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Replacements for front lens element retaining ring.
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 16, 2019 8:29 am    Post subject: Replacements for front lens element retaining ring. Reply with quote

I need to replace the front lens element retaining ring. Any sources or ideas?
Thank you.


PostPosted: Tue Jul 16, 2019 1:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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Last edited by Blazer0ne on Tue Feb 22, 2022 5:24 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Tue Jul 16, 2019 2:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Maybe specify lens; solving that problem first may lead to more general solutions later.

Or not. Edmund Scientific and other industrial lens makers have parts such as bodies, iris, retaining rings, helicals, for making custom lenses. These are mostly c-mount but m42 parts can be found.


PostPosted: Tue Jul 16, 2019 4:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Blazer0ne wrote:
Do you need this to simply keep out the dust or to hold the front element in place?


The ring holds the lens in place. It is from an old Nikkor H 3.5 28mm lens.


PostPosted: Tue Jul 16, 2019 5:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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Last edited by Blazer0ne on Tue Feb 22, 2022 5:24 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Tue Jul 16, 2019 7:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Blazer0ne wrote:
uddhava wrote:
Blazer0ne wrote:
Do you need this to simply keep out the dust or to hold the front element in place?


The ring holds the lens in place. It is from an old Nikkor H 3.5 28mm lens.


Could you use a filter and remove the glass. If you find one with deep threads it might work or you could pad the bottom with shims.

A cheap plastic threaded lens shade might also be salvaged to work.

Sometimes the ring also serves to center the lens. If that is not the case, maybe a new ring can be molded in place with Polycaprolactone.


Thank you, I was thinking of the lens shade option. I will see what bits and pieces they have at the used camera stores in Budapest.
Otherwise I can order a lens shade on ebay. How would you cut off the shade?


PostPosted: Tue Jul 16, 2019 10:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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Last edited by Blazer0ne on Tue Feb 22, 2022 5:24 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Tue Jul 16, 2019 11:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Blazer0ne wrote:
You can use a spanner wrench to unthread the inner ring of a lens filter with the same diameter as the lens. This piece might actually fit and thread further into the lens holding the element in place.

This was my thought exactly.
If the thread is of the same diameter, it may very well fit as a replacement for a retainer.

Seeing as how so many filters carry their lens-fit threads to the rest of the assembly,
it makes some sense to try a filter-glass retaining ring from a filter which fits the lens.
It's typical for such filters to have threads which can accept an accessory or even other
filters attached, so it's reasonable to expect such a ring can also be used as a way
to replace a lost or damaged lens retainer.


PostPosted: Wed Jul 17, 2019 8:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

SkedAddled wrote:
Blazer0ne wrote:
You can use a spanner wrench to unthread the inner ring of a lens filter with the same diameter as the lens. This piece might actually fit and thread further into the lens holding the element in place.

This was my thought exactly.
If the thread is of the same diameter, it may very well fit as a replacement for a retainer.

Seeing as how so many filters carry their lens-fit threads to the rest of the assembly,
it makes some sense to try a filter-glass retaining ring from a filter which fits the lens.
It's typical for such filters to have threads which can accept an accessory or even other
filters attached, so it's reasonable to expect such a ring can also be used as a way
to replace a lost or damaged lens retainer.


Thanks, I didn't know this. I see not all filters have the removable ring though.
All of my 52mm filters which fit the lens don't. I will look for these when I visit the camera store.
This seems to be the best and easiest solution.


PostPosted: Sat Jul 20, 2019 10:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

While I can't be sure right now, it may be that only one or two of my CPL filters
do not use a threaded retaining ring to hold the glass in place, and the fewer
of my clear/UV filters probably use threaded retainers as well.

Look closely at the glass edge, where it's held in place, on the outside.
Around the circumference of that, you'll likely find tiny notches
at 180-degrees from each other. Those are the recesses meant for tools
such as a lens spanner/wrench, used to tighten or remove it.

Looking at a Green-L, no-name brand, CPL filter of mine
(which performs surprisingly well), I can see those notches clearly.
The retaining ring is made of plastic, but it is indeed threaded, and it
is the same as the overall 67mm thread the filter is made to fit.

I've just checked it.
The filter is made to fit a 67mm lens, and the filter's retainer also
threads into the lens itself.

You may wish to secure such a cheap filter, but with metal construction,
for your needs. Alternatively, browse local vintage shops or local
camera fairs for a low-priced option.


PostPosted: Sun Jul 21, 2019 6:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you for the more information.
I will post again when I find one.


PostPosted: Wed Jul 24, 2019 2:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I typically do things like that by taking apart a bunch of old zooms until I find the matching piece.