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How to: iFixit disassembles the Fujifilm X100T

Published Mar 20, 2016 | dpreview staff

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Fujifilm X100T iFixit disassembly guide

Curious about what lies beneath the black (and maybe silver) panels of your Fujifilm X100T? Wonder no more, as iFixit has just published a disassembly guide. With nary more than a Phillips #00 screwdriver, tweezers and a heavy-duty spudger you'll be well on your way to unlocking the mysteries of Fujifilm's beloved mirrorless model. See some of the highlights here, and be sure to check out the full guide at iFixit.

Take a look at the Fujifilm X100T Disassembly Guide at iFixit

Tags: fujifilm, ifixit

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Comments

Total comments: 109

This is most pronounced at infinity and randomly affects large portion of all pictures with focus plane shifting from one sharp side of picture to blurr on other side...

1 upvote

Photographing violent ocean water, waves and spray for a composite image I'm working on with x100t. I was drenched by one wave that was unlike the others I had been shooting. I retreated wiped the camera off. No fogging everything works today...is there anything I should do besides cross my fingers.

Edited 39 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

In the 1970s it was all sprockets, levers, springs and gears when you opened a camera. Now you add hundreds of electronic parts plugged into boards and flex cables. I worked at Vivitar back then. We had a guy from Taiwan that we hired to design a compact point-n-shoot. He had worked on it for several months, doing sketches part-by-part, and then going to the prototype machine shop where he would make a part and add it to the assembly of stuff for his future commercial product. It was all assembled in the middle drawer of his desk, like an exploded view of the camera, everything labeled (in Chinese). Over a weekend, corporate decided to rearrange the offices to accommodate some new hires that were coming on board. His desk was locked, so the moving crew came in in, tilted his desk on it's end and put it on a hand truck to move it to the other side of the building. The guy just about offed himself that Monday when he came back to work!

Edited 55 seconds after posting

2 upvotes

Is it a interchangeable device?

0 upvotes

"Beauty is only skin deep", or What a messy inside!!

0 upvotes

Watched to the end, but nothing was cut in half. Very disappointing.

6 upvotes

Quite a messy take down. SONY's take down is much cleaner and no wonder SONY can fit so much into a slim body. I think Panasonic also have cleaner design than Olympus

2 upvotes

Sony are having trouble fitting all the heat generated in to such slim bodies.

Edited 46 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

This is a beautifully executed how-to sequence. My best wishes for iFixit who have helped me to repair two iPhones and an iMac. I only wish my eyesight was better at close distances.
An excellent feature of the iFixit features is that they let the 'Fairy Dust' out of the issue right away. OK so you have a beautiful Macbook Air...look inside, it is made to be bought and swapped. Then yo have stuff that is really built with sustainability in mind. The philosophy of iFixit is correct. Waste not.

1 upvote

I would have swapped it for my X100, if they're only going to take it apart ;)

0 upvotes

The spring is likely there with a much more useful purpose than some supposed (but ultimately unlikely) energy saving. The X100 series (which apparently all use the same lens drive design) are still CDAF cameras at their heart. Now with older, unit focussing lens designs in particular, moving the lens is actually quite hard to do quickly, as it constantly has to change direction back and forth, unlike traditional PDAF designs.

Sony spent considerable time developing and then explaining the importance of their new actuators, which are designed to be able to change direction quickly. If however you don't have such an actuator, a simple spring is actually fairly clever as it can return direction rather quickly. Simple and somewhat primitive yes, but effective.

Incidentally this is why there aren't lots of pancake type lenses being made, they are all really fairly slow focussing, or relatively slow aperture with internal focussing (and often optical compromises).

1 upvote

The disassembles shows us the cheap built quality. No surprise anymore, why the X100T is not environmentally sealed. The built quality would be ok for a $400 compact camera, but not for over $1k.

Thats one ot the reasons I never bought it ....

11 upvotes

Your opinion sounds legit.

2 upvotes

Well, there's your new business model Operator since you make it sound so easy - you should design your own clone of the X100T and undercut the Fuji in price and laugh yourself all the way to the bank.

4 upvotes

No need for a new business model. Wait another 3 iterations and after the X200, X200S the new X200T will be weather sealed :-P Not the cheapest solution but the most effective ... for Fuji.

Edited 13 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

Build quality is one of the reasons you didn't buy an x100? I've never heard any complaints about the build quality, and it looks fine here to me. Is there something you see that indicates poor quality inside?

3 upvotes

NONSENSE

1 upvote

Thousands people bought this good camera, 1 operator can't afford it. Should we listen to him?

0 upvotes

I'm sure Fuji is distressed over your concerns about the quality of their cameras and probably noted the lack of sale to you at their annual meeting.

