MK III - Canon holding their hands up...

[Keith Reeder]

Canon UK has now issued an official statement to the trade about the MK III, including a recall:

25th October, 2007

Dear Business Partner,

Re: EOS-1D Mark III – Quality Issue

We would like to make you aware that we have concluded that there is a quality issue with some EOS-1D Mark III units in the market.

The problem can be linked to the adjustment of the AF Sub Mirror, and we believe that this affects only a minority of units in the market at this time.

The phenomenon resulting from this problem (especially in high temperature) is that the optimal focus point is uncertain in AI servo mode, or that the tracking performance of AI Servo is not accurate.

Regarding the products that have been sold to consumers, we are currently preparing a resolution for this issue and will inform you of further detailed information and required steps through our official website at the end of October or the beginning of November. Canon will accept these units for repair, but we will not be offering an exchange or return.

In order to ensure that the customer experience is not damaged, and as a responsible company, Canon has decided to stop the shipment of all EOS-1D Mark III.

We would therefore like to collect all unsold EOS-1D Mark III units from your stock. Please kindly contact Customer Administration on ---------- to arrange a collection and a refund at your purchase price. We will inform you of the date that shipping will recommence as soon as it is confirmed.

As of today we are taking end-user inquiries with the above information through our Technical Help Desk on --------------. If you get an inquiry from an end-user, please advise them to contact this number until such time that the official website announcement has been published.

Canon wishes to ensure a clear and concise message to the market and we ask for your understanding, cooperation and support in this matter.

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience resulting from this matter and please do not hesitate to contact your account manager with any questions that you may have.

Thank you for your continued cooperation and support.

Yours sincerely,

Lee Bonniface
Channel Director, Special Retail

[Claymore]

Typical!!!!!!!!!!! Just when i was going to splash the cash on one LoL (In my dreams) looks like the 350d will have to do for now?
Cheers
Brian

[paul goode]

Interesting Keith. It was obviously only a matter of time before Canon UK made an official announcement. The bit about removing all dealer stock surprises me and seems rather at odds with the statement that only a minority of units are affected.

Anyway I'll wait for the website info and then I'l wait a while longer and see what happens because I've just worked out the statistics with my mkIII.

OOF shots caused by camera 0.1%

OOF shots caused by plonker holding camera 99.9%

;)

I suppose though the camera will need to be returned & fixed or proven and documented by Canon to be working correctly otherwise I guess its second hand value will be zilch.


Paul

Edit, wonder why other forums have left out the bit about returning dealer stock.....

[Keith Reeder]

Actually Paul, Canon clearing the shelves strikes me as being a shrewd move.

That way (and including those cameras returned by owners) they can more or less guarantee a clean-sweep application of the fix, getting everything out to the way in one fell swoop and ensuring that the both the new and used markets aren't hurt on an ongoing basis by "I'd buy that one if I knew it'd been fixed..."

[paul goode]

Actually Paul, Canon clearing the shelves strikes me as being a shrewd move.

That way (and including those cameras returned by owners) they can more or less guarantee a clean-sweep application of the fix, getting everything out to the way in one fell swoop and ensuring that the both the new and used markets aren't hurt on an ongoing basis by "I'd buy that one if I knew it'd been fixed..."

Totally agree Keith , this is the best idea by far, I just sense that Canon are trying to save face slightly. On the one hand say that the problem only affects a small number of units and on the other hand haul the whole lot back ;)

[Keith Reeder]

Yeah, the only way to remove all doubt about which are affected is to fix 'em all...

[JCL]

So why are some companies, e.g. warehouse express, still offering them for sale (indeed, at the attractive reduced price of £2650)?

[Duke Leto]

IMHO and in my experience a vendor would not carry out a complete recall because of the financial impact, they normally would do this when they know that the industry branding would suffer as a result which comes about when the % of units that would fail are too high, I imagine that Canon are not able to estimate the correct % that might fail. if it was a small amount you could guarantee that they would repair under warranty. Looks like Canons Customers are beta trialling there wares.

[paul goode]

The rumour mill (DPreview) seems to smell a rat, or at least a strong wiff of a fake letter. Mind you some of that lot will argue black's white until doomsday!

Completely off thread I just want to say that I'm absolutely gobsmacked how well my mkIII performed in non existent light yesterday :t:

[Keith Reeder]

Even further off topic,

I was out in ISO 1600 light with the 40D yesterday and I under-exposed by up to a stop and still ended up with some eider shots with good feather detail in 'em - with no NR..!

;)

[paul goode]

Even further off topic,

I was out in ISO 1600 light with the 40D yesterday and I under-exposed by up to a stop and still ended up with some eider shots with good feather detail in 'em - with no NR..!

;)

Very nice Keith. 1/400, not a bad day in your neck of the woods then ;)

[Keith Reeder]

;)

It'a really an awful picture, but it does suggest that 1600 ISO is pretty usable as is.

