*UPDATED* 5D Mark III Issue with EF 200 f/2L IS Official Canon Response

[bchernicoff]

So, I tested my lens again and what I was hearing had nothing to do with the focus limiter setting. I am hearing the image stabilizer when it's active, but the sounds is being conducted through the body. I never noticed it on the Mk II, so I slapped it on my EOS film body and I can hear it there too. It sounds like an old floppy-disk drive when it was seeking. I'm wonder if the Mk III body conducts sound differently or if I just missed it on the Mk II though I find that kind of hard to believe.

Anyway, none of this is affecting performance in any way.

[Fleetie]

Yep. Me too, on the first day I got my 5D3, with my formerly-near-silent 70-200 f/2.8 L IS II.

I was VERY scared. It really sounded like the lens' IS system was toast.

It seems ok now, and it hasn't recurred - so far.

[vcp]

Thanks for taking the time to test all the lenses you had on hand. It really sucks to have to wait and see how Canon is going to remedy this oversight. Hopefully it is taken care of promptly!

[Jamesy]

I experienced this today in AI Servo mode with my 70-200 f4L IS.

Yikes - I have this lens and the 5D3 - I will try it later when I get home. I have tried a couple of shots with it but not in AI Servo mode.

[Daniel Flather]

I'll have to try servo mode when I get home, it was fine the other day on one shot, but I never use servo. 

[DavidRiesenberg]

No problem with the 100L. That's the only IS lens I got.

[vcp]

  http://www.the-digital-picture.com/News/News-Post.aspx?News=2170

[altenae]

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/News/

[Jamesy]

I experienced this today in AI Servo mode with my 70-200 f4L IS.

Yikes - I have this lens and the 5D3 - I will try it later when I get home. I have tried a couple of shots with it but not in AI Servo mode.

I just tried this and it seems normal to me. My copy of the 70-200 F4/IS is far from silent anyway. I tried it on both my 40D and the 5D3 with identical results. In both cases AF was on AI Servo and I tried Mode 1 and 2, as well as 1.2m and 3m focus lengths.

[Hugo Fisher]

So, I tested my lens again and what I was hearing had nothing to do with the focus limiter setting. I am hearing the image stabilizer when it's active, but the sounds is being conducted through the body. I never noticed it on the Mk II, so I slapped it on my EOS film body and I can hear it there too. It sounds like an old floppy-disk drive when it was seeking. I'm wonder if the Mk III body conducts sound differently or if I just missed it on the Mk II though I find that kind of hard to believe.

Anyway, none of this is affecting performance in any way.

I can hear strange sound inside the 5D III body - which you described perfectly like "an old floppy-disk drive when seeking" - even without mount any lens on a body. Just to try press shutter button half way and listen close to 5D mk III. What about you? It takes about 6 seconds, after that is again quiet.

[marekjoz]

Does anybody has any idea why these strange sound appear? Is there any new algorithm of IS drive implemented? I thought lenses have their own processors taking care for optimal IS operating. If camera itself has such an influence on IS operation then it can occur, that IS effectiveness depends on what camera lenses are mounted on. That's something new for me.

[Jamesy]

Does anybody has any idea why these strange sound appear? Is there any new algorithm of IS drive implemented? I thought lenses have their own processors taking care for optimal IS operating. If camera itself has such an influence on IS operation then it can occur, that IS effectiveness depends on what camera lenses are mounted on. That's something new for me.

I can't speak to the algorithm but keep in mind that this issue is only happening at with AI Servo where there is constant or near constant communication between the body and the lens. When you press the shutter (or AF-ON) on a body it sends the signal to start IS and obtain focus, in my experience it shuts off in five or six seconds with no shutter release or if your finger is removed from the shutter. With AI Servo that is constant so that communication way different, it verges on chatter so any tweak to the algorithm could make a particular lens design totally wonky.

[Maxis Gamez]

Last night I tested the camera again with my 800mm and other lenses including the 70-200mm f/4. I didn't notice any difference with the IS.

I must have a body without the issue.

[Jamesy]

Last night I tested the camera again with my 800mm and other lenses including the 70-200mm f/4. I didn't notice any difference with the IS.

I must have a body without the issue.

Craig reported on FM the following:
"The 800 might be a bit louder on the 5D3 than the 1D4, although it's not as obvious. I could have just been hearing things. The 200, there's no question about it.

[mrmarks]

What's next Canon?