Mk3 and AF - what if it couldn't be fixed with a firmware update?

If the focus problem is hardware related I do not expect it to get fixed. I believe focus issues will be compensated through firmware the best it can. I expect the 1D mark III to be short lived and the 1D mark III N be introduced to correct the hardware issues along with other minor enhancements. I do not know very many companies who are willing to undergo massive recalls unless governed by legislation. Otherwise production for the 1D mark III should have come to a complete stop.

Priaptor said:

This is herd mentality.

The relationships are as follows:

No RG post + New Firmware = Great camera the firmware seems to fix my
problems AND no more AF problem/return posts

RG Posts that new Firmware does NOT fix AF = exponential rise in AF
problem posts + sorry to have to return posts.

Now on the heals of 6 different cameras being reviewed by RG, G-d
knows how many times, the posts are even getting more ridiculous,
this thread being a perfect example:

taking it out of context but you get the idea:
"I bought this camera that everyone is returning/posting all these AF
issues and RG who has validated these findings over and over again
and even though mine works great (vast majority of hummingbird shots
in focus-you know how fast their wings are for G-d's sake?), do you
think I should return mine" Well why buy it in the first place. The
logic is absurd and this is nothing more than the herd mentality.

I must be the crazy one here but I don't get it. I am sorry if I
don't need RG or Pope Paul to validate my purchase.

Click to expand...

--People are so pathetic sometimes. The most advanced camera ever, and it's like the cavemen discovering fire.
It keep me warm... it burned my arm off... it can't be made to work....

-nothing beats a fast lense, except a fast girl-

Posts from people who purchased the camera knowing full well the problems being reported PRIOR TO THEIR PURCHASE, not only being happy with the camera, but claiming to have "the vast majority" of shots of HUMMINGBIRDS being in focus wondering whether or not to return the camera is SURELY RIDICULOUS.

What do you people think this is, Hertz Rent a Camera???

I still don't understand this nonsense. This is actually beyond ridiculous. How does this person's question make any sense except by some tortuous logic?

But Rich, that was always a question, even before this person purchased their MKIII. Unfortunately for the originator of this thread, he/she likes what she bought.

I am not sure any us know when a piece of equipment breaks whether or not it will or can be fixed properly or to spec.

My point is that if this were of real concern to the originator of this thread, they never should have bought the camera to begin with as the benefit of the doubt you are giving him/her cannot be answered.

To return a camera that works that he/she is happy with, because of issues raised by reviewers/posters prior to his/her purchase is an abuse to the reseller-pure and simple.

Compubob said:

If the focus problem is hardware related I do not expect it to get
fixed. I believe focus issues will be compensated through firmware
the best it can. I expect the 1D mark III to be short lived and the
1D mark III N be introduced to correct the hardware issues along with
other minor enhancements. I do not know very many companies who are
willing to undergo massive recalls unless governed by legislation.
Otherwise production for the 1D mark III should have come to a
complete stop.

Click to expand...

Reminds me of Autocad13. The first real 3D version and it was a major breakthrough but also the buggiest version ever. We users could not give up the features, but we went through several patches, some which required running a batch program on all our files. Then came AC14, and all was well again.

--
http://www.pbase.com/roserus/root

Ben

ReneH said:

I have this camera and I have another week or so to decide whether to
send it back and hang on to my 1DM2N or keep it. I used it for the
first time yesterday and took over 400 shots of hummingbirds in
flight mostly using AI Servo. The vast majority of shots were in
focus...but it still concerns me that there may be issues that I
haven't uncovered yet. I plan on testing the camera with different
lenses under different conditions to see if encounter the AF issues.

Question...if Canon did finally fess up that there were AF issues but
they couldn't be fixed by a firmware update, do you think they'd do a
recall of some sort? I have to believe that Canon would stand behind
their customers and do whatever it takes to make them happy, even if
it entailed a very expensive fix - and even more so for a pro body.

--
My galleries:
http://www.focusingonnature.com

Click to expand...

Unless the issue mentioned by RG can be recreated on ALL MkIII bodies, we can't really say MkIII has a faulty design and ALL MkIIIs require a fundamental hardware fix.

