Canon’s DSLR division in trouble
In the picture above you can see a car belonging to a Korean photographer, with banners attached containing a message about Canon’s EOS 1D Mark III camera. The text on those banners translates to: “Camera that is a piece of trash – Canon EOS 1D Mark 3.” Apparently, the problems with this camera drove the photographer so insane, he printed these banners and put them on his car to let the world know about it. Full picture and article can be found here. I can’t help but think that this guy spent his savings on this camera only to find out what a bad investment it turned out to be. Even the $8000 EOS 1Ds Mark III camera suffers from the same issues the 1D Mark III has. Imagine spending $8000 on that camera, and finding out you can’t use it for serious work.
And yet, this is the situation many photographers around the world have found themselves in, thanks to Canon. If you are new to this, I have written about all the quality control issues at Canon a few times already, just start looking here. Not only Canon camera bodies have problems, but even their lenses often contain issues right out of the box.
So after the release of the Nikon D3 and more recently D700, it’s no surprise that photographers everywhere seem to be switching to these camera’s. And it shows at major events. It showed at the Tour de France, and right now at the Olympics:
Photographer Michael Reichmann has made similar comments here:
In addition to being a fun perspective on a group of pros at work it’s also a sign of the times to note the number of Nikons (black) vs. the number of Canons (white) in the shot. For the past 10 years or so at almost any major sporting event the number of white lenses would almost always outnumber the number of black lenses by a huge margin. So much so that Canon has run magazine ads showing this disparity.
But that was then, and this is 2008. At this year’s Olympics the number of Nikons in use by pros seems to equal if not surpass the number of Canons. A definite sign of the times.
Photographer John Harrington comments on this here:
This year’s Olympics should well be the turning point where the sidelines of sporting events are – to pay homage to AC/DC – Back in Black. Nikon’s flagship D3 – even with a smaller chip than it’s competition the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III (and even it’s predecessor the 1Ds Mark II) has painted the sidelines at the Olympics (and so too, the news event press pens in DC) more and more black. (Click the photo to see it larger). This is substantially due to Nikon’s high ISO – insane at 25,600 ISO, and amazingly useful at 3200 and 6400 ISO without having to even think about it much. To add to this huge lead, consider Canon’s faltering with the autofocus mis-steps as highlighted by Rob Galbraith (repeatedly).
In a few days, I’m headed overseas on assignment for two weeks, and I’ll be working in mostly low-light museums and other national treasures in several countries. Even though I own an EOS 1Ds Mark III, and Mark II, instead, I am choosing to take my D3, and a D700 as well. It really was a no-brainer given the multiple times I won’t be allowed to use flash – but still am required by my client to make images during the trip. My Canons will sit in the equipment cabinet back in the office.
And as Harrington notes, Rob Galbraight recently released his final comments on the EOS 1D/Ds Mark III camera’s, and it doesn’t look good for Canon. Galbraith even mentions the EOS 40D:
While we haven’t written about the 40D’s autofocus performance before, we have done assignments with it and included the camera in various tests, starting at about the time it shipped in September 2007. Since then we’ve shot with four bodies, two focus-calibrated and two that came directly from the store shelf. Using focus-calibrated lenses with these bodies, the result has been the same: the 40D has real difficulties accurately picking up the focus on a moving subject and then tracking it from there.
…
A midrange digital SLR with a midrange price tag probably can’t be expected to offer the same autofocus performance as the company’s best. Even taking that into account, though, the 40D doesn’t fare well. It’s not that it can’t do the job at the level of a more expensive camera, it’s that it can’t do the job really at all.
And I have to agree, since I have experienced these issues first hand myself. For example, Galbraight wrote about the 1D Mark III:
Just enough testing was done to reveal a few things. Whereas the older firmware can introduce a change in focus distance with each One Shot activation, even if the AF point is aimed at the same subject at the same distance each time, the newer firmware seems to give more repeatable and accurate focus results under the same conditions. But if the test is done slightly differently – setting the focus to some other distance, then focusing one time on the subject using One Shot, autofocus variability seems about the same as before: there’s too much.
This same problem also exists with 40D cameras and it is very annoying because it’s unpredictable, and using it on assignments can give you (slightly) out of focus images where you don’t expect it.
