Canon fixed 5DIII light leak with tape

[RunAndGun]

It kind of cracks me up when people talk about/are worried about the resale value of a camera they just bought 37 seconds ago. I have NEVER based any purchase decision on the future resale value it may have, whether it be a vehicle, a piece of gear or an iPod. If you want one, buy it. Use it, ENJOY it.

As I'm one of the ones who mentioned I'm concerned/annoyed with it, I'll respond....Loss of value means reduced profits as that money has to come from somewhere. Even for hobbiest, it may make the difference on when/if they upgrade and what else they purchase. If I knew that after a 3 years, a 1dx and a 5d3 would both depreciate only $1000, I'd get the 1dx and everything beyond the $1000 would just be a deposit that I get back. On capital equipment, resale value is important. You wouldn't buy a $300,000 home believing it would only be worth have that in a year, would you?

As a professional, I can tell you I do not buy my equipment with re-sale value in mind. It does not matter. Is it nice to be able to sell a piece of gear after you no longer need it and get a nice little payday, yes, but the re-sale value of the equipment has nothing to do with my profits. Using it helps me make profits. If you don't like the value on a $3500 still camera dropping, then don't ever get into TV. One of my HD cameras can be found used anywhere from $10K to $20K, now. I purchased it just over five years ago new for $45K(body only). Do you think I care? Nope. Do you think any of my other friends that do the same thing do, either? Nope. It's part of the game. Re-sale value means nothing. You use the equipment to make money, AND you get to depreciate it(or just take it as a lump some, depending). If you sell it for any significant amount of money down the road, it's just "found money".

 

[rlarsen]

I was at my local camera repair shop yesterday getting a tripod fixed and the tech mentioned that many digital cameras have tape inside to catch and hold loose dust.

The only thing that might concern me about the 5D tape mod is how it reacts to hot conditions.

I won't send mine in for the "fix", but if it ever goes to CPS for any service I'll let them decide what they want to do .

More exposures are effected by light through the eyepiece than the so-called "light leak". That's why the little rubber cover is attached to the strap for when you run in front of the tripod to join the family portrait.

 

[V8Beast]

If you can’t see the difference between the two scenarios, I don’t know what else to tell you.

Of course there's a difference. In one situation, people's lives were on the line 250,000 miles from earth. In the other scenario, people are upset because they didn't get a solution as grandiose as they made the problem (light leak) out to be. Maybe that's because it was never really a grandiose problem.

 

[Loswr]

...they didn't get a solution as grandiose as they made the problem (light leak) out to be. Maybe that's because it was never really a grandiose problem.

What's your problem, dude? The horrible, terrible, cataclysmic light leak problem has utterly ruined every photo I ever took with the lens cap in place on the 5DIII that I don't even have. If you can't understand what a problem that is, I reallydon't know what else to tell you.

 

[BDD]

Bp,

If using "tape" in our gear really is normal I think it's one practice that should be stopped. So what if it's cost effective. Companies should be able to develop a nearly as cheap solution or material BESIDES using "tape". Be it camera manufacturers, hi-end HiFi, automobiles..etc. If you're okay with the knowledge that some kind of "tape" has been used in your gear fine. I'm sure it would bother most people.

As a temporary measure...if it solves a problem when you're in the field...sure. But for companies to do this??

Any how the light leak issue really isn't an issue in the end. At least Canon has addressed it with some kind of tape and possibly offering future models with some kind of mechanical fix (as some one suggested).

 

[V8Beast]

...they didn't get a solution as grandiose as they made the problem (light leak) out to be. Maybe that's because it was never really a grandiose problem.

What's your problem, dude? The horrible, terrible, cataclysmic light leak problem has utterly ruined every photo I ever took with the lens cap in place on the the 5DIII that I don't even have. If you can't understand what a problem that is, I don't know what else to tell you.

That's strange. The light leak didn't seem to impact my lens-cap-on photography that much. I couldn't distinguish any difference in exposure with the LCD light on and lens cap on vs the LCD light off and the lens cap on. I got wonderfully pitch black images either way.

