Damn Err messages

[snapshotmd]

How weird is this?!?!?!

I just shot a wedding this weekend and half way thru it both the S2 bodies I was using had the dreaded “Err” message at the same time and I missed several crucial shots of the ceremony. The symptoms were consistent with having the 123 Lithium batteries loaded and not having the AA battery tray in the camera. It was like this for about a half hour while I tried everything to correct the situation, i.e., changed both set of batteries, remounting the lens, holding the shutter down while turning on the camera, etc. The camera would be normal for a second and then it would Err again. These would be the second and third S2 bodies that the Err message occurred. The first one is still at Fuji being repaired when it went down and we were using one of their loaner bodies. I was shooting a brand new S2 and my assistant was shooting the loaner. As soon as my body went down, I started to use loaner for a few shots and then that one went down as well.
I’ve just thought of something… could there be a break-in period for these bodies, cuz I’ve noticed that all three might have shot a cumulative of about 500 shots before they went wacko. I can’t really vouch for the loaner but the file numbers from that camera did cross the 500 mark at some point in the wedding.
Anyway, the 2 cameras miraculously started to work again flawlessly and did an outstanding job the rest of the shoot.
Afterwards, I checked all the batteries used in the shoot and all of them were charged to slightly over their rated capacity. I was using Gold Peak 2000 NiMH batteries. I have no clue as to what happened and why it only seems to happen to me.
I’m gonna call Fuji Tech Support later on but I doubt they will tell me anything helpful, like “you should have been using microdrives”… Give me a f’ing break!!!

Any ideas guys???

-Ken

[lightwrangler]

This is truly strange and would seem to contradict conventional wisdom which would say that a minimum of 1 out of three cameras would work without a hitch. I have never heard of three cameras all exhibiting the same problem like this.

Microdrives and batteries shouldn't give this error message. However if you had the same lens on each camera, that might be a clue. Perhaps, in that case it is the lens and not the body?

[snapshotmd]

OK... I just got off the phone from tech support and they were baffled too, in fact, they seemed to be more concerned with the loaner than my camera body. He said that the symptoms were similar to the recalled S2 but it obviously wasn't a recall since the loaner was affected. He then suggested that it was most likely a battery problem. I told him that I put a voltmeter to the batteries and all of them were at full power. And even if I did put a new set of batteries in that didn't clear the Err like he said... anyway I heard alot of typing in the background and he took my name so I guess it's documented. After that he transferred me over to Dan in repair dept where I got my loaner and told me to tell him about the defective loaner.

-Ken

[DNeilson]

HI !

Ken...I just spotted this....maybe it would shed some light on your problems that seem associated with the batteries!

Dolores
PS: Doesn't sound like it was you at all.


"Newsroom
FinePix S2 Product Advisory
Dear Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro photographer,

In December we issued an advisory that some S2 Pro cameras had an intermittent malfunction that would render the camera temporarily inoperable. When the batteries are replaced, the settings change and erroneous messages appear on the rear and top display panels, or in the worst cases, "Err" message appears in the optical finder and on the top display panel, and the camera becomes inoperable.

The chance of the camera failing is very remote and in fact we have had no returns to date.

At the time of the December advisory, we had identified a limited number of affected units. Upon further inspection of manufacturing records, we have determined that additional units that were been shipped to Canadian dealers prior to the December announcement may be affected. The serial numbers are listed below.

24A00001-24A00004
24A00057-24A00060
24A00073-24A00080
24A00089-24A00099
24A00100-24A00104
24A00113-24A00128
24A00171-24A00222
24A00223-24A00306
24A00309-24A00310
24A00315-24A00330
24A00331-24A00338
24A00339-24A00354
24A00379-24A00402
23A09495-23A09496


If you have an S2 Pro with one of the serial numbers listed above, please ship it via collect courier with your shipping and contact information to:

Dan Giroux
Fuji Photo Film Canada, Inc.
600 Suffolk Court
Mississauga, Ontario
L5R 4G4
905-890-6611


The chance for a camera to fail while in use is very remote. If, however, your FinePix S2 Pro camera body serial number is listed and you are experiencing the problem described, please return your camera for free evaluation and service, if needed.

