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May 16, 2012

Taking Apart the Fuji X100

http://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3753/fuji_x100_take_apart.jpg

Goodbye old young friend.

Let me give you all a piece of wisdom that I recently learned the hard way.  If you go on a fishing trip called 'Hit em' Hard' and the captain tells you that you should take your bag off and put it in the 'dry container', what he really means by 'dry container' is a place that will fill up with seawater after he accidently clogs the drainage pipe, soaking you and your friends cameras, bags, wallets and cellphones for over an hour in salty seawater.

Better yet, just never go on a fishing charter with a name like 'Hit em' Hard.'

Needless to say, the next step of taking the camera apart was obvious.  If you own this camera you know how much it hurt to do.  It is a beautiful piece of machinery that I loved dearly.  For everyone that talks about the quirks of this camera, they are right, it does have quirks, but it also had insane image quality, all the way up to ISO 3200, it was extremely portable and it was silent.  It is the perfect compliment for when you want a light, invisible camera.  I loved this camera.  I have portfolio pieces shot at ISO 3200, printed large, and they look stunning.

But if you think the X100 is beautiful on the outside, it is breathtaking on the inside.

I have never taken a digital camera apart, and I was never one of those kids who took apart things for fun (although I now know what I was missing), so this was an eye-opening experience.  Everything was packed together intricately.  No millimeter was left unused.  The precision was incredible.  You don't create a camera of this image quality at this size by leaving space unused.

The camera is a giant puzzle of miniscule parts.  There were hundreds of hidden, miniature screws, rods, tape and dabs of glue holding it together.  It was difficult to take apart to the point where it turned into a game.  I'd stare at the thing for 10 minutes until I found that one screw hidden behind something that held everything together.  It would be absolutely impossible for me to put this thing back together. 

So without further ado, the Fuji X100 taken apart in all of its glory.

http://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3755/fuji_x100_take_apart-2.jpg

Screws were hidden everywhere.  In total I counted about 130 tiny screws and I probably missed a few.

http://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3757/fuji_x100_take_apart-3.jpg

You can see the salt damage that covered every inch of this camera.

http://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3763/fuji_x100_take_apart-7.jpghttp://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3759/fuji_x100_take_apart-4.jpghttp://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3765/fuji_x100_take_apart-6.jpg http://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3761/fuji_x100_take_apart-5.jpghttp://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3767/fuji_x100_take_apart-8.jpghttp://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3769/fuji_x100_take_apart-9.jpghttp://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3771/fuji_x100_take_apart-10.jpghttp://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3773/fuji_x100_take_apart-11.jpghttp://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3775/fuji_x100_take_apart-12.jpghttp://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3777/fuji_x100_take_apart-13.jpghttp://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3779/fuji_x100_take_apart-14.jpghttp://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3781/fuji_x100_take_apart-15.jpg

Notice the salt crystals forming on the inside of the lens.

http://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3783/fuji_x100_take_apart-16.jpghttp://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3785/fuji_x100_take_apart-17.jpghttp://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3787/fuji_x100_take_apart-18.jpghttp://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3789/fuji_x100_take_apart-19.jpg

The lens and the viewfinder.  My two favorite parts of this camera.

http://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3791/fuji_x100_take_apart-20.jpghttp://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3793/fuji_x100_take_apart-21.jpghttp://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3803/fuji_x100_take_apart-26.jpg

The lens taken apart.

http://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3795/fuji_x100_take_apart-22.jpghttp://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3797/fuji_x100_take_apart-23.jpghttp://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3799/fuji_x100_take_apart-24.jpghttp://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3801/fuji_x100_take_apart-25.jpg

The viewfinder taken apart.

http://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3805/fuji_x100_take_apart-28.jpg

Over 130 screws.

http://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/3809/fuji_x100_take_apart-27.jpg

Taken apart (for the most part.)  Click to view a larger version of the last photo.

130 screws.  50 pieces of tape.  152 parts (from just what I actually took apart.)

Next step - to create some sort of abstract camera-mutant sculpture out of the parts.

 


*If you like the photos in this post please help me spread the word by sharing. Thanks.



