P3D Re: Realist lenscover repair!

[fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Dr. George A. Themelis)]

>My lenscover has come off of my Realist. I have the lenscover and the
>clips. Nothing appears to be damaged. It just popped off! How can I go
>about repairing this?
>Steven Lederman

Hi Steven!  Inspect the lens cover carefully at the point where the springs
attach.  The edges (tabs) are usually chipped, that's why the clips come
out.  If the edges are chipped then you have a problem and will need to
replace the cover (Ron Zakowski sells replacement covers and clips).  

If the edges look OK but the springs got loose, then there is a way to put
the cover and springs back.  It takes some practice.  I have had bad luck,
chipping the edges in the process.  Ron can do it.  

The cover tends to get loose with time.  What needs to be done to restore
the stiffness is to take it apart, bend the springs a bit and put back
together.

People not familiar with the Realist have the very bad habit of slapping
the lens cover, instead of closing it gently.  I hate it when people do
this to MY camera, in front of my eyes!  And when I try to stop them, they
act as if they know what they are doing!  It is repeated slammings that
cause the cover to lose stiffness and the tabs to break.

-- George Themelis


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