Inconsistent exposure since firmware 1.13

[David_Manning]

For the past couple of days (since I've updated the firmware to 1.13) I've been having inconsistent exposures. Every couple of shots will be very underexposed, but the difference is in shutter speed (not aperture, which is overexposed when it gets the dreaded sticky situation). Whereas the normal exposure might be 1/250 second, the camera will shoot an odd frame at 1/850 or 1/900 and underexpose by a couple of stops. I'm using auto ISO.

Anyone else heard of this problem or experienced this phenomenon?

 

[Richard G]

No. Sounds bad. I have had underexposures, but that is because of loss of contact between the speed selector and the internal machinery, so that my A setting fails to communicate and it sets to 1/4000s under the top plate. It is in at Fuji for the second time for this problem. Is your battery fully charged? Amazing number of weird camera behaviours can apparently be low charge in the battery.

 

[David_Manning]

Battery is near full. I think I'll remove the battery overnight to see if anything changes in the morning.

The X100 takes amazing pictures, but I never had a problem like this with my M6 classic 😉

 

[boomguy57]

I hope it's not the dreaded sticky aperture blade issue!

 

[Richard G]

Wedding of a friend this afternoon and no X100. I'll be taking the 54 year old M2 instead.

 

[Mr_Toad]

I just purchased an X100...at the nice Precision Camera discount for RFF'ers...but it came with the 1.11 Firmware version installed. Maybe I should hold off on upgrading...hmmm...

I did Google problems with the X100 1.13 firmware, but only found your question on another forum...at least so far only found that item.

Robt.

 

[Bike Tourist]

I just purchased an X100...at the nice Precision Camera discount for RFF'ers...but it came with the 1.11 Firmware version installed. Maybe I should hold off on upgrading...hmmm...

I did Google problems with the X100 1.13 firmware, but only found your question on another forum...at least so far only found that item.

Robt.

Like you, I bought the X100 from Precision Camera (good people). I had already anticipated upgrading the firmware and already had ver. 1.13 in my computer. As soon as I received the camera I upgraded the firmware. It went smoothly with no subsequent problems.

I wouldn't worry. There is always the case somewhere, the exception, that is unlucky enough to have difficulties. That doesn't mean you will.

 

[greyelm]

The thing to remember is that 1.13 is the same as 1.12 apart from language extensions. 1.12 has been around for a while and as far as I know has no confirmed issues so I can't see your problem being firmware. Before you return it to Fuji I would try a reset from the menu and then shoot a few images with the camera defaults, if there are no problems then check each of your setting changes one at a time to see if the problem returns.

 

[rbelyell]

ive had my X since november and exposure has been spot on until a few weeks ago. i still have 1.12 software. what ive seen only occurs at higher apertures, 4/5.6-8. outside in bright light f2-2.8 is perfect; around 4-8 underexposed at least a stop. but heres a real kicker: indoors f2-2.8 still perfect, but then around 4-8 are extremely over exposed! ive had the same settings since i first got the camera.

as i type this i'm not sure if this actually started hapening since i upgraded to 1.12...

its like someone above said, that theres no proper communication at times when its underexposing. but then, when its overexposing at the same high apertures it seems that the SS/iso is correct but blades arent closing!

this is really wierding me out because its so inconsistent, but then again so consistently inconsistent, with polar opposite problems depending on lighting??!!

i'm planning today to upgrade, reformat and reset to see if that helps. if anyone has any other thoughts/suggestions, please let me know!
thanks
tony

 

[gavinlg]

ive had my X since november and exposure has been spot on until a few weeks ago. i still have 1.12 software. what ive seen only occurs at higher apertures, 4/5.6-8. outside in bright light f2-2.8 is perfect; around 4-8 underexposed at least a stop. but heres a real kicker: indoors f2-2.8 still perfect, but then around 4-8 are extremely over exposed! ive had the same settings since i first got the camera.

as i type this i'm not sure if this actually started hapening since i upgraded to 1.12...

its like someone above said, that theres no proper communication at times when its underexposing. but then, when its overexposing at the same high apertures it seems that the SS/iso is correct but blades arent closing!

this is really wierding me out because its so inconsistent, but then again so consistently inconsistent, with polar opposite problems depending on lighting??!!

i'm planning today to upgrade, reformat and reset to see if that helps. if anyone has any other thoughts/suggestions, please let me know!
thanks
tony

You have the old lens unit/sticky aperture blade problem. You'll have to send it in to fujifilm and they'll fix it for free and stick an improved lens unit on it.

The way that you can test for this 100% is to take the camera indoors, set it to aperture priority, put it on a tripod or table somewhere the light won't change, and take pictures through the aperture range up to f16. If the smaller apertures are vastly overexposed compared to the large ones, you have the SAB problem. Good news is, once it's fixed, it's fixed. My fixed one has been flawless.

 

[gavinlg]

For the past couple of days (since I've updated the firmware to 1.13) I've been having inconsistent exposures. Every couple of shots will be very underexposed, but the difference is in shutter speed (not aperture, which is overexposed when it gets the dreaded sticky situation). Whereas the normal exposure might be 1/250 second, the camera will shoot an odd frame at 1/850 or 1/900 and underexpose by a couple of stops. I'm using auto ISO.

Anyone else heard of this problem or experienced this phenomenon?

This may sound stupid but check to see you haven't put your metering mode on spot by accident.

 

[rbelyell]

You have the old lens unit/sticky aperture blade problem. You'll have to send it in to fujifilm and they'll fix it for free and stick an improved lens unit on it.

The way that you can test for this 100% is to take the camera indoors, set it to aperture priority, put it on a tripod or table somewhere the light won't change, and take pictures through the aperture range up to f16. If the smaller apertures are vastly overexposed compared to the large ones, you have the SAB problem. Good news is, once it's fixed, it's fixed. My fixed one has been flawless.

thank you gavin, much appreciated. you know, thats what i assumed, but in yiur opinion, how does that account for the underexposure at high apertures outdoors? it appears the blades are closing there but the SS is off? is it more than one problem, or some weird subset of the sticky ap problem?

 

[peripatetic]

It sounds like the SAB problem.

 

[David_Manning]

Okay, Sorry about the delay in my response guys.

I took out the battery overnight, and when I reinstalled it, the camera operated perfectly.

Must have been some weird 'trons, but a power re-boot did the trick. Upon further examination, I think the autoISO wasn't doing it's job, even though it was selected in the menu.

It's working fine now.