ReneH said:

Joe, thanks for the info and great ideas! My only concern is that my
friend wouldn't stop and would run over me in a jealous rage...have
to make sure I don't pick a camera friend. I was actually thinking
about sitting in my car in a parking lot by a busy road and taking
pics of cars as they drive by...I'm thinking that should do the trick
too - I just have to make sure I don't come off looking like a cop
with a radar gun.

Click to expand...

The only reason I suggested a friend, possibly driving your car, is "the" car becomes a repeatable piece of test equipment. You could even tape a nice home made resolution test target on the front bumper to REALLY evaluate the quality of focus. Just a personal note here, don't choose a friend that owes you a lot of money (just to be on the safe side).

Regards,

Joe Kurkjian, Pbase Supporter

http://www.pbase.com/jkurkjia/original



SEARCHING FOR A BETTER SELF PORTRAIT

why go through the hastles?
Return it and wait.

The only major AF problems we seem to be hearing about (and hearing about) lately, are with the MK IIIs belonging to non-MK III owners ;o)

--
My galleries:
http://www.focusingonnature.com

I don't understand why you are getting so worked up about this. The plan was to put the camera through its paces and see how it did...if I encountered the focus issues it would go back and if I didn't I would keep it. I still don't feel like I've done all the testing I need to but so far the camera has exceeded my expectations. How is that like Hertz Rent a Camera? Do you buy something and keep it if it doesn't work? I do have some lingering concerns about what happens if I encounter issues after the return period has expired and that's really what this post was all about...to get opinions on how well Canon would stand behind this product even if it turned out to be an expensive hardware fix.

Priaptor said:

Posts from people who purchased the camera knowing full well the
problems being reported PRIOR TO THEIR PURCHASE, not only being happy
with the camera, but claiming to have "the vast majority" of shots of
HUMMINGBIRDS being in focus wondering whether or not to return the
camera is SURELY RIDICULOUS.

What do you people think this is, Hertz Rent a Camera???

I still don't understand this nonsense. This is actually beyond
ridiculous. How does this person's question make any sense except by
some tortuous logic?

Click to expand...

--
My galleries:
http://www.focusingonnature.com

Priaptor said:

But here is an example of hysteria, where the buyer (who was aware)
purchased the camera, admits that the "vast majority" of hummingbird
pictures are in focus and wants to know if she/he should return it.
WHY?? Herd mentality. Have you ever been to a Buffalo Jump? I
think that explains the mentality in many of these posts. Everyone,
even those who are happy are being led by RG to the Buffalo Jump.

Click to expand...

Never underestimate the power of superstition or the abuse it generates. Look around the world...

Priaptor said:

Posts from people who purchased the camera knowing full well the
problems being reported PRIOR TO THEIR PURCHASE, not only being happy
with the camera, but claiming to have "the vast majority" of shots of
HUMMINGBIRDS being in focus wondering whether or not to return the
camera is SURELY RIDICULOUS.

Click to expand...

if the camera is working with no apparent faults?...i dont see much problem here either. that is what all MKIII owners want...right...a working camera! i have to admit that the OP does appear to be considering "returning his winnings" as you say. i initially thought the OP wasnt overally happy with the AF but having read more it appears that he is. with that in mind i would take the "winnings" and consider myself ahead of the game.

i would say if the OP is unsure of something rearing its ugly head in the future then he needs to do some more extensive testing to put his mind at ease. a very easy thing to do.

Priaptor said:

What do you people think this is, Hertz Rent a Camera???

Click to expand...

that is a funny way of putting it but for 4500...YES! ANTHING that doesnt work should be able to be returned.

Priaptor said:

I still don't understand this nonsense. This is actually beyond
ridiculous. How does this person's question make any sense except by
some tortuous logic?

Click to expand...

priaptor, you seem to be on a mission that is also hard to understand. your "herd" analogy mentally really seems to get you riled.

you have stated on another post that you are sick of these kinds of thread and we should have more positive photos and less negative (roughly paraphrasing here) but...you seem to always be the "loudest" voice in regard to these kind of threads. you say you are sick of it but you are always have the "highest" quantity of posts in favor of the MKIII. i have to ask why are you so sensitive about this? it seems that you are taking other peoples live very personal.

there is another poster with the name starting with the letter "D" that is as obsessed almost as much as you are. i dont really understand your reasoning and passion with your hyper excited posts.

im not trying to be a jerk here but i dont understand the reasoning for your preoccupation. if i had a good working MKIII i wouldnt be hanging around here much, id just be using it.

since you are extremely happy with your MKIII i am taking you at your word that it is fully fuctioning. this is a good thing to me since it gives me hope that it is possible to own a good working MKIII.

david
http://www.davidprobst.com

Because thousands of Rolex owners would suddenly be worried about some obscure error that occurs after sitting in a submarine for 3 weeks using helium based atmosphere, and what was once a status symbol would suddenly just be a watch...

