“Fixing the X-T1’s will be put in front of everything else.” That’s what FujifilmUSA told to FR-reader Wally.
And now, on the FujiUS site here you can find the X-T1 serial numbers that might be affected by the light leak problem. As FR-reader LetThereBeLight told me: “In the U.S. serial numbers 41A05201 or higher are safe and anything under that is possibly affected.”
Kaizen is fine, the firmware updates even to discounted cameras are great (even though it means sacrificing sales earnings for customer loyalty as a Fuji manager told us here), but it’s when things go wrong that you seriously test the customer service. And now, only days after the problem arose, we have an official fix. Fuji is really rolling up their sleeves to get things right as quick as possible (as with the flawed X-PRO1 firmware fixed withing days too).
As always, feel free to drop your own considerations and experience in the comments.
Fuji X-T1 in stock check: [shopcountry 21553]
57 Responses
I’m starting to wonder if Fuji created this problem to demonstrate good customer service – you can’t argue that they aren’t being open and proactive in addressing it. : ) Might help that the fix is likely inexpensive and easy to do, but I’m impressed … and haven’t got my X-T1 yet! At least I’m reassured that if there is a problem with the camera Fuji, has taken ownership of it and is open about resolving it.
Yes a great reassurance to customers. Look at this compared to the disaster Nikon did regarding the D600 oil issue. If they had been proactive about it and sorted it out, I am sure everyone would have been happy. But I bet Fuji is happy as I know quite a few that have jumped ship (even non D600 users – the press was bad enough to ruin their trust)
I used to have a D600 – it was a nightmare.
That’s how you do PR nowadays. Look at Russia: an “accident” with unopened Olympic ring led to a great ad campaign from Audi and humongous sales of 4-ring-1-star souvenirs. It caused quite a stir when at the closing ceremony they’ve presented the same “accident” deliberately. A lesson to learn here.
So yeah, Fuji is just trying to steal some of the Holga’s rich clientele and create an image of the company that cares at the same time.
They’ve also killed Kennedy. And Kenny.
Sooooooo glad I’m with Fuji now. Nikon customer service could definitely learn a thing or two from Fuji
Now the question is still which European X-T1’s are effected?
Somebody know where I can check if my camera bought in Europe is effected?
I had a high 41M055XXX Number which is affected (Germany)
So am I 41M050xx
mine is 41M043XX and it has the leak (germany)
on the uk fujifilm website they say that everything above 41M07801 should be ok. not sure if this counts for all europe but maybe
mine is barely one of the non-affected units. hopefully, my second one won’t be affected as well.
Oh great, aren’t Fujifilm fantastic. I pre-order a camera so that I can use it from day one and now I have to send it back for 2 weeks so they can make it light-tight, something that camera manufacturers have been successfully remembering to do for about 175 years. Bravo Fujifilm.
I’ve had great customer service from Fuji for 30 years, starting with medium format film cameras.
This is a real tribute to the company and its taking care of customers. By contrast, it shows that Nikon hates their customers.
I currently own no Fuji equipment and do own Nikons, but Nikon’s owning up to manufacturing and design problems has been disgraceful for decades.
If one isn’t shooting long exposures, and or with the port open… is the fix really necessary?
No, but if you ever want to sell it …
Depends on if the sealing covers inside of doors. I’d say not. Besides no camera is actually weather sealed. More like weather resistant. Nikon and Canon only say their cameras are resistant.
I’m debating the same thing myself. After seeing the serial numbers of potentially affected cameras listed, I did the flash light into the port test, and I do have the purple flaring show up on my LCD. But with the port door closed, no problem. I can’t see this being an issue with the way I shoot, and so is it really worth the bother of sending this back for the fix?
I’m sure if you pointed a strong flashlight into some of these old film cameras (which I shoot a lot of) they would exhibit similar problems! I never shoot with exposures longer than 1/15 of a second (basically nothing I can’t handhold) if need be. But then again, I’m mostly shooting editorial and portraits.
What, you mean like putting a film in, leaving it the sunlight for a few minutes and then finding the whole film fogged? Never had that problem – I carry my film cameras around in the daylight, not in light-proof bags 🙂
I thought the same thing… I do a lot of long exposures but with the wifi connectivity I have no need for a direct cable nor the door being open. However, for my needs, I concluded it should be address for resale purposes in the future.
It need not be long time exposures to experience this phenomenon.
This test shot was taken at 1/60 second.
Did you have the port door open?
Yes, the door was open as it should be if you want to use any of the ports, such as for microphone or remote trigger.
The sun was shining from the left straight toward the exposed ports.
