Glue for Leitz 21mm SOKOO Viewfinder

enero

enero

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After years of wanting and needing, I finally got my hands on a beautiful 21mm Leitz SOKOO viewfinder, its in excellent condition except for the front element, which has come loose.

Can anyone suggest what kind of glue I should use to reset it? Please be gentle, this is my first Leica related glue job 😉

sokoo.jpg
 
I just looked at my 24mm of the same construction. Mine looks like the front glass snaps in behind a rubber or plastic (probably plastic) rim. I can't tell if there is any glue--can't see evidence of any.

On closer look, yours looks like metal, mine seems plastic. The front glass may or may not be held in the same way.

I think I'd send it to Sherry Krauter!
 
Looking at mine, I see no evidence of glue. It appears to rest on the "baffle" shown in your photo. I am thinking there was some adhesive on the baffle at time of manufacture that has since dried.

Send for repair or DIY. Epoxy will stick to plastic and glass. And it will never come apart for cleaning or repair. Black silicone adhesive from the auto store will fill the area from the glass to edge of housing as the glass sits back around .005 inch ( eyeball guess). Make a slight chamfer with it .

Another possibility is the glass originally had some adhesive on the edges which adhered it to the baffle.

Camera reair people use plyobond adhesive. As with silicone, move small amounts from the tube to the glass with a pin. Use sparingly.
 
Hi Rob, no retainer of any kind for the front element on this guy. Just glue. If you look closely at the photo about you can see evidence of glue along the glass, as well as some paint loss due to the glue along the inside (bottom) of the VF's edge.

I dont think it's necessary to send this guy out since these VFs cant really be taken apart. All a service person would be willing to do is give it a blow and glue it back in place. I'm pretty confidant that I can handle this task on my own. I was just curious to see what people thought would be a good glue to use.
 
Ronald, pliobond was what I was thinking, but I wanted to see what everyone else thought. My mine concern is fogging. In my experience, ive had some fogging issues with some adhesives, and since this really a one shot deal, I wanted to be sure.

My wife uses 2 part epoxy at work for glass. That was going to be my go to since we have it in the house, but epoxy seems to "permanent". And if the application wasnt perfect, clean up would be a nightmare.
 
OK since the vote is for glue, I will add a third possibility. I find "Liquid Electrical Tape" (from Home Depot) to be a very useful adhesive. I think it would be better than silicone, as it is easier to work with, will set in place more quickly. So I would say it's between L.E.T. and Pliobond.
 
Whatever you do, don't use super glue, because that will fog the glass.
I think the non-permanent suggestions above like silicone or the liquid electric tape are the way to go. I have one of these that needs some work also, so I'd like to know how it works out.
 
A small amount of silicone will hold it very well just clean everything well and use sparingly. Put it on the finder not the glass and thin.
 
In viewfinders I have looked at the glass is held in place with what appears to be shellac. Sold at art/craft and paint stores. Large flaky stuff.
Dissolve some in a little alcohol and let a drop or two wick in while holding the lens in place with a suction cup.
Good luck.
 
Hey some great info here guys, thanks! I think I will start with the nail polish suggestion first, see how that go since its fairly reversible. If that doesnt work, then its off to the art supply store for some Shellac!

I'll keep you folks posted!
 
I doubt Leitz would have used shellac much for anything past the 1950's. Different glues were available then.
I'm also doubtful about nail polish. I would at least do some tests to get an idea how it would work.
Silicone to me seems like the safest option.
 
Funny it came loose by itself. I've read posts here saying it's impossible to fix loose elements inside the viewfinder without breaking the front lens.
 
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