Meanwhile, Canon remains quiet about all these issues that users are experiencing. Many people continue to invest large sums of money everyday in Canon DSLR bodies and lenses, only to find out they don’t work correctly out of the box.
Resale value of these items is also dropping fast right now, as Nikon has much better alternatives. I’m surprised a new defective 1D Mark III body still costs around $4000, when you can get a much better Nikon D700 with grip for about $3200. Canon must be smoking something very strong to think informed photographers are going to continue to buy the 1D Mark III at that price. But I think this reveals Canon’s strategy. And that’s a strategy of keeping quiet about the issues and not giving these problems a lot of publicity so they can continue to sell this crap to uninformed people as much as possible.
It remains to be seen what Canon will come up with later this year. They have been known to intentionally cripple products for “marketing” reasons (just look at the 40D and 5D). With Nikon now on the market with a D700 that can do almost everything the high end D3 can do, it seems Canon will have no choice but to release something at least as powerful. And if they can’t or won’t, they’re going to be in deep shit. Moreover, even if they do manage to release something better spec wise, if they can’t somehow improve the terrible quality control they currently have, they’ll continue to lose marketshare to Nikon. Because it doesn’t matter if you are the resolution leader with a 1Ds Mark III, when it can’t focus properly out of the box.
This entry was posted
on Friday, August 15th, 2008 at 10:51 am by Karel Donk
and is filed under 
August 17th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
You kidding me?
The Mk.III did come out with problems, but because of upgrades they’ve been resolved, the same procedure happens with all software and hardware, nothing is released perfect you idiot. If you want to negativly critisize Canon you should do the same for Nikon because they are just as problematic.
August 17th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
They’ve been resolved? You haven’t read Galbraith’s report then. As for Nikon, I have no experience with Nikon…yet. Even if Nikon was just as bad, this does not mean all this crap from Canon is normal and should be accepted.
August 17th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
You got to be kidding me about your opinions. LOL Suck bias and ignorant information coming from this site. Get your facts straight before claiming anything. Galbraith is not the “GOD” of Canon user. He just simply puts the MARK III too high above his MARK IIn. Sheesh
IGNORANT AUTHOR!!!!!
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=554278
August 18th, 2008 at 6:52 am
I must agree a lot. Canon are not doing their job. However, 5D is their best product so far. 40D is however with their worst ever.
Let’s talk about 40D. It’s images are overally very soft. Then I mean very soft. It’s like it lack great deal of sharpness.
But the most defected thing about this camera is the fact it has a very stupid IQ and marketing issue. They do advertize it as a consumer camera. The settings on the main knob has a lot of fully automatic settings, but in every one of them, the AF-mode is 9-point mode. Mode which select focus closest to the camera with most contrast.
So when at least 50% af Canon 40D users take pictures, the focus is not on the subject, it’s somewhere else where the camera choose to have it.
If this isn’t stupid when produce a camera for consumer, what is?
August 18th, 2008 at 6:56 am
I was literally lied to by the Canon rep, I mailed my camera off for warranty work and sensor cleaning (To California), it came back totally not fixed and just thrown in a box , even the bubble wrap I sent them wasnt used. The camera still had time on the waranty and they wanted money to repair it. I am seriously thinking about switching my contacts to Nikon. Canon has a great product and don’t care about it’s customer service. I contacted Canon and they sent me an e-mail saying that they would contact me, three weeks later still no return call.
August 18th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Good, Canon can finally go die now
August 18th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Wow, dude, I think you might have just risen the art of fanboy to a new level? You actually drug the 5D into this?
It’s your blog, so you roll how you will.
These are the facts. Nikon has introduced some really nice products of late. Their attack on the upper end of the market this year has been definitive and has yielded fantastic results. But it was a long time coming, wasn’t it? In the meantime, Canon has released two killer entry level DSLRs, for which Nikon has no answer, save their spiff programs at the retail level.
So, at Photokina, Canon will answer with some new high end stuff, bearing in mind that the highest of the high end dslr, the 1Ds Mark III, has yet to be challenged. In turn, Nikon will bring the D90, and maybe announce the new D3 upgrade. And all this will start again.
