Black Image Recorded

[Carlton]

Here is a photo of what my S2 is recording. It is totally black when viewed, however this is what it looks like with the levels cranked. (It's already been sent to Fuji)

[Linda G]

Hmm...Looks like you ran into a brick wall.

[Carlton]

Hmm...Looks like you ran into a brick wall.

My thoughts also! Just heard from Fuji today, no charge for repair. But, they are saying 2 more weeks, even for the pro cameras. (but she did put a rush on it....) They are super backed up!

[frankgh]

First let me apologize for my long absence. Work keeps me VERY BUSY! I was in Kauala Lumpur last week and got one chance to go out and shoot some photos. I went to Batu Caves a Hindi Temple with a ton of monkeys. Luckily I to a couple shots before climbing the 272 almost vertical steps to find that my CCD had died. I keep you guys informed on my out of warranty repair here in Japan.

[Carlton]

Frank,

Sorry to hear of your camera. Sounds like a fantastic place to photograph, hope you can make it back.

I got my camera back much faster than expected (glad they put a rush on it).
The CCD was replaced at no charge.

Best of success with your camera!

[killians913]

Carlton,

It's happened to me now as well. My S2 just came up with a black screen after taking a photo. Is there anyone in particular that you spoke to at Fuji who you felt was helpful and responsive that you would suggest I speak to directly?

Thanks for your help!

Lockett

[Carlton]

Carlton,

It's happened to me now as well. My S2 just came up with a black screen after taking a photo. Is there anyone in particular that you spoke to at Fuji who you felt was helpful and responsive that you would suggest I speak to directly?

Thanks for your help!

Lockett

It was really the first person who I spoke at Fuji. I told them it was not recording image, that it came up black on viewfinder. The lady just told me to send it in for them to inspect. I don't think it was even necessary (I may be wrong) to call first. The next time (if) anything goes wrong I'm going to just ship it to them with a detailed note. I was persistant calling them to find out when it would be ready, took a couple of weeks as they are behind. I sent it to them 2-3 day and they shipped it back next day air. (maybe because I bugged them too much)....

[frankgh]

I just dropped mine off at a local camera repair shop here in Okinawa. They are sending it to Fuji in mainland Japan. They told me to expect 2 weeks and I would have to pay for shipping, 1500 Yen, about $13.50 USD. I'll let y'all know when it comes back!

[globug]

Hey there Frank nice seeing you back, although I confess to being quite "intermittent" myself due to a lot of o/seas travel.

As it happens my camera and spare S2 just arrived back from Edison NJ, I'd sent them in after experiencing totally black frames albeit intermittently on BOTH; one was while shooting formals at a friend's wedding, the other while 80 ft down trying to shoot a cleaner inside a grouper's mouth. Obviously didn't get that shot. At the time, I thought maybe strobe failure but even then one should see something on the frame, not complete black.

The black frames reappeared only occasionally, in between them I was able to get many perfectly good shots. But the experience killed my confidence that I could really depend on them in a situation that mattered. Especially after reading some others' posts here that if totally black frames are showing, it will become a complete failure sooner or later.

All I can say, thank goodness for this site and learning from others' experiences. It really empowers us all. I was able to identify the problem and deal effectively with the folks at Fuji.

Fujis initial response was they'd have to charge me for a switch-out, saying the problem was only intermittent and no complete failure had occurred, therefore what I'd requested was considered precautionary. But I persisted after learning from others here where my old sensors were heading.

At the end of the day Fuji came through nicely, they pushed the repair through quickly and got me my camera back in time to do a volunteer shoot for a local charity organization.

Glo

[snapshot69II]

From what I've been reading on several of these threads, it seems that should anyone experience a totally dead or partially dead sensor, just call Fuji tell them your problem and they will fix it for free. Is this correct?

They will do this even if you're out of warranty?

So far I'm lucky with only about 4-6 dead pixels. I'm convinced that I need a second back-up camera just in case.

Does anyone know if Fuji has fixed this problem concerning the S2 or will it continue for the S3 also?

Are Nikon and Canon experiencing the same problems?

[yowch]

My S2pro, with sensor replaced last October (2004) has gone 9500 shots and 10 months. Then the sensor gave up on me again.

Well, Fujifilm Singapore charged only a very small labour fee, and waived the parts cost. Another new sensor and PCB in my S2pro body.

