Sticky Covering on EOS-A2 Grip

[Dave Jenkins]

I have a pair of Canon EOS-A2 bodies that served me well from 1995-2003, and have been in honored retirement since then. The imitation leather coverings on the grips has become quite sticky. Is there any way to fix this? I think I would like to begin using them again.

 

[sc_rufctr]

How easy would it be to remove the covering?

You may be able to get new coverings but most likely you'd have to cut your own.
Unfortunately the stickiness you describe is a common problem with older equipment.

But before you remove the covering...
What about using a black powder to reduce the stickiness? Something like grafite powder?
Just dust it on and massage it into the covering.

 

[bjornkeizers]

I have a pair of Canon EOS-A2 bodies that served me well from 1995-2003, and have been in honored retirement since then. The imitation leather coverings on the grips has become quite sticky. Is there any way to fix this? I think I would like to begin using them again.

Yes there is, and it is VERY easy too. I picked up one just like that a year and a half ago. So sticky, I could practically stick it to the ceiling.

I used two little alcohol swabs to rub the grip, and it cleared right up. Zero stickiness. These are the same swabs that you'd use to clean small wounds. Chances are you have some already. Just a bit of rubbing and it's gone.

 

[rick oleson]

If it was mine, I would replace the leatherette with pigskin (assuming the contours permit it - I'm not familiar enough with the particular pieces involved). It wears gracefully and never turns to tar.

 

[Dave Jenkins]

Well, the alcohol trick works. I tried denatured alcohol first, which did not work, and then tried rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball, which did the job.

I could rip off one of the imitation leather pieces and send it to cameraleather.com and have him make me a leather piece to match. However, even though these are great cameras, I have not been able to sell them even for the ridiculously low price of $29 postpaid, so I don't want to invest very much in them.

 

[presspass]

Another option is to cover it with something else. I have an EOS 1n with one end like that and just covered it with tape. I'm going to try the rubbing alcohol; that sounds like a better solution. BTW, this seems to be a problem primarily with Canons. I've never seen it on the Nikons.

 

[bjornkeizers]

Good to hear it worked.

And in fact, it's not a Canon problem, but more or less limited to these EOS's from around the same time frame. When I googled my own issue, I found a ton of topics about specifically the EOS A2 / EOS 5 / EOS Elan from that 1991-1995 period or so.

They used a very specific plastic for the grips that caused the sticky issue. They probably stopped using it because of that or significantly improved the formula, because none of the more modern Canons seem to suffer from it as far as I've read.

 

[struene]

[...] but more or less limited to these EOS's from around the same time frame. When I googled my own issue, I found a ton of topics about specifically the EOS A2 / EOS 5 / EOS Elan from that 1991-1995 period or so.

[...] because none of the more modern Canons seem to suffer from it as far as I've read.

My EOS 300 and EOS 33v which are from the early-mid 2000s have the same problem. So nothin to to with the 90s period...

 

[mwoenv]

A remedy I have seen in other forums, reported to be very effective, is to clean the sticky rubber with 91% isopropyl alcohol and then apply a liberal amount of Armorall Original Formula protectant and let sit for a week.

 

[CliveC]

Sticky materials aren't isolated problems of cameras. I had a TV remote with a soft touch back surface go sticky after about 8 years. Alcohol does remove the stickiness, but when I did it, it also removed the soft-touch/grippy surface, leaving it a little slippery.

 

[Dogman]

Thanks for resurrecting this thread.

I've noticed the rubber covering the focus rings of a couple of my older Canon EF lenses are getting that tacky feel. I've retired my film Canon bodies (it's insulting how little you can sell them for these days) but I'm still using a few lenses with newer digital bodies. I'll give the alcohol pads a try.