Fell while shooting - X100 in the mud

Rob MacKillop

Rob MacKillop

Edinburgh Correspondent
Yesterday I was out shooting around the Water of Leith in Edinburgh. At one point I was all set to press the trigger, when the ground - soft mud on an incline - gave way. I fell in less than a second, and the camera went face down in the soft mud.

I gave it a wipe as best I could, and took more shots which seem to have come out fine. Lucky escape? Maybe. But this morning when I was taking some macro shots in the garden, very often when turning the camera from landscape to portrait angle, the screen would black out, and I couldn't take a shot. Each time I had to go back to landscape to get a picture on the screen, then very slowly twist the camera into portrait angle.

I'm talking manual turning of the camera, not a selected digital mode.

So, two questions - the obvious: what is wrong with my camera? But also - what do you guys recommend to take with you when out and about, to clean your lens with?

Mine is a refurb, so I'm not sure if the blacking out is covered by the license, especially if it resulted from the fall, although the connection between the two is not certain.
 
I guess that if the orientation sensor is electro-mechanical (some are based on a simple metal ball in cage) then it might have some residue in it that is causing it to stick. If so, then that means that stuff has got into the body (I doubt they are that well sealed) and so it would be worth getting it serviced as these may cause abrasion and other, longer-term damage. Bad news but at least you're OK.
 
In the the long term it would be good to make sure. Give Fuji a call and see what they think? If it isn't covered by warranty there may be an independent repairer in Edinburgh that can check and clean it (quicker and cheaper). I sent my Mamiya 7 off the other week to Teamwork Digital in London to get the shutter issue sorted. They sent it to an independent specialist who serviced and sorted it in 3 days. Only £126 + VAT. It was worth the pain of absence (mind I can't see to use it at the moment anyway!).

Be brave, a few sleepless nights will be worth it. And you can always catch up on some editing!! ;)
 
That's certainly true.

I'll give Fuji a call. There is one good camera shop in Edinburgh, in the Morningside district, which has a good reputation for repairs. Can't recall their name off hand, but I know where to find it.
 
You sure you don't have the X100 set to auto detect your eye to switch between rear LCD and viewfinder EVF?

I have had this set, and just the way I'm holding the camera in portrait orientation has triggered the proximity sensor on the viewfinder, causing the rear LCD to switch-off, as the image is now being displayed in the EVF.

The camera sensor sees my hand near the viewfinder, and assumes I'm putting the camera to my face - so switches the viewfinder image on!

You can switch this mode off and force it to stay on rear LCD to avoid this issue. Use the View Mode button to cycle through the options.

Hoping this is it!

Also - the rear LCD is polarized, so wearing polarized sunglasses means that the image can go black when you rotate the camera through 90 degrees.
 
Last edited:
Thinking about it - also check the eye-proximity sensor ports, ringed here in red - in case you got mud in there

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I'm sorry to hear that Rob.......... If it's, as they say, "buggered" ........ It might be covered on your home contents insurance.

Pete
 
What would I do without you, Chris? You got it spot on. Now that I know what the problem is, I'm finding that the camera works perfectly as it should, either with the proximity sensor on or off. No need to make a nuisance of myself at Fuji!

Many thanks, Chris!
 
Glad that sorted it Rob :)

I carry a microfiber lens cloth that came with a pair of sunglasses - does well at removing finger prints etc, or mud!

I use glass wipes if I'm doing a serious clean back at home, then finish off with the MF cloth

I also keep my blower in my camera bag, to allow me to blow loose dust etc off the lens or camera, before using the cloth.

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I use a blower for dust and have lint-free wipes etc for the studio but my main 'tool' is a Zeiss lens cleaning cloth (and fluid every now and then). The only reason I use Zeiss is that Robert White keep giving them to me when I buy equipment from them. And the CP2.1s came with yet another cleaning set!
 
What a wally Rob, I bet you was gutted.........!!

Glad all turned out well in the end thank goodness

Daz
 
Good news indeed
When I read it it sounded familiar ... When we first go a Sony a100 in the shop there was some issue with an eye sensor ... I can't remember what but now Chris has mentioned the eye sensor it rings a bell...
Anyway, I'm wittering again...
No harm done in the end wish is good!
I use my tshirt for lens cleaning ... Much the the dismay of those around me ... Thankfully I'm quite careful with lenses ... I've found the best method for cleaning a lens is to not throw your self into a pool of mud ;)
 
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