I shoot Canon. My stuff is every bit as sharp as anyone’s out there. Guarantee it. And I’m not switching.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:36 am
I shoot Canon as well, but it’s not ging to stop me from talking about all the issues with them. They need to improve.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:59 am
Canon need to improve themselves, the rumors say they will release new Bodies this month.
Just wait and see…
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:02 am
Every camera brand has its flaws. I’m not a canon nor nikon user. A lot of my friends use Canon and Nikon and when they compare each others work, they don’t see any difference at all. Canon claims to be no. 1 and so in Nikon. Both have to improve in their products and most importantly they shoud improve on aftersales services.
Regardless of the camera I’m using, I love photography and that’s the bottomline.
…… but then again, if your company is promoting a flagship product then it must be really good. So far Canon has failed in this area
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I was once a Canon user, but after many problems with both lenses i had either front or back focussing & being sent of to be calibrated only to come back much worst & 2 40D body later due one with the mirror falling out & the other Er99 for no reason, I decided to sell up and move not to Nikon but Olympus with the simpler E-520 & wonderful Zuiko 12-60mm SWD.
Im now actually enjoying Photography again and not worrying if the lens i buy is gonna give me focussing issuses, or if the body going to fall on me as both the body & lenses i currently own from Olympus have been spot on.
September 20th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
I’ll have to admit the reviews are a little, ok very bias against Canon. It’s just Nikon’s time to shine, we’ve spent 25 years behind Canon trying to catch up. We finally caught up and surpassed them.
Lets face it, Nikon has been in trouble for a very long time, especially when the Canon 5D came out. I’m just glad we finally have our own 12 Megapixel Full Frame camera.
Lets see what Canon does next year, I hope Nikon keeps challenging them so both sides have good products.
I don’t think I’ll be using this site to read up on anything new about Canon though haha. The bias is too uncontrolled and slightly makes Mr. Donk look insecure. If Mr. Donk is a Nikon user like me, then I would suggest that there is no need for such animosity. You might own both Nikon and Canon but you’re also very transparent in which direction you lean. Making your reviews hard to read.
September 20th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
I don’t think I am biased against Canon. A low of things that I mention are also being said by others. In addition, I am a Canon shooter. However, like I said before, the fact that I use Canon hardware is only going to make me more critical when I discover issues, especially when I notice that they’re not doing anything about it and are not improving. I’m not going to remain quiet when I see the issues because I use and own their gear. Only fanboys do that.
November 7th, 2008 at 5:00 am
I’m a Olympus user and didn’t realize how much I was spoiled on snappy/extremely fast and accurate AF until someday I tried a Canon40d.
slow moving subject and me stand still and one of a couple shots there’s a out of focus picture. totally unexpected.
turning back to my E3 + Zuiko 12-60 SWD, I now know how lucky i am. On other specs and functionalities Nikon/Canon got higher ends products but just for AF, canon disappointed me.
May 25th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Canon fanboys use certain tactics when the integrity of their equipment or their deity (Canon) is put into question. I have compiled a list of the most common apologetics and accusations:
- you don’t know how to use your equipment.
- error 99′s are a normal feature.
- Nikon have errors as well, so it’s normal for Canon to have them.
- there is nothing wrong with the auto focusing system, it’s your fault.
- quality control costs money (as mentioned previously).
- it’s normal to recalibrate your lenses, even from a “L” range lens.
- lens hood are additional accessory and should be sold separately.
as we can see, circular reasoning and lying is a trait of the Canon fanboys and of Canon executive.
what I find most insulting is that a once great leader in photography will sell faulty DSLR cameras in exchange for your hard earned cash. Canon are seriously taking you for a bunch of fools, wake up people, there are alternatives.
April 7th, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Being a Canon user makes me feel cheated. The autofocus is terrible, owning a $3000 camera and having so many shots out of focus is unacceptable. Shooting landscapes is most of the time fine (even there AF hunts at times) but anything moving and easy to lose over 75% of your shots. Slow frame rate and many out of focus shots, bad news. I have tried every AF combination and get the same results. I have some great photos but have lost too many. I hate to switch but selling my Canon gear and moving to Nikon. I would love to stay with Canon but AF issues are too much, and they don’t seem wanting to fix it anytime soon.