Tamron rubber

[bychance]

What was going on when Tamron were sourcing the materials to construct the adaptall 11 lenses...
It seems every time I see a lens I fancy, the focus ring rubber is hanging around the body like a pair of oversize underpants or the zoom ring rubber is bulging out like a life bouy

I get around this by buying doner rightoffs and taking the rubber off them but its such a shame that great lenses like the 01A 35-80 for example are presented for sale with these old foreskinesque rubber grips hanging off them when everything else about the lens is so superb. I suppose visually it disguises the quality of the actual lens (and we get bargains) but if Tamron had gotten this simple material sourced properly, these lenses could have appeared even better.

Makes yer blood boil don't it

Just thought I'd have a minor rant

[visualopsins]

[marcusBMG]

Murphy's law of cosmic convergence means that lenses like this are converging on YOU (for maximum effect).
Only a couple or so of adaptalls that I have handled have been so afflicted, inc the 02B I still have. The early ones with the faux croc rubber, not the dimpled rubber, now that perishes with age more often than not and crumbles off.

[Ray Parkhurst]

This is a question I've had for a long time but never asked. Is there any source for generic size/pattern rubber tubes or rings that can be purposed for focus rings? I have several lenses that need new rubber, and some are extra small and hard to find replacements for. Has anyone found a source? How about a source for rings already purposed for cameras? Thanks...Ray

[Lightshow]

Topcor RE lenses have a similar problem, either becoming loose, or hard, brittle, and cracking.
Some of these lenses require the rubber to be removed to service the lens, which can destroy the rubber if it's become hard.
I've seen some lenses wrapped in leather as a replacement, it can actually look and feel quite good.

[Lloydy]

That's why I buy them cheap, and cover them with leather.

[luisalegria]

Good idea !
Nice leather.

[mo]

This "bakelite" front grip version of the Carl zeiss Jena Pancolar 2/50 (I think there are other CZJ lenses with this style).Becomes brittle and breaks off over time.It's a shame because it's such a lovely styled grip.

Could anyone confirm whether its actually made of bakelite? Also would there be away to preserve it...keep it from breaking further?

[luisalegria]

Doesn't look like bakelite, or act like it. Bakelite doesn't deteriorate like that.
Most likely some sort of polyethylene which gets brittle as the plasticizers evaporate.
Being exposed to UV also hurts.

[mo]

Thanks as always for your input. I will have to handle with care as it's already lifting at the break.

[bychance]

That looks like a good candidate for 3D printing to me, get it printed whole then cut it neatly in half or quarters and silicon it in place. Perhaps make the joins look part of the design with a bit of judicious champhering??

I bet LLoydy would do that for you for nothing

Steve.

[Gardener]

[luisalegria]

Not all the time, but often enough.
Moreso I think with the later rubber ring Adaptamatics.
And quite often with many other makes of the 70's-80's.
I have fixed a couple of the Adaptamatics by trimming them a bit so they fit a bit more tightly and gluing them down with rubber cement.
IIRC someone somewhere suggested heating with a hair dryer to shrink the rubber.
I will let someone else try that and tell us if it works!

[Lloydy]

Mo, as a semi permanent measure I'd get a small tube of black rubber mastic - costs about £5 UK - and push a tiny bit into the crack while it is still on the lens. Wipe the excess off with hand cleaner wet wipes while it is still wet and sticky, or put some dish soap on your finger. Wet and slippy will smooth the mastic . The rubber mastic sticks to just about everything like .........very sticky stuff.....We used loads of it at work to seal leaks and stick stuff, it was our emergency bodge of choice The mastic does not set hard, wil not damage the plastic, and would peel off if you wanted to remove it.

[bernhardas]

Edited

[bychance]

Yes indeed bernhardas, that has put me off sigma lenses period! Funny, I just don't even bother to look at them now having dismissed them as crappy construction, probably silly but thats how easy people are put off a brand.

[mo]

Thanks Dave, there should be something similar over here.

[Tervueren]

[guardian]

[iangreenhalgh1]

None of my dozen or so old Af Sigmas has done that, luckily. I suspect it's due to climate - it's rarely warm here but Dubai is rarely cold!