Scratched CCD

[Sleeping Bear]

Followed the cleaning directions to the letter but still ended up with a scratched CCD that Fuji says will take $1,750.00 to replace. Does anyone know of a camera repair shop that can replace the sensor at a better price than buying a new S2?

As far as cleaning the sensor...I swapped lenses inside the marble quarry where I am currently shooting a long project. More than likely marble dust got inside the camera and when I did clean the CCD ( I should never have swapped inside the quarry and I should have cleaned my sensor on a somewhat regular basis ) to remove blobs I ended up with two scratches.

Any help would be appreciated.

An older and wiser Sleeping Bear.

[Tom Nolle]

Sorry, mister bear, but I doubt anyone else would even touch the job. That's a custom deal, Fuji in all likelihood.

If you're going to swab the CD and have used the camera where abrasives may have entered, it's a good idea to vacuum the area out first. Even blowing out dust first won't clear the camera of the goo. Also probably not a good idea to clean in the field, as you found out. I try to do my cleaning at home only, and if I pick up dust in the field I'll clone-stamp it away in Photoshop.

Tom

[Swampy]

I would think for that price, not to even mess around with it. Buy a new one for I think exactly that same price at tristatecamera.com.

Doubt you'll find anyone that will touch the job except Fuji. Bummer.

[Sleeping Bear]

I also don't think anyone but Fuji will touch this job, but it's worth a try. I did clean the sensor at home and used a bulb blower as well as canned, clean air first. The marble dust is just too stubborn and abrasive. Needless to say, I will not change lenses anywhere near the quarry again! Is TriState good to deal with? I've never bought anything from them.

Just in case...if there is someone who can replace the sensor...please let me know.

Getting a lot older and I hope wiser.

Sleeping Bear

[Wichita Wayne]

This is as bas a droping a Hasselblad and cracking the lens. I wonder if you have equipment insurance that would cover your loss? If not then it might be worth checking into.

[Sleeping Bear]

I've checked into insurance in the past. It doesn't cover dropping or 'self-inflicted' damage. I have seen some ads in the past for insurance against dropping and the like, but the insurance company was in the UK and I don't remember the name. I can't imagine what the premium would be, probably enough to buy another S2 in about a year!

Much older, a little wiser and coming to terms with the scratch

Sleeping Bear

[Swampy]

I know 3 people who have purchased from Tri State. One has had absolutely no problems in 2 years and the other two, well, they had 2 minor issues, but nothing detrimental. One was RacerX, who posted under happy user comments.

The guy tried to run his credit card for $11,749 or something like that for the camera, and obviously, that was wrong and delayed the order 1 day. They excused themselves and paid the difference for Overnight shipping.

The second guy, he got his today in fact, had a similar issue. He instructed them to bill his credit card for so much of it, and send it out with the rest as C.O.D.. Well the guy ran the whole amount and forgot about the C.O.D. portion, so that delayed his delivery supposedly 2 days, and they said he would have it Friday. Well, he got it today, not Friday. But everything else was good.

With this, I would just make sure and double check your order the next day with a follow up phone call.

[Wichita Wayne]

Put it on eBay with pictures of the camera and with pictures that show the results of the scratch (This is serious, not a trick). You never know what you will receive for it. There may be a repair person looking for parts to repair on with a broken case or something like that. The battery magazine alone is probably worth $15. Anyway, that might help minimize your loss. The other thing is to keep it and use it for high risk shots that allow the scratch to be cropped out or cloned out.

[Andre]

Would the scratch not be in this "low-pass filter" I've been hearing about? Could that not be easily replaced?

[Sleeping Bear]

Thanks for the info on TriState, Swampy. Great idea for Ebay, Wayne! I think I'll give it a whirl when I get my new S2, which I hope will be soon. It's also tempting to keep for the 'high risk' shots, which I seem to be doing a lot lately. Climbing on my belly (no joke) for over 1300 feet up the face of Treasure Mountain (the snow still blocked the path this July) to get the cover shot for our booklet on 'The Tomb of The Unknown Soldier', twenty feet away from a 30,000 lb block of marble as it is forced from the roof of the quarry and slams into the marble-mud and water, standing in the back of a jeep careening down a switch-back...you get the idea. I'm surprised I'm not the one with the scratch! All in all, this has proved to be an invaluable learning exp...who am I kidding? This has proved to be a pain in the backside!

Thanks again for good advice and info.

Hoping I get my first good sleep tonight since 'the scratch.'

Sleeping Bear

[Sleeping Bear]

Hey Andre, I'm also curious about the pass through filter covering the sensor. I, too, thought this would be scratched before the sensor. Are they manufactured to be one unit? I'll check with Fuji tomorrow and try to report back.

