How to secure rubber focus ring grippy thing?

BradS · Sep 2, 2014

The focus ring on of my Cosina made, Vivitar branded 50mm f/1.8 lens has little rubber-like grip ring. That rubber ring is loose and kinda floats around on the actual focus ring. What is the proper method and material to use to secure the rubber focus ring? I'd like it to not look nor feel like a crummy D.I.Y. job.

Newt_on_Swings · Sep 2, 2014

The rubber has stretched, ideally a replacement rubber ring would be best but you can use double sided tape as a quick fix. It seems to me that many manufacture's used a tape like adhesive for these rings and body leatherette coverings.

David A. Goldfarb · Sep 2, 2014

I'd think Pliobond.

Dr Croubie · Sep 2, 2014

I'd recommend superglue, but if there are any screws underneath the rubber that you may want to open one day to clean inside, then that's probably not going to work.
Either double-sided tape will work, or single-sided tape wrapped around the lens a few times might enthicken the mount enough to deal with the stretched rubber.
Or a similar idea is with rubber-bands, around the lens and then the grip over them, but then you might get an annoying ridge under the rubber grip.

trythis · Sep 3, 2014

double sided tape, easier if you can get the kind with a removable tape layer.

shutterfinger · Sep 3, 2014

1. get a tube of Elmer's contact cement http://elmers.com/product/detail/E1014. dried over spill rubs off with your fingers making for easy cleanup. pliobond or similar contact cements will bond well but will require the use of lacquer thinner or similar to clean up any excess.
2. using a small flat tip screwdriver ( think 1.5mm jewelers ) and slip under the loose rubber ring then work the ring off the lens, not difficult to do.
3. turn the rubber ring inside out for easy cleaning of the mating surface.
4. clean the rubber ring and lens barrel with Isopropyl Alcohol.
5. coat the lens barrel with the Elmer's contact cement then while it is still wet reinvert the rubber ring and slide it back onto the lens barrel in proper position. Once in position twist it 1/4 to 1/2 turn to even out the glue.
6. allow to cure for a few hours. rub off any excess along the edges.

Wort the effort.

resummerfield · Sep 3, 2014

My Nikon lenses use double sided tape, so that's what I would use.

mgb74 · Sep 3, 2014

If using double sided tape, iso alcohol will often allow you to slip the grip ring on, adjust, and then stick once the alcohol has fully evaporated. Test before relying on this.

BradS · Sep 3, 2014

Wow! I was concerned that nobody would understand what I was trying to describe...thanks everybody for all the excellent suggestions. Specially for the detailed step-by-step instructions from shutterfinger.

camtec · Sep 3, 2014

Shutterfinger's instructions are very good. Very similar to what I use. BTW, I've been hunting for pliobond. Where did anybody get theirs?

Dennis S · Sep 4, 2014

http://www.amazon.com/Pliobond-P141-1OZ-PLIOBOND-ADHESIVE/dp/B00176HL9Y

Newt_on_Swings · Sep 4, 2014

camtec said:
Shutterfinger's instructions are very good. Very similar to what I use. BTW, I've been hunting for pliobond. Where did anybody get theirs?

1oz from microtools is as much as the 3oz bottle costs from a hardware store like Ace hardware. They changed the formula slightly to reduce VOC fumes but it seems to work just as well.

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=19708276

But again I wouldnt use it on the lens, if you need to take it apart, and have to take off the rubber to get to screws, cutting the rubber would be the only option with pliobond on. It would be so hard to soak the lens barrel to loosen pliobond up.

grahamp · Sep 4, 2014

Depending on how loose the ring is, it may need to have a section cut out of it. I had an Olympus lens where the rubber stretched by some 5mm. Either that, or the lens barrel shrank!

Graham

How to secure rubber focus ring grippy thing?

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