All I can say is ISO800 is my new ISO400 and gives me more keepers than I ever had with the 1DmkIIN

MK3 AI servo set to fast 500/4+ 1.4x ISO1250



MK3 AI servo set to fast 500/4+ 1.4x ISO1250



MK3 iso400





ISO800



--
http://www.pbase.com/kingfisher/

megapixeldave said:

...
in an optimistic frame of mind i would agree with you. what i am
concerned with though...does canon "know" what to fix at this point?
...

Click to expand...

Probably not yet (or maybe/hopefully they do and they are testing the fix), but yes you're right, I assumed there will be a fix, otherwise it makes little sense to send the camera in.

• Anders @ http://www.aobild.com *

--
My galleries:
http://www.focusingonnature.com

Just consider the source. DILLIGAF.

Priaptor said:

Your post just demonstrates the lack of any intelligence. Your
grammar is horrific so you are either uneducated or drinking a little
of that purple D3 stuff yourself.

I always appreciate hearing the lower half.

Click to expand...

Class action lawsuit comes to mind.

Compubob said:

I do not know very many companies who are
willing to undergo massive recalls unless governed by legislation.
Otherwise production for the 1D mark III should have come to a
complete stop.

Click to expand...

If you got a camera that works, why return it? Otherwise you never should have bought it. Quite frankly, if I had a D3 that operated the way you have described it, I'd be ecstatic.

ReneH said:

I don't understand why you are getting so worked up about this. The
plan was to put the camera through its paces and see how it did...if
I encountered the focus issues it would go back and if I didn't I
would keep it. I still don't feel like I've done all the testing I
need to but so far the camera has exceeded my expectations. How is
that like Hertz Rent a Camera? Do you buy something and keep it if
it doesn't work? I do have some lingering concerns about what
happens if I encounter issues after the return period has expired and
that's really what this post was all about...to get opinions on how
well Canon would stand behind this product even if it turned out to
be an expensive hardware fix.

Click to expand...

Dave,

You are now asking for me to inject my political and fiscal perspective into this which I will gladly do.

I will cut to the chase. This OP is hypocrisy at its best. While I can't fully speak on behalf of the OP, I have read just too many posts blasting the inappropriateness of Canon for being duplicitous/money hungry, etc. Because there are store policies that say you can return defective equipment in a certain period of time, do you really think it appropriate to go, take the camera for a spin and return it for no good reason so that some poor schnook who doesn't know better can then buy a repacked camera? Then we see the posts from the buyer who gets a repack spewing venom at the reseller and rightfully so-so there is plenty of duplicity and hypocrisy to be shared by all. The OP can rationalize it all he/she wants but it is not right.

I am not saying that buying a camera should be gambling, I am not saying that you don't have the right to return a malfunctioning piece of equipment. I think those waiting till the dust settles before they purchase are prudent and doing the right thing. Those of us who own it and enjoy it, great and quite frankly, I rather share those experiences. But I have no patience for the poor me innocent posts or the post saying hey I got an MKIII and it works great but I am returning it just in case-individuals too need to accept some responsibility for their actions/purchases and this OP is totally inappropriate IMO. Are they breaking any law or rule-of course not-are they bending them-of course they are.

While I debate those who buy it knowingly even after having read all the issues/problems/bad reviews from RG, I still understand their point (although don't necessarily agree with why they purchased it in the first place), when they return it for finding what they believe is a problem (however in most cases words and not examples). This OP, bought the thing knowing all the issues, states the thing works properly (for G-ds sake admits to shooting over 400 shots of hummingbirds with the "vast majority in focus") and still wants to return it! Come on. This is not right, is hypocritical and feeding into unfounded hysteria. But it is OK, because we are just little people who shouldn't be held accountable-only the big money hungry evil corporations should.

Enough said.