Fuji "And I'm Down to Seeds & Stems Again..."

KillRamsey

Hall of Famer
Location
Hood River, OR
Name
Kyle
Well, the XT1 has its 2nd dead shutter.

About 3 years ago (?) my shutter began to stick halfway open on the XT1, finally sticking for god one day at an open streets festival. I sent it off to Fuji’s repair center in New Jersey, and for about $350 (?) they replaced the shutter, motherboard, top plate + dials, and all rubber. I was delighted.

This past weekend, the shutter froze up again. I believe in both cases, the shutters had about 50k actuations on them. Meanwhile my wife’s going to give birth (surrogate) in 2-3 weeks, and I’ve got plenty of things that need shooting, so I’m back to the old 2012 X100. I still love it emotionally, but shooting a school event this morning reminded how hard it is to capture decisive moments with AF that slow. I miss my higher ISO performance. MY GOD MAN I miss exposure preview!!! I am not an Auto Shooter anymore, but I’m having to guess and chimp like some common DSLR owning newbie.

I feel like I’ve lost a friend. When we have money, which will be in like a month, I can send it for repairs. Meanwhile it’s cold turkey.
 
Sorry to hear that. And at such a bad time for you. At this point, do you think it would be worth it for you to grab a used X-T2 instead of repairing the T1?
 
I assume the repair cost will be about like last time. That rubber they put on last time held up REALLY well, as has the top plate. But when I take the lens off, there's my shutter, stuck closed. :(

I can work around the X100's little quirks to a degree, but it doesn't stop being a little frustrating. I know what I’m missing now. I do, however, still love what’s RIGHT about the X100. Not having to second guess lens choices… Luke’s affore-mentioned gorgeous files, tiny form factor, tiny bag. But full-stop aperture clicks? Really, Fuji? No front dial for shutter tweaks? NO EXPOSURE PREV---I’ll just stop now.

Great question, repair vs XT2. I need to look up what they’re going for now. Almost prefer an XE3, but that’s probably more $ than an XT2.
 
Keep an eye out. They're still out there.

There's an X-T2 with power grip and extra oem battery at FM for $775. Sell the grip for $150. Less shipping and PP fees that's not too bad.

A few weeks ago, with the initial X-T3 onslaught I picked one up for $750 with grip and RRS L-plates. I sold the L plates and traded the grip for a 50-230. A nice net $.

Today, I saw an X-E3 for $500(no box and only two wasabi batteries) so more like $550. Saw and bought. I'll run the X-T2 and X-E3 side by side for a few weeks and keep the one I like better. I have a strong feeling it's going to be the E3 though.

There's a few T20s for around the $500 mark. Not a fan myself but a good value nonetheless.

Anyway sorry to hear about the shutter(s).
And absolutely love the title. Brought me back to much simpler times. ( :
 
Shooting sporting events with the old X100 is ... a challenge, but when you have no alternative, you can do it. Given that yesterday's cyclocross race was in blazing sun with pockets of dark shade, I gave the F up on any kind of auto, including focus, after enough blown attempts. What worked for me, as much for my own memory as anybody else's enjoyment:

1. OVF, which I never once enjoyed when all I had was this camera. But the EVF lag is unacceptable to me now. Blackout on every shot, albeit it brief. No, no no no no.
2. Manual shutter speed (fast), aperture (middling), and ISO (low).
3. Pre-focus on a spot about 15 feet away, and lock it.
4. Wait with camera on, and when people are coming, frame and fire.
5. Chimp, like some gall-derned DSLR owner instead of a mirrorless owner, because the X100 won't show you exposure preview. Results ok? Keep them. If not, adjust.

Note: After you chimp your last shot, the camera drops your AFL lock, so you have to re-do it. Timing is also tricky, I blew it a lot. More of a lag between depress and shutter actuation. TINY difference, but still when your subjects are flying past, it mattered.

Wife caught me during my race, coming down off the concrete structure. On full auto, I was very dark. Had to lift it a ton in post.
31473774598_9575f13621_b.jpg
DSCF8618
by gordopuggy, on Flickr

My shots...

