For years I have enjoyed the using FujiFilm cameras. I have owned a HS10, a HS20exr and now a HS50exr. I really like the versatility these cameras offer for taking photos while I am out in the field hunting or scouting. Most of photos and video on my blog have been taken with FujiFilm digital cameras. They take really great outdoor photos.
Recently I noticed that my HS20exr camera was having faded areas in the center of my photos. I figured that a good cleaning of the lens would solve the problem however once I started cleaning the lens I quickly noticed that the cause of the problem was not dirt on the outside of the lens. The problem is caused by the lenses internally hitting against one another. When you return the zoom to 24mm the lenses stop moving by the outermost lens butting up against the next internal lens.
Over time the lenses stopping against one another has created a milky white area in the center of both of the lenses where they make contact. Unfortunately for me I did not notice the problem until after the warranty time had expired. Had I used the camera more the problem would have shown itself sooner and I would have fallen under the warranty.
After boxing up the camera and shipping it to FujiFilm their repair department informed me that they will need $167 to make the repair. After calling and explaining my point that this is clearly a design flaw in the camera they defaulted to "it's out of warranty." And so it is, I understand. I will just let others know to watch out for this problem in their FujiFilm EXR cameras so they too don't wind up with an expensive repair bill.
I figured that it was a no brainer that the lenses hitting against one another regardless of the warranty length was clearly a flaw in the manufactures design, something I thought FujiFilm would like to repair to keep their customers happy. I guess I was wrong.
I hope I didn't make a mistake in purchasing the HS50exr. I will be watching my HS50exr very closely to see if it develops the same problem. I hope that they have the problem corrected. I really do like the HS series of cameras. And so far the HS50exr has been performing very nicely. Although it has taken me a while to give up the AA batteries that the HS10 and HS20exr operated on. So far the proprietary battery in the HS50exr is working really well.
View some of the first photos from my HS50exr — 2013-2014 Mule Deer Photos With My FujiFilm HS50exr Camera
I declined to pay for the repair. Does anyone want to buy a really cheap, used, damaged lenses, HS20exr camera?
October 9, 2014 - UPDATE ON MY HS50EXR
It's been just over a year with my HS50exr and it has the same problem. The lenses hit against each other internally. The dings in the lenses are not that noticeable right now but they are definitely hitting each other. I'm sure it will be just as bad as my HS20exr got after another year. I called FujiFilm repair up two days before a year was up and the guy said something to the effect of "I have a HS10 HS20 and HS50 sitting right here and they don't have this problem" and he commenced to inform me that they don't do what I am saying they do. Well FujiFilm, YES THEY DO! He informed me that I could send it in for repair and I told him that I am using the camera heavily this fall and could not afford to be without it for the next few weeks. He then was nice and told me I could send it in with a note that we had talked about it. I'm going to need the camera up through the first of November before I can send it in. We'll see what happens when I do.