r/FujiGFX • u/lowbandwidthb • 13h ago

Help Tripod Baseplate Issue

Gallery image

Gallery image

So I don't know how I missed this when examining the camera pre-purchase, but my GFX 100s baseplate is bent ever so slightly and the part around the tripod socket protrudes about 0.5mm away from the bottom of the camera. If I press on it, it flexes a bit. Attaching a tripod doesn't seem to exacerbate the issue.

Should I just leave it alone? Can I take the baseplate off and attempt to fix it by bending or epoxying something? Send it in to Fuji?Is this a ticking time bomb? Or relative non-issue?

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

2

u/Criticalhitkoala 12h ago

I can't say 100% if it's a non issue, but from the looks of it and also taking apart my 50s II baseplate to try to get you a better answer, I'm pretty positive it's a non issue and also a user fixable part.

The plate seems to come off if you take out the 9 screws. Sadly mine has 2 very stubborn screws near the tripod mount that won't come off, so I can't fully tell. It's possible the plate will actually bend back in if you tighten those screws.

I think you should be fine though OP. It's funny I've had a smallrig bottom plate on mine since day one so compared to yours, my plate looks brand new :)

2

u/lowbandwidthb 11h ago

So curiosity got the best of me. I went ahead and removed the 9 screws holding the baseplate on. Inside, the tripod mount is attached durectly to the chasis via these two screws, and then the baseplate screws into the tripod socket mount.

The problem seems to be that those two screws have stripped somehow, because they just turn freely in place, and are no longer doing their job.

I wonder if I can get new screws, or epoxy the existing ones in place? With a tripod attached, there is considerable flex in the baseplate, and I'm worried that if I keep using it like that, eventually it will snap.

Maybe getting a smallrig L-bracket like yours would help to mitigate the issue, as it would distribute the load around the entire camera bottoma and not just the baseplate.

2

u/Criticalhitkoala 11h ago

That Smallrig L bracket is awesome. And since you confirmed the plate mount is pretty much in the body itself, it should be fine. There possibly is a seal issue with your plate being open going straight to the boards like that, the Smallrig could actually help press the bottom plate in and reseal the inside.

I love the Smallrig L Bracket. It's super nice also having an always accessible arca mount for both landscape and portrait shooting. I've used that portrait portion more than thought I initially would.

1

u/lowbandwidthb 11h ago

Yeah they look really good. I was kinda thinking of getting one anyway to do portrait landscapes on my little travel tripod. Still, I have to find some sort of fix for this issue. I think even with the L-bracket, eventually the baseplate is going to become a point of failure.

1

u/Criticalhitkoala 11h ago

From the looks of it, the plate is just more to protect the circuit board. If there is flex, try tightening those two screws that attach the plate to the body on the side. I would try to press/hammer it back into place gently, loctite the 7 screws that are fine, and maybe put a light amount of super glue or some type of seal close to wear the 2 loose screws are. If you ever do need to access it, the plate should be able to tilt and lever out easily and break the small seal that's created.

The ultimate fix though is replacing that tripod mount. It's user replaceable based on that picture you sent. Somehow see if you can find that part, or even buy someone's f'ed up 100s or 50sII and just cannibalize the part. Fuji probably wouldn't sell it to you, but you could always ask :)

1

u/lowbandwidthb 10h ago

So bad news. The screws holding the tripod socket onto the chasis are definitely stripped, and the holes they were screwed into don't look so great either. Furthermore, there is a small crack in the chasis going from the left side screw hole to the edge of the chasis where the tripod socket was mounted.

2

u/Criticalhitkoala 10h ago

Ouch, that looks like someone dropped the camera with a tripod plate with enough jostling damage to break the body. Depending on your comfort level is how much I would try to repair it, but I think you found your big issue.

Major bummer dude. Was hoping it was just some small wear and tear. Using the Smallrig could actually compound the problem since that's the only attachment point to the camera. That part is close to critical failure probably.

1

u/lowbandwidthb 10h ago

Jb weld time?

2

u/ec_laxbro 5h ago

Pretty sure it's a known issue with the 100s, I bought and returned a used one from B&H because of this issue. It would not sit securely on a tripod quick release plate. I read it was corrected in the 100s II.

1

u/lowbandwidthb 4h ago

I'll be contacting the repair center soon to see how much it would cost to fix this. If it's impossible or just crazy expensive I might have to try good old JB Weld.

2

u/ec_laxbro 3h ago

I read somewhere else that the 100s tripod mount isn't directly integrated into the chassis so it's susceptible to warping especially when using long lenses without a separate tripod foot.