My X100 overexposed for no good reason?!

kermaier · 08-31-2011

Well, I've been using the X100 happily since June with no problems. Then, last week, it started overexposing by at least 2 stops! Seems to happen when it's in aperture priority AE mode with the lens stopped down between f/5.6 and f/11. Anybody have a clue for me?

Thanks,
Ari

back alley · 08-31-2011

i don't like the sound of that...what metering mode are you using? did you change it recently? or change any other settings?

on a different note...your link for the minolta lens goes to a page that says the ad is gone.

kermaier · 09-01-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by back alley

on a different note...your link for the minolta lens goes to a page that says the ad is gone.

Thanks for the heads up, Joe. I wasn't checking email during my vacation, so I must have missed the ad expiration alert. Oh, well. I'm still enjoying my Elmarit-M 28/2.8, so the M-Rokkor is still available for sale.

::Ari

Keith · 09-01-2011

Take it back ... the first one I had did exactly the same thing after a week of use. Make sure you provide evidence with an overexposed image with the exif data intact to confirm the problem. My retailer wouldn't believe me until I did this ... then they replaced the camera.

See here for the post I made when it happened.

DavidX · 09-01-2011

Oh dear! Mine did the same thing today - eratitc overexposure in AE but only when stopped down to f16 (well, I was using f16 - did not test all the stops but it was fine at 2.0, 2.8). It seened OK after a format and a battery recharge - I'll just keep an eye on it at this stage, but I made sure to keep the sample pics in case I need them!

Keith · 09-01-2011

Mine started off doing it randomly, then about a week later became terminal! The files were forwarded to Fuji Australia by the dealer (DCW) at their request.

Michiel Fokkema · 09-01-2011

Hmm, I've had some erratic exposure too. I'll test tonight.
Cheers,
Michiel Fokkema

tbhv55 · 09-01-2011

Mine had the same problem. The aperture was sticking either fully open, or sometimes not quite fully open, and consequently most shots were over-exposed, unless, of course, the shot was going to be on a wide aperture anyway.
It was sent to Fuji, and they replaced the lens without any fuss. The work was done under their "Platinum Service" (as it's called in the UK, at least), and this provides a rapid turn-around. The camera was returned to me within six days, inclusive of a weekend.
There's no point in delaying the inevitable - I tried to "give it a few days" in the vain (and ridiculously irrational) hope that it MIGHT just correct itself, but of course, it didn't.
I would advise that you just get it repaired, and get back to normality as soon as possible.
Good luck.

DavidX · 09-01-2011

OK - just tested and it is OK at f 2.0 then consistently overexposing when stopped down. I'll use it at my wife's birthday lunch tomorrow and then take it to the shop on Monday. Bugger.

kermaier · 09-01-2011

Yep, I guess I'll record some test shots and bring it in for warranty service. I just tried again this morning: shot my desk from 6 feet away at f/8 and the histogram is blown out to the right; open up to f/2 and it's fine.

::Ari

uhligfd · 09-01-2011

You can look into the lens from the front to see if the aperture fails to close at f/16, say, can't you?

FalseDigital · 09-01-2011

Wow! I really wanted an x100 but all these problems posted lately are definitely swaying me away. Hopefully they will release an updated version in the near future.

Keith · 09-01-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by FalseDigital

Wow! I really wanted an x100 but all these problems posted lately are definitely swaying me away. Hopefully they will release an updated version in the near future.

What do you mean problems?

My third camera works perfectly!

jsrockit · 09-01-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by FalseDigital

Wow! I really wanted an x100 but all these problems posted lately are definitely swaying me away. Hopefully they will release an updated version in the near future.

So a few forum posts sway you? I know plenty of happy X100 users. Mine works perfectly.

Jamie Pillers · 09-01-2011

Almost afraid to say this, but mine is working perfectly at all apertures and ISO settings. I'm sure I just jinxed it by saying that. :-o

sweat100 · 09-01-2011

Hi Ari, I understand your problem. My X100 had the exact same problem as yours. It is due ti the sticky aperture, it just refuse to stop down. I called Fuji, they told me it is a lens assembly fault. You can send it in and they will replace the entire lens assembly.

v_roma · 09-01-2011

Another X100 owner here with the sticky aperture problem. It started hapenning recently after a few months of working fine. It's with Fuji for repair right now. If you google this issue, you will find plenty of others X100 owners reporting it. It sounds like a serious design and/or manufacturing flaw. Fuji are aware of the issue and know how to fix it so I suspect newer cameras will not have it.

Credit to Sean Reid (reidreviews) for initially identifying this same problem in the loaner camera he was using to write his review. He flagged it as a potentially-serious issue and got some flak online for it (because, supposedly, it was only affecting a small number of cameras and, therefore, he should have looked the other way...).

Adanac · 09-01-2011

Here's another X100 user beset with the sticky aperture issue. My camera worked out of the box and then for a few weeks but as my exposure count grew I started to notice exposure oddities. Sadly by then I was on a three week trip, using the camera every day, all day.

