Watch Out For Loose Parts!

[Tom V]

Watch out for loose parts coming out with your, or in your S2's AA battery tray.

During a recent battery change, I could not get the AA batteries to load in the tray easily. I noted a small U shaped gray piece of plastic crookedly hooked in one of the metal tabs in the battery tray - which was not allowing the battery to seat correctly. I removed the plastic bit and set it aside, loaded the batteries, and kept on shooting.

I noticed that there is another one of these plastic bits inside the camera battery compartment attached to one of the camera's battery contacts. I don't know if the loose plastic bit came from inside the camera or fits on the tray's contact somehow.

Attached is a photo of the bit, sitting on a laptop keyboard key (for scale). Framed copies of this image are available.

Also note that I have posted a warning about the entire metal PC terminal unscrewing out of the camera body when you unscrew the PC terminal cap.

FIVE MINUTE FOLLOW UP: I put the bit back where I suppose it goes. I cannot take a picture of where it goes, because to use the camera, the parts I want to show are inside the camera. It goes in the removeable battery tray on the front metal contact (front side of camera) and apparently aligns the + end of the battery on the metal contact. The identical arrangement is on the rear internal battery contact. So I have fixed it to original condition, which may not be all that great.

Watch out for these little bits when you change batteries, and be careful unscrewing the PC terminal cap!:eek:

[teski]

Hmm...Very strange...Thanks for the warning Tom.

[BobMc]

I was charging my batteries when I read your post. So I looked at the battery carrier and sure enough, there was the little piece of plastic laying on the bottom. I put it back easily enough and see there is anouther one inside the camera. I imagine changing batteries will cause the loss of one of these sooner or later.

[teski]

Have either of you contacted Fuji on this? Would be curious to hear their response.

Teski

[BobMc]

I have sent them a email but no reply as yet

[SSonnentag]

Hey! I finally found a use for my handy-dandy Logitech USB computer cam. :)

Shawn

[amazingthailand]

Hi All,

After reading all of this, I deceided to check my camera and see what's what. I found only one plastic clip (the same one Shawn shows in his photo above), not two. I got the impression from Tom that there should be two.

I checked inside the battery compartment and found no other clip in there.

Anyway, I really see no reason for this part at all. One could try crazy glueing it into place to prevent it from ever falling out.

If you do, I would leave the tray out of the camera for a few days to allow the glue plenty of time to cure and stop giving off noxious fumes. Don't really want those getting inside the camera.

While I had the tray out I deceided to put a dot of white paint one on each side where the positive tip of the battery should go. I don't know about you, but I cannot see those black on black battery icons without having to look very very closely. Now, if I have to change batteries in the field, I can tell where and how to orient the batteries when I replace them.

Cheers all.
Declan

[teski]

I would NEVER use crazy glue anywhere near a $2400 camera. Even if you are daring and are thinking of trying it, shouldn't you talk to Fuji first to find out exactly what it is and its importance?

Teski

[amazingthailand]

Just a suggestion. You could use rubber cement or some epoxy instead. What ever turns your crank.

If you look closely at it installed, the only function I can see is that it is designed to prevent you from putting the batteries in backwards. If you do, then I think the minus end of the battery would not be able to make contact with the metal.

On the other hand, the white paint (or whatever) should help you put them in correctly.

Declan

[teski]

I hear ya Declan. Hopefully my post didn't come off the wrong way. I'm just hyper-anal around my expensive gadgets. :)

Sounds like this part isn't anything critical. I'd still be interested in hearing what Fuji has to say about a part that seems to come off pretty easliy.

Have a good one.

Teski

[amazingthailand]

Hi Teski,

No problem. I am sort of too. I have no immediate plans to glue it into position, but now that I know it can and does come off, I will certainly keep an eye on it when I change my batteries.

I have been thinking further about this little plastic part. If I am right about it's function, I wonder if that means that Fuji is just being super cautious, or if a potential problem exists if the batteries were to be put in the wrong way????

Have fun.
Declan

[Tom V]

Hey! I finally found a use for my handy-dandy Fuji FinePix S2 Pro cam. (Kudos to our leader!)

I dun realized that I can take a picture of the tray: AC Adapter. The camera works without any batteries.

[Marvo]

Nice shooting Tom!
Clean lighting, good white balance, Plenty of shadow detail, creative composition, attention drawn to main point of interest with controlled use of differential focus. One for the 'folio I think!
(Seems to be a bit of an aberation in the top left hand corner though!)
Just checked my battery holder and contacts in the camera and both clips are still in place.:)

I can't help feeling that the battery tray itself is a bit flimsy, I hope that spares are available from fuji as I can see something giving one day. - Keep that roll of gaffer tape handy out on location!

Marvo.

[picthis]

Extra battery trays are offered thru Tallyn's

[BobMc]

Extra battery tray are also offered on the FUJIFILM site under accessories.:)

[RacerX]

Thanks for the name of the store but I didn't have the link so . . . .
Check it out: https://www.tallyns.com/home.htm

I just purchased the extra battery tray. Good price and lets see how they do on shipping it. Thanks again for the lead!

[Wichita Wayne]

I just bought two battery holders from Henry's of Canada for $19 each and the service was fast. I actually got the two cheaper than one would have cost through Fujifilm.com.

[bjnicholls]

Awwww. I just made a clip shot.

I noticed the same part go boingggg a month or so ago. I have two trays, so I had a reference for proper placement. This is a lame little bit of design, but then Fuji didn't bring engineering greatness to their DSLR battery design team.

Don't pay US prices for a spare tray. I got mine for half the US price via Henry's in Canada (I got a couple, actually).

I'll post my photo anyway since there's a critique going on ;-)

[Swampy]

guess I should add that mine flew out 3 months ago, I put it on a table, and left it there. Never did see it again. My camera has been working fine without it.