Canon Comes Clean To Our Buddies Down Under

*Photo Courtesy Canon AU

From the Canon Australia customer support web page:

Support & Service

AF Mirror Adjustment Issue To owners of the EOS-1D Mark III: We regret to inform that some units of the EOS-1D Mark III digital SLR camera (launched in May 2007) have been found to have an issue with the Auto Focus Mirror. This issue is limited to a specific range of units, and results in unstable focusing and AF tracking performance when using AI servo continuous shooting, particularly in high temperatures. Please check the serial number as indicated below to confirm whether this issue is relevant to your camera. We are preparing to offer a free service from late November to customers with affected cameras who are experiencing the issues described. We will announce additional details on our website as soon as they become available. We offer our most sincere apologies to all who have been inconvenienced by this issue. How to identify affected products: If the serial number on the bottom of the camera is between 501001 and 546561, it could be affected by the “AF mirror adjustment issue”

End excerpt from Canon press release...

According to other sources, Canon will begin replacing affected cameras immediately.


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Canon Responds to Mark III Autofocus Concerns

This will be the worlds shortest Vacation Post!

Head on over to Rob Galbraith's site to read the updated ( now infamous ) article on the Canon EOS 1D Mark III and it's AF problems. With the newly updated firmware ( Ver. 1.1.0 ) installed, the guys at DPI look for improvements / fixes for the problems experienced in their last round of tests. Also, the Engineers at Canon Inc. have responded to and promised an investigation into the problematic autofocus issues experienced by the testing team at Rob Galbraith DPI.

Check it out.

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Canon Issues Press Release on Mark III

Canon USA has issued a press release partially addressing some of the concerns over Auto Focus reliability and other glitches in the new EOS 1Ds Mark III. They will release a firmware update ( Version 1.0.9 ) at the end of July to resolve some of the known problems with Auto Focus, LCD viewing and other minor software issues.

Press Release from Canon USA July 20 2007:

Canon EOS-1D Mark III Firmware Update, Version 1.0.9

In the interests of better customer support, Canon has developed new Version 1.0.9 firmware for the EOS-1D Mark III Digital SLR camera. This firmware update incorporates the following improvements and fixes:

• Improves the look of images when enlarged on the LCD monitor
  Applies a slightly stronger sharpness setting to the LCD monitor when images are enlarged.
  
• Improves the consistency of AI Servo AF under certain conditions
  Reduces the tendency of the camera to autofocus on high-contrast backgrounds when shooting in conditions where AF detection is difficult, such as when the main subject is not completely covered by the AF frames or if the main subject's contrast is low.
  
• Provides countermeasures for Main Dial response errors (Main, Quick Control, Vertical-grip Main)
  Fixes a rare response error in the Main Dials in which they either did not respond when rotated or would change several clicks worth even if only clicked once.
  
• Corrects errors in the Italian and Simplified Chinese menu screens.

Please note that Version 1.0.9 firmware is currently scheduled to be made available for download from the Web at the end of July. It is NOT currently available for download. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. However, Canon U.S.A. Factory Service Centers in Jamesburg, NJ and Irvine, CA can install the updated firmware as of now. EOS-1D Mark III customers who wish to send their cameras into a Canon Factory Service Center for this upgrade are welcome to do so at their own expense. (Customer pays shipping to the Factory Service Center; Canon installs the firmware update and ships the camera back to the customer at no charge.) On the other hand, if the customer prefers, he or she can wait until version 1.0.9 is available for download at no charge from Canon's web site. If a customer sends his or her camera into the service department now, and firmware is upgraded by the service department, the soon-to-be-available download will not add any additional functionality to the camera -- there will be no need to perform a further firmware update when version 1.0.9 is made available for download on Canon's web site.

U.S. residents are kindly directed to contact the Canon Customer Support Center for further assistance at 1-800-828-4040. Support hours are Monday thru Friday - 8:00 AM to 12:00 midnight; and Saturday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM (all times EST). Alternatively, if electronic support is preferred, please send your email to carecenter@cits.canon.com

This information is for residents of the United States of America and Puerto Rico only. If you do not reside in the USA or Puerto Rico, please contact the Canon Customer Support Center in your region.

We appreciate your understanding in this matter. Thank you for your support and patronage of Canon products.

--- End Press Release.

Anyone interested in reading the full story on the Auto Focus problems with the EOS 1Ds Mark III can follow this link to Rob Galbraith's site to read his detailed report on the camera.
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Technology You Haven't Seen!

Could this be the cause of the focus problems with Canon Camera's new EOS 1D Mark III? You be the judge! I know what this is............do you?

What do you think...

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EOS-1D Mark III ...Stud or Dud! ....Update

Rob Galbraith has added an update to the article on the Canon EOS 1D Mark III and its autofocus performance problems. The update to the June 19th post deals with more of the readers questions. The article lists several methods for contacting Canon Technical Support and your local Canon Rep.

Link Below:

An analysis of EOS-1D Mark III ... Update for June 21

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