[Harold Stiver]

;)

it does suggest that 1600 ISO is pretty usable as is.

This is the kind of image that is making me want to open the wallet for one. Having even ISO800 usable would be a big plus in the conditions here in Canada a lot of the time.

[Keith Reeder]

Hi Harold,

I'll post up some "proper" 800 ISO and above shots soon, so that you can get a better feel for what's possible.

This might help too: http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=163547

;)

[rentoncharman]

I use a 1d mkIII and took some shots today at high iso, one's a cormorant at iso 800 and the other is a shot of my Grandson, Frankie taken indoors at iso 1600. No special precautions were taken with the lighting, just daylight from a distant window. This camera is brilliant in terms of Noise values at high iso. Hope this is useful.

[Keith Reeder]

Good stuff, Renton.

Harold,

the attached is a pretty typical example of the 40D at 800 - no NR, no special processing: just a simple crop and light sharpen.

[Duck_Pond]

I have GOT to stop reading these threads. :C Must resist buying a 40D until the new year... Must resist buying a 40D until the new year... Must resist buying a 40D until the new year... Must resist buying a 40D until the new year... Must resist buying a 40D until the new year...

[paul goode]

I could have sworn that this thread was about mkIIIs ;)

Its a shame I can't post the shots but the low light i was on about was ISO6400 low!

[Keith Reeder]

I could have sworn that this thread was about mkIIIs

It wasn't about noise performance, that's for sure..!

Completely off thread I just want to say that I'm absolutely gobsmacked how well my mkIII performed in non existent light yesterday

;) ;) ;)

However, it was my thread, so you're forgiven..!

[paul goode]

However, it was my thread

Oops, forgot that bit. ;)

[Harold Stiver]

Harold,

the attached is a pretty typical example of the 40D at 800 - no NR, no special processing: just a simple crop and light sharpen.

Thanks Keith and rentoncharman. Those look excellent for my needs.

My apologies for the detour

[NickRno77]

Interesting Keith. It was obviously only a matter of time before Canon UK made an official announcement. The bit about removing all dealer stock surprises me and seems rather at odds with the statement that only a minority of units are affected.

Anyway I'll wait for the website info and then I'l wait a while longer and see what happens because I've just worked out the statistics with my mkIII.

OOF shots caused by camera 0.1%

OOF shots caused by plonker holding camera 99.9%

;)

I suppose though the camera will need to be returned & fixed or proven and documented by Canon to be working correctly otherwise I guess its second hand value will be zilch.


Paul

Edit, wonder why other forums have left out the bit about returning dealer stock.....
Paul, I agree:t: what you say is exactly how I look at this MKIII AF issue, I will be sending my MKIII in to Canon Service just for piece of mind.

On the subject of high ISO which I don't often do here are a couple @ ISO3200 which I think are pretty good?

BTW the Canon EF 28-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS is for sale;)

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=99212

Cheers

[NickRno77]

Well here's the latest from Aus,
http://www.canon.com.au/support/customer/default.asp?DXI=KnowledgeBase/Customer/KBArticleForm&File=KB01650

I guess this means that near enough all MKIII's could have problem in the s/n range "between 501001 and 546561" so this rules out sub-mirror faults on certain batches?

Cheers

[paul goode]

Well here's the latest from Aus,
http://www.canon.com.au/support/customer/default.asp?DXI=KnowledgeBase/Customer/KBArticleForm&File=KB01650

I guess this means that near enough all MKIII's could have problem in the s/n range "between 501001 and 546561" so this rules out sub-mirror faults on certain batches?

Cheers


I reckon that serial no range covers every single mkIII made up to a very recent date. That was backed up by the chap I spoke to at Lehmanns who said that they had been told to replace/adjust the sub mirror assembly on every mkIII coming in for repair when they have the equipment, which they don't yet, and won't for a few weeks by the sound of things. Elstree may be geared up sooner by the sound of things.

It'll still be interesting to see how Canon handle this. Logistically it must be a big task for the repair centres at 3 hours per body repair time.

Paul

[paul goode]

Now on Canon Europe website https://self-service.canon-europe.com/uk/pages/?c=SRVS/CGI-BIN/WEBCGI.EXE/,/?New,KB=%7b45005F30-B77F-4206-9179-7809AF3D01EA%7d,Company=%7b5D57C876-253A-4B01-B12F-134801A1F92F%7d,Case=obj(72525),TemplateSet=Canon_ SServe_Cust,Question=ref(SEK):::CSCBNSSBNJ,Questio n=ref(UT):::EU1,varset_lang=en,varset_country=UK,V ARSET_URLLOC=self-service.canon-europe.com/uk/pages/ss_Layout.cgi,VARSET_ExitWin=Exit&LANG=en