Guess what, yet more problems with AF. See here :

http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/canon_1D3_1Ds3_updates_2009.html

Weird timing, I took my 1DS 3 and new 24-70 lens in on Monday to get them calibrated as the new lens looked not very sharp (second lens I'd tried), with any luck I'll have a lovely calibrated lens and body back next week :)

When you said took it in, which service centre did you take it to?

I'm finally going to take my mkIII in for the sub mirror and whatever else is on offer!

In the past I have sent kit to Lehmanns in Stoke for repair, but I would be interested in your experience.

Took it to Fixation as had meeting the next day in London and was cheaper to get hotel room and underground ticket than insure and post the body and lens to them. Also made for nice day out.

They will fix it, package it up and send back to me by UPS (postage on way back covered under Warranty).

Only problem with going to Fixation is they have huge range of accesories, bags, lenses etc in the shop and far too tempting to buy stuff there whilst dropping things off.

Went in with a lens and body. Came out with a Lexar Firewire CompactFlash reader. Got off cheaply on this visit :)

Guess what, yet more problems with AF. See here :

http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/canon_1D3_1Ds3_updates_2009.html

Weird timing, I took my 1DS 3 and new 24-70 lens in on Monday to get them calibrated as the new lens looked not very sharp (second lens I'd tried), with any luck I'll have a lovely calibrated lens and body back next week :)

This is very concerning. Use Nikon mainly but was thinking about making the change. Let us know how you get on with this!

This is very concerning. Use Nikon mainly but was thinking about making the change. Let us know how you get on with this!

Some Canon users went over to Nikon due to the initial problems Canon had with these cameras and also the D3 having 25,600 ISO and ability to shoot images in the dark they couldnt do on Canon. For me though I'm best sticking to Canon as have a number of lenses and accessories.

Will be counting down the days until my package comes and I can see how the calibration went, kind of hoping also they have to fiddle with inside of camera when they do this and clean the sensor whilst they're in there :)

Reported on DPreview Canon US service centres have new equipment for calibrating / checking bodies, thus (hopefully) getting the problems finally sorted once and for all.

Got message on my mobile today from Fixation after I asked them about these latest fixes. Apparently I have to book it in through Canon and there will be a bit of a waiting list. Hope it doesnt have to go somewhere else. Will find out when speak with them Monday :(

Fixation said that best thing to do was send me my lens and body back and then send them in to Canon for the modification that sorts latest problem, and ask them to calibrate the lens whilst they're at it. Got lens and body back today - neatest wrapping of any parcel I've ever seen ! Came in big box surrounded by plastic bag, then bubble wrap, then layers of chips, air bags and foam sheet. It was like Xmas opening it !!!

Filled in form online, got to wait for canon to get back to me with date for getting fix done and when to fix it, can't believe it takes a week for them to contact you about it though.

Grissom do you have CPS membership? Interesting to see if it speeds thing up.

Yup, fingers crossed !

UPS collected lens and body Tuesday (took while to get date as I took day off work and stayed at home for them to collect), got email just after 10am yesterday to say they opened the package and logged onto system, email today just after 4pm to say its in transit so should have back tomorrow- fingers crossed my neighbour is in and will collect it. Pretty darned quick really. And I didnt even tell them about being CPS member :)

Grissom have you got your 1D back? If so any noticeable difference in focus performance?

Nope, its at the UPS depot as couldnt deliver, they will retry monday and I can collect that evening if they dont manage to leave with a neighbour :)

Just wish they were open at weekend for collection ! Will be good to have back for thursday - monday when am off work :)

Well I got my body back after just 3 days and my lens came today.

Body had the latest modifications (ripped out the innards, updated the firmware) and my lens has come back with a note saying they've adjusted the tilt and centering. Might be able to get something in focus now :)

Had mine back (1DMKIII) a few weeks now and can't see any difference although I believe my AF was behaving OK.

Hey up, they've discovered yet another problem - this time its too much oil in the camera, getting splattered on the sensor and causing spots:

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=PgComSmModDisplayAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=14999&keycode=2112

:(

O dear :rolleyes:

It does seem that the mkIII is jinxed :(

Mine is in transit at the moment on the way back from Canon.

Not seen the halo looking oil spots on the sensor, only the good old sensor gunk.

I've not seen the halo looking oil spots on my sensor either.

Got the 1D back today, Canon carried out the sub mirror fix, properly calibrated the focus, they also cleaned the sensor, and I suspect they put a new focus screen in as the old one had an immovable bit of gloop on it, which has now gone, although this isn't listed on the parts used. I even tried the focus screen in an ultrasonic cleaner without success.

On a quick trip out before the rain came it looks like it now locks focus at least as well at as a 1D mkIIn, AIServo ring of fire now seems usable, previously only central focus point was anything like reliable. Real test will be once I get to photograph to fast action stuff, hopefully this coming weekend at rallycross.

Overall I am pleased with how Canon appear to have finally got to grips with this problem, even if two years after the release of the 1D mkIII is a long time.