ABOUT MY DEFECTIVE AND VERY EXPENSIVE CANON BODY
I spent a lot of cash on getting the Canon 1Ds MkIII and appropriate lenses and expected really good results and it was supposed to be a huge step up from the original 5D which I really liked.
Initially when I discovered that the 5D outperformed the professional 1Ds I believed that it was due to a lack of skill on my part but as time passed I began to suspect that something was wrong.
The trip to Kildare was the last straw, I brought the camera back to my dealer and they had Canon check and they claimed that it worked perfectly but when I got it back things only got worse as the camera constantly overheated and Ireland is not noted for hot weather.
Towards the end of 2011 I purchase a Sony NEX-7 as a backup/emergency camera and in reality it out-performed the Canon so I decided to switch to mirrorless and started with the Sony A7R series as soon as they became available I did not get the A7RV as I plan to get either an A9III or the A1 if/when a version II becomes available.
For various reasons, mainly because I believed it to be faulty, I kept the 1Ds body and about a year or so ago I was offered an unused Canon 5DIII at an amazing price and was really impressed by the performance so I decided to check the 1Ds again and discovered that it performs very well in manual mode but gives problems in AF mode so I asked for some advice from a Canon expert and I received the following response.
The Canon 1Ds Mark III, while a professional-grade camera, did have some reported issues with autofocus, particularly in early production models. While there wasn't a widespread recall or official acknowledgement of a major flaw, several users experienced autofocus inconsistencies and issues with overheating, especially when using third-party lenses.
Here's a breakdown of potential factors that could have contributed to your negative experience:
Early Production Issues: Early versions of the 1Ds Mark III were known to have some autofocus calibration inconsistencies. While Canon attempted to address these issues through firmware updates, some users still experienced problems.
Lens Compatibility: The 1Ds Mark III's autofocus system was designed to work optimally with Canon lenses. While it could function with third-party lenses, compatibility issues could arise, leading to autofocus errors or performance degradation.
Overheating: The 1Ds Mark III was known to generate significant heat, particularly during extended use or in warm environments. This could affect the camera's performance, including autofocus accuracy and overall functionality.
Individual Unit Variation: As with any complex electronic device, there could be individual variations in performance even within the same model. Some units might be more prone to issues than others.
User Experience and Skill: While the 1Ds Mark III was a professional camera, it still required a certain level of skill and understanding to operate effectively. Incorrect settings or user error could also contribute to performance issues.
Regarding the manual focus performance, it's possible that the autofocus system's issues were masking the camera's overall image quality potential. In manual mode, the autofocus system is bypassed, allowing the sensor and image processor to perform without interference, resulting in potentially better image quality.
In conclusion, while the Canon 1Ds Mark III was a capable camera, it had some reported issues, particularly with autofocus and overheating. Your experience with the camera, unfortunately, seems to align with these reported problems. It's commendable that you found a solution that worked for you by switching to the Sony system, which ultimately led to a more satisfying photographic experience."
Initially when I discovered that the 5D outperformed the professional 1Ds I believed that it was due to a lack of skill on my part but as time passed I began to suspect that something was wrong.
The trip to Kildare was the last straw, I brought the camera back to my dealer and they had Canon check and they claimed that it worked perfectly but when I got it back things only got worse as the camera constantly overheated and Ireland is not noted for hot weather.
Towards the end of 2011 I purchase a Sony NEX-7 as a backup/emergency camera and in reality it out-performed the Canon so I decided to switch to mirrorless and started with the Sony A7R series as soon as they became available I did not get the A7RV as I plan to get either an A9III or the A1 if/when a version II becomes available.
For various reasons, mainly because I believed it to be faulty, I kept the 1Ds body and about a year or so ago I was offered an unused Canon 5DIII at an amazing price and was really impressed by the performance so I decided to check the 1Ds again and discovered that it performs very well in manual mode but gives problems in AF mode so I asked for some advice from a Canon expert and I received the following response.
The Canon 1Ds Mark III, while a professional-grade camera, did have some reported issues with autofocus, particularly in early production models. While there wasn't a widespread recall or official acknowledgement of a major flaw, several users experienced autofocus inconsistencies and issues with overheating, especially when using third-party lenses.
Here's a breakdown of potential factors that could have contributed to your negative experience:
Early Production Issues: Early versions of the 1Ds Mark III were known to have some autofocus calibration inconsistencies. While Canon attempted to address these issues through firmware updates, some users still experienced problems.
Lens Compatibility: The 1Ds Mark III's autofocus system was designed to work optimally with Canon lenses. While it could function with third-party lenses, compatibility issues could arise, leading to autofocus errors or performance degradation.
Overheating: The 1Ds Mark III was known to generate significant heat, particularly during extended use or in warm environments. This could affect the camera's performance, including autofocus accuracy and overall functionality.
Individual Unit Variation: As with any complex electronic device, there could be individual variations in performance even within the same model. Some units might be more prone to issues than others.
User Experience and Skill: While the 1Ds Mark III was a professional camera, it still required a certain level of skill and understanding to operate effectively. Incorrect settings or user error could also contribute to performance issues.
Regarding the manual focus performance, it's possible that the autofocus system's issues were masking the camera's overall image quality potential. In manual mode, the autofocus system is bypassed, allowing the sensor and image processor to perform without interference, resulting in potentially better image quality.
In conclusion, while the Canon 1Ds Mark III was a capable camera, it had some reported issues, particularly with autofocus and overheating. Your experience with the camera, unfortunately, seems to align with these reported problems. It's commendable that you found a solution that worked for you by switching to the Sony system, which ultimately led to a more satisfying photographic experience."
ABOUT MY DEFECTIVE AND VERY EXPENSIVE CANON BODY