Xpro3 compatibility issues voigtlander 27mm DoF issue

[Bertfuji]

Hello everybody,

I use a 2 year old Fuji xpro3 with a voigtlander 27mm f2 lens. 
 

Last summer I had an issue with the on/off switch. It was terrible hard to turn. Camera functioned well although sometimes the evf switch did not react. I send it to Fuji, got a new top plate, new rear screen and recent firmware update. All in warranty. Received no info why all this had to be replaced. I thought it only needed some cleaning as I used it on the beach, in the rain, muddy conditions,….
Took 2 months though. 

Since I have it back I seem to have an issue of compatibility with my voigtlander 27mm lens designed for the xmount system. It has electronic contacts that always worked perfectly and I enjoyed it each time until now. Without touching the focusing tab the DoF scale keeps moving and jumping. Most often it slowly goes from infinity to 0,5m. To clarify: I have the focus ring on infinity, do not touch the ring, look through the viewfinder and see (in OVF or EVF) the lever of focus moving. With it the framelines move as well. When it does this the EVF switch does not work. 
In short the camera thinks I am moving the focus ring. When I do actually move it, the digital indication directly jumps back to its correct place. 
 

I had no issue before the camera went to Fuji. I do not have access to another Fuji body to test if it is the lens or the camera. I tested the camera with a native Fuji lens on manual focus and no issues at all.
However it would be strange to be the lens as it worked perfectly befor repair and it was just sitting on the shelf until I got the camera back.

 

 

thanks for feedback, experience, probable software settings that I need to check. 

 

Greetings Bert

[Drgolden]

I’m having the similar issue with this lens on my X-t4 and x-t5!  Have you been able to figure out what’s going on? 
The focus scale moves around on the without touching the focus ring. Any suggestions from others? Has anyone else seen this? 

[Bertfuji]

No,

issue not resolved. 
As it is both on your xt4 and xt5, it starts to sound as a lens issue and not a camera issue. 
 

Was it an issue you had from the moment you used the lens. 
mine worked perfect for 9 months.

I would like to contact voigtlander but not possible in Belgium. 
 

 

Greetings Bert
 

 

[Bertfuji]

It as well could have something to do with Fuji firmware as the issue started after fujistore updated the camera.

 

is there a way to return to older version of firmware?

 

[Drgolden]

I think mine may actually be a hardware issue. I haven't updated the X-T4 in a while, so it's probably not firmware. Also, the focus tab is a bit loose, so that may be the cause. I just sent it to CameraQuest. It's two months out of warranty, so it's going to cost $200 just to look at it.  

This is a new issue BTW.

 

Edited November 21, 2024 by Drgolden
Didn't completely answer question.

[Seanha]

Hi Bertfuji,

I find it almost uncanny that I have the exact same issue as you. I have an x-pro 3 which had a wonky shutter release button and a battery issue. Fujifilm fixed both by replacing the top place (and presumably cleaning the battery compartment). As soon as I get home, I put on my Voigtländer 27mm f2 and immediately I notice my MF distance indicator jumping about.

I returned to my dealer (which got my repair under warranty the first time around) and showed a guy there my issue. He told me that he would happily send it back, but that it was probably a problem with my lens. I kept my x-pro and have decided to try and contact Voigtländer through a dealer - but after reading your post, I am not too sure anymore. 

How have you proceeded? I find it difficult to imagine it is not a lens issue - especially since the guy at my Fuji dealer let me try an XF 35mm f2 and I didn't seem to have a problem with MF. However, I find it highly suspicious that two people, who have had the same repair experience the exact same issue afterwards on the same lens.

 

[Bertfuji]

Hi,

 

 

I still have the issue, and I am waiting for low season to hand in the lens at the dealer. 
I can be mistaken but I am of the impression that it became a little bit better. In the beginning it steadily went from infinity to 0. Today it makes half of the time small jumps between infinity and 5m.

this would not bother me if the ability to switch between Evf and ovf was not hindered by this. Now it is very difficult to intuitively and quickly switch as the camera does not allow to switch when it thinks I am focusing the lens. 
 

lets keep eachother up to speed on this, as it is helpful to get info from people with the same issue.

 

 

greetings Bert
 

 

[Seanha]

Thank you so much for your reply Bert.
On Friday I went back to my Fuji dealer to try and see what they had to say about it all. This time around they told me that they would try some of their contacts regarding the issue and try to ascertain what the problem actually is. I will, of course, try to keep you updated on anything I hear from them - although they warned me that it might take awhile.

I agree that the issue isn't actually that serious. However, for me the two main issues are, as you mentioned, switching between evf and ovf is near impossible and program buttons are almost always locked. Secondly, parallax correction in the ovf also suffers significantly. FYI mine also only jumps about when set to infinity.

Mine did get better for a few days as well, but now it's back to where it started. I hope your dealer is of use - please let me know (as I'm sure you will) if it turns out to be a lens issue

Edited January 12 by Seanha

[Bertfuji]

Hi, 

update: I contacted yukosteel after discovering his very informative blog where he explains the disassembly of the voigtlander lenses. 
He responded very quickly and elaborately to my question and agreed to let me share his respons here. I understand he is member of this forum as well under @yukosteel. Therefore I attach his complete answer here. Do keep in mind he has not seen my copy and only received roughly the same info then I shared here. With his answer in mind, I will go to my dealer and hope the issue is within warranty 

Thank you for informing me about this interesting issue. From the symptoms you describe my first assumption is - the lens is providing incorrect information to camera.

The culprit is most likely the sliding contacts pair over the variable resistor (picture 7 in this article): https://www.yukosteel.com/2024/03/disassembly-voigtlander-27mm-f2-lens-in.html

Fuji XF 60mm F2.4 macro is known for sort of similar problem - contacts sliding over aperture ribbon board don't act properly and misinform camera about selected aperture.

Issue there is - the ribbon board is deforming and unsticking from inner surface, so contacts don't close the right electric loop.

I'd imagine that your Voigtlander 27mm lens has some accumulated dust or migrated grease over the resistor or maybe it has some surface defects that are resulting to incorrect voltage read by lens at particular contacts location.

One more option is - contact pair sliding over needs cleaning or straightening.

If it's my lens, I'd accurately open it to inspect that contacts and clean them inside. There is also a possibility that lens main board has some defect with chip or firmware, but I'm not experienced with electronics investigation to say for sure.

The worst case scenario would be to disable electronics in lens to use it in fully manual mode without aperture/distance info in camera. I don't remember if Cosina has more than 1year of warranty for this lens, but repair may be costly if reason is the lens.

Hope this thread helps other people with similar issues. 
 

greetings Bert

[Seanha]

Thank you for posting Bert.

Weird to me that the issue seems to have nothing to do with our new top plates. Maybe if our lenses have been sitting on the shelves while our repair was happening, it would cause the build-up that Yukosteel mentions because the lens is sitting upright for an extended period of time? 

I now might try my Voigtländer dealer as well...