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"The Best Camera for Action Photography" on by chasrob9945
Pros: Great Image Quality (even at high ISO), 10 FPS shooting, Extensive Custom Function Menus
Cons: Pretty complex for the less experienced
Summary: Afer reading some of the negative reviews on this site, I'm wondering how many people have really used this camera extensively and really understand the auto-focus complexities. I have owned this camera since July 2007, and have made over 6000 images with it since then, including over 3000 in warm weather in Kenya in August, and well over 1000 recently in cold weather in Bosque del Apache in New Mexico. The performance has been superb, all in all, considering the high demands I placed on it for photographing high speed chases (Cheetahs) and high speed flight (birds flyng directly toward the camera for landing at close range). Canon released a service advisory for an auto focus problem due to a sub-mirror assembly problem in some (but not all) Mark III's, and my serial number was among those listed as probably having the problem. I was too busy to send it in for repair until after I returned from Bosque, but I was very pleased with all the great images I brought back from Africa as well as Bosque. I recently purchased a Canon 40D as well, and flight shots at Bosque with both cameras showed a higher percentage of perfect focus with the Mark III than with the 40D. By the way, I finally sent the Mark III off for repair two weeks ago on a Friday, and had it back in my hands the following Friday, with an extended warranty of a year from the repair date (on the whole camera, not just the repair).
There are custom functions that affect auto-focus performance on this camera that simply do not exist on other cameras, including the 40D, so that adds to complexity and the possiblity that the camera may not be set up optimally for the kind of shooting you are doing. However, once you have it set up properly, I believe you will be struck by some of the awesome images you can make. I know a number of professional photographers who are shooting with this camera almost exclusively, and I'll always choose it over the 40D for the most difficult shooting situations.
By the way, I have a leopard image from Kenya made after sunset at ISO 3200, 1/60 second, that is virtually noiseless. My 40D at the same shooting conditions in Bosque couldn't come close, with a fair amount of shadow noise present. -
"If it can't focus it's no use" on by Ger Bee
Pros: Image quality and dynamic range
Cons: Focus my G5 focusses better
Summary: This has been a bitter disappointment for me, having left Nikon 6 years ago I’ve been thrilled with the Canon products, particularly the 1D series, it showed how a camera should work, Nikon had nothing like it until the D3.
Coming from a long line of 1D, 1D firmware update, 2x 1D MKII and those firmware updates a to 2x MKIIn I was not going to be so easily impressed but was looking forward to the better low light AF, bringing it on par with Nikon for the first time EVER and the increasing the sensitivity to ƒ2.8 again matching Nikon and increasing low light sensitive to -1 to where Nikon had been all along, this along with the improved servo AF was finally a machine that truly had everything.
But if it can’t focus, it’s sadly not worth the ink on the box. Canon are recalling the camera from the dealers, but I as someone who paid top dollar will have to send it in, at my own expense, I can’t even return it to my dealer, I’m so mad -
"Canon’s $4,500 doorstop (a premier sports camera with a broken autofocus)" on by technophile00
Pros: Amazing picture quality when the focus works
Cons: Autofocus is a mess and canon does not appear to be taking the issue seriously
Summary: Given the demonstrated issues with the 1D Mark III’s autofocus, CNET should seriously reconsider its Editors Choice Award and its 9.3 Spectacular rating. Such a rating is not merited for a camera that fails to accomplish its primary task competently (a sports camera that can’t focus in broad daylight?). Additionally, more and more people are moving up from compact digital cameras to digital SLR’s. Given that technology from the 1 series will trickle down to the lower end Canon SLR’s expected to be announced in near future, it is incumbent upon a review site such as CNET to put the camera through its paces to see if it lives up the manufacturer’s promises. If the autofocus issue continues to occur in the expected 40D and 5D II, many CNET users will be ripped off by Canon. To see a review by someone with the guts to call it like it is see the review by Rob Galbraith. http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-8740-9006
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"This camera's a dud" on by jcypark
Pros: Great at room temperature or cooler
Cons: Has trouble focusing in warm weather.
Summary: Probably Canon's biggest blunder the past decade. Great Pro camera with a design flaw that misfocuses in warm weather - not good for a sports camera. On the up side you should be able to find one cheap on the used market if you live in cool climate. CNET should revise their rating.
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"Does not auto-focus properly" on by paldiel
Pros: If it cant focus then their are no pros
Cons: Unrepairable auto focus,
Summary: Firmware after firmware the autofocus does not work acurately. Ask any Canon professional photographer and they will tell you to stay away from this model. Wake up Cnet, what an embarrassment. The highest rated product of 2007 and it does not focus properly. Cnet lacks integrity, reliability, and knowledge. I dont know why I bother with Cnet.
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