This is a "handup," in which spectators offer things to the racers as they speed by. In this case, it's a dollar. Other options include food, beer, whisky, etc.
44435143955_273c9a81e0_b.jpg
DSCF8662
by gordopuggy, on Flickr

The affore-mentioned concrete "flyover" structure. All but a handfull lift their bikes over it, running. But those few...are a sight to behold as they bunny-hop it at full speed.
31473835458_23a2fee556_b.jpg
DSCF8808P
by gordopuggy, on Flickr

31473837028_e5da422355_b.jpg
DSCF8794P
by gordopuggy, on Flickr

What a graceful carry looks like:
30409451227_54af39b6dc_b.jpg
DSCF8847P
by gordopuggy, on Flickr

What a "didn't lift the bike high enough" carry results in (bike smashes into concrete, rebounds up around behind you):
30409453447_fb0844b30c_b.jpg
DSCF8832
by gordopuggy, on Flickr

And what it looks like when you didn't quiiiiite hop high enough, and your chain ring grinds on the concrete lip. He lost 3 of his gear teeth in this moment. But he cleared it!
31473831968_b11a8c9f89_b.jpg
DSCF8856P
by gordopuggy, on Flickr
 
Shooting sporting events with the old X100 is ... a challenge, but when you have no alternative, you can do it. Given that yesterday's cyclocross race was in blazing sun with pockets of dark shade, I gave the F up on any kind of auto, including focus, after enough blown attempts. What worked for me, as much for my own memory as anybody else's enjoyment:

1. OVF, which I never once enjoyed when all I had was this camera. But the EVF lag is unacceptable to me now. Blackout on every shot, albeit it brief. No, no no no no.
2. Manual shutter speed (fast), aperture (middling), and ISO (low).
3. Pre-focus on a spot about 15 feet away, and lock it.
4. Wait with camera on, and when people are coming, frame and fire.
5. Chimp, like some gall-derned DSLR owner instead of a mirrorless owner, because the X100 won't show you exposure preview. Results ok? Keep them. If not, adjust.

Note: After you chimp your last shot, the camera drops your AFL lock, so you have to re-do it. Timing is also tricky, I blew it a lot. More of a lag between depress and shutter actuation. TINY difference, but still when your subjects are flying past, it mattered.

Wife caught me during my race, coming down off the concrete structure. On full auto, I was very dark. Had to lift it a ton in post.
View attachment 188371DSCF8618 by gordopuggy, on Flickr

My shots...

This is a "handup," in which spectators offer things to the racers as they speed by. In this case, it's a dollar. Other options include food, beer, whisky, etc.
View attachment 188372DSCF8662 by gordopuggy, on Flickr

The affore-mentioned concrete "flyover" structure. All but a handfull lift their bikes over it, running. But those few...are a sight to behold as they bunny-hop it at full speed.
View attachment 188373DSCF8808P by gordopuggy, on Flickr

View attachment 188374DSCF8794P by gordopuggy, on Flickr

What a graceful carry looks like:
View attachment 188375DSCF8847P by gordopuggy, on Flickr

What a "didn't lift the bike high enough" carry results in (bike smashes into concrete, rebounds up around behind you):
View attachment 188376DSCF8832 by gordopuggy, on Flickr

And what it looks like when you didn't quiiiiite hop high enough, and your chain ring grinds on the concrete lip. He lost 3 of his gear teeth in this moment. But he cleared it!
View attachment 188377DSCF8856P by gordopuggy, on Flickr
Looks like you were out at PIR. I was told by a co-worker he was out there racing. Took a header on a turn, but hey, finished 36th out of 150ish I think ;)

I didn't think those big tires were allowed in psychocross :D
 
Looks like you were out at PIR. I was told by a co-worker he was out there racing. Took a header on a turn, but hey, finished 36th out of 150ish I think ;)

I didn't think those big tires were allowed in psychocross :D

Yes indeed, Portland Int'l Raceway. My first time there. I wiped out in one turn as well, got a nice gash on my claf and derailed my chain up front, lost a few places getting going again. Stupid damned acorns...

As for rules, I barely know what's ok or not. I know you can't have bar ends or forward-pointing bars, so nobody gets speared. But big fat tires... if he wants to haul them around, I say have at it.

You know who your buddy races with? Or is he not on a team? I may have a shot of him, depending on his category.
 
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