Fujinon horror story

M

Mac

Well-known member
I need to preface this by saying that, although I am by no means a qualified technician, I have, because of circumstances, had to tweak my cameras and lenses occasionally in the field in over 40 years of professional experience - and I have regularly removed and replaced motors or cranks on every zoom lens that had them (I've never liked the lens/grip on video cameras or the cranks on Angenieuxs).

I have a Fujinon XA17X7,6BRM-M58B lens on my HPX500. After a year and a half of use, I decided to finally take the time to remove the zoom motor and get a custom-made cable (from Able's) to use my Aaton wooden grip to start and stop the camera ... Fine, no problem. However...

I removed the motor and replaced the three 3mm screws to keep dust out of the lens. I used a small jeweler's phillip's head and seated them finger tight, planning to put tape over them to keep them from loosening and falling out.

When I tried the zoom, manually of course, there was suddenly a bump midway in the range.. The simple act of replacing those screws had damaged the zoom cam.

I sent the camera to Ables for repair, and they sent it to Fujinon, where it still is after 3 weeks awaiting a part. The estimate for repair is $3,200! That's half what it cost - And I've lost a month of use of my camera.

It is necessary sometimes to remove a zoom motor, for whatever reason - in my case I just don't like them - so for a lens to be designed so poorly that the mere act of replacing these easily removed screws (they're simple phillips, not torx or something exotic) causes this kind of damage is unacceptable. Especially given the fact that there is no warning in any of Fujinon's literature.
 
I went through the same thing disassembling my Sachtler head when it went through a dust storm. About half way through disassembling, I decided I was in over my head because things inside there were not "normal" and logical, you needed some special tools and knowledge that I did not have. So I dropped it off at Vitec and they cleaned it out and put it all back together.

Sometimes with pro gear, you can get yourself into trouble without even knowing it, as you have experienced.

Dan
 
Have you guys ever used "pro gear" in an underwater housing or in a Tyler helicopter mount? I have, and I've removed the zoom motor, or any obstruction... So called "pro gear" should be designed to be used by professionals in the manner they need to use it for the given application...

But I will dignify your comments with direct answers - no, there is no warning of any kind on the zoom motor, or in the instruction sheet (unless it wasn't translated into English)..

And the actual disassembly of a complex piece of equipment in the field is not akin to removing three phillips head screws in order to remove a zoom motor. We're talking the difference between an appendectomy and a removing a mole.

Look, I graduated from UCLA film school and have held a documentary card with 2 unions. I designed and built my own hand-holdable modified 16mm camera based on an Auricon Cinevoice in the early 70's, with which I shot ACAPULCO GOLD. I've shot with every type of camera from Panaflex to Sony PD150 - I should be able to remove a zoom motor without destroying the lens.
 
Hi Mac,

The "Old Pro gear ain't what it used to be", Now days if a product lasts the Warranty period your lucky, any usable service life after that is a bonus in my experience of today's electronics.
Your very lucky to have the time and experience/no-how to be able to repair the odd component, these days I try to charge as much as possible to be able to replace my gear every two - three years, anything after that is free time I've found.
Let's face it, not much in today's electronics is designed to be repaired, and also lots of gear is not the quality it used to be..
I had My (12 Month old) tripod head "Spew" grease from the tilt seals, the warranty reapirer took two months to make a fix , and advised that it had microscopic dirt in the seal area, well, I knew if I used it outside one day it would get dirty and blow the seals.

Maybe an non authorized Lens repairer could effect a more cost effective repair.

cheers and good luck
Tom K
olinevideo.com.au
 
Yes, I've taken almost all of my equipment apart. I'm also a tech, so I understand electronics.

Some electronic equipment is throw-away, some not. There are some things I can't fix any longer. Like the extremely small circuit boards in the small hand-held cameras. It's hard to get the parts, and they want too much for the board,,, so throw away.

When you send in your $10,000 broadcast camera, they want to change out the boards, instead of fixing the caps, which usually dry out. I can find, and change a 50 cent cap, instead paying $400 or more for a board. It's B.S., but that's how all the big companys make money. And, the techs are too lazy to trace down a bad part on the board. Fast turnover is the key for them.

I can fix the electronic part of a lens, but not the glass it's self. If there is a problem in the lens mechanism, I'll send it out to a private repair man. I don't know how 3 screws would effect your problem, but I would like to know the verdict when you get your lens back

JohnnyD
 
I got my lens back, it cost $3,250 to repair -

What I did was replace the screws after removing the zoom motor (and I did not cinch them down, they were merely finger tightened with a small jeweler's screwdriver) and apparently the one on the bottom crushed the zoom cam, which must be made out of tinfoil...

Say what you will, but this is a BAD design.. litigators call something with easy access and leads to dire results an "attractive nuisance", and this is certainly that... Three easily accessed phillips head screws.

Okay, but here's the kicker... After paying nearly a grand for an accessory coupler and a custom cable for my Aaton grip, it turns out that the CAC won't work without the zoom motor attached - it seems that there is no way to manually tell the camera that a CAC lens is attached (and before you ask, no, there is no function in the zoom motor assembly that controls CAC, it is merely a signal to tell the camera the lens is there - but, like I say, it cannot be done manually).

So, $3,250 for repairs, another $1,000 for the grip setup, about $6,000 in lost work while my lens was away - and I am left with something that I have to put back the way it was (which I detest).
 
Hmmm,
We say here downunder, when things start badly, they only get worse after that... The glass or plastic in that lens must be real cheap if the Zoom cam is so dam expensive, I will remember your story mac, if my Fujinon ever chucks a zoom cam.
Fingers crossed it performs good from now on for you.

Cheers
Tom K
olinevideo.com.au
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top