I need a reality check - 40D

1st 40D - Had that weird intermittent shutter lag where you 1/2 press, beep, fully press and the shutter wouldn't actuate for a few seconds.

2nd 40D - Front focuses all of my lenses.

The two copies are 75 units apart. Serial numbers both begin with 0620.

I swear I'm gonna lose it. Someone tell me they can relate...

Bugger.
As for your reality check, here's my view, FWIW.
I think what you are seeing is real. Canon (and quite possibly other manufacturers) are now happy to let defective products carry their name to market. My best guess is that maybe 10% are faulty in some way, so your chances of getting two duds in a row are 1 in 100.
I suspect it comes down to economics: QA/QC targets are set so at the point where it is cheaper to fix the units that are returned than to increase quality of manufacture. That works until they destroy their brand reputation, but, of course, if all manufacturers do the same thing, disgruntled consumers have no real alternative.

Anyway - 3rd time's the charm, eh?

I agree. Eventually Canon will have a good database of failure modes and then they'll address the problem areas during manufacture. They still won't do any meaningful QC, but next year's 40Ds will have a substantially lower failure rate.

Next year's 1D3's too.

-js

xarqi wrote in post #4683812
Bugger.
As for your reality check, here's my view, FWIW.
I think what you are seeing is real. Canon (and quite possibly other manufacturers) are now happy to let defective products carry their name to market. My best guess is that maybe 10% are faulty in some way, so your chances of getting two duds in a row are 1 in 100.
I suspect it comes down to economics: QA/QC targets are set so at the point where it is cheaper to fix the units that are returned than to increase quality of manufacture. That works until they destroy their brand reputation, but, of course, if all manufacturers do the same thing, disgruntled consumers have no real alternative.

Anyway - 3rd time's the charm, eh?

Let's hope so. I'm almost out of excuses to keeps spending time and money on a hobby that frustrates me more than I get to enjoy due to JUNK QC.

The shutter button problem seems quite common. I have problem with my less than 1 year old 30D. The shutter button assembly was replaced by Canon under warranty. My friends has had same problem with his 10D, don't know how much it costed to fix.

On contrary, my old 300D's shutter button was perfect after 2 years of use, approximately 15k clicks. My XT's is so far so good.

If you search the forums, you can find a few more people have this problems.

eel

I had two 40D's, returned them both with front focusing issues, thank God I kept my good old faithful 10D, still going strong and MUCH sharper images straight out of the camera.
The Ser.# on the 40D's started with 2104 and 2106.
The next time I purchase a new camera, will be after it's been on the market for at least a year, I don't need the hassle, and I expect much more from a company like Canon.

Brian

Since I'm going to take a ride over to the store I got these cameras from, I thought I might do some controlled tests to once again quadruple check that there is no user error involved.

What I came down to is the following:

Body #1: This one had the funny "sticky shutter" problem. Not only does it have that problem, but in high speed burst it'll fire off nice and fast for about 10 frames, then get real slow, as if the buffer was full already. A duplicate test on body #2 showed full speed shutter as it should. Definately defective.

Body #2: This one seemed to front focus, sometimes severe. Even worse with flash. My 30 1.4 went to complete crap on this body. After further inspection... the focus points are pretty far off from where they should be. Using a baby's doll for example - Center point focus on one eye, everything in front of the face was in focus. The actual focus point was shifted right and down, so anything shot @ 1.4 was completely EF'd.

Thanks Canon, I appreciate you taking valuble time away from me over nonsense once again...

Fabrian wrote in post #4685213
Since I'm going to take a ride over to the store I got these cameras from, I thought I might do some controlled tests to once again quadruple check that there is no user error involved.

What I came down to is the following:

Body #1: This one had the funny "sticky shutter" problem. Not only does it have that problem, but in high speed burst it'll fire off nice and fast for about 10 frames, then get real slow, as if the buffer was full already. A duplicate test on body #2 showed full speed shutter as it should. Definately defective.

Body #2: This one seemed to front focus, sometimes severe. Even worse with flash. My 30 1.4 went to complete crap on this body. After further inspection... the focus points are pretty far off from where they should be. Using a baby's doll for example - Center point focus on one eye, everything in front of the face was in focus. The actual focus point was shifted right and down, so anything shot @ 1.4 was completely EF'd.

Thanks Canon, I appreciate you taking valuble time away from me over nonsense once again...

Fabrian
Let us know your findings from the store and your own test.

Brian

My wife's 30 year old A1's work like the dau they rolled off the line. It's amazing how quality is dropping. This stuff aint exactly cheap, either.

Does Noink have these problems too?

xarqi wrote in post #4683812
My best guess is that maybe 10% are faulty in some way, so your chances of getting two duds in a row are 1 in 100.
I suspect it comes down to economics: QA/QC targets are set so at the point where it is cheaper to fix the units that are returned than to increase quality of manufacture.

That's true, about the economics, but it most certainly isn't at the 10% range.

People will argue all day long about the focus chart test, etc.

But I went through 4 40Ds that all had focus problems. And I knew it wasn't my lenses since they were all DEAD on with my old XTi. I should have stayed with my XTi, but I'm happy with my now 5th and (knock on wood) good 40D.

This is why I'm looking to buy the 5D and not the 5D Mk II! Better the devil you know....

Fabrian,
Sorry to hear about the bad luck.
Which store did you use on the island? (I lived there for years).

It is possible it isn't Canons fault at all, ex. the camera has been returned and the store resold it etc...

I suggest a ride into the city (Manhattan) and go to B&H, they are the best in NY (for me).

I have had good luck with all my cameras and lenses from B&H.

Good Luck, hope all works out

The_Camera_Poser wrote in post #4695349
My wife's 30 year old A1's work like the dau they rolled off the line. It's amazing how quality is dropping. This stuff aint exactly cheap, either.

Does Noink have these problems too?

I personally haven't heard of Nikon having the focusing issue, it's also interesting to note that Nikon also give a two year warranty, they must have more confidence in their equipment than Canon.

Brian

Brianbar wrote in post #4695740
I personally haven't heard of Nikon having the focusing issue, it's also interesting to note that Nikon also give a two year warranty, they must have more confidence in their equipment than Canon.

Brian

I've always thought the same thing. I think it boils down to arrogance on their part.
"We've got a diverse product line, so take it or leave it."
If it breaks after one year, they know you'll probably pay to get it serviced since a $1k+ lens & $2k+ body aren't exactly disposable items...

In addition, Canon must make a SUBSTANTIAL amount on service after the first year. While I've never dealt with Canon Service personally, from what I've read, you're looking at a minimum of $$150-$175 service charge after the first year for any of their DSLR items.
Seems kinda pointless to send in a Rebel or non-L lens at those prices.