Topic: Focus ring grip

[Indofunk]

I just got a 45mm MD lens, and it quite helpfully came without a lenscap, rear cap, or the little bumpy rubber strip that is usually around the focus ring to help you grip it and to just make it feel comfortable. I figure there's gotta be lots of places to get strips of self-adhesive rubber, but so far Amazon has been very disappointing. I'm sure some of you can source this stuff for me, so go!

[Bryan]

You could salvage it from an old lens.  Maybe if you have give us some measurements someone can find one on a lens that has no hope otherwise.  A crappy lens from a thrift store could possibly be a donor.

[Indofunk]

Huh, that's true. I have at least one lens that wouldn't miss its rubber gasket But really, a strip of rubber with glue on the back. Why isn't that a thing? 

[Indofunk]

Oh! I could use a bicycle inner tube! Very helpful fact: Bicycle inner tubes are extremely effective at unscrewing stuck trumpet mouthpiece rims. Don't see why they wouldn't be equally effective for use as focus ring grips

[Bryan]

Huh, that's true. I have at least one lens that wouldn't miss its rubber gasket But really, a strip of rubber with glue on the back. Why isn't that a thing? 

  It probably is a thing but more for industrial buyers that use a lot of it.  You may have to do a lot of creative searching on the internet to find a way to buy it.  There's probably someone in china that sells small quantities on an obscure web site.  The ones on lenses are like a rubber band that fits the lens perfectly, you probably won't find that.  You may find something that you have to seam together.  I have found similar stuff that I used to replace missing rubber on a tripod to grip the camera but it's much thicker than what you're looking for.

Here's some obscure web sites that sells rubber sheets.

http://www.rubbercal.com/

http://www.sevillacomponents.co.uk/podiatry-orthotics/soiling-material/rubber-sheeting

Maybe just get some leatherette like you would use to re-cover a camera.

[EarlJam]

Oh! I could use a bicycle inner tube!

Since the lens is roughly 2" in diameter, you could use a "thornproof rubber" mountain bike tube, which tends to be quite a bit thicker than a standard tube. One tube would probably give you several lifetimes' worth of grip rings, to boot.

[Francois]

Oh! I could use a bicycle inner tube! Very helpful fact: Bicycle inner tubes are extremely effective at unscrewing stuck trumpet mouthpiece rims. Don't see why they wouldn't be equally effective for use as focus ring grips

I was about to say The same thing.
And depending on the size of the ring, you could also use one of those silicone wrist bands.
For that luxury look, a nice leather wrap could be nice.
A little known product that could prove to be nice is liquid hockey tape. It comes in a tube with a silicone brush on the cap. It's a rubbery substance that's good enough to hold on a hockey stick's blade, so it could prove to be good enough.

[Kai-san]

I did a quick search on evilbay, under Cameras and photo I typed "lens grip". You can get rubber rings from China for specific lenses or just buy one in the correct width and adapt it. Prices start at 3$, shipping included.

[jharr]

If you are feeling in the mood for a project, you could get some self-adhesive elastic in the right width from a fabric or craft store, then coat the non-adhesive side with Plasti-dip. Pick a color, any color!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/122072847432?chn=ps&dispItem=1

[Indofunk]

A little known product that could prove to be nice is liquid hockey tape. It comes in a tube with a silicone brush on the cap. It's a rubbery substance that's good enough to hold on a hockey stick's blade, so it could prove to be good enough.

I bought (on 02Pilot's suggestion) liquid electrical tape. It sounds like virtually the same thing. I didn't think to actually paint it right onto the lens, but that sounds like it would work perfectly!

I did a quick search on evilbay, under Cameras and photo I typed "lens grip". You can get rubber rings from China for specific lenses or just buy one in the correct width and adapt it. Prices start at 3$, shipping included.

This is of course the answer I was originally looking for, but now there are so many novel suggestions that I'm considering them. Like.....

If you are feeling in the mood for a project, you could get some self-adhesive elastic in the right width from a fabric or craft store, then coat the non-adhesive side with Plasti-dip. Pick a color, any color!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/122072847432?chn=ps&dispItem=1

A PINK lens grip is so frikkin appealing to me right now!    ... maybe I should sleep on that decision 

[chris667]

Hill's Rubber, Reading.

Brilliant shop. Basically unchanged since 1888, when it opened. An old man in a brown warehouse coat serves you from behind a glass and mahogany counter. When you make a purchase, they hand write the receipt on a wooden till with a drawer that rings a bell when you open it.

The last time I went in there looking for a hose for my boat, the fella asked me what diameter I wanted. I said it was 32mm. He gave me a hard stare and said "Inch and a quarter, son...".

Saying that, someone told me they moved.

[kentish cob]

Hill's Rubber, Reading.

Brilliant shop. Basically unchanged since 1888, when it opened. An old man in a brown warehouse coat serves you from behind a glass and mahogany counter. When you make a purchase, they hand write the receipt on a wooden till with a drawer that rings a bell when you open it.

The last time I went in there looking for a hose for my boat, the fella asked me what diameter I wanted. I said it was 32mm. He gave me a hard stare and said "Inch and a quarter, son...".

Saying that, someone told me they moved.

The temptation to ask for "fork 'andles" must have been hard to resist..! 

[Pete_R]

The temptation to ask for "fork 'andles" must have been hard to resist..! 

I thought exactly the same.

And for our friends across the water who probably don't understand the joke, here's the link.

https://youtu.be/pV1IP4N9ajg