1 upvote

Look like an easy MONO conversion once the price come down a touch..

0 upvotes

I don't think any Phillips screwdriver will fit perfectly. Japan has its own standard, with the small but important difference that the screwdriver never jumps out of the screw head at high torque.

2 upvotes

I am wondering if the purpose of the spring is not simply to cancel gear backlash, so that the lens moves are more accurate.

3 upvotes

which user disassembles his camera using this pictures?

3 upvotes

That's also my point: what is this little report good for? I just don't get the idea behind it... (every complex device will reveal the one or the other ingenuity marvel)

1 upvote

Interesting to see what companies are packing into such small spaces these days.

2 upvotes

@Michael Engelen: I'm still asking my friends what is Facebook good for, and their answer is good for your question, too. They like it. To each their own. ;)

1 upvote

I like seeing the guts of electronic devices so I'm glad they did it.

In addition, I replaced the lens module in my old S100 using a similar teardown and it works perfectly now. So they provide a useful resource.

3 upvotes

@darngooddesign: wow--that's quite cool. I couldn't really imagine that a few pictures would be good enough for an "operation" like that
@dccdp: I agree with your conclusion :-)

1 upvote

Sure. the photos show each step of the dis-assembly process and usually point out which screws to remove and which cables to disconnect and how. I have used iFixit to repair my Mac laptops as well.

If you can follow instructions, you can do something like that.

1 upvote

"Which user disassembles his camera?"

In the first 5 steps we see what someone might do to fix a broken rear LCD screen. People have broken or damaged screens and need ways to fix them.

Someone performing an IR conversion might continue on to step 8.

Someone with some sand in the focus mechanism might need to continue on to the point of removing the spring to give it a good cleaning.

2 upvotes

SPRING

was never waiting for us, girl

it ran one step ahead

as we all followed in a dance...

3 upvotes

A very good song written by Jimmy Webb about the relationship between him and his girlfriend at the time... late 60s.

Best post I've read on here in a long time! :-)

0 upvotes

I want to make the aperture hold bit larger. So i can get f/1.2 :P

0 upvotes

That spring inside X100T lens is a DISASTER. Implemented probably as a cost cutting measure it stayed in the same place since grandfather X100. My beef with it? ... in lower temperatures it contracts (as metals do) and exercise uneven pressure on focusing lens element slightly tilting it on occasion. This is most pronounced at infinity and randomly affects large portion of all pictures with focus plane shifting from one sharp side of picture to blurr on other side. I had Fujifilm to replace the whole lens because of "erratic focusing" ... before figuring out this is caused by the very spring and therefore incurable in its nature. .
Really HOPE this will get phased OUT on X200 ...

Edited 2 times; latest 9 minutes since posting

8 upvotes

Maybe they should sell these in kit form.

2 upvotes

Famous last words: "Don't worry"

4 upvotes

Sorry folks, I don't want to play the wiseguy...., let me know if you think I'm wrong.

But, by photo 10 you suggest that the spring will save some battery life. I'm sorry but I don't think so. According to the law of physics (in this case: W=F*d, work = force multiplied by distance) this will not save any power. My physics teacher taught me the slogan (translated from Dutch...): "work will never be lost". He slammed it into my brain.
The battery may not have to deliver power to move the lens forward because of the spring, but it has to deliver much more power the pull the lens back into the camera, against the tension of the spring.

I suppose the spring is to let the lens move more smoothly and evenly in and out. Right or not?

17 upvotes

makes sense when you think about it. the motor only goes one way and it loads the spring at the same time. dpr wrote "probably saves a bit of battery life". "probably" and "a bit" are key in this sentence as they could mean virtually anything and nothing ;)

0 upvotes

Since the battery use could be a bit higher with the spring because this is a not linear function (Same when you drive 100km with 200km/h or 100km with 80km/h) I think the spring is to prevent the lens for wiggling and hold them at the very front. It could also be used for preventing a stick-slip effect.

0 upvotes

Sorry to disappoint you and the others who follow the simple path of "the energy has to be put in somewhere so it's the same".

Actually, the energy efficiency of electric motors varies depending on the torque and the number of revolutions per minute, and very strongly with their size: the bigger, the better.
If the engineers were able to increase the required torque from the motor by a spring, they could very well have created a system that is more energy efficient while exhibiting the same dynamic behavior. The difference goes out of the camera as heat.

I don't say that this is exactly what happened while designing this camera, but your consideration is just too simple. So please, everyone, stop posting this.

3 upvotes

" So please, everyone, stop posting this." Hahaha...
"If the engineers were able to increase the required torque from the motor by a spring, they could very well have created a system that is more energy efficient while exhibiting the same dynamic behavior. " You forgot to mention that your more-efficient motor has more actual work to do, overcoming the spring. Without the specs, your guess is as good as mine.
I'd be willing to bet the spring has nothing to do with motor efficiency.

