Repair experience with the Xpro1

[tbarker13]

Some good and bad with my Xpro1.

I do most of my shooting in the studio, where I keep a small wooden box (it sits about 15 inches off the ground) that serves as a short gear table.
During a recent shoot, without really looking, I reached for my D700 and accidentally knocked the Fuji off the box and onto the wood floor.
The impact busted open the battery compartment door, breaking the tab that holds the door closed.

I sent the camera off to Fuji for repair.
Turns out the fall actually cracked the frame.
On the positive side, while it wasn't covered under the warranty, it cost about $160 to repair. And they've been pretty responsive. Turn-around time will be about 2 weeks.

I'll admit that my views on this are a little colored by the days of Nikon F3s that could fall five feet onto pavement and not miss a beat.
I don't expect a modern digital camera to come close to matching that level of durability.
But I do believe a camera supposedly geared toward pros should be able to handle a moderate amount of abuse without the frame cracking.

I told the Fuji repair tech I was surprised that thing could be so easily injured. He quickly jumped to the defense of the camera. "It's magnesium alloy," he exclaimed, as if to suggest the body were impervious to all but armor-piercing shells.

Maybe my camera struck at just the right angle to cause a freak accident. Or maybe I just got one with weak metal. Either way, I've lost a bit of confidence in the sturdiness of this "pro" camera.
I'd hate to see what would happen to this thing if it took a real tumble onto pavement.

 

[Viktor Sebastian]

Thats like 38cm... Not very high at all.

 

[kdemas]

That is pretty surprising that there would be damage to the frame. On the bright side the turnaround time seems decent.

 

[Paul T.]

Sorry your camera broke.

My Leica M3 was completely smashed when it took a tumble onto a pavement (around $160 to repair) - the Voigtlander VF, price around $200 was, according to Stephen Gandy, completely beyond repair. All for a drop from a low bench, around 18 inches

I wouldn't diss the Fuji for this, unless you've done a comparison - maybe drop a M8, a D800 and maybe a Sony from the same height in controlled conditions and see who comes out best. Your frustration doesn't necessarily equal a sub-par design.

 

[willie_901]

Sorry for your loss. But one sample (event) tells us very little except Fuji's repair CSS are reasonable.

 

[tbarker13]

Sorry for your loss. But one sample (event) tells us very little except Fuji's repair CSS are reasonable.

Very true. Of course, I make make no claim that this demonstrates XPro1 cameras are fragile.
Just that mine is not particularly sturdy.

 

[tbarker13]

I wouldn't diss the Fuji for this, unless you've done a comparison - maybe drop a M8, a D800 and maybe a Sony from the same height in controlled conditions and see who comes out best. Your frustration doesn't necessarily equal a sub-par design.

Your suggestion reminds me of the video done by the guy who torture tested (eventually destroying) a Nikon and Canon dslr. I do wonder how the various pro model cameras would handle falls from various heights. Would be an expensive test.

 

[hub]

Your suggestion reminds me of the video done by the guy who torture tested (eventually destroying) a Nikon and Canon dslr. I do wonder how the various pro model cameras would handle falls from various heights. Would be an expensive test.

If we are thinking about the same video, he completely tortured a Canon 7D in a later episode. Priceless. It still worked.

Back to Fuji repairs, I sent back my 35mm that had the front ring loose, and they replaced the whole lens. The bad part of the whole thing was actually the courier company, as usual (in Canada).

 

[Jamie Pillers]

Tim, a roll of black gaffer's tape should solve most of these problems. After you drop it a few times and then apply the tape to hold it all together, the camera becomes pretty shock resistant, what with all that tape covering it. 🙂

 

[coelacanth]

Sorry for what happened, but glad to hear it's all taken care of now.

I don't have much of knowledge with materials especially with modern stuff like magnesium alloy or carbon fiber, etc, but I remember my GR-D which was also magnesium covered developed a small crack without even me noticing it (never thought I dropped or stressed the camera). Although magnesium is very light and durable, it is rather prone to cracking compared to more "traditional" metals like steel or brass, at least from my limited experience.

On the positive side, it seems the repair is done within reasonable cost and turnaround. And definitely magnesium body is contributing to light weight so that's not all bad...

 

[GaryLH]

Man what a bummer. 🙁

Accidents happen... But at least the repair was quick and sounds to be reasonably priced.

Gary

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

In the old days, my first Nikon F Photomic FTN, being a bit top heavy, just flipped right out of the half case and fell from waist high onto pavement. Release the shutter once, wind, and everything was A-OK. Didn't even have a visible scratch or dent. That's bullet proof.

Recently, my D300 took a hard smack onto pavement. The hood on the 35 f/1.8 G took the brunt of it; camera and lens are A-OK. YMMV.

Glad yours was only $160.

 

[tbarker13]

Tim, a roll of black gaffer's tape should solve most of these problems. After you drop it a few times and then apply the tape to hold it all together, the camera becomes pretty shock resistant, what with all that tape covering it. 🙂

So true man.
I actually had to use the camera (which serves as my backup) on a couple shoots that I'd booked before the incident. Used gaffers tape to keep the battery door closed. Considered not even sending it in, as I thought that was the only thing that was wrong.
Never would have guessed the frame was actually cracked.

 

[aleksanderpolo]

Digital camera drop, the camera break

Nikon F drop, the ground break

 

[Landshark99]

Many years ago I dropped my first Nikon f with the Photomic FTN prism and 300 mounted on to the sidewalk, the impact pushed the shutter speed dial into the body, had it repaired, came back good as new and still I own that camera today.

 

[Keith]

Magnesium is an extremely rigid material with absolutely no give in it and near zero malleability. Great for rigidity and thermal stability but at a cost regarding sharp impacts.

The alloy of the chassis must have a high content for it to fracture this easily and obviously the blow was at a critical point.