Canon® EOS-1Ds Mark III Digital Field Guide

Appendix A. Maintaining the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

In This Appendix

• Cleaning the sensor

• Updating the firmware

• Calibrating lenses

• Sending your camera in for repair

One of the many joys of working with the EOS-1Ds system is that the cameras are built like tanks and require very little maintenance. The EOS-1Ds Mark III has made preventive maintenance even easier due to a variety of advances:

• Ruggedness. The 1Ds Mark III is designed to withstand heavy rain (particularly using weather-sealed lenses). It is weather-sealed against dust and dirt as well.

• Temperature range. The camera is officially stated to work between 32 degrees and 113 degrees F. I have no doubt it exceeds those specifications. This prevents major breakdowns and necessary repairs caused by the camera's exposure to extreme environments.

• Battery life. The Battery Pack LP-E4 captures 1,800 images at room temperature and 1,400 images at freezing temperatures. That's one less item that has to be pulled off the camera and replaced in hostile environments. The more rugged and ruggedly designed, the less maintenance.

• Dual cards. If recording in Mirror mode, a breakdown within the main card that could be catastrophic to an assignment is negated as the same images are being recorded onto the SD card.

• Ultrasonic sensor cleaner. The sensor cleaner, along with the Dust Delete data, has eliminated most sensor dust issues, long a plague to photographers.

• Micro adjustment. With the ability for the user to fine-tune the precision focusing between ...