Fujifilm X100F: viewfinder malfunctioning

[gfc1976]

Hi All

Since last October I was the proud owner of a Fujifilm X100F. I wrote "was" since yesterday whenever I switch to OVF to EVF or the, the small screens that should come up whenever the EVF or the Hybrid are engaged, do not show up and the result is that in EVF there is blurry image with the optical view de facto being overlapped with the digital one and being hence totally unusable. Same happens for the hybrid, but in this case since the black protrusion of the lens helps a bit to "substitute" the missing black screen, it is a bit less of a problem but still far from being ideal.

Of course I never got an accident/fall with the camera (I am the sole user) and the software is updated to the latest release.

Apart for the obvious and much feared hardware failure, is anything that I am missing/any trick to sort this out?

Anyone suffered from the same issue?

Thanks

Kind regards

Gian

 

[Moomeuh]

Almost certainly hardware failure. I had the same thing with my X100F and had to return it for repair, after trying a few suggestions like gently knocking the camera near the viewfinder, removing the battery for a few hours etc. I don't think I'd mistreated the camera, and it was repaired without quibble, so maybe it's a known fault.

 

[ikaika777]

The first thing I would do is connect the camera to Fuji X-Aquire and save my settings then I would would reset the camera to factory settings. If that didn’t help I would call Fuji. Also make sure you have the current firmware update which is 2.11 which fixes:

”The firmware update Ver.2.11 from Ver.2.10 incorporates the following issue:

• 1.The phenomenon is fixed that when pressing the shutter button halfway under certain conditions, the live view can flicker.”

 

[Vic Chapman]

I've heard that turning the camera upside down and hitting the base can free the curtain and that the problem sometimes goes away after a while. However, assuming you bought new, I have no hesitation in advising you to send it for repair under warranty.

Vic

 

[gfc1976]

Many thanks: unfortunately the software update did not solve the issue. Shall try now with a factory reset as last chance

 

[ikaika777]

Many thanks: unfortunately the software update did not solve the issue. Shall try now with a factory reset as last chance

Good, and if the factory reset doesn’t solve the problem then a call to Fuji is definitely in order. Or taking it back to where you bought it and exchanging it for new one is in order too.

 

[Ben Jenssen]

This has been a well-known issue with X100's, all the models. I have it with my X100S, bought used. And since I have no warranty, I use the little-slap-technique to loosen the curtain. Doesn't happen too often, so I can live with it.

 

[gfc1976]

Thanks Ben: actually this is the first time in 10 months of usage but so far no turning back. If you can further elaborate the "slap" technique I would surely give it a try. Since I am based in Italy but I got the camera in Singapore, hnce to trigger the warranty I should send it all the way back there and in terms of timing/costs the idea is not too appealing, I must confess. Cheers

Gian

 

[MikeF15]

Hello GFC1976

I too have a VF issue with my X100F. The "blackout screen" (or whatever its called is stuck about halfway up in both the optical and electronic VF settings.

I have tried the "knock" method, the remove battery method,. etc. with no results.

finally called Fujifilm Canada (I live in Winnipeg) and left a message about y issue and they called back twice within 3 days!! I then talked to a person who is sending me a shipping box to send my X100F in for repairs,..

so like a previous poster mentioned this must be a known issue.

Gotta say that although I'm disappointed to be without my camera for a while I was very impressed with Fujifilm"s service,..

Give them a try!

Cheers

Mike F

 

[gfc1976]

Let's hope Fuji Singapore shall be efficient and proactive as Fuji Canada

 

[Ben Jenssen]

Thanks Ben: actually this is the first time in 10 months of usage but so far no turning back. If you can further elaborate the "slap" technique I would surely give it a try.

Gian

Hi, Gian. It's simply a matter of giving it a little shake. I hold the camera in my right hand and slap the bottom of the left side of it gently, but firmly, into the palm of my left hand, and the curtain loosens. People also simply switch between OVF and EVF back and forth and it goes away. If you use the eye sensor, you take your eye way and then back again, and that could be enough.

