Old Coot

in September 2021 I ordered a Fuji 70-300mm lens from B&H.Waited it seemed forever but it finally arrived at the end of March this year. Eager to use it I took it with me on a planned trans Atlantic Cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Southampton, England with stops in the "Azores", Lisbon, La Corunna Spain with a side trip to "Santiago de Compostela", Bibao Spain and the Guggenheim museum, followed by a stop in Cherbourg France with a side trip to Omaha Beach etc( Will post photos later) and the War memorials there. While in UK I noticed what I at first thought was a blob of grease on one of the internal elements of the lens. On my return to the USA I sent the lens back to Fuji in New York to be cleaned up by Fuji in New York under warranty. Turns out that the internal element was in fact chipped due to severe impact (As suggested by Fuji repair technicians). I emphasized to fuji that the lens had never been dropped nor subject to any violent shaking etc. Being in photography over 60 years I do know how to take care of my equipment. there was no damage whatsoever to the exterior of the lens. It looked exactly as new. Fuji said that the lens was beyond economical repair and they offered to sell me a refurbished version for $650 plus tax and shipping but would keep my original lens (For what purpose I do not know). This means that I would now have a refurbished lens for the total cost of $1550. When I protested they agreed to reduce the cost of the refurbished lens by $200. I refused and they have now returned the lens to me. On testing, the lens even with the chipped element, functions and focuses perfectly although only time will tell if the chip will grow in size. Like most OIS lenses, you can hear a rattle inside the lens when it is being moved.I firmly believe that my particular lens has a manufacturing defect that may only apply to my particular lens but Fuji would not even disassemble it to look. This has really dampened my enthusiasm for Fuji and OIS lenses. I have too big an investment in the Fuji system to change but I will never again buy lenses with the internal OIS and I will change my camera bodies to the IBIS system. I don't feel that Fuji handled the situation very well and am very disappointed. Well at least I have a working lens without additional cost although I will have to treat it very carefully.

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Attached file:
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anotherview Loc: California

Seems like you bought a limited warranty item.

Abo

Try taking it back to the retailer... in my experience,
they take the faulty unit and slap a new one in my hand.

In fact on one occasion a new unit was slapped into in my hand
and was told to keep the original unit.

niteman3d Loc: South Central Pennsylvania, USA

I don't understand. A lens with a three month warranty?

fetzler Loc: North West PA

Well, Fuji thinks the op abused the lens. I realize Fuji may just be passing the buck.

RonDavis Loc: Chicago, IL

Very disappointed to hear this about Fuji since THIS IS my gear brand

niteman3d Loc: South Central Pennsylvania, USA

Okay, so how did he chip a chunk out of an interior lens surface with no debris being present inside the lens and no evidence of any impact anywhere on the lens. I would further assume (or at least hope) that they could tell if the lens has been opened or tampered with. Shame on Fuji if I have the right picture?

Camlane Loc: North Carolina

Was the lens ever subjected to "baggage handlers"?

Old Coot

My question exactly. Perhaps if they had opened up the lens they could have seen but they would not.
Warranty on the lens is 12 months.

Old Coot

Nope. In my Tamron backback at all times except when being used.

Imagemine Loc: St. Louis USA

Think that's a good thing sorry you had to go through that .have heard fujifilm has good customer support, one of my cameras is a fujifilm & love it

mort Loc: california

i like fuji camera systems , but i am disappointed with their repair department . my first fuji was an x10 . there was a flair problem with the sensor and they offered repair under warrenty . when the camera was returned , the viewfinder didn't work and the camera had to be sent back . i now have a x100t . the camera stopped focusing when the shutter button was depressed , and the battery was draining overnight . sent to fuji they estimated $750
for repair or $650 for refurbished camera . had the camera returned (fuji did cover shipping for both cameras ).
when i got the camera back , i sprayed contact cleaner in the battery compartment and into the shutter button .
it started working better , and now after a few more sprays , is back to normal . obviously , there was a dirty contact problem that fuji didn't even want to try to repair . you said that they wouldn't even open the lens to see what was going on . i have to say i have no faith in fuji repair . you buys the camera and hopes for the best .

Imagemine Loc: St. Louis USA

Guess that puts to rest they have good repair 😱

Old Coot

They never even opened the lens. The damage appears to be on the second element. I thought it would be a simple job to repair the lens by removing the front part of the lens which is the extending part. Fuji said that it is their policy that if they observe what they call impact damage then they will not attempt to do anything. I think the worst part is that they would sell me a reconditioned lens at additional cost but would keep the old lens for which I had paid full retail value ($800)

Bill_de Loc: US

Any private repair facilities that will at least take a look?

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