I was able to "force" the blades to move, most of the time, for a while, by assigning the Depth of Field preview function to the Fn button; pressing Fn / half shutter press then would seemingly force the blades to move. I had to repeat that sequence after the camera was shut off. For a while it worked and then nothing would cause the blades to move off F2.0.

Fujifilm clearly knows about this issue; from reading other comments it seems virtually every Fujifilm office in every country is well aware. Is it 5 or 15% of cameras or will many of them succumb in time? I have over 4000 exposures on mine.

Would I buy the camera again? Yes. Yes, I'm a little annoyed that I had to send mine out for service but feel this way primarily because I've come very quickly to depend on the X100 - it goes everywhere with me. I have full confidence that Fujifilm understands the problem and can rectify it and, importantly, will learn from the failure to avoid problems going forward.

Mine went in the courier on Monday; am crossing my fingers that I get a notice from Fujifilm Canada that it is winging its way back across the country today.

jasonhupe · 09-01-2011

Having the same problem with mine right now.
Shot a bunch this weekend of my family, manual shutter and aperature set, 1/500 @ f8. First shot completely blown out, second a stop over exposed, third the same, four, fifth, etc are fine.
Same thing kept happening over an over. Thought it had something to do with not allowing the camera time close down or something. Guess it is an issue with these first batches of the x100. Trying to get in touch with someone at Fuji to send it in. Glad it is not just me.

J

jasonhupe · 09-01-2011

PS. Does anyone know how to get in touch with someone at Fuji in the US?
I sent an email a few days ago and still not reply.

Adanac · 09-01-2011

Call them -- check the bottom of this page for an 800 number

http://www.fujifilmusa.com/support/S...do?dbid=674543

jasonhupe · 09-01-2011

Just got off the phone with Fuji and just told to send it in.
Bad news is it might be considered out of warranty since I purchased the camera used. Was told the cost is around $600. Going to see what happens but the gentleman on the phone did not give me much hope that they would let it slide. Of course, he added, he has not had one problem with his

Adanac · 09-01-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonhupe

Just got off the phone with Fuji and just told to send it in.
Bad news is it might be considered out of warranty since I purchased the camera used. Was told the cost is around $600. Going to see what happens but the gentleman on the phone did not give me much hope that they would let it slide. Of course, he added, he has not had one problem with his

I would not let this slide Jason... you should try to raise the profile of this issue. See if you can reach the responsible VP for Fujifilm USA, or a product manager. If all else fails maybe contact the "fujiguys" (they produce videos) - they might be more clued in to how quickly a bad vibe like this could kill future sales.

To be honest, no matter what the merits of the camera, if Fujifilm is going to take that as a corporate attitude to this problem I will - every time I write about the camera - advise against anyone buying one. I suspect I wouldn't be alone in that.

Your camera has a MANUFACTURING DEFECT, one which Fujifilm is well aware of. They promise "professional level" service and care for these (their words) "professional" level cameras. Given your camera, used or not, can't possibly be older than a handful of months, the two-year warranty should apply, particularly so because the issue is, I'll state it again, a well-known manufacturing defect.

Were this a simple CLA servicing request after 1.95 years of heavy use, I might sympathize with Fujifilm but not when the problem is of their own making.

I'll never again buy a Fujifilm product if this is the attitude they take to users of their products.

v_roma · 09-01-2011

This is good advice, in my opinion. I would be as vocal as possible (contact fujiguys, contact brandon remler, post in forums, etc.). It is a defect and warranty shouldn't come into play at all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adanac

I would not let this slide Jason... maybe contact the "fujiguys" (they produce videos).

To be honest, no matter what the merits of the camera, if Fujifilm is going to take that as a corporate attitude to this problem I will - every time I write about the camera - advise against anyone buying one. I suspect I wouldn't be alone in that.

Your camera has a MANUFACTURING DEFECT, one which Fujifilm is well aware of. They promise "professional level" service and care for these (their words) "professional" level cameras. Given your camera, used or not, can't possibly be older than a handful of months, the two-year warranty should apply, particularly so because the issue is, I'll state it again, a well-known manufacturing defect.

Were this a simple CLA servicing request after 1.95 years of heavy use, I might sympathize with Fujifilm but not when the problem is of their own making.

I'll never again buy a Fujifilm product if this is the attitude they take to users of their products.

jasonhupe · 09-01-2011

Im going to send it in and see what happens. I am hoping he was just stating their policy because he is allowed to make the actual call.
The Fuji rep told me the issues is know, very "small" numbers are coming back with this problem, and it only affected the first batches.
When I inquired about it being a known defect in a bunch of the cameras he said it is not a defect until much high numbers come back with that problem.
I guess I was thinking since they tried so hard to replicate the "leica" feel that they would also try to replicate the leica repair standard.
We shall see. Ill keep this post updated when I send it in. Just tried it again, shots above 5.6 have extreme varied histograms.
I guess I could always just always shoot at F/2 and call it a day.