Make your own Sputnik lens shades

[P3D Greg Erker <erker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

  Unable to find lens shades for my Sputnik, I
found a way to make your own.

  Go to a store with plumbing supplies and buy
two 1 1/4" test caps. The 1.5" ones are common
but the 1 1/4" are less common so you may have
to go to a real plumbing supply store.

  At my store the test caps come in gaudy
colours like blue and orange. I have seen the
1.5" ones in black so you might also be able to
find 1 1/4" ones in black.

  I paid $1.29 CDN each for mine and later saw
them at a different store for $0.99 each.

  When you get them home carve a circular hole
in the end that will friction fit over the lens
barrel on the Sputnik.  Then you will need to
lock your shutter open on B and check for vignetting.
You will probably have to cut off about 1/4 to
1/2" to eliminate corner vignetting.

  Now you need to finish the insides. If you
managed to find black ones then just remove
the sheen with some coarse sandpaper. If you
have blue or orange rough up the inside and
paint them using Testors flat black enamel
(model paint). Another idea is to glue the
blacked flocked paper that Edmund Scientific
sells on the inside surfaces.

  Enjoy your sub-three dollar shades.

Greg E.



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