Posted by5 years ago

I've had some problems with Lens Droop on my X-S1 recently, to a point where it was becoming very frustrating. It sounds like many others have had the same problem.
This is where the lens will slide in or out by itself when the lens is pointing up or down.
Anyway I called the Fuji shop and they just said to bring it in anytime - it sounds like it is quite a common problem. I had the camera back within a week. They also replaced the circular button panel at the back as the up button had become a bit sticky.
There was no cost, all X series cameras have a three year warranty.
So the moral of the story is, if you have got any slight movement in the lens - just take it back, get it sorted for no cost and start enjoying a great camera again instead of moaning about it.

I have had no problem with lens droop but I have found this camera has a larger learning curve than some of my other cameras when it comes to manual settings. I wish there was more posted on this camera on youtube because the manual is not really user friendly.

Manual is basically all I shoot in. Manual is super-user friendly!

I may be missing something but since I am a newbie and manual requires me to make all decisions myself it is a little overwhelming right now. I just recently ventured into shutter and aperture priority.

lumixgrl:
Nothing wrong with that. I used to use Aperture priority 90% of the time. It is not a crime. Hehe.
Learning to understand apertures and how they affect your outcome, such as depth of field etc and then with shutter speeds and the need to increase this when zooming out to allow for the magnification of movement as well as view etc etc.
Lots to learn. We have all been there.
;-)
G.

Thanks again G. I have a Nikon D3200 and a Sony DCS RX-100 that are so great for beginners I could just point and shoot until I had a chance to learn more about aperture, shutter speed and ISO. I also have a Panasonic FZ200 that was a little frustrating but went on youtube and Graham Houghton had hours of videos that take you from auto to full manual and all the features in between. They are amazing and I got spoiled. My Dad a and I both were ready to buy a XS-1 and send it to him if he would do the same for it :-) I could not find anything near that detailed on the XS-1.

I have also recently encountered lens droop after owning the X-S1 for 14 months (if the camera is pointed downwards at any zoom setting other than maximum wide angle, the lens will extend fully - irritating for macro's). Fuji were somewhat truculent when approached ('it is normal, particularly with the lens hood on') but have agreed to look at it.

Received my X-s1 back from Fuji after reporting metering issues and lens movement.
Lens supposedly replaced, although just as bad. When tested there is a difference in image detail from when the lens is supported apposed to not, the barrel creeps.

I have mine back from Fuji - lens droop fixed with a new lens (different zoom/equivalence markings on the new one).

Im beginning to think they didnt do any repair to mine, aim down and the lens falls out , aim upwards the lens falls back in.
The most annoying issue is the shop where I purchased it from said that all lenses start to creep after use. The thing isnt 12 months old yet. Fuji did actually comment saying hasnt the shop offered a refund..interesting

dash40:
I went directly to the Fujifilm offices here in Auckland and although it took a couple of weeks for a new lense to come in (and the dial at the back of the camera - which was faulty) - they were very helpful and it was no problem for them to sort it out.
Sounds like the dealer hasn't done the right thing by you. Try going direct.

Have had mine for about 18 months - it'a a nice camera and produces great results.

HI Cap
Waste of time, the lens creeps out at 55 degrees when you have the camera upwards or downwards. Shop said nothing wrong, email from Fuji saying characteristic, although they mixed up my camera with another and kept saying it had no creep until they realised it wasn't mine. Soon as they tried mine they said suffer from lens droop but a technician says they can't rectify it.

I bought mine in August 2014 , serial 30Xxxxx and was pleased to see.. no drop at all , great Camera. Weeks ago in vacations in Fuerteventura something happened and it looked like dirty found a way to the sensor. In every picture was a black dot. So I sent the camera for cleaning. Camera returned fixed .. they replaced the lens!! and now.. I have a camera with lens drop. It is very frustrating for me. I was so proud of my tight camera. I even became the feeling it is now another camera. I may send the camera back for a control, they said, but I am skeptical if it will work out. I am in Germany.

