Lens hoods (aargh!)

[scott kirkpatrick]

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There's an old thread in which several of us commiserated about how badly the lens hoods on the two "German" CL lenses, the 35/1.4 and the 60/2.8 macro, have held up.  Some lugs on the end of the lens have to slide into a plastic ring that goes just inside the hood to hold it on, and the little ring is secured in place by a small amount of lock-tite glue.  In both of my hoods, the ring has come loose and slid further into the hood so that it can't be secured for shooting.  Both lenses were purchased used, so I have no warranty (also no nearby dealers), and one of the lenses showed signs of unsuccessful attempts to fix the problem.  I haven't had any greater luck.  How are others doing with these two lenses? 

I've been shooting with an SL 75 Summicron recently, and noticed that it has the same sort of hood and hood attachment, BUT IT WORKS!  The lugs are the same, the ring seems to be the same, but it can't slide forward into the hood because there is a flocked lining inside the rest of the hood that holds it in place.  Also the hood section facing the lens is shaped to make inserting the lens in the hood easier. I wonder if, as new CL lenses emerge, we will also see an improvement in this humble $107 part, preferably usable on the earlier lenses with this problem.

Edited March 2, 2019 by scott kirkpatrick

[Petercoll]

18 hours ago, scott kirkpatrick said:

There's an old thread in which several of us commiserated about how badly the lens hoods on the two "German" CL lenses, the 35/1.4 and the 60/2.8 macro, have held up.  Some lugs on the end of the lens have to slide into a plastic ring that goes just inside the hood to hold it on, and the little ring is secured in place by a small amount of lock-tite glue.  In both of my hoods, the ring has come loose and slid further into the hood so that it can't be secured for shooting.  Both lenses were purchased used, so I have no warranty (also no nearby dealers), and one of the lenses showed signs of unsuccessful attempts to fix the problem.  I haven't had any greater luck.  How are others doing with these two lenses? 

I've been shooting with an SL 75 Summicron recently, and noticed that it has the same sort of hood and hood attachment, BUT IT WORKS!  The lugs are the same, the ring seems to be the same, but it can't slide forward into the hood because there is a flocked lining inside the rest of the hood that holds it in place.  Also the hood section facing the lens is shaped to make inserting the lens in the hood easier. I wonder if, as new CL lenses emerge, we will also see an improvement in this humble $107 part, preferably usable on the earlier lenses with this problem.

A thin smooth application of Gorilla Glue to secure the ring, and my 35mm TL lens shade is behaving with hard use.

 

[scott kirkpatrick]

54 minutes ago, Petercoll said:

A thin smooth application of Gorilla Glue to secure the ring, and my 35mm TL lens shade is behaving with hard use.

 

How did you (a) get the old glue off, and (b) line up the little plug to go into the slot just behind the dot that says 12429? 

[Bill W]

I sprayed some silicone lubricant on a cloth and rubbed it on the contacts on the hoods of all my lens (not on the lens contacts) and they go on and off very smoothly.

[scott kirkpatrick]

I think you diagnosed the problem before it could get worse.  My copy has small blobs of glue left from my and a former owner's attempts to secure the inner ring, so I am working with an epoxy solvent to make the blobs go away and get the ring to seat properly.

[Petercoll]

On 3/3/2019 at 6:03 PM, scott kirkpatrick said:

How did you (a) get the old glue off, and (b) line up the little plug to go into the slot just behind the dot that says 12429? 

 I worked out roughly where the lug and the slot aligned, looking at detail on the outside (not much detail).The old glue I didn’t remove,as it didn’t seem to foul when I located and pushed, and I was careful to layer the gorilla glue in a smear almost as if it wasn’t there on both surfaces, but by golly it is scary strong ! Major point, get lots and lots of practice to align the wretched lug in the barrel. I did loads of dry runs before gluing, and I mean till you are virtually a self trained lens fitter !! The other scary bit I remember is you apply water on your finger to the gorilla glue surfaces to activate the glue. It’s not a sticky substance, but don’t lose where the slot is once that water goes on !!

 

[Petercoll]

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23 hours ago, Bill W said:

I sprayed some silicone lubricant on a cloth and rubbed it on the contacts on the hoods of all my lens (not on the lens contacts) and they go on and off very smoothly.

 

23 hours ago, Bill W said:

I sprayed some silicone lubricant on a cloth and rubbed it on the contacts on the hoods of all my lens (not on the lens contacts) and they go on and off very smoothly.

