "mistake" thinking it is them or their lenses etc.

KAC

It's a wash, half think you need 1D experience the other half think 1D experience is a negative, as we are too stubborn to adapt to a poorly functioning camera

On the outside air temp thing, you probably need to distinquish between Calgary heat (in the 60s - 70s) - bad, and Southern US heat (95 +) - good.

kenyc wrote in post #3703275
Why should this play into it? Is there something you have to do or know in particularly with the 1D series to get it to focus?

I sort of blamed myself for several weeks at first with mine thinking that maybe I just needed to "learn" the camera, but I now feel that had nothing to do with it, but by the time I realized it and worked through other solutions and did hundreds of comparison shots between my 20D and the Mk III it was too late to return to the dealer. Hopefully others won't make the same "mistake" thinking it is them or their lenses etc.

KAC

I hear ya!

Of all the people who post here I probably know less than anyone about anything photographic (okay, advanced amatuer), but I do have a Mark III, and in all honesty, I thought I had a good camera, but now I just don't know. All I know is this:

Bought a 30D new, attached numerous lenses, the thing focused great, worked as advertised..

Have a 5D, attached numerous lenses, the thing focused great, worked as advertised.

Have a Mark III, and now, with the premier Canon camera, I have to "calibrate" my lenses. IMO (and remember I know nothing) what a bunch of dirty diaper contents!

A $4500 camera should work without fiddling and faddling and calibrating this or that, or causing people to question one another's veracity.

Mine is well past the return period, so I'm in the same boat as the rest of you, just treading water till Canon does something.

I just had to vent, sorry, but the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach will not go away.

My sunglasses are in hand, ready to put on when I see the light at the end of the tunnel.