One could clearly see the beam in the LCD panel.
Yes I just tried it with my port door open and a flashlight. Althought 99% of the time I will never shoot with the port door open… I might as well shine a flashlight into the viewfinder of my film cameras!
I’m sorry, but the statement as to the serial numbers in the clear simply isn’t true. My camera is a US model purchase via Amazon and its serial no. is 41A053xx. It clearly exhibits the problem.
Those numbers were directly from the Fujifilm USA website… Contact them to let them know your serial number is compromised.
http://www.fujifilmusa.com/support/ServiceSupportProductContent.do?dbid=881615&prodcat=234644&sscucatid=664270
Yes, I wasn’t referring to the Fuji Rumors reporting as in error, but rather Fuji’s claim around the units affected. I’ve already contacted them through the website informing them that my camera is outside the range they state and is exhibiting the problem.
yeah… hopefully this issue isn’t deeper than what they initially thought. I think for us to jump at the opportunity now and get a fix will ensure us of getting our cameras back soon. I can only imagine the amount of backed up repairs they will get once this issue becomes widespread.
Once had an X-E1 with a stuck pixel on the sensor (also visible in the final image as a grayish smeared block because of the X-Trans pattern), sent to Fuji for repairing, but the camera came back as ‘repaired’ but the same glowing green pixel was still there. So much to the great Fuji Service, it’s not all roses at Fuji, although some people are so in love with Fuji that a kind of reality distortion field kicks in.
may be you are a little bit delusional?
Random “fact” from random user. Yeah, I’ll trust that anecdotal account.
Screaming like chimps about the insistence of repair is just an excuse to not admit the ineptitude of the fuji … CMON! they are not even able to make a light proof box = Camera
The other camera manufacturers have had similar problems at times (or worse). You go to those sites and excoriate them?
I’m having many doubts about the Fuji gear manufacturing standard. This is a fanboy site, they can do nothing wrong, but everything in the finishing of the X-Pro1 / X-E1 & 2 is plastic and cheap. The X100 has a slightly better built, fin particular the lens that is rigid and solid. No other Fuji XF-lens feels the same. All black paint is delicate (typical for a metal/paint trim) and it’s even stupid the flash shoe is in black (the first paint that gets off). The LCD plastic is very cheap and scratch sensitive, I got an offer from Fuji to replace it, you don’t want to know the price. The grip I’ve got with my X-Pro1 is looking already like I’ve gone to war with it, while I really treat all my gear in a very careful way. The metal lens hoods lose their paint while you’re looking at it. The plastic lens hood of my XF55-200 sits lose, doesn’t fix properly. I’ve had one lens with a metal particle in it, and one where the front plastic came off. A very poor or even not existing service org in my country too. I’m not going to complain once again about the FW-upgrades, but anything like this is unseen and certainly not giving the impression Fujifilm is developing and testing to the same standards as competition does. The flash-line is only containing very cheap amateur stuff. Should I go further? This is just a compact camera with very high margins on it (see how the prices collapse in a very short time) – not built to last but just to be a hype for a short time. I can pull easily the comparison to other cameras… well to be honest, my DSLR gear is really playing a completely different league: solid, sturdy, made to live forever and it also does. Also don’t ever think you’re buying a ‘cheap man’s Leica’… if you claim it is, you’ve never hold one in your hands!
Unfortunately I have to totally agree, these are my conclusions too. And we may get free firmware updates, but it’s not like the firmware is great to start with. However, have you seem the price of a Leica lens hood?!!!
Yes. And if you take a look at IQ its not the best out there at the moment either, even behind the latest smaller sensors, which surprised me a little.
Still, nice gear, lots of people are happy with it. No me … but that’s my problem to solve 😉
I dunno. I don’t take anonymous anecdotal evidence as particularly convincing about anything. Especially when it seems to reek of fanboyism of some other product unilaterally trashing the qualities of any other brand.
That’s funny! Sony A7, Nikons, and Canons all exhibit this problem to a certain extent (in specific cameras). Generally speaking, this light leak doesn’t affect photos under most circumstances. Rather, during long exposures with high ISO and a direct light pointed at the camera (or from behind the camera in Nikon and Canon cases).
My serial is slightly below the one posts, by about 50 units, but has tested as 100% fine.
That’s good for X-T1 users, but I guess the QC issues with the X-2 were never resolved as I just bought a new one and there is huge sensor dust that cannot be removed and is visible down to f8. Does Sony put the glass over the sensor then ship to Fuji, or does Fuji place the protective glass?
Why not return it for refund?
Returning it for an exchange. Just baffled why this dust issue with the x-e2 is still unresolved.
