Ideas for back lens cap for Zenzanon PS 40mm?

[Rob MacKillop]

I just got a Zenzanon PS 40mm lens on eBay. It is in good condition, has the original front lens cap but no back lens cap. I've searched online but can't find any. So, if I fail to get one, what do you suggest as an alternative?

 

[pbo]

Try searching for "bronica sq rear cap" - it looks like there are some on ebay.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

So there are! I live in Edinburgh, and there were no signs of any on the UK site. Cheers. I'll import.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Actually, I found two on eBay UK. I must have used the wrong search terms before. Many thanks. Case closed!

 

[AgX]

Heliopan offers a range of push-on caps. So if one does not find an apt diameter for ones lens elsewhere one can check there.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Good to know. Thanks!

 

[mweintraub]

I have ETR series rear caps that work on the SQ. If they fit nice on my 40mm S I can send them if Ebay is too expensive.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

That's very generous of you, mweintraub! I appreciate your offer, however I have two caps on the way. They should arrive on Monday. So, I'm covered, but thanks again.

 

[mweintraub]

That's very generous of you, mweintraub! I appreciate your offer, however I have two caps on the way. They should arrive on Monday. So, I'm covered, but thanks again.

No problem. Glad you're able to find some.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Yes, I got two, and they look genuine and in good condition. However (why is there always an However?!) they slip off too easily, which is annoying. I put them on, then give a clockwise quarter turn, but that doesn't keep them in place. They seem the right size, despite that.

 

[AgX]

I guess that is the inherent issue at least of generic caps, the tolerance between a perfect fit and slipping off is small. Ideal would be caps incorporating axial ridges, as with some prestidigitation (what a word...) and the right cutting tool one might cut off a ridge to a tdegree to mak the cap fit. Also ridges give more elastic play to the cap.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Agreed. I thought, though, as they have Zenza Bronica stamped on them, they would be a good fit. Alas, no. I might try a layer or two of tape inside the cap walls...

 

[AgX]

You might through them into some hot water, maybe they got stretched over time.

 

[johnha]

Hi Rob, I think you've got the right caps - mine are also slightly loose, I think they lack the plastic 'locking' tabs often found on other lens caps (perhaps due to the geometry of the lens mount). It's not usually a problem - but can be annoying sometimes.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Good to know, in a way, though still annoying for both of us...and others. There must be a way of sorting the problem..AgX suggests hot water...you go first, John

 

[AgX]

Another solution would be adding a piece of flexible adhesive tape with a tack strong enough to stay at PE. A textile tape might work as it lesser crinkles. Cut a narrow strip, fix it axially to the inside of the cap rim and bend it outwards. Thus there will be no sharp edge the cap will arrest at.

 

[tbransco]

I put them on, then give a clockwise quarter turn, but that doesn't keep them in place. They seem the right size, despite that.

Don't have my SQ with me, but shouldn't that be counter-clockwise turn to tighten?

Terry

 

[Rob MacKillop]

OMG you are right!! It works. How stupid of me

 

[tbransco]

OMG you are right!! It works. How stupid of me

Don't worry. The forehead slapping club has a vast membership. Enjoy your 40mm PS lens, and post some samples when you have them!

Terry

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Yes, I'm sure I'm not alone, Terry, though there are moments when it feels like it. Some 40mm and 110 macro currently away being processed. Hopefully there will be something worth sharing. Cheers.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Terry asked for samples: https://imagesrm.com/bronica-sq-a1/ comments welcome.

 

[tbransco]

Terry asked for samples: https://imagesrm.com/bronica-sq-a1/ comments welcome.

Thanks, Rob. I like the amount of detail you've coaxed out of your scenes with your kit and workflow. With my own work, I'm a little underwhelmed by the sharpness of my lenses, but I've not printed any of my images purely optically, leaving me to wonder if the problem is down to the fact that I scan my images on a generic Epson flatbed. Anything you can share about your own workflow would therefore be very helpful.

Cheers,
Terry

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Cheers, Terry. I get a lab to develop the images, then I scan the negs on an Epson v550, which is hardly the most sophisticated scanner, but seems to do an okay job. Once that's done, I open them in Lightroom 6 to add my web address, lower right. Occasionally I'm tempted to open an image in the Develop section of LR, maybe tweaking exposure, but nothing more.

These lenses seem excellent, I must say. Maybe I just got lucky for once. I'm not a technical photographer. I just take a reading from a Minolta IV light meter, after deciding what aperture or shutter speed I would like. And then just focus as best I can, and pull the trigger.

 

[tbransco]

Cheers, Terry. I get a lab to develop the images, then I scan the negs on an Epson v550

Interesting. We have the camera and scanner in common, then, as well as the same approach to photography, more or less. I get my colour negs developed by the local 'lab', develop my own B&W, and then scan the best I can with the Epson software and film holders. I have to say, though, that I once used the lab's light table to view some expired (but frozen) Velvia 100F slide film I had developed with a 6-8X loupe, and it seemed to me that what I saw then was pretty sweet in all respects compared to the scans I later made of the film. One of these days I'll have to splurge and get one or two negs printed optically, or drum scanned, to see what, if anything, I'm missing.

Cheers,
Terry

 

[Rob MacKillop]

I've only ever used one roll of Velvia, and was knocked out at the negatives - they looked so beautiful. But I was not so happy with the scans either.