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Canon has released firmware updates for both the 1DMkIII and the 1DsMkIII.

For the Canon 1DMkIII, firmware version 1.2.3 is available, giving you:

• Improved stability of AF accuracy in AI servo AF when shooting extremely low-contrast subjects.
• Direct selection of AF points by the Multi-controller is added to C.Fn III-9.
• Alternate access to Exposure compensation is added to C.Fn IV-3.
• With the camera’s External Speedlite control menu, Flash function settings can be used to set the Wireless setting and Zoom.

For the 1Ds, firmware update 1.1.2 gives you the same things, minus the Speedlite settings.

Download, flash that firmware, and enjoy!

Rob Galbraith posted an interesting look at the “fixed” auto focus in the Canon 1D Mark III. This includes the sub-mirror fix that Canon offered, as well as firmware 1.1.3, which offers AF adjustments as well.

He reports that the sub-mirror fix is a big improvement, and the autofocus performance is no longer degraded in warm temperatures. Firmware 1.1.3 improves autofocus in all conditions, including better performance in bright light, and a better “feel” to the AF.

However, it’s not all rainbows and unicorns in 1DMkIII auto focus land:

But in our view, there’s more work to be done. In bright conditions, the EOS-1D Mark III still doesn’t match the EOS-1D Mark II N; at times the two are close, and at other times the EOS-1D Mark III’s autofocus performance is below what we consider acceptable. The EOS-1D Mark III can autofocus much better outdoors on a warm, sunny day now than it could at the time of its introduction, though this is a reflection of how much room for improvement there was. There are also specific situations — mostly involving shooting indoors or in dimmer outdoor conditions — where its AI Servo autofocus is actually superior to the EOS-1D Mark II N.

Looking at all of what we’ve shot with the two camera models in recent weeks, however, the EOS-1D Mark II N is the one that has delivered the most in-focus frames. The culprit that continues to cramp the EOS-1D Mark III’s autofocus style is bright sunlight.

Be sure to check out the full article, it’s incredibly in-depth and chock full of information. Rob flew out to Phoenix a number of times to work with Canon directly on this issue, and has a huge amount of technical and test information to pore over.

And, much like when they first mentioned this problem, they now have a ton of full resolution high-speed photo sequences (29 different ones) for insane depths of Canon 1D Mark III autofocus research. It’s a total of 1.4 GB of full resolution auto focus test sequences for your downloading and viewing enjoyment.

Seriously, go to Rob’s site for all the details. There are a lot of them.

Nikon and Canon have both released firmware updates for some of their new DSLRs (for Nikon, it’s for cameras that haven’t even been officially released yet, although a few stores seem to have started shipping them early).

Canon 1D Mark III

Canon has released firmware version 1.1.3 for the EOS-1D Mark III digital SLR. This update increases the transfer speed when using high speed SD cards, a “rare” case of the shutter not working if you got some bad timing just right, and improved autofocus tracking of low-contrast subjects.

Don’t forget that the AF improvements for bright environments were added in firmware 1.1.1. Canon just keeps seeming to find more AF issues to fix in the 1DMkIII. I don’t know if that means it had a lot of problem to begin with, or it just has picky customers who expect a lot, and who are alert for auto focus issues with the camera ever since they were first discovered a few months ago.

Nikon D3 and D300

The new firmware for the brand new Nikon D300 and equally brand new (and top-of-the line) Nikon D3 adds three optional Picture Controls, one for each of the three Nikon D2X/D2XS Color mode settings. Nikon says:

When these optional Picture Controls are registered with the D3, color reproduction simulating that of images captured with the D2X and D2XS is possible, and custom Picture Controls can also be created based on these optional Picture Controls. For black-and-white images, use the standard Monochrome Nikon Picture Control.

D2XMODE1
This optional Picture Control simulates color reproduction at a D2X/D2XS Color mode setting of I.
Skin tones and gradations are reproduced naturally with rich reproduction of tones.

D2XMODE2
This optional Picture Control simulates color reproduction at a D2X/D2XS Color mode setting of II.
This optional Picture Control is suited to images that will be extensively processed or retouched.

D2XMODE3
This optional Picture Control simulates color reproduction at a D2X/D2XS Color mode setting of III.
Choose for nature or landscape shots. Greens and blues are vividly reproduced.

“Look, D2X and D2XS owners!” Nikon says. “Easy upgrade path because of matching picture control modes! No reason not to buy a D3 now! Buy a D3 now!” Actually, buy two and send me one. That was me talking, not Nikon, but I’m sure Nikon supports that message.

After the leaked letter to stores asking them to ship back unopened 1DMkIII boxes for auto focus tweaking, Canon now has an official page up on their European support site with some more details on the problem:

Phenomenon:
The focus or AF tracking is inconsistent when using the Artificial Intelligent (AI) servo continuous shooting mode under high temperatures in particular.

Cause:
In the digital SLR camera, EOS-1D Mark III that was launched in May this year, Canon has found that some cameras have an adjustment problem with the mirror for AF. The adjustment problem means for the affected products that the focus is not stable or that the Auto Focus tracking is not right when using the AI servo continuous shooting under high temperatures in particular.

Affected products:
The products that could have this problem can be identified as explained below. If the serial number on the bottom of the camera is between 501001 and 546561, it could contain one of the AF mirrors with the adjustment problem.

They go on to state that the cameras will be repaired for free, with details to follow. They’ll start repairing customers’ cameras around the end of November.

If anyone out there who owns a 1D Mark III is so unhappy with the AI Servo AF that they just want to chuck the camera in the trash and buy a 1Ds Mark III instead, I’d be glad to take your unloved 1DMkIII off of your hands. Really, I don’t mind at all.