Lens red dot removal?

[vladik]

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I would like to remove red index dot from my Vario-Elmar-R lens1:4/80-200mm lens.

I try to put a drop of glue solvent on it to dissolve adhesive holding it and gently heating it, but at not avail.

I do not want to use too much force to remove it possibly damaging surrounding area.

Those of you who successfully remove it would you please let me know what you did.

Thank you.

[farnz]

I assume you want to remove it to fit a collar with a tripod fastening (I've done the same).  Very careful and judicious use of glue solvent is the least risky because the red dot is stuck on very strongly as you've doubtless found out.  The problem will be finding the appropriate solvent.  I'm an Engineer and I used physical means in the end and the red dot shattered instead of the adhesive shearing.  Fortunately there was no effect on the lens but I would be reluctant to do the same again.

 

Pete.

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[gbealnz]

Blimey, I am buying from the wrong crowd then, a few of my Leica lenses have shed their dots, no engineering force required.

I have had to replace them, as the compulsive obsessive in me demands this.

Stick (oh gawd, sorry, no pun intended) with the solvent, eventually it will work.

Gary

[TomB_tx]

I've also had to replace a few on lenses that lost them, and even added them to a couple that never had them - like my 1968 50 Summicron (m) ver II which I bought new in '69. It just had a recess with red paint. I really like the tactile location it gives when changing lenses.

[farnz]

The same with me, Gary, but the red dot on my 80-200/4 Vario-Elmar-R was very firmly attached.  Come to think of it none of the red dots on any of my R lenses have come off so perhaps the R dots had a different adhesive.

 

Pete.

[gbealnz]

I've got an Elmarit R 24mm which came to me without dot, it will get the dot as soon as I can be bothered mixing the glue.

Not too long ago the Vario 28-70 I used on my R8 had the dot disappear, which I replaced. Most of my dot issues have been with R, not M.

Like Tom, the tactile feel is part of the experience of the dot.

Gary

[ganzosrevenge]

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I like the dot as it gives me an easy reference for when I swap lenses.

[wizard]

Usually those red dots fall off by themselves and people ask how to reattach them (happened to me at least twice) . Your red dot may have been properly reglued into place, and now defends itself against divorce  . Those dots are simply glued onto the lens and should come off relatively easy.

 

Cheers, Andy

[Dukeviolin]

if you get it off in one piece send it to me, they cost $10 new. 
Cheers ! 

[jaapv]

Really? It is some time ago, but as I recall Leica used to send them for free.

[pico]

Google Pin Punch, and when you get it, set it 90° to the  side of the dot, and give it a short rap with a tack hammer or a soup spoon.

Edited March 4, 2018 by pico

[T.E.]

After many years of use the red dot of my 80-200 fell off last month during a holiday trip to a hot country. No clear idea why this happend, no mechanical stress was implied.

I had to use copious amounts of DEET to keep the bugs away. DEET has some plastic-dissolving properties. Maybe this has weakened the alredy aged glue-bond of the red dot, combined with higher temperatures ?

Need to get a replacement dot now.