1D mark III very early impressions.

redmonkee

redmonkee

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Hi guys in case some of you aren't aware :thinking: I just received my mark III yesterday:thumbs:, and was quick to compare it to my 7D....after my 5 a side footy session lol.

My first impressions are based on the viewfinder, I am surprised at how much better the viewfinder is on the 7D. It seems so much bigger and brighter on the 7D.

Also the 7D shows the spot metering circle which I find really handy, The mark iii doesn't show this information, is there a way I can turn it on?

And one other thing. When I move my eye slightly to one side when looking through the Mark III (ie if my eye is not dead centre) the viewfinder seems to go dark as if there is vignetting, hard to explain really, but If I do the same on my 7D I still get a bright clear viewfinder.

Is this normal for the 1D mark III?

like I say these are impressions based on about 30 mins play time. Gonna have a more thorough look tonight.
 
You've got to remember the MkIII is a 3 1/2 year old camera now and the 7D is barely 6 months old - it contains a lot of new technology, advertised as Canon's brightest/best viewfinder (better than 5DII?) and includes a lot more information in said viewfinder.

A lot of the tech on the 7D is found in the MkIV and I think it's unfair to compare the two in technology stakes...

DB
 
I understand this, and the thought did go through my head when I was comparing the two.

Is the darkening of the viewfinder normal when I shift my eye slightly to the side. I just want to make sure all is working as it should.

Also any way of displaying the spot metering circle or is it a case of buying a different focussing screen?
 
Piece of piddle...

They supply some tweezers which also act as the tool to unclip the old screen. Whatever you do don't touch the new screen and don't try and clean it...it'll all end in tears!

DB
 
Impspeed said:
Piece of piddle...

They supply some tweezers which also act as the tool to unclip the old screen. Whatever you do don't touch the new screen and don't try and clean it...it'll all end in tears!

DB
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:agree:

I made that mistake with the EF-D screen in my 40D... I went to take it out to blow some dust off it one day and accidentally dragged across the top right hand corner... Now I've got a little scratch in it but because it's not in the middle, it's not something I pay attention to.

Si
 
I think the "darkening" you refer to as you move your eye side to side is related to how far away from the viewfinder your eye is. The cause is due to you seeing the sides of the viewfinder housing.

I just tried it out on my MkIII and, with glasses on and not pressing my eye in very far, I get the same thing. Never noticed it before.

Just shove your eye a bit closer and you'll be fine.
 
Hi again guys can you help me?

I've had another test with the camera and it seems when I turn the manual focus on the lens the viewfinder gets very dark and shrinks in size almost like and aperture opening and closing....does that make sense.

Anyway I'm sure this shouldn't happen, any ideas. Also it seems the camera is over exposing by quite a lot, is all this linked with the focussing screen. Do you think i have a different fitted in the camera?
 
Post an image with the exif
 
I don't wish to deliver eggs to granny for sucking or anything of the sort, I really don't, :lol:but I kinda get the feeling that, as with your original "will it won't it arrive or have I been had" very successful million page thread:lol::lol: you could worry about things at Olympic level.

Did your new camera come with a manual? (If not, you'll find one in downloadable pdf format at a Canon website)

I'm going to suggest that you put the kettle on, spend an hour reading the manual then stick a lens on the camera, stuff in a memory card and a battery and go and play with it. That way I reckon you might just get more sleep and you'll learn more about your camera more quickly. What you've bought is a top flight professional camera and whilst it's old technology compared to the 7D I think that aesthetically it will be a much more rewarding experience for you. You've bought a thoroughbred racehorse capable of winning over the jumps, it isn't going to deliver milk very safely or pull the undertaker's hearse and being ridden by beginners at the village fete will end in tears but it looks good and you know what it's capable of. Am I rambling a bit? Okay:bonk:
 
ha ha very good. Yes I think I do worry a little too much. But I have posted a similar thread on Fredmiranda.com and over there one guy has said to tilt the camera up and see if I see a frosty square of plastic (focussing screen)...the trouble is I don't see one. I'm really beginning to think it has come without one.
 
redmonkee said:
ha ha very good. Yes I think I do worry a little too much. But I have posted a similar thread on Fredmiranda.com and over there one guy has said to tilt the camera up and see if I see a frosty square of plastic (focussing screen)...the trouble is I don't see one. I'm really beginning to think it has come without one.
Click to expand...

