Re-touching a black lens

[taffy]

Hi I just bought a new Elmar M but I found a few small areas on the ridges of the lens where the black paint chipped off. Just a few spots but they're so visible since the lens is black.

I was wondering if you guys have DIY tips on re-touching these paint chips.

Thanks a lot!

Taffy
Philippines

 

[Kim Coxon]

To be honest, I wouldn't bother. It is not a DIY job. Normal paint is no good, it will wear off in next t no time. It needs to be a bakede on enamel or other coating such as a powder coating. To do this the lens would have to be completely dismantled and put back together afterwards. I would just call it "character"

 

[Ronald M]

Is is not paint, but annodised aluminum. This is a chemical conversion process to the surface metal.

Try some black marker over the worn areas, then some wax over the entire lens. Car wax works well.

I will not look new, but close depending upon how bad it was to start.

Sliding the lens in and out of a bag causes the edge wear. to stop it, put the equipment in a soft pouch before putting it in a bag compartment. Make them from an old flannel shirt.
Also buy bags with soft insides like Billingham . Hard finish compartments like Domke accelerate wear.