Illustrated guide: How to remove the top plate of FujiFilm Finepix X100 series cameras

Behind the operation

A few month ago, I accidentally dropped my X100 on the floor. A couple of weeks later, the diopter adjustment control stopped working, but a shake of the camera was enough to put it in the right position so I didn’t bother. A couple of weeks later, my viewfinder curtain started to fail randomly. Since it was getting really annoying, I decided to send the camera to PM2S, the company that take in charge FujiFilm after-sale services in my region.

I had to pay 75€ to get a price quote of 650€. They had to replace the whole lens/sensor/viewfinder module with new parts. They are not competent enough to actually repair stuff: they just replace them with new ones. Since I’m living on a budget, I was stuck with my defective X100.

Last month, after a long road trip, the diopter adjustment locked itself to an extreme correction. It became impossible for me to fix it by shaking the camera like I did before so I had to think about fixing it myself.

This is an illustrated guide that will help you to open the top plate of your FujiFilm X100 camera body, I hope it will help the other people who can’t pay for repair services.

Guide

Requirements

  • PH00 Philips screwdriver,
  • T1 TORX screwdriver,
  • Hands with prehensile thumbs.

Step 1

Skin your lovely camera

Dissassembled pieces of the original PU leather skin from the Fufjifilm X100
To access the screws, you’ll need to get rid of the skin. You can reuse it afterward but it may never be the same again. You can buy a new one, made of real leather at this address:
Aki-Asahi Camera Coverings

Step 2 (optional but recommended)

Draw a map for the screws

Step 2

Optional but recommended: draw a map for the screws.

A hand drawn illustration of the FufjiFilm X100 were all the differents screws are identified
Draw a plan of your skinned camera with all the screws locations then put them on it. There is (at least) four different types of screws to remove.

Step 3

Remove the highlighted screws

The FujiFilm X100 camera seen from the front and back were all the screws that needs to be removed for the current operation are highlighted in pink
Remove all the highlighted screws
The FujiFilm X100 camera seen from the front were a screw that needs to be removed for the current operation is highlighted in pink
Use a T1 TORX screwdriver only. Another tool will damage your screw.
The FujiFilm X100 camera seen from the front were a screw that needs to be removed for the current operation is highlighted in pink
There is a screw hidden under that white round sticker.
The FujiFilm X100 camera seen from the back were a screw that needs to be removed for the current operation is highlighted in pink
Hidden bastard #1
The FujiFilm X100 camera seen from the back were a screw that needs to be removed for the current operation is highlighted in pink
Hidden bastard #2

Step 4

Uncap the camera !

An exploded view of the FujiFilm X100
The curtain is also accessible once the top plate is removed.
A view from the back of an exploded FujiFilm X100

Step 5

If you are going further, please document your work and share it online. Thanks !