The death and resurrection of a Fuji Work Record
p.1 #1The death and resurrection of a Fuji Work Record
Had a fun long weekend which included kayaking with Dr G at Avila Bay in central CA coast.
For that two Fuji Work Records were used - one each so we could take pics of each other out on the ocean and compare what we got. The Work record is NOT waterproof, but is splash resistant so should be fine. Plus it has a huge VF, always stays on unless you deliberately turn it off - very handy when out on the water.
All was great until we got back to the hotel and I dropped mine - the nicer pano version - from a breathtaking height of maybe four feet onto a linoleum floor. So not even a hard stone floor:
Yep, the plastic door latches - two of them - somehow snapped off opening the back and letting the film roll fall out.
Gotta be honest - I was stunned such a short drop onto a not super hard surface could do that. For a 'rugged' camera..
The one redeeming factor is the Fuji winds the film all the way out, then rewinds in for every shot you take so any pics taken will be safe in the film cassette. Double redeeming factor was the entire roll was shot, so the film was not damaged.
When I got home I remembered I had 'industrial strength' velcro, so while it ain't pretty no more, the Fuji has risen from the ashes to kayak another day!
p.s I checked the camera back gap, and it does not get tighter than that and matches my undamaged Fuji.
For that two Fuji Work Records were used - one each so we could take pics of each other out on the ocean and compare what we got. The Work record is NOT waterproof, but is splash resistant so should be fine. Plus it has a huge VF, always stays on unless you deliberately turn it off - very handy when out on the water.
All was great until we got back to the hotel and I dropped mine - the nicer pano version - from a breathtaking height of maybe four feet onto a linoleum floor. So not even a hard stone floor:
Yep, the plastic door latches - two of them - somehow snapped off opening the back and letting the film roll fall out.
Gotta be honest - I was stunned such a short drop onto a not super hard surface could do that. For a 'rugged' camera..
The one redeeming factor is the Fuji winds the film all the way out, then rewinds in for every shot you take so any pics taken will be safe in the film cassette. Double redeeming factor was the entire roll was shot, so the film was not damaged.
When I got home I remembered I had 'industrial strength' velcro, so while it ain't pretty no more, the Fuji has risen from the ashes to kayak another day!
p.s I checked the camera back gap, and it does not get tighter than that and matches my undamaged Fuji.
May 27, 2026 at 06:48 PM
p.1 #2The death and resurrection of a Fuji Work Record
Huss, that's a real bummer. I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures though. This just means you might need to buy another blue one as a back-up.
May 28, 2026 at 05:08 AM
p.1 #3The death and resurrection of a Fuji Work Record
Yet more proof that the entire planet is, one way or another, held together with tape.
May 28, 2026 at 06:30 AM
p.1 #4The death and resurrection of a Fuji Work Record
Looking back, it wasn't even four feet, maybe a three foot drop...
May 28, 2026 at 07:33 AM
p.1 #5The death and resurrection of a Fuji Work Record
Ouch! But I'm glad you were able to fix it.
I did finally test mine (the manual says it is submersible to 1 meter); I didn't take it down to 1 meter but I put it underwater in my bathtub a few times and everything still worked so I think their claims of waterproofness are accurate. This summer I'll try taking some shots where half the lens is above water and half is below.
I did finally test mine (the manual says it is submersible to 1 meter); I didn't take it down to 1 meter but I put it underwater in my bathtub a few times and everything still worked so I think their claims of waterproofness are accurate. This summer I'll try taking some shots where half the lens is above water and half is below.
May 28, 2026 at 09:44 AM
p.1 #6The death and resurrection of a Fuji Work Record
Yeah it was super disappointing - but I also feel it was a total fluke. But this made me realize that some of those dirt cheap Nikon F100s, F80s etc w broken film door latches can be put back into service with this industrial strength velcro.
May 28, 2026 at 10:02 AM
|
p.1 #7The death and resurrection of a Fuji Work Record
This eBay seller makes all kinds of replacement latches for Nikon cameras. Maybe he can make one for the Fuji. Not that expensive either.
https://www.ebay.com/usr/plutoniusx
https://www.ebay.com/usr/plutoniusx
May 28, 2026 at 04:08 PM
p.1 #8The death and resurrection of a Fuji Work Record
On the bright side you now have an aftermarket grip.
May 28, 2026 at 04:21 PM
p.1 #9The death and resurrection of a Fuji Work Record
Geoff D F wrote:
On the bright side you now have an aftermarket grip.
If I was left handed...
On the bright side you now have an aftermarket grip.
If I was left handed...
May 28, 2026 at 05:26 PM
p.1 #10The death and resurrection of a Fuji Work Record
geekcop wrote:
This eBay seller makes all kinds of replacement latches for Nikon cameras. Maybe he can make one for the Fuji. Not that expensive either.
https://www.ebay.com/usr/plutoniusx
More to the point, he also sells this:
Not replacement latches
I'm going to stick... with my velcro queen for now, but actually may buy some of those latches for my F80s. Just in case.
This eBay seller makes all kinds of replacement latches for Nikon cameras. Maybe he can make one for the Fuji. Not that expensive either.
https://www.ebay.com/usr/plutoniusx
More to the point, he also sells this:
Not replacement latches
I'm going to stick... with my velcro queen for now, but actually may buy some of those latches for my F80s. Just in case.
May 28, 2026 at 05:34 PM