Take the lens off the camera. Now look into the camera through the lens opening and upwards. That chamber is called the mirror box and the effective roof is the focusing screen. You should clearly be able to see the screen if it's in place- it's glass and it does indeed have a frosty appearance.

Also - have a look at this video which shows how to check if the screen is there.If you press that little tab as shown, the focusing screen hinges down at 45 degs in a metal frame. Just push it back up till it clicks to replace it. Don't touch the screen with your fingers!
 
00SkVH-115823584.jpg
 
Good idea Gaz. :thumbs: I've just lightened it a bit to show the screen better.

4541490961_3cd78a2772_o.jpg
 
redmonkee said:
Just looked at my body and I don't see the frosted plastic like in that pic.
Click to expand...

Sheesh! Sounds like you need to get onto whoever sold you the camera. It's not the end of the world to fit a new screen assuming nothing else is amiss with the camera, but you've every right to start feeling a bit concerned about what else may be wrong.

If the screen is actually missing it should be unmistakable looking throught the viewfinder anyway, but with the lens removed, if you look through the viewfinder pointing the camera at a reasonably bright light source you should just see a bright opaque screen - a bit like looking at a frosted glass window.
 
Have you contacted the ebay seller, why do you need to go to a camera shop to confirm if its got a focus screen or not? It takes about 20 secs to check yourself. Flip the catch with the corner of a credit card or similar, if the tray is empty then no focus screen. Just keep greasy fingers well clear!

But you should be able to see if its got one by looking up through the lens opening.
 
Look it's clearly not right. Looking at that pic you've posted on Fred Miranda the locking tab which releases the screen seems to be missing and if that's the case, the frame itself which supports the screen could be missing so you'd have to get that sorted before you could get a screen fitted anyway.

I'd be inclined to play safe and not fire the shutter until you've had it looked at, but it's difficult to see how anyone could have sold this camera without being aware oif these issues. Did you get it from a dealer or was it a private sale?
 
get in touch with the ebay seller and see what he says, i completely understand about the peace of mind bit. But your not happy get in touch with him, no joy then start a dispute until your happy.
 
What we really need is a shot similar to the one Gaz has done looking up into the lens opening - then we can tell you for sure.
 
CT said:
What we really need is a shot similar to the one Gaz has done looking up into the lens opening - then we can tell you for sure.
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+1 :thumbs:
 
Surely if there is no focussing screen, with a lens on the camera what does it focus on and surely you could not see anything through the viewfinder !!!
C
 
LOL. It does seem a bit overkill - simultaneous threads running here and on Fred Miranda just to ascertain if the camera has a screen! :shrug:
 
You've got to ask yourself that a Professional camera appears to have been supplied without something as important as a focussing screen what else could potentially be wrong with it...

I would contact the eBay seller, return the item, take your money back and look elsewhere for something that's been a bit more obviously looked after.


DB
 
Impspeed said:
You've got to ask yourself that a Professional camera appears to have been supplied without something as important as a focussing screen what else could potentially be wrong with it...

I would contact the eBay seller, return the item, take your money back and look elsewhere for something that's been a bit more obviously looked after.


DB
Click to expand...

This is what i'm begging to think
 
I dont mean for this to come across as being nasty....but surely if you are in the market to buy a Canon pro series body you must be able to tell right away if the focussing screen is in place or not?
Needless to say if it is missing then regardless of the costs to get it fixed are, unless you got it for an absolute steal, then send it right back to where it came from!
 
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