X-E3 - Images overexposed - Is something wrong with the camera or am i doing something wrong ?

Hello,

I just got an X-E3, I bought it for a very cheap price, the seller told me something was wrong with the joystick, it doesn't go down, and left direction is faulty sometimes.

But the real issue, it seems, is that images are over exposed, or rather burnt.

Even if i put the camera and lens (xf 35mm) in automatic setting/position.

I'm discovering the Fuji way of doing things so i'm not sure if the problem comes from the camera or maybe i'm just doing things the wrong way.

When i half-press the shutter button, the 'preview' looks ok on the lcd screen or the viewfinder, but when the photo is taken, it's looks way over exposed.

I inserted a few examples.

Any ideas / advice are welcome

Thank you

It would be helpful to have the full jpeg with the exif data intact. Are you in bright light with the aperture wide open? If so, make sure the electronic shutter is enabled (MS+ES), the MS might be maxed out at 1/4000”.

The EXIFs might certainly help to identify potential causes:

• fastest possible mechanical shutter speed
• exposure compensation dial knocked out off neutral (happens to me all the time on my X-E3s, taking them out the bag)
• spot metering on the wrong area in the frame
• accidental exposure lock (AE-L)
• accidental manual shutter speed rather than A
• ...

Hi, the XE3 is a great camera. I agree with others that the image data may have a story to tell. I think I would start by doing a full reset back to the factory default settings (manual Page 209), then put it into full Auto Mode using the top lever (Page 7), and see what happens.  If the image is normal, that could indicate a rogue setting. If the image is still over exposed, that would be more troubling and could indicate a fault.

Anyway, worth a try. Good luck.

Fxt1 wrote:

Hello,

I just got an X-E3, I bought it for a very cheap price, the seller told me something was wrong with the joystick, it doesn't go down, and left direction is faulty sometimes.

But the real issue, it seems, is that images are over exposed, or rather burnt.

Even if i put the camera and lens (xf 35mm) in automatic setting/position.

I'm discovering the Fuji way of doing things so i'm not sure if the problem comes from the camera or maybe i'm just doing things the wrong way.

When i half-press the shutter button, the 'preview' looks ok on the lcd screen or the viewfinder, but when the photo is taken, it's looks way over exposed.

I inserted a few examples.

Any ideas / advice are welcome

Thank you

Are these out of camera JPGs?

FTOG wrote:

The EXIFs might certainly help to identify potential causes:

• fastest possible mechanical shutter speed
• exposure compensation dial knocked out off neutral (happens to me all the time on my X-E3s, taking them out the bag)
• spot metering on the wrong area in the frame
• accidental exposure lock (AE-L)
• accidental manual shutter speed rather than A
• ...

A good list, anyone of these could be the culprit.

Be sure light mesure is correctly set same for ISO (low enough in bright sun

Check for all settings to avoid an unwanted config.

Some lenses might need an EV correction but only about +- 1 to 1.5 EV

I'd also check to make sure it has the latest firmware.

The fact that the joystick doesn't work correctly is worrying.

I have sorted the 2 files in PS to get the histograms

they show cleraly the overexposure of about 1.5EV according to PS

Is the camera new or used ? It seems it needs calibration since now we know that there is no wrong setting

baobob wrote:

I have sorted the 2 files in PS to get the histograms

they show cleraly the overexposure of about 1.5EV according to PS

Is the camera new or used ? It seems it needs calibration since now we know that there is no wrong setting

What’s curious is that these two horse images are taken with the exact same shutter, aperture and ISO values (according to the EXIF of each), so for them in reality to be 1.5 stops out is rather alarming. It’s quite conceivable the two sensor generations may vary slightly at any given ISO but surely not to that extent.

I’m assuming that the same 18-55 lens is in use with each camera, which takes aperture out of the equation. Is it possible that the XE3’s shutter is running too slow?

IMO a repair center should be able to do that easily provideed the sensor is in good condition

1.5 stops is not so huge

Does it do this with both the mechanical and electronic shutters?

A repair centre might be a good next step. Considering the equal settings, I wonder if it's a faulty mechanical shutter. If it's slower than nominal, that would lead to a relative overexposure, despite correct metering and correctly shown nominal shutter speed. But that's just guessing at my end.

The OP has said it was a wave splash.  It is almost certainly beyond economic repair.  Worth considering but I'd not be hopeful.

You might as well quit guessing.  The OP picked it up for a low price because it was water damaged (wave splash).

I think any more speculation based on the assumption that it is a settings problem is an exercise in futility.

I am no t so pessimistic The camera works and it is only 1.5 stops so in Bob i trust