4 upvotes

As has been said multiple times, only in one direction. Twice the work, half the time.

And as you said, my guess is as good as yours. That's exactly what I was trying to say. Not enough information, too much speculation. But thanks for pointing this out again.

0 upvotes

Space Panda as you say "the difference goes out of the camera as heat" you prove what I'm saying. As the heat flows away the energy is withdrawn from the mechanical power. OTOH pushing the lens forward cost less energy, so at least there's a balance between the profit and the loss of energy.
But in no way there is an increase of battery life. Just my 2cts.

2 upvotes

I'm wondering if the spring is to compensate for a slow focus motor. Perhaps the spring pushes the lens through its range, then the motor fine tunes the focus.

However, I've never handled a X100. My guess would be easy to test, as the camera would have different focus speeds for going to infinity and vice versa.

0 upvotes

The service manuals I have require a precision measuring tool to assure that the sensor is aligned to a few 10 thousands of a inch. Shims are used to adjust it. The same with the lens mount. Actually, Canon sensors have a number written on the corners that need to be shimmed. The number gives the shim size.

I'd be very careful to replace any items that look like washers in the exact same location, since they might be shims of different thicknesses.

4 upvotes

If you can't reassemble it, it will be <german>futschi</german> ;)

1 upvote

When I see those pictures I wish cameras would be more standarized like PCs. I would like to change the sensor of the X100T with the one of the Samsung NX500 or a Sigma Merril. This will not work unfortunately.

6 upvotes

or medium format cameras (Hassy, etc.)

3 upvotes

You tend not to be able to do that on small things, try swapping your laptop's processor or GPU.

6 upvotes

And as it gets smaller, it gets harder. You can change memory and disk on a laptop but no such luck in a cellphone.

1 upvote

I changed CPU on laptops several times. No problem. GPU is not changeble on most laptops. But last time I changed CPU I did it on an now over 6 years old model.

0 upvotes

Can somebody explain to me what was the purpose of this silly exercise except ruining a camera by loosing track of some screws and a spring? Not to mention the entry of dust and possible maladjustment... OK, DPR can buy another one, but others? Quite expensive Lego game...As a photographer I am interested what comes out not what is in. And the most interesting is that all the comments go about details of this exercise and not about its silliness. Really weird.

0 upvotes

So, because it doesn't fit your particular interests it's weird and pointless. Your person is all that matters, and this site was built for you exclusively. The fact that others are interested in such stuff is irellevant for you, they are in fact irellevant themselves. And silly. Wow. This comes straight from the dark ages.

4 upvotes

The purpose is to let us see the guts without sacrificing our cameras. As a kid who took everything I could apart, and reassembled with different degrees of success, I am happy they did it.

6 upvotes

I plan to make my own camera from scratch so these teardown guides are very helpful.

2 upvotes

I used a similar teardown to replace the lenses unit in my old S100.

0 upvotes

> what was the purpose

The "iFixit" is a self-repair tutorial portal. Pros disassemble/reassemble gear and create tutorials for people who want/need to repair their gear.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IFixit

(For example, I used their tutorial to replace the keyboard on my old laptop.)

The tear-down of X100T was obviously done for fun.

Edited 2 times; latest 1 minute since posting

0 upvotes

I took mine apart just to see if I could reassemble it. Easy. Try it with your camera.

Edited 40 seconds after posting

15 upvotes

"You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!”

3 upvotes

Today's cameras are more related to a Playstation 4 than the analog film tools of before!

8 upvotes

What is "film camera"?

1 upvote

@FredVasilescu,
Go and visit museums from time to time... ;-)

1 upvote

Maybe he referring to CCD cameras, but I'm not really sure.

2 upvotes

Don't try this at home.

10 upvotes

Okay, I've just followed these instructions to the letter and now I've put it back together again I've got three small screws and a spring left over. D'you think they're important?

12 upvotes

Just like cars, extra, unnecessary parts are always included. Nothing to worry about.

20 upvotes

No you didn't.

0 upvotes

OK until it goes, " boing!"

2 upvotes

I'm thinking they should call this the iBrokeit Disassembly Guide.

0 upvotes

If you're British and over 40, I dare you to look at slide 10 and not think "Time for bed! BOING."

2 upvotes

I'm not quite in that demographic but I'm going to have the Magic Roundabout theme stuck in my head for hours, now.

1 upvote

"You're welcome", said Dougal ;-)

1 upvote

I don't!!!!!!!!!!!

0 upvotes

I'm putting on my nerdy pedantic glasses now...

