brand-new Fuji X-T3 makes rattling noise

Hi everyone,

Long time no see! I haven't visited this forum in a very long time, and it's good to be back. Unfortunately, the reason for my coming back is not so good. Today I received a brand-new X-T3, which I ordered online. Everything seems to work, but the camera rattles when gently shaken front to back, as if something fairly substantial was loose inside. My X-T20 does not rattle, and none of my other cameras do (other brands), but since the X-T3 seems to work, I thought I'd ask here first. In case it was something unique to this camera body. It is not a harsh rattle (it almost seems like whatever is rattling inside is loosely suspended inside, for whatever reason), but you can feel the rattle through your hands, when you gently shake the camera back and forth, so it is something substantial. I feel silly even asking the question, because I can't think of why a brand-new camera without IBIS should ever rattle, but I'll ask it anyway. Just in case:

Is this normal or does my X-T3 have to go back? Does your X-T3 rattle?

Don't have the X-T3, but have the X-T2. It rattles when shaken like you describe. Never noticed it before until I read your post. Have been using it for nearly 3 years with no problems.

Thanks for letting me know. I was unlucky enough to notice this as I was using the camera on its first day, and just wanted to make sure that it's not a defect. So thank you for putting my mind at ease.

What lens are you using when the rattling occurs?
I just changed lenses from 35f2 to 16mm f1.4 and no rattling. Changed back to 35 f2 and it rattles.

https://youtu.be/w5hJs​Dm_z78

My X-T3 goes dunk dunk dunk when I shake it with no lens on...

ETS wrote in post #18830982
What lens are you using when the rattling occurs?
I just changed lenses from 35f2 to 16mm f1.4 and no rattling. Changed back to 35 f2 and it rattles.

No lens attached. I took the lens off when I first noticed it, just to rule that out.

daniel1223 wrote in post #18831238
https://youtu.be/w5hJs​Dm_z78

It seems more substantial than just the shutter assembly. And my X-T20 does not do it.

Two Hot Shoes wrote in post #18831287
My X-T3 goes dunk dunk dunk when I shake it with no lens on...

Yup! Mine too. It seems, feels more substantial than a simple shutter assembly. "Dunk" is the perfect description of the sound and vibration that is heard and felt coming out of the camera.

From this reddit thread:

https://www.reddit.com …_knocking_back_​and_forth/

Stop shaking your camera.

kirk

kirkt wrote in post #18833185
From this reddit thread:

https://www.reddit.com …_knocking_back_​and_forth/

Stop shaking your camera.

kirk

Good advice. Not really applicable if you have your camera bag strapped to the top of a motorcycle luggage rack, or any other place where you might want to take your camera on a serious adventure. Then the camera will be shaken *way more violently* than the gentle back-and-forth that reveals this rattle. It also doesn't explain why my X-T20 doesn't have the same rattle (not to mention any camera I've ever owned, from 1980 to the present, film or digital).

Then again, the real clunker in that situation would be the Fujinon 80mm f/2.8 Macro. When that lens is powered off, the OIS assembly inside clunks around almost like a ball bearing inside a can of spray paint!

Rudi wrote in post #18833467
Good advice. Not really applicable if you have your camera bag strapped to the top of a motorcycle luggage rack, or any other place where you might want to take your camera on a serious adventure. Then the camera will be shaken *way more violently* than the gentle back-and-forth that reveals this rattle. It also doesn't explain why my X-T20 doesn't have the same rattle (not to mention any camera I've ever owned, from 1980 to the present, film or digital).

Then again, the real clunker in that situation would be the Fujinon 80mm f/2.8 Macro. When that lens is powered off, the OIS assembly inside clunks around almost like a ball bearing inside a can of spray paint!

Just trying to relay what Fujifilm's diagnosis of the "problem" is with your X-T3.

kirk

kirkt wrote in post #18833643
Just trying to relay what Fujifilm's diagnosis of the "problem" is with your X-T3.

kirk

Understood. And I don't shake my gear around on purpose, this was noticed during normal use. I was just pointing out that the advice from Fuji, not to shake the camera unnecessarily, is somewhat useless. I'm also wondering how that Fuji 80mm Macro is going to fare long-term. FWIW, I'm happy with both - the X-T3 is my favourite camera and the 80mm Macro is my all-time favourite macro lens.

I started this thread to find out if what I was seeing (hearing?) with my X-T3 was normal. Since it is, my mind is now at ease and I can now use it without worrying about maybe having to send it back in time. I haven't owned any of the X-T3's predecessors, my first Fuji X ILC camera was the X-T20, and I owned the original X100 before that. And before that it was Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Olympus, Panasonic - film SLRs, DSLRs, Micro Four-Thirds, point-and-shoots, etc. But mainly I've been a Canon film SLR/DSLR shooter, until recently. A couple of years ago or so I got rid of everything else and shoot Fuji exclusively (other than a Mavic Pro drone, several GoPros and a 360º camera). Again - none of these clunk like the X-T3, hence my question.

My 90mm F/2 has the same rattle sounds, from the floating focusing bits. Still going strong...

Two Hot Shoes wrote in post #18834245
My 90mm F/2 has the same rattle sounds, from the floating focusing bits. Still going strong...

I haven't tried the 90mm f/2, but the 80mm Macro has quite the clunk going on, when powered off. When they first started shipping there were quite a few people returning them, because they thought there was something wrong with their lens. It literally sounds like a large lens element has just broken off inside the lens.

That said, it's my best-ever macro lens.