So is the MKIII safe now?

I have tried and returned three MKIII's for AF issues and gave up on them completely in February. My MKIIn works better.

However, gymnastics / basketball season is here and having a usable ISO 3200+ would be nice....but I am still pretty put-off by my earlier experiences....

Has anyone experienced the crummy AF issues lately with newer MKIII's...and what serial numbers are the latest versions now? These things working now?

Not trying to start a war here folks....just looking for some honest experiences with late model examples.

Thanks,

Randy

My 563xxx serial is excellent. But I'm not a professional sports shooter, so I am probably not putting neither the camera nor it's AF through their paces. Shooting a lot with fast primes though, and the AF is superb.

Well, they don't focus, track, they over heat and burn lenses to bits, but a lot of us has one, and love them,

Only one way to find out, and that is to buy one

I bought mine a couple of months ago. 560*** with no issues the box came with the blue and green dots on the box.

nazdravanul wrote in post #6666156
My 563xxx serial is excellent. But I'm not a professional sports shooter, so I am probably not putting neither the camera nor it's AF through their paces. Shooting a lot with fast primes though, and the AF is superb.

OK...thanks. When did you get yours?

MaDProFF wrote in post #6666292
Well, they don't focus, track, they over heat and burn lenses to bits, but a lot of us has one, and love them,

Only one way to find out, and that is to buy one

Ha! That's funny. I, unfortunately, have owned three....buying another and returning it would not be ideal.

Michael_Lambert wrote in post #6666298
I bought mine a couple of months ago. 560*** with no issues the box came with the blue and green dots on the box.

OK, thanks......

ive had mine for ages and its working perfectly

GBRandy wrote in post #6666080
I have tried and returned three MKIII's for AF issues and gave up on them completely in February. My MKIIn works better.

However, gymnastics / basketball season is here and having a usable ISO 3200+ would be nice....but I am still pretty put-off by my earlier experiences....

Has anyone experienced the crummy AF issues lately with newer MKIII's...and what serial numbers are the latest versions now? These things working now?

Not trying to start a war here folks....just looking for some honest experiences with late model examples.

Thanks,

Randy

Hi Randy,

Like you I gave up after three MK3's, but I am afrai I have taken a different tack and gone to the dark side - has cost me a fair bit but I could not hack the inconsidtent af any longer. I could not be happier now.

Co incedentally speaking to my dealer last week he informed me that two of his customers had returned late model mark 3's for focus issues - make what you will of that, but the dealer said the MK 3 still has problems, others on here will tell a different story and say theirs is wonderful.

I think the only way is to buy and try with strict understanding with your dealer that you can return if not happy.

Sorry I can not be more helpful than that. Hope you get a good one if you do go for it.

all the best

Mark

sprite wrote in post #6666718
Hi Randy,

Like you I gave up after three MK3's, but I am afrai I have taken a different tack and gone to the dark side - has cost me a fair bit but I could not hack the inconsidtent af any longer. I could not be happier now.

Co incedentally speaking to my dealer last week he informed me that two of his customers had returned late model mark 3's for focus issues - make what you will of that, but the dealer said the MK 3 still has problems, others on here will tell a different story and say theirs is wonderful.

I think the only way is to buy and try with strict understanding with your dealer that you can return if not happy.

Sorry I can not be more helpful than that. Hope you get a good one if you do go for it.

all the best

Mark

These comments make me laugh.... My dealer said........ He would not have said that I bet if you bought canon...

It would have been "Oh those Nikon's"

BACK TO THE SUBJECT.....

I was an early adopter and am on my 3rd, Dec 07 model which is working great... really good for Birds in Flight and the high ISO performance is fantastic.
I have 2 friends who both bought May/June this year and neither have had problems.. OK one is a Wedding shooter but the other does pro football and loves it....
You have been bitten 3 times so I can see the caution... I personally would go for it, but ultimately it is your choice whether you want to give it another go...

Pete W wrote in post #6666801
These comments make me laugh.... My dealer said........ He would not have said that I bet if you bought canon...

It would have been "Oh those Nikon's"

BACK TO THE SUBJECT.....