I've had mine (S/N 33A01XXX) since February of 2014 and it had a minor lens droop problem that I felt I could live with. Not so - Now it's loose-as-a-goose and the lens barrel has a considerable amount of side play at full zoom; minor amount at full-wide. I've never dropped or even bumped this thing; always cared for with TLC.
Called the repair shop (Edison, NJ USA) today and they said to send it in and it may still be covered as a warranty issue.
Has anyone had any experience with this repair center?
By the way, I love this camera! It will be sorely missed for a few weeks.

well, people from all around the world are here. Probably nobodyelse have experience with this repair shop, but when they are an official Fuji Repair Station your camera is in good hands. The lens of my X-S1 was replaced for a new one recently here in Germany because some dirty in the tube was disturbing the images. The 1st lens was tight and smooth like a dream. This 2nd has lens droop. I sent it a 2nd time to them and it was sent back because the 'lens droop was within the tolerance and specs'. Anyway the X-S1 is such a wonderful , versatil camera. I will buy soon a Sony A7ii and continue loving my Fuji until a X-S2 is released. :-)

'Just an ol' nature boy takin' a picture':
I've had 3 repairs done through the Edison facility: an HS25 that suddenly developed bad auto exposure, and an X10 with a bad sensor. All three times, Edison did just fine; my biggest problem was the dismay at having my camera out of commission for a couple of weeks while I waited for shipping & then repair.

Thanks fujimore_fujitsu:
and cantanima:
for your kind responses. I did ship the unit off last week after realizing this shop was an actual Fujifilm repair site.
Not excited about a 2-3 week repair time, but that's what I was told up front, so we will see. I'm presently using the old FinePix S700, which is a great little camera, but I miss the features and heftier stability of my X-S1.
I'll let you folks know how this turns out in the end - keep those great shots coming.

Hello Folks, a new X-S1 owner as of 7 hours ago...and so far loving this thing! :-)
Anyway, I KNEW that I would get a camera with the droops, so how I fixed it was with a large, wide rubber band. It is wide enough to cover the seam/gap between the Zoom & Focus rings, and when applied I can shake that camera a good amount (within reason of course) and the barrel does not budge.
Just wanted to toss that out there, and I hope to post some pics up as soon as I get outside and take some! ;-)

thx, very helpful. tell us.. what about making videos? no compromisses, is the tube also by doing videos working well with rubber band?

The only videos I have done have been tripod mounted, but next weekend it is camping time..so I hope to give it a full workout then.
But I have to ask, why would there be a difference between photo & video? I mean you still roll the RB back to zoom, which, in turns allows the focus ring to be free...

Update 6/5/15 - For the latest on my X-S1 lens droop issue, go here:

e_buy_sell:
when the cam has a 'lens drop' the tube move also with less friction. For macro pictures the tube moves on its own, that's not good. OK. by making videos I found it easier to zoom in and out. The less friction makes it easier, hand holding. The camera is great anyway.

Update 2/13/16 - A couple of months back, following numerous phone calls and empty promises, I decided that the Edison facility probably would never get any new lenses in, so I called them and asked to have my camera returned (unrepaired), before something happened to it. The one they had sent initially wasn't any better than mine was.
The fellow I spoke with assured me he had my camera in his hand and would ship it out to me as soon as they received the replacement camera from me. I shipped it back to them as soon as I got a shipping label from them - another couple of weeks without an X-S1. At this time, he also stated that they were unable to get any new lenses from Fujifilm.
I anxiously awaited the arrival of my camera, only to open the box to find yet another replacement. I called back. He then assured me that he still had my camera in his hand but that the one they sent to me had had a new lens installed. (Suddenly a question formed in my mind: 'If they can install a new lens in the replacement camera, why couldn't they install it in my camera?)
The next communication with him resulted in a request that I check the camera out. I did - it was junk. Extreme distortion and other issues.
Once more I contacted the repair center and was re-assured that he had my camera in hand and as soon as they got the second replacement back, they would send my camera back to me. I shipped it back - without an X-S1 once again.
The next camera that I received turned out to be the same one I had just returned (At this time I learned that they supposedly, somehow were able to get a new lens out of Canada to put on that camera).
Extensive e-mail correspondence leading up to and following this point in time included the last message from them (after assuring me numerous times since last May, that they had my camera in hand) stating that my camera had most likely been shipped back to Japan with other returned cameras. I have since advised the New Jersey facility that my next correspondence will be with Tokyo Headquarters.
Bottom line at this point: 'Don't lie to me Edison, New Jersey Repair Facility.'
I just hope that my efforts will help to prevent others from having to go through similar issues with this Factory Authorized Repair Facility. If I receive a response from Tokyo, I will update you here.

What a kerfuffle!