Interesting.. This is the first i’ve heard of that issue, which does NOT mean it doesn’t exist. I’ve shot with my x-e2 in horrid conditions (dusty, wet, and places you generally shouldn’t take your unsealed camera) and have not had issues. Hopefully you find something that works better for you.
I had a similar issue with sensor dust on my x-e2. Not impressed with Fuji US repair, not sure how they can handle additional repairs. I sent in my x-e2 mid January, recieved a replacement mid February. A week later sent the x-e2 back in because it would not recognize lenses, showing f0 half the time I powered it on. Also had to send in my 18-55 lens. Used the replacement x-e2 to update the firmware of my 18-55 and it failed during the update, causing the lens to no longer work on the x-e2 or x-e1. A replacement 18-55 and fixed x-e2 have been shipped, tracking says Wednesday delivery. Today I tested my x-t1 (41a0286x) and it has the light leak. Good times.
nice to see fuji giving priority to fixing this issue instead of releasing an x-t110.
FYI, mine is serial number 41A0499x and does not exhibit the issue. Extensively tested.
Has anyone contacted US repair for an X-T1 purchased from Canada?
Do you have any serial number for the Canadian side ? Mine is within this number, but in Canada.
Chris
It is never wise to buy a completely new car or camera. But it’s Fujifilm’s model to hype, hype, hype, also via this type of blogs to catch all those that are way too emotional to buy into new stuff. I was exactly the same, with the X100 and the X-Pro1, first wave of lenses,… but I’ve learnt my lesson. Even without anything special happening in the market you’ll get the X-T1 for half the price over a few months, free of this first wave problems, operating on a firmware that make the camera really work as Fujifilm planned. Beside that, I didn’t find it a very good idea to get this X-T1 in house also looking at the current sales numbers, competition is getting very sharp and if Fuji doesn’t gear up somewhere in the run with a tougher QC, skilled FW developers, FF-sensors and a conventional CFA to get rid of the current RAF-conversion misery, I think the X-series will go pretty much the same way as the S-Pros did. The few advanced users and pro’s that believed in this system will easily switch to Sony and likely others- Nikon, Canon, Panasonic… Leica? In that case E-bay & co will be full of X-series cameras, you’ll get your seducing X-T1 for only a few bucks. I didn’t take the risk: my path runs already a while back over proven pro-DSLRs-technology, I admit even more expensive unless a bit careful – but it still beats any X in a very significant way contrary to what all those ‘DSLR-ditchers’ claim. This is – once again – not the truth not in the least because an APS/C sensor can never deliver the same DOF control and the availability of a lot of very interesting third party and legacy material, simply not existing for Fujifilm.
Just checked my X-T1 (41A036XX) and it had the light leak. I tested it fully and it seems to be coming from the mic/remote jack
I have serial number 41A05200 (1 less than what they say is safe) and it has no light leak 😉
I have one with a serial number higher than 41A05201 and it still has light-leak issues.
Here is a quick and easy solution to the X-T1 light leak issue if you can’t wait until Fuji comes up with a fix
Just use a 2.5mm dust cap in the mic/remote jack. This will block all the light entering the camera when the door is open.
Here are a few links to purchase these plugs. They come in a verity of colors and cost less than $.50 each
https://www.oequest.com/print/getproduct/17821/cat/1550/page//
http://www.fiberoptics4sale.com/p/CAPB-BL.html
Hope this helps
FYI Fuji posted this in the UK http://www.fujifilm.eu/uk/news/article/news/flare-effect-on-the-x-t1/ any serial below 41M07801 is affected in the UK.
I’ve just got off the phone with their customer support, they basically take your name and address, send out packaging which you post back to them (at no cost) and they will fix the light leak and send you back your XT-1.
It seems as if there is a difference in the mic/remote jack between the production run serial numbers. It seems as if the initial mic/remote jack is and open ended version while the later models use a closed ended version. Not sure if there is a durability issue between the two as well.
Has anybody been able to get through the support number? It just keeps sending me in circles. This is my first experience with Fuji support and coming from Canon Professional Services, this really sucks.
I just received a new X-T1 today with a serial number above 5201 and I can confirm that this camera does NOT have the light leak through the left side auxiliary door. Fujifilm has fixed the problem! Thank you Fujifilm!
I received a new X-T1 in Italy serial 41M09xxx (in exchange for my “old” 41M03xxx). There is NO LEAK and also the arrows buttons are significantly more responsive and little less recessed with a clear “click” feel. No more hard nail tip pressure. Not so responsive as X-E2 but an unexpected leap forward. Very good!!