Way to bend lens ring back?

Hubigpielover · May 16, 2018

I bumped my lens on a chair and it bent the ring that the filter screws into. Didn't notice it till I went to screw my yellow lens on it. Should I send it off to get fixed, try to bend it back myself? I'm worried I will boogie the threads or scratch the glass if I do it myself.

Thanks

AgX · May 16, 2018

Self-repair would only work with slightest, hardly visible bending. And that would mean rebending by hand or similar.

Otherwise, if it works at all, special tools will be needed.
In the best case, unlikely, you yourself will yield a working but scratched ring.

Hubigpielover · May 16, 2018

AgX said:
If it works at all special tools will be needed.

In the best case, unlikely, you yourself will yield a working but scratched ring.

Hmmming that's what I was afraid of.

Helios 1984 · May 16, 2018

Here’s what I did to fix the filter ring of my Topcon rangefinder.

AgX · May 16, 2018

That dowel & anvil way likely would only work at mediocre bending. And still may harm aluminium threadings.

Aside a well cut anvil, without a third hand it will need some hassle to fix the the rest of the barrel. I would shim it to height and strap it down.

Hubigpielover · May 16, 2018

Helios 1984 said:
Here’s what I did to fix filter ring of my Topcon rangefinder.

I don't know if I trust myself doing that. I'll say you got stones. I'm going to try a lens filter vise.

Gerald C Koch · May 16, 2018

There is a special tool to do this. Some look like a pair of pliers others more like an anvil. The trick is to go slowly so as not to stretch the ring. If there are directions for the tool read them thoroughly beforehand. After each use rotate the tool a bit so as not to stretch the ring all in one place.

AgX · May 16, 2018

I do not find that commercial tool very convincing, am tinkering on a own solution.

Helios 1984 · May 16, 2018

Hubigpielover said:
I don't know if I trust myself doing that. I'll say you got stones. I'm going to try a lens filter vise.

To be fair, I removed the filter ring before proceeding, it make things easier and eliminate the risk for the front element.

Ps: In this particular case, I was able to remove the filter ring because there is no nameplate screwed in on this particular lens. You can’t do that with most lenses.

Old-N-Feeble · May 16, 2018

Helios 1984 said:
Here’s what I did to fix the filter ring of my Topcon rangefinder.

I used a system very similar to this many years ago when I still had fine motor skills but I wouldn't dare try it these days. I had 'arcs' of various sizes and sticks made of hardwood with various curved ends. Of course, that system only worked on minor bends.

Sirius Glass · May 16, 2018

You bent the yellow filter not the lens. I have the right tools and I worked on a bent lens ring and ended up scratching the lens. Let a repairman fix it or replace the filter. It is not worth damaging the lens or filter even if you are skilled and have the right tools.

Old-N-Feeble · May 16, 2018

SG, I read it that he bent the front of the lens.

shutterfinger · May 16, 2018

I've corrected bent lens barrel ends with a pair of needle nose pliers and a piece of rubber to protect the threads. The dings were only a millimeter or two.
I did not scratch the lens.

Nodda Duma · May 16, 2018

I’ve successfully used a lens vice many times to repair dents just like you describe, both in and out of the optical shop. They are much cheaper than your lens, and — most importantly — don’t require a finely honed technique or experience.

BradS · May 16, 2018

I guess it depends on what lens it is. If it is something commonly available on the used market and not too expensive, I would just buy another one in better condition. The bent one could be sold on eBay, with the ding clearly disclosed and photographed. If, on the other hand, it is an uncommon or expensive lens, then certainly I'd send it to a reputable shop to be repaired. The repairman will disassemble the lens, clean it and put it back together with the bent parts replaced by new parts (or used parts in excellent condition). I'd call around before just sending it blindly to a shop tho.

I'd never attempt to repair a bent filter ring by bending it back....either its worth getting done right or it isn't. If its not worth getting done right....just buy another. I might, however, venture to disassemble the lens myself to see if I could replace the bent parts....just to learn something.

Sirius Glass · May 16, 2018

Old-N-Feeble said:
SG, I read it that he bent the front of the lens.

My advise is still the same.

dxqcanada · May 16, 2018

I have used the lens ring vise and the wood dowel technique ... I will have to say the wood is the better way.

mshchem · May 16, 2018

Yikes, I think wood would be best. But there's people that "have a particular set of skills " pay a professional.

albada · May 17, 2018

Hubigpielover said:
I don't know if I trust myself doing that. I'll say you got stones. I'm going to try a lens filter vise.

I've done that wooden-dowel-in-a-cutout trick many times, and I'll testify that it works well. File the end of the dowel to match the ring's curvature. You can tap a small dent in its middle, but for a long dent, it's best to start at the ends and work inward. Starting at the middle of a long dent will cause you to put a dent in the dent, making the final straightening more difficult.

Mark Overton

mshchem · May 17, 2018

I've only dropped a camera once. My first SLR a Pentax SP 500. Broke the UV filter. Since then, 1st thing I do on every lens is put a good UV filter and a strap .I standardized all my cameras to Tamrac straps with quick release. Allowed easy removal of the strap when using a tripod.

I'm sure the dowel and curved block thing would work. I hope I don’t need to try

AgX · May 17, 2018

Quite some people though tried to bend the ring back into shape by using pliers, with the result of making things worse.

devb · May 17, 2018

I bent a filter ring so badly once that I wound up cutting the bent section out with a small hacksaw and screwed and empty filter ring into the remaining threads, making the edges light tight with black gaffers tape. Electrical tape would probably work too. Empty filter rings are very cheap: http://www.emptyfilterrings.com/

Helios 1984 · May 17, 2018

Could you post a picture of the aforementioned filter ring?

devb · May 17, 2018

Helios 1984 said:
Could you post a picture of the aforementioned filter ring?

I could in a few hours. It just looks like I have a filter with no glass taped onto the lens.

AgX · May 18, 2018

devb said:
I bent a filter ring so badly once that I wound up cutting the bent section out with a small hacksaw and screwed and empty filter ring into the remaining threads, making the edges light tight with black gaffers tape. Electrical tape would probably work too. Empty filter rings are very cheap: http://www.emptyfilterrings.com/

Milling out a bent section is the last resort. And to hold a filter likely only 2/3 of the circumference is needed, thus it would work without an addtional thread, that second thread is held so anyway.

Way to bend lens ring back?

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