Fuji XT1 weather sealing fault

[blupace]

Only by chance today I noticed a serious flaw in the weather sealing on the XT1.

 

The door that covers the Hdmi, USB and mic port, seems to be vulnerable to heat expansion, resulting in the seal becoming compromised. The door no longer closes fully.

[blupace]

The gap that is caused is only about 1mm, if you press on the door you can feel the space, the door now feels like a button that springs back. This would allow water to get into the internals of the camera.

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[blupace]

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[Patrick FR]

sadly a wide spread problem: http://www.fujirumors.com/my-main-2-complaints-about-the-fuji-x-t1/

[milandro]

Yes, bulging doors and detaching of the skin seems to affect some cameras and doesn’t affect others. Frequent complaint.

 

Many have had skins or doors or both replaced by their local Fuji and not without any resistance from the local representative, in fact many were charged for the repair, and only referring to the head office in Tokyo made it possible to have this obvious fabrication defect being addressed at no charge.

 

Still, to date, no official explanation to why this is and why it affects only some cameras and not others.

 

I have asked before FR if we could hold a survey among Fuji X-T1 owners which includes serial numbers, country of operation and other criteria to be defined ( average temperature, humidity, camera use) to find out if there is a common denominator among those who have a problem.

 

Initially I thought that the skin could have been easily replaced by a third party company when guarantee has expired ( because replacing the skin would void any guarantee).

 

This company Aki-Asahi made many skins in the past for Fuji and other brands.

 

http://www.fuji-x-forum.com/topic/2226-does-anyone-know-why-aki-asahi-camera-coverings-is-not-updating-fuji-covers/

 

They answered me that they have tried to make a skin for the X-T1 but failed because the camera is not “ flat” whatever that means.

[petergabriel]

So, if you own a Graphite version you are home free?

[milandro]

why?

[cosinaphile]

i noticed the problem on a floor model at b and h   last year  ....the silicone rubber is swelling due to contact with an environmental agent , possibly for the air or human skin oil...it why i didnt buy one  ....its my understanding that fuji will fix this for freee

[milandro]

At least in the beginning of this, as we have read from several reports here, local fuji distributors did charge for the repair.

 

Only after complaining to the main Tokyo office they were, on a case to case base and not across the board , instructed to do any different. ( this happened to the X pro 1 too)

 

http://www.fuji-x-forum.com/topic/996-fuji-x-t1-rubber-surface/

http://www.fuji-x-forum.com/topic/1001-unsticking-skin-of-x-pro1/

http://www.fuji-x-forum.com/topic/634-x-t1-accessory-door/page-5

 

Supposing this is due to skin oils or other external agents such as temperature or humidity is just a guess like any other. The pattern appears to be too random to say so. It might have been a bad batch of glue or rubber.

[blupace]

After being in contact with Fuji UK, they said that they know of no manufacturing fault at all, and only replace the part with the exact same.

They are replacing this for free, but I would certainly like assurances that it will be remedied.  I was going to purchase another XT1, but will hold off until this issue can be addressed.

 

To me this seems to be like big issue, and one that undermines the confidence in the product. I have always supported Fuji, but when a company ignores consumer issues then it should be addressed accordingly. 

 

I will put together a survey over the next couple of days and post it in all of the relevant fuji groups. Lets see if we can collect enough data to present to Fuji.

[milandro]

Devising a survey from the consumer part will only ever tell us if there are commonalities within the group of people who experience or not the phenomenon but I won’t tell us, necessarily, anything about the causes.

 

So we can see what kind of serial numbers are affected and if people living in warm or cold , dry or humid country share this problem but we could never know if a certain serial number was produced with a certain batch of glue or not.

 

That’s why THEY should hold the survey.

 

Of course this can only begin if one admit there is a problem if one denies there is a problem then we are very far from a solution.

[blupace]

Hi all, 

 

So i have put together a data collection form here http://blupace.com/fuji-xt1-accessory-door-issue/

Currently Fuji refuses to accept there is any issue right now. When we have collected enough data we will send it all to Fuji as evidence of the problem.

 

Please share this form in any groups that relate to this issue.

 

Kind regards,

 

 

Pace