Fujifilm S5000 problem (by 2 users)
We've used our S5000 for just over a year now - i.e. it is now just
outside of warranty!
We've found the camera to be generally excellent, but in the last month
it's started having a problem - when we replace the AA batteries it
loses all the settings - the date and time is lost, the megapixel
setting is reset to 1M, the volume of the shutter and beep goes back up
to annoyingly high.
Can anyone help solve this problem? Does anyone know if there's some
internal battery in the S5000 that can be replaced or recharged? Any
suggestions appreciated.
1 Other User Has The Same Problem
Comment by liveoutside, posted on Mar 03, 2008
Yes, the camera loses all settings while the batteries are being changed. It was a gift to my wife and she loves the performance, ergonomics, and enjoys it more than any gift I have ever bought her. She's very proud of this camera, and then this happened 2 months out of warrantee. I could not get any answers out of Fuji as to whether there was a problem and what it might be. I suspected a back up battery issue as well. I never received any answer from Fuji. As I’ve seen posted elsewhere, I rate their customer service a zero.
So I send the camera to the authorized service center for an estimate. They confirm that the problem is a capacitor (there is no battery), and replace the capacitor for $108. Now 18 months later the problem is back.
So, did they replace a capacitor, or a microchip? The service center won’t let me talk to a tech, and the receptionist isn’t helpful with the science. Does the camera have a problem with both of these components? If I have it repaired am I replacing the same component or a new one?
I would spend the money on the camera if I could be sure that this problem was fixed for good.
I feel cheated by Fuji that they will not support me for a product defect, even if all I ask for is correct information.
I posted the “memory loss when changing batteries problem” (liveoutside). I responded to a poster who suggested a battery and I purchased some parts.
I have now changed the battery and the camera works flawlessly.
Once and for all here is the truth.
The Fuji S5000 camera does indeed have a button battery to maintain memory when the batteries are changed. Unfortunately is located deep inside the camera and is soldered in place. Furthermore the necessary nature of the micro-electronics makes disassembly not for the timid.
So, you can pay a service center to repair your camera and it will be fine…..for about a year. It is up to each of us to decide if it is worth it (fortunately I can change mine, although it is NOT fun).
All of this said, I want everyone to know that this is Fujigate, a cover-up. I have been told by Fuji that there is no battery. I was told by my authorized service center that there is no battery, but a capacitor. The service center that repaired my camera gave me an invoice that states “replaced memory capacitor”.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is not a capacitor! When I paid to have it repaired I expected a permanent repair of a faulty component. Capacitors are good for hundreds of thousands of cycles, and batteries are not. I don’t believe that a capacitor would do this job.
For some reason Fuji’s design of this model includes a battery that provides inadequate service life. If that was going to be a part that needed frequent replacement, they should have provided a door on the chassis of the camera that accommodated easy replacement of this battery.
I think they know they screwed up, don’t want to take responsibility for it, and their solution is to keep it quiet, let us throw our cameras into the landfill and move on, hoping no one’s the wiser (wink).
You can be sure that I will confront the service center and Fuji in writing and I would recommend that you all do the same (do not call or e-mail, even today it takes snail mail to make people know you’re serious).
If you need any factual support of battery part numbers and circuit board locations for your correspondence please feel free to contact me @blueleaderron@hotmail.com
Was this solution helpful? Show your Appreciation by rating it:
ApprenticeRating: 0%, 0 votes
ordinarily, would enable the camera to store all the user settings. It
sounds as though yours (or its recharging circuitry, which is less likely)
has died. A year is rather a short life for these batteries in these cameras
but by no means unheard-of, unfortunately.
I don't know how easy it is to change the battery yourself on the S5000. If
you phone your nearest Fuji service centre and tell them how disappointed
you are (but otherwise very happy with their product... ;-) ) you may find
that they will do the job free - Fuji UK can be very good like this at
times.
You might find advice on changing the battery yourself on the forums of
various digital camera sites, such as www.DPReview.com - the Fuji forum
there is at
http://forums.dpreview.com/for ums/forum.asp?forum=1012
Hope this helps, and good luck with your camera.
Cheers,
Nionyn
Was this solution helpful? Show your Appreciation by rating it:
ApprenticeRating: 0%, 0 votes
Was this solution helpful? Show your Appreciation by rating it:
1st - On the outside of the battery door, mark the orientation of the battery teminals as they relate to each battery position. In other words, mark a small + or - to indicate how the batteries are installed.
2nd - Before you open the door to change the batteries, lay out the new ones so they are ready to drop in quickly. Use your marks (+ and -) to remind you how they are installed.
3rd - Open the battery door and dump the batteries out quickly. Now grab your new batteries 2 at a time. They should already be oriented to drop in the slots. Drop them in quickly and then snap the door shut.
If you can change the batteries in less than 10 seconds or so, the camera will retain the settings.
With a little preparation and quick movement, you can save yourself the time and money for something that is really just an inconvenience.
I hope this helps...
Was this solution helpful? Show your Appreciation by rating it:
ApprenticeRating: 0%, 0 votes
Was this solution helpful? Show your Appreciation by rating it:
Post a New problem for Fuji FinePix S5000 Digital Camera
Email this problem
Can you Help with these Digital Cameras problems?
change the picture size
printing date on photos
Lumix DMC-FC7, the flash does
Tags | Blog | Repair Directory | Extended Warranty | Partners | Jobs |
