Fuji x100 sticky blades solved?

elio

New Member
Hi to all...
This is my first post although i do read many of the great posts here for quite some time...
My question has to do with the x100.
I do have a d90 with 3 primes and i would love to buy a leica for some serious street photography. However they are out of my reach... So, enter the x100.
I love this camera to death, the images are great, the optics fantastic, its design very sexy. However i cannot stand the sticky blade issue. I find it very difficult to give 1000 euros to buy a camera with a serious problem....
So, has this problem solved? Are newer production units finally produced without this hardware issue?

Thanx very much in advance
Elio
 
I've been using the X100 for over a year now. I've not had any issues with my camera. And from what I've read online, Fuji has been very quick to respond to this problem. Also I've heard no report of the issues resurfacing once it has been attended to by Fuji. It's a safe camera to buy because of the way Fuji has handled the problem.
 
I think they got it solved late last year. Haven't hear of any new cameras with it in quite a while. And they've been very good about taking care of the folks who were affected. So I wouldn't worry about it in the least if I was buying one today.

-Ray
 
From fujixseries.com
Is SAB not an issue with S/N 21xxx and later? - Fujifilm X100 Discussions on Fuji X Series Camera Forum - Fujifilm X-Pro1 X100 X10

The SAB issue was caused when the plant was rebuilt after the tsunami. The lens assembly fabrication dies had a small error in tolerances causing some assemblies to stick. The dies were corrected and the SAB problem was solved.

I read this and rather hoped that it might be the explanation but it could be internet gossip without substance.
However production did stop 6 days after the camera's release and production was hurriedly restored some 10 days later by staff even neglecting their own homes ( from a Fuji Press Release* )
From what I can gather nobody with a 21xxx serial has suffered SAB so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for my copy.

Really enjoying the X100 now that I understand the lens properly.

* Recovery Efforts by the FujiFilm Group after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
 
I would imagine that new x100's are fine now, but feedback seems mixed on older units. Fuji will replace the complete assembly under warranty, but out of warranty repair will cost almost as much as a complete used camera.

I am wondering if the problem is more likely to show up say in the first 2000 exposures or 6 months of usage if you do indeed have problematic blades, or if the occurrence is random in timing.
 
What probably complicates things is that while cameras manufactured during a specific time period are probably most susceptible to SAB, obviously any camera from any manufacturer is also going to have some small defect rate (which of course could include SAB.)

I'm not of the opinion that Fuji 'rushed' the camera into production. Inevitably problems arise from first generation products (especially a totally new 'from scratch' camera like the x100), and the tsunami 5 days into production seems to be a significant factor in SAB.

BUT...what I would really like to see is some sort of repair program issued by Fuji for out-of-warranty x100 SAB repairs. Even if it is restricted to a certain serial number range covering the problematic time period. Right now the out-of-warranty cost of the repair is approximately equal to the current market value of a used x100.
 
They take good care of you- if the camera is still under warranty. Otherwise it's a ~$700 repair. If there is a serial number range where there were production problems, they should fix SAB in affected serial number range free of charge.

If you buy a new one now, then you will likely have good aperture blades and are protected by warranty anyway. But a lot of people can't afford new so buy used, but SAB is a big concern for used x100's obviously.

I think they got it solved late last year. Haven't hear of any new cameras with it in quite a while. And they've been very good about taking care of the folks who were affected. So I wouldn't worry about it in the least if I was buying one today.

-Ray
 
Guys thanx a lot for your insight and answers..
So i must find a new one with 21xxx serial....
Personally i think that the x100 is one of the most important cameras of recent years....

Once wgain thanx a lot.
Elio
 
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