Sent in on Monday (8 August 2005) and got it back on Friday (12 August 2005).

Technician's advice: keep the sensor and PCB cool. When not in use, put to 'off' or 'standby'. Now I set my standby to 15 seconds. Previously, it was 2 minutes.

[chaser of light]

The curse of the black image has hit my S2 tonight too :mad: and its not even a 32lxxxx its a 33Lxxx :confused:

maybe my microdrive died??I have no other media to test :trout

[mzip]

I bouhgt a second hand fuji s2 camera in USA. 32A1585. (only one and a half year old) After 2000 shots the CCD has died. When I shot photos the images are black (only when I press in bulb shutter speed is white or violet and white). I live in Spain and I have not the purchase prove. Fuji NJ told me that is necesary to have it and to be in warranty. In Spain Fuji Barcelona tell me that the repair is about 650 $. ufffffffff. and only 2 moth warranty. I can´t believe it. So Im going to drop it and buy a new D70s with 5 years of warranty. Anybody can help me in order to have a better alternative?.
If I repair the camera............ what ´will happen with this second CCD?.
thanks a lot.
I don´t like Fuji cameras. Not s2 nor s3 or whatever.

[aliyusaf]

Mzip... Don't despair. I had almost the same problem. I bought my camera in Hong Kong and live in the UAE. I had lost my receipt and the camera was two years old. The local dealer quoted me about 1500 dollars for a repair. So I emailed Fuji directly in Japan. One week later I got an email from the dealer telling me to bring the camera in as it would be repaired for free. Apparently Fuji had got in touch with them directly and told them to do it. There is some long standing Fuji announcement to their dealers to repair them for free.

So my advice is get in touch with Fuji head office in Japan.

Good luck!

[BadpicKev]

For everyone in europe, give Fuji Germany a call.

[mzip]

And.... What about shipping cost (go and return)?
thanks a lot

[LB Photo]

I have had my S2 for 15 months when a few weeks ago I was in the middle of shooting a wedding when my CCD went black. I tried changing batteries etc. nothing worked. Thank godness for back up cameras. When I finished shooting and had time to play around with my camera it was working just fine. Now I am confused.

I shot another 200 images with no problems and then it happened again. The CCD went black but then worked for the next several shots, then black again, then working.

I am taking it to Fuji for repairs after reading the articles written here but they have not seemed anxious to admit it may be a CCD problem.

I have lost my confidence in the S2 and keep my back up close at hand. Not a good feeling when shooting weddings.

[aybudak]

Exactly the same !
Without any reason S2 started to capture black squares, or sometimes captures as if it is distorted B&W negative... I tried any battery-lens-hd combinations but nothing changed. It's been nearly 1,5 years that I have been using the camera...

[frankgh]

The good news is, Fuji will fix it free. I am not deterred, I even bought a second S2 body. I'm gonna have my wife use it. :)

[chris72]

For everyone in europe, give Fuji Germany a call.

Where in Germany? have you a web?

[Auminer]

Hey Chris, this thread is over 6 yrs old...of course Fuji is probably still there??
I've been caught before too... :)

[mrbeal]

Just came across this thread myself..... there (according to Fuji) is no way to fix this camera any more. All S2's are now just big paperweights.

[pauly99]

Its a shame that there were no firmware updates to the S2 and that Fuji stopped recognizing the camera. Maybe 5 years ago my camera got the brick wall CCD look and Fuji fixed it for free by just replacing the sensor.

Today, I can only operate my S2 with both AA's and the CR123's installed. In fact, for some reason without the CR123's, my camera will not operate at all. So, as much as I continue to enjoy the S2 and still shoot it, it will soon come time to find a Nikon camera to support the Nikkor lenses that I have.

[Melody]

I haven't used mine in years, however it worked fine last time I tried, even so, it's pretty sentimental I actually would keep it to use as a paperweight :)

Melody

[gashog]

Hey everyone.
I have participated in 2-3 other threads RE: black sensor.
My first one cost me $315 payable to Fujifilm in New Jersey.
I subsequently learned that US consumer law is slightly more relaxed then in other parts of the world.
I sent another dead S2 abroad in my Mothers carry on luggage last summer and got a brand new S5 for it....free from Fujifilm UK.
The affected serial number list is archived in several places still.