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Canon 1Ds Mark III image misalignment

Canon 1Ds Mark 3 cameraViewfinder Problem fixed under warranty

I've reported the problems that I and quite a few others experienced with early Canon 1ds3 Mk3s

My own camera had a very visible 0.4 degree tilt.

I've a separate page showing how I measured that, and other people's problems with the camera.

At lunchtime, Monday 18th August I dropped off the camera at Canon UK service in Elstree...

Thursday lunchtime, 21st August 08 it's shipped back by UPS, and the camera is back with me.

I actually had a mail at end of business Tuesday, to say that the camera was fixed.

So, Kudos to Canon Service UK for their very prompt and efficient return of my camera!

Well packed, with lots of padding

return shipping from canon Service

The Repair invoice shows that it's a warranty fix

"WARRANTY BASED ON PRODUCT LAUNCH Adjusted finder paralax"

A quick check was in order, so I pointed the camera at a straight edge (ruled focusing screen fitted)

This is the view in the finder.

Viewfinder view

The live view looks fine too (this was obviously tilted before)

liveview of VF tilt

A photo, shows that any error is less than 0.1 degree

fixed results

Given that from previous landscape work I reckon I can spot a horizon tilt of anything over 0.25 degrees in a picture, this is good enough.

This is what it was like

previous tilt

So I'll consider it fixed...

Or I should say that I consider it perfectly acceptable since there is possibly a very slight residual tilt (maybe 0.05 degree) but it's difficult to accurately measure, and to be honest it's well below my personal threshold of 'bother'. Given the delay in fixing it, you can guess that the 0.4 degree tilt was only in the minor irritation category ;-)


I've also written a page with comparisons between my 1Ds and 1Ds3, along with my thoughts and impressions about using the 1Ds Mark 3 -- Main 1Ds3 info page
Also, for the avoidance of doubt - tilt or no tilt, this is the best camera I've ever regularly used!


Oh, just one last thing...

One other item appeared on the repair note.

'Replaced DC-DC converter. Tested all functions'

canon repairs

So, a new PCB inside... presumably some part that's been replaced/redesigned since the camera launch?


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