Candle wax is an old furniture restorer’s method . You have to remember the medium you use immediately magnetises to all dirt. When candle wax does the same a) you hardly notice and b) candle wax is removable very simply and if necessary re applied clean. The motto is little and often. Heavy smearing on of wax is big trouble.

[Petercoll]

20 minutes ago, Petercoll said:

 I worked out roughly where the lug and the slot aligned, looking at detail on the outside (not much detail).The old glue I didn’t remove,as it didn’t seem to foul when I located and pushed, and I was careful to layer the gorilla glue in a smear almost as if it wasn’t there on both surfaces, but by golly it is scary strong ! Major point, get lots and lots of practice to align the wretched lug in the barrel. I did loads of dry runs before gluing, and I mean till you are virtually a self trained lens fitter !! The other scary bit I remember is you apply water on your finger to the gorilla glue surfaces to activate the glue. It’s not a sticky substance, but don’t lose where the slot is once that water goes on !!

 

I forgot to add , I bought my lens pre owned via Stephens of Manchester who said Leica would send a new hood immediately . The first owner clearly got cheesed off with the wonky lens hood, but luckily didn’t chose to repair it ! So I got a good deal, totally unmarked lens ( typical of all s/h stock from Manchester. They have now got two tempting 60mm macros nearly 25% off new price, and they sold a mint s/h 11-23 zoom last week, but you have to nag them on the phone. This lens went to it’s new owner in a few minutes, and he must have been dead quick on the phone . They’ve sold four or five s/h 11-23mm zooms this year to customers, despite them being unobtanium.

Edited March 4, 2019 by Petercoll
Added more script

[Boojay]

I'm still having this issue with my 35mm lens hood - so fed up of it keep coming apart that I tend to leave it at home but that proved a problem with flare and losing contrast when I was out the other day.  So, has anybody found a suitable replacement please.  I have the 55-135 which also takes 60mm filters but the hoods are different fittings.  Thinking of trying a 60mm screw in metal hood but would be interest to hear if anyone else has tried that.  

[EUSe]

vor 25 Minuten schrieb Boojay:

I'm still having this issue with my 35mm lens hood - so fed up of it keep coming apart that I tend to leave it at home but that proved a problem with flare and losing contrast when I was out the other day.  So, has anybody found a suitable replacement please.  I have the 55-135 which also takes 60mm filters but the hoods are different fittings.  Thinking of trying a 60mm screw in metal hood but would be interest to hear if anyone else has tried that.  

Boojay, mine (the Summilux TL Hood)  fell to pieces - it was replaced by Leica with a new, better model for free. I am really confident now.

[nicci78]

If  you leave them in place, you will have no problem at all. The torque you apply to take it on and off, breaks the glue holding the plastic part with the metal hood. 

 

By the way, a shame for Leica for designing such bad accessories :

• lens cap is bad (not flat and no outer ring pinch system)
• rear lens cap, is not easy to close
• body cap, is not easy to close also.  
• lens hoods are badly designed and not compatible between made in Japan and made in Germany lenses. Despite sharing the same diameter. Very weird. 

Not a deal breaker. Only very bad engineering and ergonomics. 

 

 

Edited March 27, 2019 by nicci78

[Petercoll]

6 hours ago, nicci78 said:

If  you leave them in place, you will have no problem at all. The torque you apply to take it on and off, breaks the glue holding the plastic part with the metal hood. 

 

By the way, a shame for Leica for designing such bad accessories :

• lens cap is bad (not flat and no outer ring pinch system)
• rear lens cap, is not easy to close
• body cap, is not easy to close also.  
• lens hoods are badly designed and not compatible between made in Japan and made in Germany lenses. Despite sharing the same diameter. Very weird. 

Not a deal breaker. Only very bad engineering and ergonomics. 

 

 

As per my March 4th posting, once upon a time mine fell apart. Now I WRENCH it on and off whenever the mood takes me. The Gorilla Glue I used is very neat and tidy, what more ca I add ?

[huwm]

Have given up on the hoods all together 

Edited March 27, 2019 by huwm

[euston]

On 3/4/2019 at 11:19 PM, Petercoll said:

 

Candle wax is an old furniture restorer’s method . You have to remember the medium you use immediately magnetises to all dirt. When candle wax does the same a) you hardly notice and b) candle wax is removable very simply and if necessary re applied clean. The motto is little and often. Heavy smearing on of wax is big trouble.

Thank you very much for this tip. It works brilliantly. No more forcing the hood on and off. No more risk of breaking anything.