The latest report on 1D Mark III AF issues

Permagrin wrote in post #3434098
Blonde, I really take offense to this. Since I have been a major poster of current MKIII shots, and in view of our conversation on my other thread, I am assuming you are including me in the above statement. I have been a photographer for a long time. I know what a camera is supposed to do. I also realize what my limitations are and the conditions in which I shoot and that all my errors are not the camera's fault. I am not incapable of understanding the problem nor do I lack the understanding of how a camera should behave. I do not feel that I have the same issues with my camera that CDS so obviously showed with his. I'm sorry if you feel that I am ignorantly leading people astray while trying to justify my expenditure. I am not. I really do not care if anyone purchases this camera, or does not. If there is a firmware fix I welcome it and until then I will use my camera with whatever skill that I've got and be quite content.

Lisa, i am sorry if i offended you but that was not my intention. i never meant to claim that people are ignorant or anything like that. what i meant to say is that some people are posting shots of bikes racing or people standing around which clearly has nothing to do with the issue. as for you, i never claimed that you are leading people or anyting like that, i think that you are a great photographer and even a better person. in your case, i honestly and truly think that you didn't even notice the focus issue but do you agree with my comments in your thread? again, i feel really bad right now because i would never want to offend you in any way or to imply that i know better than you (i am just an amatuer at this so i never claim to know better).

i guess i will just shut up from now on

Snir, sorry it took so long to reply I was taking a hot bath (life is always less tense after a bath) when Puddle told me you responded.

First, I apologize for responding so poorly to your comments. I've considered you a friend since the Pub thread, and I should have given you the benefit of the doubt instead of assuming the worst from your words.

As to the "splashdown" shots...yesterday when I was shooting and the camera lost focus on the bird in the foliage, it was much different than the osprey shots I posted. The loss was very evident and it gained it back again after a couple of shots, that was definitely the camera issue (at least to my understanding). I assumed the errors in my posted shots were user error, not being used to shooting with the larger camera, 300 and 2x tc (I thought the softness I saw in 4 & 6 was due to the tc).

Again, my apologies for responding poorly. This is supposed to be an informative thread and it really has no place for that. Pax?

Lisa

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #3427388
1D Very real issue with image banding until newer units and firmware was released.

Was this fully remedied with just a firmware revision on the older affected units?

thanks for understanding Lisa, i really appreciate it. as for your Osprey shots, user error is always possible but i am leaning more toward AF error simply because some of the sequence shots were perfect and some were clearly focused on the background. i am assuming that if it was a user error due to weight of the gear (i had the same problem when i started shoothing the 500), your OOF shots would suffer from motion blur and even the background would be oof.

Some people has complained about focus issues with the Mk III is starting to receive E-Mails from Canon:

"Thank you for contacting Canon product support. We value you as a Canon customer and appreciate the opportunity to assist you.

We are currently investigating the Internet reports regarding focus concerns. If you feel that your EOS-1D Mark III is exhibiting difficulties regarding focus tracking of moving or static subjects as the Rob Galbraith article suggests, we request some information from you to better help us assess the situation. We request that, if possible, you send us a sample sequence of images that display the problem you are experiencing, burned to a CD. Any updates to our investigation will be
published on the Canon USA web site www.usa.canon.com).

Since this concern is still under investigation, we do not suggest sending the camera in for service as little can be done until clarification is received from Canon, Inc. in Japan. "

http://www.fredmiranda​.com/forum/topic/54687​5/18

I hope the letter is real. Its the first we've heard from Canon, which is good. If there's a problem, it's good to know they are looking into it.

JohnC

P.S. Still happy with my 3's performance.

I just got a response on an email I sent to CPS Denmark.

At this time they can not confirm there is anything wrong with the camera.

tommykjensen wrote in post #3435829
I just got a response on an email I sent to CPS Denmark.

At this time they can not confirm there is anything wrong with the camera.

Same from Canon Finland, not a single user has reported about any AF problems.

MDJAK wrote in post #3433696
CDS, what you showed back aways where the camera jumped focus between a stationary bird and the surrounding foliage, mine does that also. So does my 1DsMKII. I believe that's normal. It does it with any lens I use.

me

This does not happen to me with the MkII, not for the last three years of shooting with it. It may happen when the active AF point slips off of the subject, but even then rarely with the MkII as I use AF point expansion almost always on that camera, and it works very well. It biases towards the center AF point and expands from there.

Permagrin wrote in post #3434315
As to the "splashdown" shots...yesterday when I was shooting and the camera lost focus on the bird in the foliage,
Lisa

Where are those photos? I would like to see them.

I do not think they are in this thread since I read every post.

pieq314 wrote in post #3436002
Where are those photos? I would like to see them.

I do not think they are in this thread since I read every post.

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=339217

belmondo wrote in post #3436019
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=339217

Thanks!

bgmoore wrote in post #3433866
... I''m at a complete loss. I kept telling myself that it was my problem and that I just needed to learn the camera but I'm just about convinced that I have a lemon.

I went into this with my usual ego fully inflated thinking that not only was I going to get good results, but I was going to be able to show everyone how to do it and what settings to use.
Frankly after the first day, I was confident that I was going to solve the MkIII Focus issue with experimentation and adjusting all it's mazing settings.

Now, I'm not so sure.

I'm actually having a hard time getting in the time and proper subject matter to do the testing I want/need .. but when I do get in the time, I am not making much headway.

One thing for certain, switching from AI servo priority to active focus point priority was a step forward, other than that I am still lost at sea.

Lastly, other than this specific issue, the MkIII is a wonderful performer, and I am excited by it's potential.
Everyone please remember that what is being discussed here in this thread as well as elsewhere on the internet, is a specific issue with focusing on fast moving small subjects against cluttered backgrounds.

No camera does this perfectly, but the Mk2 did it so much better than the Mk3 that those of use that upgraded are in a quandary.

belmondo wrote in post #3436019
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=339217

IMHO, there are too many variables evident with the Osprey sequence to blame the MkIII in this particular case.
Any lens with a 2X is going to make AF much harder and less predictable,
Center focus point seems to be on the background in many of the images,

If Permy had shot dozens of such sequences and come away with a feeling that the camera was creating problems, then we'd have a different situation.
In this case though, getting a diving Osprey in the frame, let alone under the focus point is very tricky.

(However, this is an area where the Mk2 would shine, by using AF point expansion and it's amazing ability to track the subject and pick it out of the background noise)

Considering the additional challenge of shooting with the 2.0X TC, I think her results were pretty good. Also, it was a Kenko TC, and not the Canon.