Canon 1d Mark III

[hughharrop]

Anybody out there had the sub-mirror fix yet for the 1d Mark III and if so, are they noticing any major differences to the AI Servo tracking? I'm happy to say that I have had very few OOF shots in many hundreds of images but I used the microadjustment feature to claibrate all my prime L series lenses right away and spent about a week playing with the custom function settings before giving it a thorough testing. Would be interested to hear how other bird photographers are getting on.

Cheers

[Colin Key]

Hello Hugh,

I bought one of the first Mk IIIs to come into the UK in May last year (serial number 503XXX) and have used it with my 500 f/4 and 100-400 zoom, both with a 1.4TCII. I have shot in almost incandescent sunlight at temperatures up to 43ºC this last summer. I have avidly followed the drama surrounding this camera on Rob Galbraith's site as well as DPReview and FredMiranda and can honestly say that I have not experienced the AF problems (in AI Servo) which some people have. I have had a lot of "duff" shots trying to capture, for example, hirundines in flight, but so what?

News is now filtering through from people who have had the sub-mirror "fix" and it is not looking too good. There seems to be a big problem with Canon service centres stating exactly what has been done; some say that only an adjustment has been made and others say that a part or parts have been replaced.

I will not be sending my camera in for this fix until I know precisely what is being done and also until I hear from a LOT of owners that this fix has had a positive effect.

I did have a bit of a problem with focus lock on static subjects in One Shot mode at times; I use centre AF point with "expansion" (C Fn III 8-2) and sometimes found that AF would hunt from one point to another. That now seems to be cured by loading firmware version 1.1.3

My advice would be: if your camera works then don't fix it, or at least not yet until we have more information.

Regards,

Colin

[hughharrop]

Cheers for that Colin. I have sent the body off merely so it gets the latest sub mirror fix (which there is clearly a problem with); this also allows for a warranty extension. I honestly believe that the problems most people are suffering are down to user error. The 1d Mark III is a complex piece of kit and anybody upgrading from a 20/30/40d will no doubt find the custom functions daunting. I have used series 1 models since their inception and it took me a few weeks to push the Mark III through its limits and get used to the immense "controlability" one has over the camera.

IMHO there is currently nothing out there that can beat the 1d Mark III for its features, incredibly low noise and magical 10fps. The Nikon D3 would perhaps seem to be a close contender but then I'm a Canon man through and through!

[Colin Key]

Hi Hugh,

Are you sure that you will get the warranty extension? My understanding (from reading other forums) is that the 12 month extension is only being given in the US and that owners in the UK (and other parts of Europe) were being given a miserly 2GB CF card as a "consolation" when their cameras were returned.

Has yours gone back to Elstree? I would be very keen to hear a full account of your experience: how long it took, any detail of precisely what was done to your camera (parts replacement and/or adjustment) and does it show any improvement post-fix.

Cheers,

Colin

[hughharrop]

Colin

Yes, as ever, Elstree were superb. Royal Mailed it in (no UPS here in Shetland) and Canon Royal Mailed it back - all done in 4 working days. Sub-mirror and stopper replaced / fixed. Warranty Extension now dated from fix, free 2GB card (not much cop for the size of 1D Mark III RAWs and I shoot with 8GB cards generally - but hey).

I wasn't expecting huge improvements but they are there for sure. Spent all day testing it with 300 f2.8, 400 f4 and 500 f4 and it performed like a dream. My advice - get it fixed as selling it on s/h without the fix will probabaly be a nightmare.

If you do sent it to Elstree, back up your custom functions on to a CF card and put them on your PC (when you format the card the file is wiped). Canon clear all the Cfs as part of the fix. Load them back on the CF card and then upload them back on to your camera. Also don't bother sending the camera with the battery and also take off the rubber eyepiece.

Cheers

HH

[Colin Key]

Thanks for the feedback Hugh, and I am glad that you are seeing an improvement. As you probably know, some owners (mainly or solely in the US I think) are reporting that the "fixed" camera is working worse than before!

My problem now, unless I actually come back to the UK, is the logistics of returning the body to Elstree. Doubt whether Canon will "cough up" for DHL courier service (would be around £120 each way fully insured) and the postal service to and from Portugal is not to be trusted. I am trying to get some information from friends over here (I think you could count the number of Mk III owners in Portugal on one hand) as to what Canon Portugal are doing, but the impression is that they do not even know that the Mk III has been launched! (I kid you not).

Hope that you continue to see an improvement when the weather improves up there and you get some hot (or at least warm) and sunny days.

Regards,

Colin