Aperture Leafs Stuck - XF 90mm F2

Hello, wonderful Fuji peeps.

My 90mm, which has never been dropped, roughed, submerged, cursed, etc. will not engage the aperture leafs. I am stuck at f2.

I am out in the mountainous Nevada desert today with the wife and sister trying to get every shot I can get during golden hour.

Popping on and off lenses as we go, I threw the 90mm on for the thousandth time in its lifetime. I was shooting at 5.6 and suddenly, the 12the or so image is fully blown out with highlights.

After some very confusing minutes, I find that the aperture leafs are not engaging. The same happens on my X-T2, X-T20, and my wifes X-T4. All other lenses are working fine, It is the lens.

I cannot find much for this online. Has this happened to anybody with the same or any other lens? Do I have to send in? Anything??

Heartbroken! My frickin beautiful 90!

I've had the same with my XF23mm F2. I've found someone on reddit with an XF90mm F2 with the exact same issue as yours. My 90 is fine and I haven't heard much about this either with this particular lens.

I went to a small repair shop and they fixed my XF23mm F2 for 30 bucks or so, they only had to do a cleanup of the contacts.

Otherwise it's best to have it fixed with Fuji directly but I would guess it'd cost more and they'd possibly replace parts too.

My XF23mm F2 has been working just fine for the last two years since the cleanup.

EuronGreyjoy wrote:

I've had the same with my XF23mm F2. I've found someone on reddit with an XF90mm F2 with the exact same issue as yours. My 90 is fine and I haven't heard much about this either with this particular lens.

I went to a small repair shop and they fixed my XF23mm F2 for 30 bucks or so, they only had to do a cleanup of the contacts.

Otherwise it's best to have it fixed with Fuji directly but I would guess it'd cost more and they'd possibly replace parts too.

My XF23mm F2 has been working just fine for the last two years since the cleanup.

So just the contacts externally?

Or opened the lens?

In case it was cleaned just externally, it is worth a DIY attempt for the OP, isn't it?

Cheers,

Martin

The OP changes lenses often, so cleaning contacts is likely something he has been doing all along. If not, it is a good idea to periodically clean the contacts in the camera and the ones on the lenses. If you don't clean all of them, they can contaminate each other and quickly get you back to where you started.

I use isopropyl alcohol to moisten a cotton swab, but there are better ways. Problem with the cotton swab is that little fibers of cotton can fly off and go into places where we do not want them to be.  And, if you get that swab wet, the alcohol can seep into places where we do not want it to go.  So it is a little bit tricky.

I remember reading a thread in which it was reported that one of the lens contacts would not spring out like the rest, but I don't think it was the 90mm lens. I guess in that case the spring behind the contact was broken, and major lens surgery would be needed.

Never had this issue with my 90mm. so far, but I'll keep my fingers crossed... If the lens is still under warranty, just send it in for a check up and let Fuji repair it if necessary. You could try cleaning the contacts, but make sure not to do anything that could void the warranty.

Thank you all for the replies! Yes, I have cleaned with isopropyl but it has been a little while. I am bringing it into a local camera shop today. Really hoping it's a simple fix like that but the contacts look real clean.