Light seals for an Olympus XA3

[Jerevan]

I have always enjoyed my XA cameras, and I tried to cut some new foam strips recently. The foam was of good quality once, but it now turned out to be rather crumbly. Cutting strips in 1 mm thickness wasn't exactly easy, either.

Is there some alternative "foam" that I can use? Some sort of yarn possibly?

 

[Hasku]

Black Knitting wool ??

 

[retinax]

Wollen yarn is often recommended, I'm just starting using that and don't have and experience to share yet other than that black, real wool and the right thickness is surprisingly hard to find.
Could you share the origin and age of your deteriorating foam so we can avoid it?

 

[Johngwill]

Aki-Asahi sells light seal material, both foam and string type. http://www.aki-asahi.com/store/

I have replaced seals in several cameras using this material as well as using the pre-cut sets. I notice they sell pre-cut seal sets for the XA2.

 

[shawn]

Jon Goodman sells pre-cut foam kits for lots of cameras. Last time I bought a XA3 kit it was $9. That came with full directions for installation and I think also how to remove the top to clean the viewfinder.

jon_goodman@yahoo.com

Shawn

 

[wwfloyd]

Wollen yarn is often recommended, I'm just starting using that and don't have and experience to share yet other than that black, real wool and the right thickness is surprisingly hard to find.
...

The yarn I have has 4 strands. I can pull 1 or 2 strands off (one at a time seems to work best, for maintaining the twist in the remainder), and get an appropriate fit.

 

[Austintatious]

[QUOTEJon Goodman sells pre-cut foam kits for lots of cameras. Last time I bought a XA3 kit it was $9. That came with full directions for installation and I think also how to remove the top to clean the viewfinder.

jon_goodman@yahoo.com
QUOTE]


Jon is highly recommended.

 

[Jerevan]

The foam was actually an old, leftover piece that I have had for 5-6 years. Should've thrown it away, but that's what you end up with "trying to make do".

I am going to go through the options - thanks for the ideas!

 

[retinax]

The foam was actually an old, leftover piece that I have had for 5-6 years. Should've thrown it away, but that's what you end up with "trying to make do".

I am going to go through the options - thanks for the ideas!

I'm hoping foam will last much longer than that, so if you do remember where you got it, please let us know.