29 Comments for "Taking Apart the Fuji X100"
Steve says:
May 16, 2012 11:10
James, you are a better man than I. I may have tried to throw the captain overboard and would have needed to be heavily sedated to keep from totally falling apart. Your equanimity is quite impressive, must be part of what it takes to be a great street photographer!! Is the gear insured? Nice pictures, btw.
May 16, 2012 11:16
Yeah I was pissed. It was insured but with the yearly deductible I got less than half back. As long as I have the SLR though I'm fine.
Kevin says:
May 16, 2012 11:59
James I really feel for you man. I have an X100 too and I would have been crushed. I really appreciate you sharing this with us and it makes me appreciate my camera even more. Like Steve said, I think I would have tempted to throw the captain overbaord too. Maybe put that half payment towrds a new one or even the limited all black version? Again sorry for the pain of it all, you have my sympathy.
Lucy says:
May 16, 2012 12:31
Oh no, that's awful! I stupidly misinterpreted your reply to Steve, forgetting that in the US pissed means annoyed. I had visions of you being very drunk on your trip! :0/
May 16, 2012 12:48
Thanks Kevin. Appreciate it. Eventually, I'll get a replacement although I'm going to save some money and wait awhile to see what happens next, I think.
May 16, 2012 12:49
That's so funny Lucy. Not pissed but definitely had a few beers :)
Lucy says:
May 16, 2012 13:08
Ha ha I'm glad I didn't offend with my Englishness!
CHRISTIANOBOOS says:
May 16, 2012 16:02
que hiciste¡¡¡ o.O siempre me decia mi madre despues de dejar los juguetes asi xD
Steve says:
May 16, 2012 17:31
I would think that Hit'em Hard charters should have business insurance that would cover your and your friend's losses. Any pics from Key West?
May 16, 2012 21:17
I wish Steve. It was the risk I took when I took it onboard. Despite the captain's screw-up, he's not responsible for that.
Ratty says:
May 17, 2012 03:12
I would have sent it back to Fuji and requested warranty work.
Tim says:
May 17, 2012 06:58
Horrifying and fascinating in equal measure!
May 17, 2012 08:08
Ratty there was no hope - every crevice of the camera was covered with dirt and salty seawater. If they were able to fix it I'm sure I would have paid a fortune for a camera that probably would still not be back to new.
Paul says:
May 17, 2012 08:23
Drown it immediately in an alcohol solution. Worked for me once with a cell phone and seawater.
Gunnar Kelly says:
May 17, 2012 12:01
1) Looking forward to the Fuji X-100, putting it back together. 2) How much for the lens cap? Sorry for your woes. Keep calm, carry on.
PWL says:
May 17, 2012 12:23
I hope you asked Mr. "Hit 'Em Hard" Macho Man to reimburse you for messing up your camera.
May 17, 2012 12:30
What a horrible accident and story but wonderful project.
Steve says:
May 17, 2012 14:41
17 comments and counting! James, I think you're on to something- a compelling story line attached to explanatory pics make for a winning combination!
May 17, 2012 16:33
I tried for 5 minutes Gunnar. Not gonna work. Do you really want the lens cap?
May 17, 2012 16:33
Thanks Mark, tried to make the best of the situation. Steve I should just start taking apart all of my electronics. I'm sure if I purchased a Leica M9 and took it apart that would make the internet go crazy.
Ratty says:
May 17, 2012 17:08
Yes I know. Just kidding.
Andoman says:
May 17, 2012 19:38
Man that really sucks about that camera. The breakdown was quite interesting though, I've never seen the inside of one of these things. You should maybe put this post up on a few camera forums.
Andy8400 says:
May 17, 2012 21:53
I usually stay out of other people's threads but I was really fascinated by your photos and wanted to say so. Adds new meaning to the sticky aperture blade problem... Your chip and battery should be good after cleaning perhaps. Go treat yourself to an X-Pro1. You deserve it.
Mark J P says:
May 18, 2012 04:06
Ouch, that's got to hurt. What an absolute nightmare. :( It does make for a really interesting blog post though, so I guess every cloud has a silver lining etc. ;)
Tim says:
May 18, 2012 06:37
You just created your own version of the tv show "How It's Made". I always tear old. broken things apart just to see how they work. It's AMAZING how they build things.
Photozopia says:
May 18, 2012 08:31
What gets me is that everything is so tiny, neat and miniature ... apart from the whacking big bedspring in the middle of the lens assembly!!!!!
May 18, 2012 09:35
Yeah seeing all of the interest in this has definitely been a silver lining. Photozopia that huge bedspring scared the crap out of me when it popped out. So funny.
John says:
May 18, 2012 10:48
The stuff of nightmares. I would be very sad if something like that happened to mine. I will be interested to know what you get as a replacement.
Muratti says:
May 18, 2012 12:13
hi, 7D must be your next camera, check it here on youtube with digitalrev tv http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCT-YMgjm9k