I'm a big fan of lens-cap-on photography. It makes my cheap $150 lenses perform just as well as all that fancy L-series glass ;D

 

[Chris Geiger]

If I were Canon I would include one more piece of tape to put on the mouths of those that think this is a problem.

 

[sheedoe]

If the tape was part of the original design to combat the light leak issue (before it became an issue), I doubt anyone would've complained.

 

[ScottyP]

They completely overlooked the solution right in front of them all the time, literally. Talking of course Flex Seal, the spray-on black rubber sealant AS SEEN ON TV! Could mask off the sensitive electrodes and whatnot then aim at the underside of the LCD, and shoot. As an added bonus, camera might than float.

 

[Rokkor 58mm 1.2]

I've got no problem with Canon's solution to the problem. I have no doubt that the tape used is appropriate for the purpose it's being used for. I'm also sure it will solve the problem very well. What I wonder about is after designing dozens of film and digital SLRs and manufacturing and selling them over many years, that the problem happened at all. You would think all that experience would have taught Canon to design a camera without these kind of problems. A good design would not let it happen. Maybe it's a cost of manufacture issue, but I don't think that should happen on a $3500 camera. However, I would also not doubt that other camera makers have done the same thing.

 

[AG]

"duct tape"?

I can feel the collective intelligence of the room dropping by the minute

Actually, it was pretty intelligent....for their bottom line. Imagine the cost of re-disigning hardware and then fixing all the current units. This was a very cost effective solution, and if you don't look under the hood, you can't even tell!

No, you misunderstand. I'm totally fine with the fix - I'm also very familiar with the sort of adhesive/flexible plastic "tape" they use inside laptops/computers, etc... But calling it "duct tape" is like saying that nasa-grade mylar is the same thing as reynolds wrap

I LOL'd

 

[DynaMike]

Come to think of it, back in my large format camera days, we had light leak issues... if light was leaking into the bellows, we used gaffers tape. There was also a huge defect where under bright sunny conditions, looking in the rear of the camera, you could barely see the image let alone focus, we had to use a cloth! Can you believe that? a white and black cloth? and the manufacturer wouldn't even supply it, we had to buy our own!

Best reply yet! ;D

 

[Kamera Obscura]

My 24-70 2.8 L is muted with Hockey tape. You know, that matte stuff you put on you stick for better grip and shot.

No kidding,
dario.

 

[hoghavemercy]

 

[h4ldol]

On capital equipment, resale value is important. You wouldn't buy a $300,000 home believing it would only be worth have that in a year, would you?

We're talking about a $3500 camera here, not a $1M home. If you are so worried about the potential loss of a few hundred dollars in resale value then you probably need to find a more profitable line of work. :

 

[squarebox]

You wouldn't buy a $300,000 home believing it would only be worth have that in a year, would you?

Haha... except that is housing works in Japan. Your house depreciates as fast as a car and after 5 years your house is only worth the land it sits on.... One of the main reasons why I refuse to buy a house here... it is just pissing $200k into the wind. (that and a standard house is only 1100sqft)

 

[Cptn Rigo]

"duct tape"?

I can feel the collective intelligence of the room dropping by the minute

Actually, it was pretty intelligent....for their bottom line. Imagine the cost of re-disigning hardware and then fixing all the current units. This was a very cost effective solution, and if you don't look under the hood, you can't even tell!

No, you misunderstand. I'm totally fine with the fix - I'm also very familiar with the sort of adhesive/flexible plastic "tape" they use inside laptops/computers, etc... But calling it "duct tape" is like saying that nasa-grade mylar is the same thing as reynolds wrap

;D dude!!, you just make my day LOL

 

[Tcapp]

Duct tape fixes everything. ;D

 

[Michael7]

Whether or not this kind of tape is used in other electronics doesn't matter. What matters is perception, and applying duct tape to a $3500 camera is not a perception of strength and quality.

 

[Tcapp]

Whether or not this kind of tape is used in other electronics doesn't matter. What matters is perception, and applying duct tape to a $3500 camera is not a perception of strength and quality.

Perception is all that matters?

I would think functionality matters most, no?