Thank you for your continued confidence in Fujifilm digital cameras. Fuji Photo Film Canada, Inc. is committed to continuing to provide its customers with the very best products and post sale support.

We wish you continued enjoyment with your FinePix S2 Pro.


Miriam Baltensperger
Product Manager, Digital Cameras
Fuji Photo Film Canada, Inc."

[lightwrangler]

While my camera is not included in this, it's good to know it's a documented problem and therefore, you should be able to get it fixed.

And I thought electronics made things work better... not stranger! Silly me!

[snapshotmd]

Well I'll be damned!!!

The first body I bought is shown on the list above. The cameras that I've used in the wedding aren't.

The first body that I sent to repair for the second time just came back and now it doesn't work at all... what is going on at Fuji USA??? I'm gonna request a new body be sent since this has gone on long enough!!!

-Ken

[snapshotmd]

I spoke to the Walter, the technician at Fuji USA in NJ that repaired my original camera. He indicated that there was nothing wrong with my camera and suggested the problems were from the camera settings I used, etc. I reluctantly accepted the blame and got my S2 body back last week. I opened the box, took it out, put brand new 123 lithiums and freshly charged AAs in it, slapped a Nikon 35-70/2.8D lens on, put in a CF card, powered it up, pressed the shutter, and... the mirror stuck up and blinking "Err". I pressed the shutter again which cleared the problem and everything appeared normal. Released shutter again, same deal. Called up tech support and their phone fixes didn't work. They transferred me to Dan Scarola and I left a message. Next day, I saw Dolores' message on the Canadian S2 Advisory... Thanks Dolores!!! Dan calls back and suggested I send it back to Fuji Canada to get the matter resolved since they have a limited number of replacement bodies.

I'd better get a new body from Canada... This is BS!!!

Anyway, I've found that my other S2 performs flawlessy, with the exception of that "Err" message. I'm beginning to believe that the Err was due to dirty battery contacts. The Err occurred once again a few days ago upon turning on the camera... I took out the battery tray, wiped the battery contacts off with my t-shirt, put it back in and that seemed to fix it. We'll see if this will consistently clear the Err... Will keep you posted!

Ken

[Tom V]

Since the bigging of your saga, I have been the thinking the problems may have something to do with the batteries. Your AA batteries may be the only common part used in all the cameras.

Short batteries? On two occasions, I have bought alkaline batteries that have been too short physically. They were shorter by only about 1mm, but it was enough to not put adequate pressure on the battery contacts to keep a good circuit going. I ended up using a bit of foil in the battery tray to tighten up the gap. This has not happened lately, but I keep it in the back of my mind whenever I buy batteries. Since last August, I have been using the same 3 sets of Sunpack batteries without problem.

Dirty contacts? I keep my unloaded batteries in a small fishing lure case to protect them, keep them in sets, and keep them clean. If you find a dirty contact or battery, you should clean & inspect ALL your batteries and contacts, including those in your charger(s).

Loose parts? See http://www.s2pro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=144&highlight=battery+tray

During a quick reloading of batteries, I knocked a little part loose in my battery tray which rendered the camera unuseable. There is a little part on the tray's battery contact, and one inside the camera's battery compartment, both of which can come loose. Supposedly, they are there to prevent a missloaded battery from completing a circuit, but if they are out of alignment, who knows what can happen.

[snapshotmd]

Tom,

I have noticed the amount of play with the batteries in the tray, however, the space appears to be the same with all types of AA batteries, and there is spring resistance when I insert the battery tray into the S2. I'm going to measure the batteries tonight, or at least, compare them.

-Ken

[Iain]

Have a look at www.7dayshop.com. They do lovely AA battery holders that hold 8 batteries and keep them clean. I've purchased abot half a dozen now.

Iain