Shutter Failure

[Graeme Borchers]

Dear Phase One and users,

I've had shutter failure on my XF body after only one and a half years use only.

I've had two other shutter failures over the last 5 years on my old DF bodies and so I was hoping this was not going to be an ongoing problem with the XF when I upgraded to the new system. Phase One New York repaired the XF shutter under warranty very swiftly and I'm really happy with their service and that of Digital Transitions who have also helped me out considerably.

I absolutely love the Phase One system in so many ways but can't help feel serious concern about this one issue. I've seen a few posts on this problem but I'm wondering how many other Phase One users have had this problem and not posted it... I almost didn't.

I'm concerned this could be a more serious issue than the forums reports reveal.

Regards..

[NNN635185659961921540]

We've had two XF bodies go down with shutter failures in the last three weeks. Concerned that there is some sort of defect here! We love Phase One products because of their quality products, but this is very concerning for our studio!

Phase One repaired the first camera within a week and a half (ours unfortunately were not under warranty), and our second is out for repair now. Crossing our fingers that our third body doesn't have this same problem!

[purezerg]

I too had 2 XF failures within 72 hours almost a month ago.

[purezerg]

shanghai's dealer told me a loaner set is USD100 a day even thou one of the body is barely 6 months old.

I wonder if this is becoming a common issue.

one of XF popped the rivet. while the other XF the blades jumped the rail.

for those that had shutter failures. was your green glass spared?

[NN635185846777443772UL]

We have had 2 XF body failures in the last week also, having to send all my kit off to Denmark (includingh lenses) to be investigated, shocked to see so many similar issues on here! the shutters have literally all crossed and popped out of the body. Will post the findings from Phase One as soon as I have them, not good at all....

[NNN636450645543204399]

Here is mine, failed two weeks ago. I just logged in here to see if anyone reported such a problem! Shutter blade coming off the rivet? Mine has less than 20000 counts on it. Fortunately, it is under warranty and Phase One has agreed to fix this under warranty. Support folks in Phase One Denmark are very quick and helpful. Considering many such failures I hope Phase One will investigate this in detail.

[Paul Richards Harrogate UK]

I too had a Shutterbox failure at 9000 actuations. It had to go back to PhaseOne and a replacement Focal shutterbox was fitted. It was not under warranty so a total cost of £700 had to be paid. I did write direct to Lau Nargaard but did not get a response. I also informed him that looking at this forum the problem appeared to be a XF problem.and if so why are not PhaseOne resolving the problem as a manufacture problem I have to praise Teamwork here in the UK, they did everything possible to help . But should a camera costing such serious money fail in such a way after only 9000 actuations?

[NNN636450645543204399]

A few months later...

While mine went for shutter replacement and got stuck due to Covid-19, Phase One was kind enough to give me a loaner XF body. I have been using this loaner XF for past few months. Today morning after making a few images in the field I saw "Capture Error" again. It once worked after pressing the "Reset" button. However, the issue recurred and is unfortunately persisting now. This is what I saw when I later removed the digital back.



To me this looks like the same issue, the blades came off hinges? I am posting this again here in this thread so that the pattern of this shutter issues reported by many here will get needed attention by Phase One.

While I love the amazing images I get from my Phase One, I am really worried and nervous about this quality issue with XF shutter mechanism. More so, when I am in the field working on my projects. I already had a failed trip once due to this issue.

Phase One, please do take a serious look this issue - there appears to be a definite pattern of failures reported by many here. While I appreciate the help and support from the dealer and support team, we don't expect to see such failures in the first place, that too just after a few thousand actuations.

[NNN634263471380495608]

Hello

I was wondering if the focal plane shutter was the same one implanted in the DF+ and previous models AF ?

I'm asking the question, because it seems there were not these kind of failure with the mamiya AFD serie.

Maybe i'm wrong, or it's just because nowadays, camera body are much more used than before with digital backs ... It might explain the failures in the shutter mechanism, but not entirely.

But it's indeed a problem, especially if after a repair, the same failure happens again in a middle of a commissioned work.

best regards

[NNN636450645543204399]

May I request Phase One team to respond to thread? Currently I have only one XF body with me and I am scared of it failing in the middle of an assignment like what happened to me earlier. I don't mind buying another body XF body just to keep it as a backup. However, it helps to know why this happens? The nature of failures appear similar in the two failures I have seen before - blades coming off hinges. What could trigger such failures, if something that we can take care of? Of course *always* using only electronic shutter is not an option. I use that option (ES) for situations like stacking.

Dear Phase One users, what is the typical maximum shutter actuation count that you have seen on your XF bodies before it failed (if at all)? So far I have seen two failures on XF bodies having around 20K+ actuations. However, I understand the shutter in an XF body is rated for 100K actuations.

While I understand Phase One support/warranty will take care of it, downtime is very high to get this serviced. This is a big concern. Why are we seeing many of these failures reported here?

It helps if Phase One team shares their view on this issue reported many here.

[Paul Richards Harrogate UK]

My shutter box failed at under 10,000 actuations had to have a new shutter box replacement cost £700 out of warranty P1 Factory did not want to know and did not respond to letters . Thankfully Teamwork Uk were very helpful and a loaned a body to me .

[NN635157013297211860UL]

Same thing happened to me yesterday on a shoot. Thankfully I had my RZ with me and was able to finish the job on film. I’ve just written digital transitions regarding repair. Does seem like this is a fairly common issue judging from forum. It’s not affordable to have a back up PHASE ONE on a shoot. I have the first XF body, has this issue been addressed in newer versions?