Canon pulling the EOS-1D Mark III from shelves?

It looks like Canon is pulling all EOS-1D Mark III units from shelves in response to the autofocus issue plaguing their professional DSLR. In what appears to be a legitimate letter sent to dealers on October 25th, Canon states that they have "decided to stop shipment of all EOS-1D Mark III. We would therefore like to collect all unsold EOS-1D Mark III units from your stock." A shipping recommencement date is promised at a later time. That's a bold move by Canon since the issue only affects some of the units sold so far. Still, with a customer-focused action like that Canon, you've got our loyalties nailed.

[Thanks, Anand]

[RyanTV @ Oct 30th 2007 8:45AM]

Personally, I would say that they would have had their loyalties nailed if they hadn't released a fatally flawed pro level DSLR in the first place. Not a good way to keep the fanboys alive.

[Temple @ Oct 30th 2007 10:20AM]

Don't know why your getting lowly ranked; but the product was pulled from shelves because it was faulty and recalled. Also, the AF issue was known since its release in May, it shouldn't have taken almost till 5-6 months for them to fix the issue. Especially for a $4,500 camera.

[Billy Fiul @ Oct 30th 2007 10:48AM]

Canon FTW!!!!!!!!!! Yeah boy!!!!!!!!!!!!

They got that customer service on lock, ya heard me?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[purezerg @ Oct 31st 2007 2:08PM]

actually this isnt the only thing.
heard from a friend that canon is now doing this.
AF recalibration of pro lenses:USD$200
AF recalibration of consumer lenses: USD$100
AF recalibration of bodies: USD$200
charges apply regardless of warranty

[nathan.wong @ Oct 30th 2007 8:45AM]

Nikon should get on the ball and take advantage of this as soon as they can and get their D3 out on the shelves.

[Sprint Guy @ Oct 30th 2007 8:56AM]

#1. This is why I only buy CANON why even consider any other brand.

#2. SONY Nikon Olympus Kodak start taking notes now.

#3. My next DSLR will be a Canon (S3IS) is good for now.

#4. I've used Canon Customer Service and Tech support before and can its the BEST I've ever used in the electronics industry across many products

crazy Japanese your excellence and quality make our heads explode

[Sahil Malik @ Oct 30th 2007 9:24AM]

The S3IS is not a DSLR

[Actaeon @ Oct 30th 2007 9:25AM]

S3IS is not a DSLR, just a megazoom.

Canon should not have released this flawed camera to begin with.

[Toons @ Oct 30th 2007 9:28AM]

Game Set Match Sahil Malik

[Actaeon @ Oct 30th 2007 9:29AM]

The S3IS is not a DSLR, just a megazoom.

Canon should have not released this flawed body to begin with.

Canon also fails to fix known formatting issues with 16GB cards in their high end bodies (Canon 5D, 1Ds).

[getz76 @ Oct 30th 2007 10:18AM]

@ SpurntGuy,

http://www.justfuckinggoogleit.com/search.pl?query=dslr+definition

Stop posing.

[Ninja Platypus @ Oct 30th 2007 11:00AM]

I'm pretty sure he was implying he currently owned an S3IS, and it was good enough for now. He will upgrade to a dslr.

[fernforest @ Oct 30th 2007 7:32PM]

I have only owned one Canon SLR in my life, and it SUCKED. Aside from that one Cannon, I have only owned Nikons, both film and digital SLRs.

As for customer service; I have NEVER had one (1) problem with any Nikon I have ever owned, so I guess I can’t say if Nikon has good customer service, because I have never had to use it in over 20 years.

[strider_mt2k @ Oct 30th 2007 9:40AM]

As if companies are always aware of flaws.

It's clear that is doesn't affect ALL of the units, so making claims that they released a known defective product is the sheerest jackassery.

If you have one, take it back.
If you don't have one then why are you crying?

[strider_mt2k @ Oct 30th 2007 9:46AM]

I am the first one to admit a correction.


Why wouldn't they accept exchanges or returns?

Why ruin what appears to be responsible behavior by freezing out early adopters??
That does VERY LITTLE to ensure loyalty, doesn't it?

Stupid, Canon. Pretty stupid.

[TRLK @ Oct 30th 2007 9:41AM]

loyalties nailed.... in my a**
did you miss the part that they are refusing refunds or even an exchange?
this is what they have to do for selling a faulty product, it's not an act of nobility

[strider_mt2k @ Oct 30th 2007 9:47AM]

Your comment made me go back and re-read that letter. Thank you.

That's kinda slimy considering how much scratch early adopters lay down on this stuff.

[primetime4 @ Oct 30th 2007 9:44AM]

This letter should have the Xbox 360 logo all over it.

[nathan.wong @ Oct 30th 2007 9:58AM]

I'm not quite sure why people think the company is bad because they're not replacing or exchanging a faulty camera. If you read the letter it says that they'll fix the problem. That sounds like a pretty good solution.

[getz76 @ Oct 30th 2007 10:14AM]

The folks buying this are likely pros that make a living with their cameras. For very large amount of scratch they shell out for this thing, Canon should exchange them for known good units and refurbish the return.

