In a perfect world, everything we buy would come out of the factory in perfect conditions.
But there is a reason why everything we buy comes with a warranty: no matter how premium you go, not all items come out perfect from the factory. Not even Fujifilm gear.
In these days, I am getting a lot of emails from readers worried about the shutter jam reports that popped up especially in our gigantic Fujifilm GFX group.
I have read lots of misleading theories about this issue. Some say it needs a “major repair“, some say it’s a flawed design, others go so far to say that the shutter unit on the Fujifilm GFX100S is just of poor quality and it will end up breaking like the one on some Sony cameras.
So let’s be clear: it does not need a “major” repair, nor it’s an issue that can be compared to the Sony shutter problems.
The shutter on some Sony cameras, which is rated for 200,000 actuations, is apparently made with poor material, as there are so many reports about it breaking after 10,000 to 50,000 shots already. For this reason Sony has been sued and is now facing a class action by numerous angry customers. People ask for a recall on change.org, which Sony happily ignores.
The issue on the Fujifilm GFX100S is totally different and way less serious.
The shutter itself on the Fujifilm GFX100S is rocksolid, nothing is flawed there and it has absolutely no problems. It does not need any repair at all.
The real problem, as explained here at our GFX facebook group by an Ukrainian Fujifilm manager as well as an official Fujifilm X photographer, is a wiring/circuits issue that affects a limited number of Fujifilm GFX100S cameras. It’s a minor issue and hence a very easy and fast fix.
So, if the shutter on your Fujifilm GFX100S ever locks-up, then yes, you’ll have to go through the annoying process of sending it in for repair, but you’ll also know that your shutter is just fine, and an easy and quick fix on the wiring will solve it forever.
The issue seems to be rather limited for now and it is creating more noise in forums than in real life.
I mean, I had an issue with the joystick on my X-E3. I used the warranty and the joystick on my X-E3 now never let me down since then. Yes, I had to live a few days without my X-E3, but that was about it. It just can happen.
Again: it should not happen, but sadly it can happen. Just know that it’s an easy fix and not a flawed design or poor shutter materials like some suggest.
Fujifilm GFX100S
Fujinon GF80mmF1.7
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