Fixing paint loss on lenses

[Nikos]

Is there a good of method of restoring the paint wear on our beloved lenses?
What type of paint? How would you apply the paint?

Please share your experience.

[Sevo]

That very much depends on the lens. Black painted brass can be painted with enamel paints (Revell model makers paints being the most suitable tiny quantities). Beyond that, YMMV - most industrial coating processes used in the past thirty years cannot really be patched up or re-done in small scale, so the best you can go for is to paint it to look as much like the original as possible.

[Orio]

The best way is by use of felt pens that are specifically made for this purpose and are sold by some photo accessories stores.
However from what I read the result is never as perfect as an original.
The good side is that the paint does not take the photo, the glass does

[Nikos]

[Orio]

I saw them once, but I can not remember the store.
If you can't find them online, try at a hardware store. They usually have those that write on metal. Those should be the same or similar than the photographic ones. Try first on a cheap lens and see what happens.

[visualopsins]

Paint Sticks -- Micro-Tools has some. Also art supply stores, and auto stores have touch-up lacquers, etc.

[Orio]

Micro-Tools, that's where I saw them.

[Nikos]

[Boomer Depp]

In the US Birchwood Casey Touch Up Pens are available online.

Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dsporting&field-keywords=Birchwood+Casey+Touch+Up+Pen+&x=17&y=19

ebay
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3984.m570.l1313&_nkw=Birchwood+Casey+Touch+Up+Pen+&_sacat=See-All-Categories

[dof]

The paint sticks are for replacing the painted, recessed numbers such as
aperture & focusing scales, etc. They're called "Lacquer Stik" and they
work well once you get the hang of using them. They come in various
colors. They're also good for replacing worn out embossed lettering on
cameras such as on name plates, etc.

In my experience replacing worn paint on smooth areas like lens barrels
usually ends up looking worse than it was before unless you stick to only
touching up very small areas.

[Boomer Depp]

For small touch ups of cameras and lenses I've used various indelible ink sharpies and indelible ink markers detailing the scratches or brassing...one coat at a time,let dry,repeat as necessary.
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=m570&_nkw=sharpie+black+marker&_sacat=See-All-Categories


In extreme case for deeper scratches or name engraving(ie Los Angeles Times) I've used survey paint markers...one coat at a time,let dry for 24 hours,repeat as necessary til the engraving or scratch is filled.

http://www.chiefsupply.com/Survey/Field_Writing%2CMarking/Permanent_Black_Marker/20-380-00007

[pirius]

Touch-up black pen is great, but if somebody came up with a pen that can make glass cleaning marks go away that would be priceless. It's a shame to see how the value of a lens drops by a third as soon as there is a slightest mark on the glass.