How can a spring "save a bit of battery life"? It doesn't give you free energy. The motor working one-way will need more power to compress the spring, then if it wasn't there at all. That energy is then released when the lens needs to move the other way.

Someone with more than my Physics GCSE qualification can tell us whether storing energy like this is much less efficient than simply driving the lens the other way with a motor...

SCIENCE!

8 upvotes

You're right, energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be transferred from one state to another. This solution might save some space, and it'll save money because they can buy in half as many motors. Springs are definitely cheaper than motors!

1 upvote

PS Hello there in Bath! I'm in Frome. Small world!

0 upvotes

Maybe the spring is used to work opposing the motor action to smooth out focus zoom movement? Just a guess.

0 upvotes

As the spring load is permanent is it safe to assume that the motor will need a permanent electric current to compensate for the spring load? Unless the motor without an electric current will be blocked mechanically. But then again a considerable break-off force would be needed to free the lens.

Edited 2 times; latest 3 minutes since posting

0 upvotes

The spring is there only to puzzle Leica in case they want to copy it.

13 upvotes

I would like to know how to take apart lenses so I can get annoying dust between the lens elements...

3 upvotes

Are you sure taking it APART is the hard part?

5 upvotes

I think it's always important to recommend the best tools to use.

0 upvotes

Okay now cut it in half!

4 upvotes

Fantastic - I wonder if it`d still work if you stuff a sensor with a proper filter array in such as the one from the XA1 .. in RAW at least :D

4 upvotes

Nah, I wouldn't want a lower quality sensor array like that.

7 upvotes

Lower quality array!? LOL...

1 upvote

well, the x-trans colour array is certainly better in theory!

The classic Bayer array was created when processing power in digital cameras was exponentially lower than today. The X-Trans array is the logical evolution, if only the software companies would bother providing real support and digging into its benefits.

3 upvotes

Again this lame argument. I have compared BOTH, my XE1 with my sister's XA1. Sorry to say, x-trance resolve details better, particularly skin detail. Of course, I use the bundled software (silkypix), photography is not born from lightroom adobe only.

0 upvotes

Inferior due to the XA1 being CDAF only. Xtrans vs Bayer is a subjective choice.

0 upvotes

Sure would like to see a WR X-100 series.

0 upvotes

Been done: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U33peFmTx44

1 upvote

I would be surprised if the screw are PH 00.
PH 0 it's normal.
And I would not be surprised if some of them are JIS and not PH...

0 upvotes

This. They should all be JIS whether it was manufactured in Japan or not, and well actually, iFixit appears to be using a JIS driver anyway.
A western Phillips driver will either shred the screws or constantly slip, as well as require more torque... so you could damage your screwdriver too. To anyway attempting the same, I recommend Moody Tools: http://www.amazon.com/Moody-Tools-Chromium-Vanadium-Screwdriver/dp/B004PGO1T6
Very high quality for the price and won't ruin your equipment (well, YMMV)!

Edited 2 times; latest 4 minutes since posting

0 upvotes

"Don't worry, you can put the whole thing back together again by following the directions in reverse." -DPR

You can. I couldn't. :-)

11 upvotes

It be pretty awesome if they can put it back together with the new xpro 2 sensor and proccesr....

0 upvotes

How many times did you receive an electric shock from the flash capacitor? It happened to me a couple of times tearing down compact cameras. Most unpleasant.

1 upvote

That's why I never dissemble cameras. It's like getting tazed by officer.

1 upvote

"It's like getting tazed by officer." Apparently. Thankfully I've never been Tasered, but yes the flash capacitors can be incredibly dangerous.

0 upvotes

How can the spring save energy? Isn't the spared energy in the returning direction spent by the extra effort to also push the coil back?

13 upvotes

Yes. My thoughts too. Maybe the spring is used to reduce gear backlash (or take up any tolerance to stop the parts moving when they aren't meant too)

4 upvotes

I would that the size advantage is probably more prominent than the energy as you said. Apparently a a spring saves more space than a slightly larger /more advanced motor

2 upvotes

@DeputyPhoto

I had exactly the same thought...

1 upvote

Agreed with DeputyPhoto. I think it is to manage backlash.

Edited 17 seconds after posting

1 upvote

Very risky!

0 upvotes

That's one smudgy fingerprint in slide 9.

1 upvote

So it would be possible to turn it into a full spectrum camera by just replacing the part shown in slide 9 with a clear glass equivalent?

0 upvotes

Should be quite possible.

1 upvote

I've seen people doing on the X-Pro1.

1 upvote

Would be nice to order that clear glass hot mirror from somewhere, but I guess they arent really sold anywhere. Maybe from a company that does conversions.

0 upvotes

Total comments: 109

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