| Re: Canon 1D MKIII Autofocus- Progressive Review
Noel, I agree with your post of 6/27 that it is most likely a manufacturing problem. However, the design of any mechanical or electrical system can introduce "temperature-sensitive problems," so a design problem is still possible. There is one other possible cause of the focusing issue: Operator error.
In this case, one of the possibilities is that the operation of the AI Servo mode is different than it was in the Mk II cameras (e.g., perhaps the initial autofocus point requires more precise placement on the subject, or needs to be on the target longer before the first shot. There could be a million...well, at least six... other possibilities.)
As I see it, this would still be a problem for Canon to fix, as how can you intentionally design a camera to be so finicky (is that a word??) that even experienced professionals can't get consistent results.
Canon really isn't doing its reputation a favor by staying quite on this issue. Even if they don't know what the problem is, they should at least say they have had correspondence from customers indicating a concern about the autofocusing issue and they have assigned a tech (better yet, and engineer, better yet, 6 techs and 4 engineers...) to analyze the comments and expect a report back on July xx and will give the customers an update then. To expect customers to buy a camera when there is a perception that it is flawed is odd. The fact that people are still buying every Mk III that Canon can make is even more bizzare. I will buy a Mk III (actually, two of them) the day Canon says "We have the resolution." However, my faith that they will have actually fixed the problem is a little shaken. I now fear that their company policy may be to sell product and fix any problems later. That kind of policy is what causes company's to go from world-class to "low-class".
Good PR never hurts a company's long-term reputation.
Jim | 
Linear Mode