Sleeping Bear

[Wichita Wayne]

My wife and I have several prosummer Fuji digital cameras that have served us well in the past. One is the 4900 and it is a great little camera. We take this camera when we are engaged (or more likely when my son is engaged) in a risky environment. It is usually always in the camera bag with us because it takes yp so little space. It has a sealed lens that keeps out the dust and grit that could show up in a camera with an interchangable lens. Now I know that you didn't buy the S2 to leave it in the bag while shooting an inferior camera but there may be times when having the choice would be nice. Fuji just came out with a couple of pretty good candidates last week.

[Ron Green]

Sleeping Bear:
My S2 arrived new from the factory with a scratch (or mfg. defect) on the CCD. Fuji replaced the plate (accoring to work order) in front of the CCD at N/C and returned same camera to me in three days. Seem's to me they could do the same for you for a couple of hundred bucks, or your local repairman may be able to order this part directly from Fuji and swap it out.
Good Luck,

[Sleeping Bear]

Ron, thanks for the info! I will be contacting Fuji Monday morning regarding the replacement of the 'plate.' I will keep you informed on the outcome.

Sleeping Bear

[Andre]

Originally posted by Sleeping Bear
Ron, thanks for the info! I will be contacting Fuji Monday morning regarding the replacement of the 'plate.' I will keep you informed on the outcome.

Sleeping Bear

I guess this "plate" would be the low-pass filter. I wonder why Fuji wouldn't have told you it could be replaced.

[Sleeping Bear]

I'm not sure. I didn't even get an email from Fuji regarding my S2 that had been sent in to check the focus and the CCD. One day a package arrived from Fuji and I assumed my camera was fine...until I opened the box and saw a work order that stated the CCD was scratched and I would need to sign the work order and return it with the camera (as well as my method of payment) in order for it to be repaired. I thought that was a little strange. You can bet I'll check into this Monday morning.

Sleeping Bear

[Sleeping Bear]

I had a Fuji rep tell me that "the glass was probably scratched all the way through to the sensor, which is why they would need to replace the sensor." She knew all of this without speaking to the original tech who looked at my camera, looking at my camera herself or referring to any paperwork that Fuji might have on file regarding my S2. What a gal. Anyway, I'm going to repack the S2 and fire it off to Fuji and have them REALLY LOOK at the 'plate', 'pass through filter', 'low pass filter' or whatever they call it in that part of the country to determine if that is all that is needed to be repaired. I cannot imagine the plate is scratched all the way through. It doesn't make sense to me.

The S2 I'm currently shooting with now has some blobs showing up on the pictures. I changed the lens once, inside my vehicle with zero air circulating the dust. Two days later...blobs. Needless to say I don't think I'll be cleaning this one. Suction, canned air, prayer...anything but a swab. But then again, if I wait too long and the specks build up it might lead to another scratch! Maybe we can convince Fuji to install 'removeable' plates on top of the plates which are on top of the sensors. I think I may have aquired sensor cleaning phobia.

Still a not so Sleeping Bear

[Sleeping Bear]

I sent the S2 back to Fuji asking them to double check the low pass filter, maybe the scratch didn't go all the way to the sensor and it would be a less expensive fix. About a week and a half goes by and I get a call (last Friday) from a Fuji tech in New Jersey and he wants to know why I'm asking for the replacement of the low pass filter. I explain that a tech at Fuji had informed me that the sensor was scratched and would need to be replaced. I could also see the scratch on my photos. He says the low pass filter and sensor are all one unit and cannot be 'taken apart.' Bummer. Then he tells me that he has put a microscope to the sensor and can find no scratch!!!!!!! That's right, no scratch!!!!!!! The scratch must have been residue left on the sensor from over-zealous cleaning! I prefer to think of it as my S2 miracle. NEEDLESS TO SAY...I will never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, change the lens anywhere near the marble quarry. Did I mention never?

[Swampy]

That's great news!

[Wichita Wayne]

I should have offered you $1,000 for it when you thought it was totaled!!!

Just kidding, now the only thing that is bad is the service. If I were you I would send a letter praising the technition that found the real problem and admonishing the technitions that shrugged you off without a good look at the problem sensor.

[Swampy]

Should have said that, being in a tech industry, We do 100 great things with no praise, but when we screw up that ONE thing, we're fired. :)

[Sleeping Bear]

I will send a letter praising the tech who took the time to really look at the sensor, saving me major bucks. I will also ask for him by name the next time I need some work done on the S2! It scares me to think this would have fallen through the cracks. Had it not been for this forum I would have thought the sensor was scratched. Thanks to all of you for the information and sharing of past experience, your genorosity of time and talent has proven invaluable (well, in this case it's valued at about $1,700.00 :) ).

Thanks again