[Dave]

Reading this months Pro Photographer Mag (Aug 2007) I was shocked to see the problems encountered in the Canon EOS-1D MKIII Camera review.

Not only was the 1st camera for review sent back due to problems with Autofocus, but the replacement wasn't much better !!! An example set of shots taken with dog running towards the photographer showed 7 out of the 18 shots being out of focus.

Another Pro was sent out on assignment to shoot a historic bi plane, from another plane, came back complaining he wished he took his MKII as he also experienced same problems with AF

Anyone else with a MKIII experienced any problems ??

[Dabhand16]

I think there has been a firmware update for this camera. Check out the news forum.

[P-E]

Part of the firmware update:

'Reduces the tendency to autofocus on the background when using AI Servo AF in certain conditions'.

[VikingPhotography]

Check out Rob Galbraith DPI: An analysis of EOS-1D Mark III autofocus performance to see the long list of woes regarding the 1D Mk III - problems that are not fixed by the latest firmware update.

I feel very sorry for any of the early adopters out there who bought this camera - particularly those that sold perfectly 'usable' older kit to finance their purchase. It seems like they may have bought the proverbial "pig in a poke."

[gsgary]

I know a pro who says the mk1 focus still can't be beaten

[P-E]

Andy Rouse is testing the 1DMKIII and reckons it is awesome so far.

Of the AF he says.........

"A lot has been made of the new autofocus system and how it is now much more customizable. This is great (in principle) as photographers have different needs from an autofocus system depending on their chosen specialty. I will cover the different modes etc in the full review in a week or so but for now take it from me that once you get the hang of the various settings, the autofocus system is GREAT".

[JamPal]

Originally Posted by P-E

Part of the firmware update:

'Reduces the tendency to autofocus on the background when using AI Servo AF in certain conditions'.

My 10D did just that earlier today. My kids were being very funny dancing to the radio, I grabbed the camera but it kept focusing on the bloody sofa behind them

[VikingPhotography]

Quoting from Rob Galbraith:

"When the light is especially bright and the temperature is warm, the camera's autofocus performance drops like a stone. Yes, you read that correctly. On sunny, warm, beautiful days - the sort of conditions in which autofocus usually thrives - the EOS-1D Mark III's ability to make in-focus pictures of still or moving subjects is greatly reduced"

Remember that Andy Rouse's review is posted on warehouseexpress.com and they're not exactly going to have any negative commentary about a product which they stock and sell. There's this little chunk from the review to clue you in

"Sometimes of course it infuriatingly locks onto the background, but I had the impression that once focus lock was achieved it kept it well even when the subject was closing like a bat out of hell (hey that’s a good title for a song!). I have to temper this by saying however that you cannot just expect to get results from the MK3 out of the box as the autofocus will need some customization to get the optimum results."

Locking on to the background when you have a subject filling the AF sensor is a no-no, moreso if you're doing something like shooting birds in flight against clear skies. There's no excuse for it whatsoever.

I do agree that the AF system on the Mk III is quite a complex beast and, much linke Nikon's Multi-CAM 2000 AF module (in the D2X/s and D2Hs cameras) it takes a bit of learning - but, by all reports so far, the Mk III is particularly troublesome in this regard.

[P-E]

Originally Posted by VikingPhotography

Remember that Andy Rouse's review is posted on warehouseexpress.com and they're not exactly going to have any negative commentary about a product which they stock and sell.

Good point VP.

[gsgary]

Originally Posted by JamPal

My 10D did just that earlier today. My kids were being very funny dancing to the radio, I grabbed the camera but it kept focusing on the bloody sofa behind them

Mine is set to center focus only never had a problem