autofocus

New carping about high-end Canon SLR focus

Photographer and consultant Rob Galbraith isn't alone in griping that the autofocus feature in the new $4,500 Canon EOS-1D Mark III is a step down from that of its predecessor, the 1D Mark II N.

Seattle Times sports photographer Rod Mar posted two blog entries last week criticizing the camera. He complained of fuzzy artifacts in his two brand-new models after photographing several games.

"Believe it or not, Canon's new flagship camera...has trouble focusing. And it isn't a rare, isolated problem," he said in the first blog entry. "The camera has trouble … Read more

Canon says new firmware improves 1D Mark III autofocus

Canon will release new firmware for its high-end EOS-1D Mark III digital SLR by the end of the month, including a fix to an autofocus problem, but a prominent camera tester said the update didn't fix the problems he's been having.

The new firmware improves images viewed on the 3-inch LCD by applying a stronger sharpness setting; corrects a "rare" problem in which a selection dial wouldn't respond; fixes Italian and Chinese menu errors; and most prominently, "improves the consistency" of autofocus in some conditions.

Specifically, version 1.0.9 of the firmware &… Read more

Canon to address 1D Mark III autofocus in August

Chuck Westfall, Canon's spokesman and all-knowing camera tech expert, has promised to address questions about how well his employer's new high-end EOS-1D Mark III digital SLR handles autofocus--but you'll have to wait until next month.

In June, photographer and consultant Rob Galbraith raised concerns about the new $4,500 camera's autofocus abilities on his blog, but Canon has remained mum about the issue.

Westfall could provide a response in August, though, in a monthly column he writes for a photojournalism publication, The Digital Journalist.

"I'll have more on EOS-1D Mark III autofocusing in the … Read more

A blight on Canon 1D Mark III's record

So far, most of the reviews of Canon's high-end EOS-1D Mark III digital SLR have been highly favorable, as befits a $4,500 camera from the leader of the pack. But this week, Rob Galbraith, one of the privileged few to get an early look at the camera, issued a scathing review of its autofocus abilities.

In a Tuesday post, Galbraith said that under some circumstances, the 1D Mark III's autofocus can have trouble focusing initially on a subject, doesn't track moving subjects well and can lose focus. The problems cropped up when the weather was warm … Read more

It's not an antique (but looks like one)

With its silver filigree accents, the design of the new Vije Deluxe is vaguely reminiscent of the old Mutoscopes found in penny arcade museums. But instead of sepia-toned Westerns, this little number from will be featuring your very own image--with autofocus, even.

SavitMicro claims that its latest offering, a 2-megapixel Webcam, will ensure that your mug always stays sharp (whether you want it to or not, depending on how rough a night you've had). Akihabara News even included a video clip to show its focus mechanism in action. It looks pretty good, so we'll have to get over … Read more

Webcam follows you around the room

Not everyone needs a Webcam with a 7x zoom lens, especially if you just want to have a conversation. And if you're as video-challenged as we are, you might appreciate the "Talkcam Tracer Webcam" from V-Gear, which has one simple but important featire that separates it from the pack: It keeps you in the picture. In fact, the 1.3-megapixel camera will even follow you around by using its auto-focus sensors, according to Gizmowatch. (The downside: No more PJs while videoconferencing.) In her day, we're certain that JenniCam would have died for one of these.