The latest report on 1D Mark III AF issues

let's keep in mind that not everybody who shoots canon is aware of this board. i have a friend who has the same camera and he had not heard a thing about the problem. i stumbled upon the board myself when searching for AF problems as soon as i started experiencing my issues right after i bought the camera.

is it time for us to start an online petition and forward it to Canon? if so, any volunteers to write it?

My local camera shop has sold 3 MK IIIs so far, and he has no reported problems with any of them. One of the three owners is aware of the problem thanks to the internet, but has not experienced it himself. I don't appear to have the problem, but I don't shoot birds against noisy backgrounds; I shoot trains against varied backgrounds. We do have plenty of heat, however. I've used my MK III in 115F temperatures, and in direct sunlight without problem.

Anecdotal? You bet.

I have also observed that several MK III owners who haven't experience the problem and said so here have been generally ignored or dismissed as non-believers. Worse, I'm sensing that those who do have the problem are of the general belief that those who don't simply aren't shooting in challenging enough situations (read: snapshot shooters).

I hope these discussions will continue without the condescension from either side. The problem is real, moreso for some than others. There's no question we are well past the point where the focusing issues can or should be ascribed to operator error. Hopefully we can also show the same level of enlightenment by acknowledging that others are using their MK IIIs with good results, and doing so in a manner that allows them to still be called photograhers.

I am concerned about the AF problem, not as it pertains to my camera, but for what it might suggest as an underlying problem at Canon. Hopefully there will be a resolution soon. In the meantime I will continue to monitor this thread and throw in my two cents when I see the discussion going in a bad direction.

I wish Canon would give a definitive answer, I wish they would just explain why some have the complaint and some dont. I would feel comfortable with a scientific explanation, then all the wild speculation could end and we could move on. is it software or hardware? are there "good" copies of the camera and "bad" ones out there

belmondo wrote in post #3893180
Worse, I'm sensing that those who do have the problem are of the general belief that those who don't simply aren't shooting in challenging enough situations (read: snapshot shooters).

everything well said Tom but i would like to make one small correction. i don't think that any of us think that the people without a problem are snapshot shooters or don't know how to use the camera. what some of us are saying is that due to the unpredictable and inconsistent nature of the AF problem, it is very possible that even though you don't encounter the problem, it is still there. for example, i know that Pekka shoots tons of concerts and we all know that his work is top notch. however, most of the people with the problems are shooting outdoor sports or outdoor birds where the conditions are quite different. i would never say that Pekka is not a photographer because that would be just plain stupid.

if someone asked me how my camera performs in 99% of shooting situations, i would say that it is not far from perfect. i have done portraits, landscapes and even macro with it and the results have been mind blowing. so i can say that people that shoot such subjects are not likely to encounter the problem at all.

blonde wrote in post #3893227
everything well said Tom but i would like to make one small correction. i don't think that any of us think that the people without a problem are snapshot shooters or don't know how to use the camera. what some of us are saying is that due to the unpredictable and inconsistent nature of the AF problem, it is very possible that even though you don't encounter the problem, it is still there. for example, i know that Pekka shoots tons of concerts and we all know that his work is top notch. however, most of the people with the problems are shooting outdoor sports or outdoor birds where the conditions are quite different. i would never say that Pekka is not a photographer because that would be just plain stupid.

if someone asked me how my camera performs in 99% of shooting situations, i would say that it is not far from perfect. i have done portraits, landscapes and even macro with it and the results have been mind blowing. so i can say that people that shoot such subjects are not likely to encounter the problem at all.

I should have been clearer. Some of the people who have experienced the problem have been dismissive of those who have not. Beyond that, we're thinking alike. Thanks for the reply.

blonde wrote in post #3893227
everything well said Tom but i would like to make one small correction. i don't think that any of us think that the people without a problem are snapshot shooters or don't know how to use the camera. what some of us are saying is that due to the unpredictable and inconsistent nature of the AF problem, it is very possible that even though you don't encounter the problem, it is still there. for example, i know that Pekka shoots tons of concerts and we all know that his work is top notch. however, most of the people with the problems are shooting outdoor sports or outdoor birds where the conditions are quite different. i would never say that Pekka is not a photographer because that would be just plain stupid.

if someone asked me how my camera performs in 99% of shooting situations, i would say that it is not far from perfect. i have done portraits, landscapes and even macro with it and the results have been mind blowing. so i can say that people that shoot such subjects are not likely to encounter the problem at all.

Thanks Snir, this is about what I was going to say.

At first there seemed to be some belief that those of us getting OOF didn't know how to take pictures, seems some are believing the opposite as well that those who are getting great results are not being "demanding" enough.
I'm with Tom in that we need to not characterize or paint any group with the broad brush, but all work together to make sure any problems that exist are identified and resolved. I truly just want my MkIII to work as advertised. That's all.

KAC

mogearnotalent wrote in post #3893210
I wish Canon would give a definitive answer, I wish they would just explain why some have the complaint and some dont. I would feel comfortable with a scientific explanation, then all the wild speculation could end and we could move on. is it software or hardware? are there "good" copies of the camera and "bad" ones out there

Along the lines of what Pekka said above, I really don't think they know yet, but I do think they are working on it. At this point I'd be happen with a simple acknowledgment that there is a problem and that they are working to find a solution. That would calm an immense amount of the noise I think.

KAC

blonde wrote in post #3893227
i don't think that any of us think that the people without a problem are snapshot shooters or don't know how to use the camera. what some of us are saying is that due to the unpredictable and inconsistent nature of the AF problem, it is very possible that even though you don't encounter the problem, it is still there.

exactly. many of us have had some amazing results with the M3. however, many of us have also seen the dark side with the exact same M3. this thread is not about people who don't feel they have a problem, but we still get posts proclaiming their cam to be perfect...and we have all seen some of those same people come back at a later date and say...oops...spoke too soon. of concern should also be the resale value of this thing. if this is never resolved until the "N" version, we're all jacked and will likely get the same on our return. maybe it might be smart to get out now and wait on the next version.

attached is one of the "good" ones. first time this trick has been caught on "film". currently running as an ad, a spread in a catalog, and soon a poster.

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by TINYPIC

that is a nice sequence!!! looks like Dave Mirra does it again

i wish you stuck with the required pixel width size - saves some people having to scroll to the right to read your post!

in the end - i didn't bother finishing reading it. good pic tho. i used to ride bmx too when i was a teen!

blonde wrote in post #3893445
that is a nice sequence!!! looks like Dave Mirra does it again

thanks blonde. yea, dave still has some game...

blonde wrote in post #3893445
that is a nice sequence!!! looks like Dave Mirra does it again

blonde I remember the first time when I read your Sig.. I did a double take, and then realized what you meant by "backup body." LOL i was like WTF??!!!??

deeeez wrote in post #3893950
blonde I remember the first time when I read your Sig.. I did a double take, and then realized what you meant by "backup body." LOL i was like WTF??!!!??

Yeah, you need to change that now.

KAC

soon my friend. i am not changing anything until i have my new bodies in my hand

There is a Canon show in Toronto, perhaps someone is attending with a MKIII AF issue?

Questions could be asked?

http://www.canon.ca/cp​se/