 

[martinhess]

Hello,

had this issue yesterday, when i wanted to take some photos of the new Nubuke Foundation in Accra. I was really shocked, but then i was able to take some pictures at last, even with less control of the spoiled finder.

After that i tried the suggested knocking, but it did not work. I tried again and again. Just now i tried to bend the camera body holding it with two hands, left and right. It feels rather stiff, so one would not expect anything out of that action, but the curtain which got stuck (mostly in 1/3 from bottom position) went immeditely free and stays free.

So, while writing i want to try one more time.. ..its working correctly now.

So, if you have to get rid of that problem try it out. No matter if you send it in or not later on.

Wanted to share..

Regards Martin

 

[martinhess]

Hi x100f useres - i would say: don't be afraid of this issue!

It came up again the other day, the EVF-blind got stuck. Trying ot bend the camera slightly (it will not bend), holding it left an right facing the lens solved the problem immidiately again - and it did not come back! It was not neccesary to do it too strong and i think there is no risk of damaging something as its just what might happen in a camera bag. Maybe the EVF - blind got stuck beacuse of temerature and or humidity change from Europe to Ghana.

Have a nice day

Martin

 

[Grant Burton]

I applied the smack the camera base technique which worked temporarily, then needed to perform again five days later. Currently working OK after a couple of days. Having contacted Fuji today they "have heard of this but it is not a fault which required for the camera to be recalled" and "Due to the age of the camera, there would a charge for the repair of the device. This is £155 and the cost includes parts, labour, 12 months warranty and return postage." .........although they have not yet seen the camera to assess the repair required. A disappointing response.

 

[Ben W Jenssen]

I applied the smack the camera base technique which worked temporarily, then needed to perform again five days later. Currently working OK after a couple of days. Having contacted Fuji today they "have heard of this but it is not a fault which required for the camera to be recalled" and "Due to the age of the camera, there would a charge for the repair of the device. This is £155 and the cost includes parts, labour, 12 months warranty and return postage." .........although they have not yet seen the camera to assess the repair required. A disappointing response.

Sorry to hear that. My theory is it's a design flaw, and things like temperature and humidity could cause it to stick (as suggested earlier), considering it's been reported to happen on various X100 models. Also, the OVF not being used very often or not at all by some owners might contribute to the problem.

For me, it is but a distraction.

 

[lonsso]

hi! i just got the same issue with my x100f. i tried the suggested slaps and turning but did not work. i however managed to use the ev without problems by covering the see through glass on the other side with black tape. Of course then the live view is not usable but i dont use it anyways. that being said i sent it today for repair to fuji in finland. apparently response time will be a month or so, so that is a bit annoying. i had to pay 120 euro upfront since it isvout of the 2 year warranty

 

[Andres A]

I have the same problem. The curtain stopped working. Besides this I noticed afterwards that the manual focus wasn't working either. The camera is not even 2.5 years old. I sent it to Fujifilm hoping to get it repaired for no cost after reading some of the replies here. Now Fujifilm wants 750 euro for basically changing everything. As far as I can tell the camera never fell or something similar. Now i have to pay 69 euros to get it back. I will try to open it myself and see if I can do something about it.

 

[martinhess]

Hi Andres,

After showing this issue for a few times my x100f works now for a long time without, or maybe with showing the problem once (i don't remeber exactly).

But even more interesting was, that my sons new x100v (bought about 2 month ago) showed the same issue once.

I think it has to do with temerature and humidity. So that the mechanic of the viewfinder sticks to a surface a little.

This observations might not be the same as yours, as you experience a manual focus problem too. I'd try again, if it persists. And not worry too much, if the focus problem does not occur again. After worrying a lot at the first moment, i got used to this problem. Even my son will not send his camera to Fuji..

I wish you a nice day

Martin

 

[forest dream]

But even more interesting was, that my sons new x100v (bought about 2 month ago) showed the same issue once.

I think it has to do with temerature and humidity. So that the mechanic of the viewfinder sticks to a surface a little.

Unbelievable since X100V claimed weather sealing (at least camera body)

 

[martinhess]

You're right!

But in my opinion there is no other camera that portable with the same quality. So we love it and keep it.