I was an early adopter and am on my 3rd, Dec 07 model which is working great... really good for Birds in Flight and the high ISO performance is fantastic.
I have 2 friends who both bought May/June this year and neither have had problems.. OK one is a Wedding shooter but the other does pro football and loves it....
You have been bitten 3 times so I can see the caution... I personally would go for it, but ultimately it is your choice whether you want to give it another go...

Pete,

I can see the reason for your comment, and I would normally agree - I certainly do not believe everything a dealer says to me - far from it. I was just relating background information. If you notice - I did say straight after "Make of that what you will"

Back on topic - I think the only way is to buy and try as I said in previous post. Many on here have good working copies of the MK3 that apparentlyu work fine including Servo focus, but I still think caution is advised.

Mark

Have a 569xxx bought in June from B&H, no problems.

I have a serial #57XXXX bought from B&H in late May. It seems good to me. Compared to my 1DmkII (not N) I think the AI servo mode is about as good. In fact I sometimes think it is better and sometimes think it is not as good. All in all I really like the body, but I'm sure you already know the strong points from your past 3 bodies (wow that's persistance) . I do not use the body extensively for birds in flight it is used for about everything else. The AI servo mode for field sports and motor sports has been more than acceptable with a good keeper rate. The keeper rate from fieldhouse and arena work has been good, I think my body is better than the 1DmkII in lower light settings. Hope this helps and good luck.

See the following link for some test results:

http://forums.dpreview​.com …rum=1032&messag​e=29824474

Mark001 wrote in post #6668593
See the following link for some test results:

http://forums.dpreview​.com …rum=1032&messag​e=29824474

I, like many others, would like to see pictures and data along with those results. All fine and dandy, but if it's a subject that does not play well with center focus point only and a joe journalist, then both the 1d and d3 are at a marked disadvantage to normal use by a professional. I regularly use my 1dmkiii with RoF, and i have to say it far outdoes anything that the mkii could do. friend that also has a mkiii agrees with that.

Most of the remaining "problems" are actually people just complaining about a camera that is not the same beast. 1dmkii and 1dmkiin were very similar, but the 1dmkiii is completely different, especially in focus method. Just like you wouldn't use a rebel like you would use a 1ds, you shouldn't use a mkiii like a mkii.

Considering your awful history with the MKIII i think Canon should give you one for free just because your even thinking about going that route again .

I know you see less complaints nowadays but i also think the issue have "cooled" down a bit online. While i know there are many that are very happy with theirs as there are many just accepting it's limitations and live with it. The rest have just switched.

If i were in your clothes i would seriously considering giving a Nikon rep a call and listen to what they can do for you. Considering your long history with them surely that must have come to your mind and i was surprised you didn't switch after the last one you sent back.

The D3 have stunning ISO performance, fast and reliable AF so i honestly think it's the best choice for you right now.

If not just sit back and wait for the MKIV and pray that they have gone back to square 1 regarding the the AF.

A local agency acquired three MKIII within the last two months. Sadly their shooters are now back with their old MKIIn again...........

Bollan wrote in post #6668930
Considering your awful history with the MKIII i think Canon should give you one for free just because your even thinking about going that route again .

I know you see less complaints nowadays but i also think the issue have "cooled" down a bit online. While i know there are many that are very happy with theirs as there are many just accepting it's limitations and live with it. The rest have just switched.

If i were in your clothes i would seriously considering giving a Nikon rep a call and listen to what they can do for you. Considering your long history with them surely that must have come to your mind and i was surprised you didn't switch after the last one you sent back.

The D3 have stunning ISO performance, fast and reliable AF so i honestly think it's the best choice for you right now.

If not just sit back and wait for the MKIV and pray that they have gone back to square 1 regarding the the AF.

Your points are quite accurate and well taken. If Nikon had an AF-s series of primes (aka the 85 f1.4 & 135 f2) I would be back home by now. But they don't. The race is on. New Nikkor's or an MKIV I can believe in.

In the interim....do I chance it yet again on an MKIII? I still don't know. I just hate sending $4000 bodies back to a dealer and telling them they don't work....they look at me funny