But Canon does not have to treat their customers as such. They have customer loyalty by default; Canon users are trapped by the fact they have thousands or tens of thousands vested in glass. Nikon and Canon both make fantastic cameras, but I will likely always be a Nikon user because I have a bunch of Nikon lenses. Starting over is not a viable financial option for me.

[Mike @ Oct 30th 2007 10:13AM]

Did i miss something, or is Canon the new Apple of Engadget's eye?

[getz76 @ Oct 30th 2007 10:20AM]

Nah, they also gave plenty of love to the new Nikon D3 and D300 and the Pentax Super Duper model.

[The Donger @ Oct 30th 2007 10:42AM]

Now only if they would address the G9 LCD issues that us mortals can afford:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1010&thread=25225937

[laurie @ Oct 30th 2007 10:43AM]

Blimey it seems the Canon astroturfers are out in force today!

"#1. This is why I only buy CANON why even consider any other brand.

#2. SONY Nikon Olympus Kodak start taking notes now.

#3. My next DSLR will be a Canon (S3IS) is good for now.

#4. I've used Canon Customer Service and Tech support before and can its the BEST I've ever used in the electronics industry across many products"

Ummm okay, can I have some of what you're smoking please? Have you ever tried Olympus, Sony, Nikon or Kodak customer services? The S3 is not a DSLR...

"It's clear that is doesn't affect ALL of the units, so making claims that they released a known defective product is the sheerest jackassery."

Not it's not you idiot, this has been a problem bouncing around the forums since the camera came out months ago. It's very well known and Canon would have found the problem shortly after it was first reported if not sooner. Jackassory yourself!

"If you have one, take it back."

And wait a month for it to be fixed. Most users of this quite expensive camera are professionals who may not be able to do without their primary camera for a month. Canon should replace these and then fix the broken ones and sell them on at a marked down price.

This was Canon's mistake, no one else. They should be the ones inconvenienced, not their customers.

The attitide of some of the fanboys on this site is frankly /staggering/.

[Richard Lai @ Oct 30th 2007 11:28AM]

Hmm... I didn't know that the Canon EOS-1D Mark IIII is already out. I mean, the Mark III has only just come out.

[PhotoHead @ Oct 30th 2007 12:17PM]

I wish they would do the same on the EOS350D (RebelXT) as well. My wifes has been playing up with the auto-focus since she bought it and it is not a fault with the lenses (have tried numerous lenses from my EOS-5D and vice versa and all the lenses work fine on the 5D but fail to auto focus at certain ranges on the 350D). I have sent the body to the repair centre 3 times now and each time they state that "no fault found". I have spoken to others that own 350D's as well and they have had intermittant AF problems with theirs as well (although they did not realise it and thought it was them).

[franco @ Oct 30th 2007 1:46PM]

I can't agree with Thomas' opinion. As a Canonian, I have to express my disappointment. Japanese companies earns fame from their rigourous quality control. I can't imagine Toyota recalls all its Lexus and why Canon for Mark III?

[Mehul @ Oct 30th 2007 3:46PM]

I had an 5MP Olympus once which did not accept 512 XD card. Olympus does not even put up the firmware update online. I had to ship it and pay $40 to update the firmware.

On the other hand, I now have a Canon 5D which had a little dust on the sensor and a 430EX flash which I dropped and broke. Both of them are out of warranty and both of them are fixed for FREE. This is customer service.

And why should they offer replacement or exchanges when they are ready to repair the cameras. You dont get a new car when there is a recall, so why a new Camera? After all, this camera costs about half the price of a car anyway!

[dissidently @ Oct 30th 2007 6:47PM]

when did engadget become so enamoured with canon that they couldn't be critical about a recall and obvious admission of fault? if this had been ANY other brand they'd have linched them for knowing the fault and trialling the product on end users...

[Rob @ Nov 4th 2007 3:04PM]

It seems that most of the commenter's her haven't the first fucking clue about this topic. Maybe before commenting you should read this primer http://robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-8740-9068-9141

Then understand what this camera is for and how Canon continually steps up to back their pro products, even long after warranty is gone. It took Canon some time to figure out which component was causing the error - it wasn't like smoke coming out it and you could point to the component and say "aha!”. Also the defective component doesn't exist in every body so a general recall is unnecessary. Some units were manufactured with it some not. Canon is saying if you have focus issues please send it and you will have it back in a few days with the new sub-mirror component. The logistics of this process are far smoother than trying to return complete cameras for exchanges. Having the camera repaired in this manor doesn’t make your Mark III any less new. If you buy a new car and the headlights don’t work when its 95.3 degrees outside and only when it’s 95.3 degrees… You don’t take in for service and get a new one – the defective lights are replaced and your warranty continues.

The commenter above citing the lens calibration costs… this has nothing to do with the Mark III. That service has existing for a very long time. Electromechanical devices need optimization from time to time. The Mark III actually allows the user to perform field micro calibration but the factory service is way more precise.

I actually make money with my cameras so it's important to that they work continuously. I recently had a shutter failure on one of my Mark II’s – about a two year old body. I sent to Canon prepared for a $700 bill (out of warranty) and it was sent back with a very nice letter apologizing for the failure and $0 invoice. I would say Canon continues to earn my business. I’m a fanboy because Canon continues to set a high bar for performance and stand behind their products

Oh and the document above… that’s not even from Canon USA.