So frustrated with new 5DmkIII - returning it!

[KHAS]

Thanks jrista this is a good suggestion indeed, just not sure I want to invest the time required for this MA since I tried before and lets say I am note he best at these test.  Point is for a brand new camera, I feel a should return it and get a proper unit that does work ...

The thing is each lens might need a different MFA, so a new body can't be a universal fix if MFA is the issue (although if the body is way off, and if if most everything seemed ok before, then perhaps the new one might at least make most of your lenses seem sort ok to the degree they had on your old camera, myself I fine tune every single lens+body combo, for low DOF shooting, sports, wildlife, I find it to be critical, 400mm f/4 has such thin DOF at certain distances that even a single step adjustment can make a difference).

All my lenses but my 70-200 II have been to Canon so they have all prob been brought to spec and being lucky with my camera also being to spec it all is magic.
It is expensive to send stuff to them but some people do get all their lenses and bodies calibrated for utmost accuracy.
For the best way i have seen calibration done go to this link:
http://arihazeghiphotography.com/MA-web/
Like Live view seeing the image you are focussed on zoomed in you use DPP to calibrate it, pretty sweet if you ask me.

I have bought the lens calibration kit from some dudes store online that makes them and I prefer to not really use it as it didn't work all that well in my opinion.

Has anyone tried this form of calibration yet? I have a 5D mkII, 1D mkIV and a bunch of EF lenses which are in need of MA. Is this the best form of calibration (outside of sending all my gear to Canon)? If so, a quick question regarding the distance to the target. By x20, does this mean that if I'm focusing a 200mm Lens, then the target area should be 4,000mm (400cm/4m)?
Thanks for any advice.

[candyman]

Most likely user error to blame not the camera 
Mario
avangardphoto.com

Yeah, you must be right, after shooting aver 10,000 pictures with my 5DmkII I must have had a brain freeze and forgot how to use a camera all together when I got the mkIII - stupid me!   

Do you think the 61 AF points is something to get used to? I just wonder in case I move up so I know what to expect.

[naterz]

So I have been thinking the EXACT SAME thing as JR...that's it's soft.  I focus locks, I take the picture, and the image is soft.  In camera I'll zoom to 100% and see how soft it is.  It has been driving me nuts.  About 20% of my photos are sharp, but even still, not that incredibly sharp.  I was SURE it was my unit, and I had played around with af fine tuning...but decided to print out the test that was posted here earlier.  I printed it out, did the test and WOW!  That helped TREMENDOUSLY!  My camera/lens was backfocusing.  I had to set it to -15 to get it in the sweet spot.  Now the images are MUCH more tack sharp.  Thank you for posting that link to the Focus Chart.  : )

[JR]

Most likely user error to blame not the camera 
Mario
avangardphoto.com

Yeah, you must be right, after shooting aver 10,000 pictures with my 5DmkII I must have had a brain freeze and forgot how to use a camera all together when I got the mkIII - stupid me!   

Do you think the 61 AF points is something to get used to? I just wonder in case I move up so I know what to expect.

Yes I could certainly get used to the 61 point system!  Seriously while I did my test using the center point first to compare the camera and take a few variable out of the way, there is no denying that this system will be good and am sure my issue will prove trivial eventually or linked to first production unit firmware issue maybe.

Since I am getting the 1DX (no way I am going to Nikon over this!), I will need to get used to it afterall!