Restoring old K-Lens

hoopsontoast · 09-30-2014, 05:16 AM

I have just bought a nice little K 55mm f1.8 and its in generally good condition.

There are however a few areas on the Aperture Ring round the grooved bits that the paint/coating has come off the corners.
Whats the best way to touch these areas up?

I do love these old 'K' Lenses though, they just feel so rock solid even after ~40 years since it was made!

Its a perfect companion to my K85 f1.8, and probably a K135 f2.8 If I find one at some point!

beachboy2 · 09-30-2014, 08:02 AM

Black felt pen?

hoopsontoast · 09-30-2014, 08:10 AM

Originally posted by beachboy2

Black felt pen?

Well I thought that but would it not just rub off with use? Or a Permanent Marker?

**boriscleto** · 09-30-2014, 08:33 AM

How about some Testors hobby & model paint. Or whatever they have over there as Testors only sell in the US & Canada AFAIK.

utak · 09-30-2014, 09:02 AM

A permanent black marker works for me. Although there's a point where lenses become so beaten up they start to look cool! I found a M50/1.4 in a local west London charity shop and it looks like it was used by a war photo journalist. It has bags of character, and the glass is great.

Originally posted by hoopsontoast

Its a perfect companion to my K85 f1.8, and probably a K135 f2.8 If I find one at some point!

BTW you may wait forever to find a K 135 f2.8.....as its a f2.5...even better! I say this kind of smugly, as I'm also very keen on K-series, and recently purchased a f2.5 from the Marketplace here. It is a beast of a lens. I'm going to try it all month on the Single in challenge starting tomorrow, and also test it against my K 135 f3.5, another very fine performer.

Just look at all this glass!!

stevebrot · 09-30-2014, 09:12 AM

Originally posted by beachboy2

Black felt pen?

Yep, black-tipped permanent marker (Sharpie) is the weapon of choice for those wanting to touch up a lens for resale. Of course it will only wear off, but that is for the buyer to worry about

As for permanent solutions, there is no way to apply touch up paint in a manner that will look good and be durable. There is a forum member who does anodizing. That is probably the best option.

Steve

hoopsontoast · 09-30-2014, 09:27 AM

Originally posted by utak

A permanent black marker works for me. Although there's a point where lenses become so beaten up they start to look cool! I found a M50/1.4 in a local west London charity shop and it looks like it was used by a war photo journalist. It has bags of character, and the glass is great.

BTW you may wait forever to find a K 135 f2.8.....as its a f2.5...even better! I say this kind of smugly, as I'm also very keen on K-series, and recently purchased a f2.5 from the Marketplace here. It is a beast of a lens. I'm going to try it all month on the Single in challenge starting tomorrow, and also test it against my K 135 f3.5, another very fine performer.

Just look at all this glass!!

Ah yes, my mistake, I meant the 135mm f2.5, doh!

Originally posted by boriscleto

How about some Testors hobby & model paint. Or whatever they have over there as Testors only sell in the US & Canada AFAIK.

Sounds like Humbrol Paint we have here (Model Railways, Planes etc)

Originally posted by stevebrot

Yep, black-tipped permanent marker (Sharpie) is the weapon of choice for those wanting to touch up a lens for resale. Of course it will only wear off, but that is for the buyer to worry about

As for permanent solutions, there is no way to apply touch up paint in a manner that will look good and be durable. There is a forum member who does anodizing. That is probably the best option.

Steve

I had seen those lovely lenses he has done, it might be an option for the K85 that I LOVE although my copy is pretty mint already, will see if this K55 f1.8 is just as lovely!

**Just1MoreDave** · 09-30-2014, 11:59 AM

I have a lens that had some weird damage to the original finish, so I painted it. I think it's very difficult to get the paint as thin as the original finish. So the sharp original corners now look more like the plastic A series. I had a lot of trouble with the engraved lettering. Paint fills the recesses and makes the characters thin and fuzzy. The paint is more durable than I expected. I took the lens apart so the optics weren't at risk. My lens had unusual damage. Anything that looks like ordinary wear probably looks better left alone. Permanent black marker is a good compromise because it's not a lot of work, you won't be bothered by the wear for a while, and it'll come off if you want to reverse it.

**Lowell Goudge** · 10-01-2014, 04:07 AM

I don't bother. Why hide the fact that a lens has been well used but otherwise cared for

gmans · 10-01-2014, 07:45 AM

You can get black paint pens, great for writing on metal etc.

09-30-2014, 05:16 AM	#1
hoopsontoast Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 861	Restoring old K-Lens I have just bought a nice little K 55mm f1.8 and its in generally good condition. There are however a few areas on the Aperture Ring round the grooved bits that the paint/coating has come off the corners. Whats the best way to touch these areas up? I do love these old 'K' Lenses though, they just feel so rock solid even after ~40 years since it was made! Its a perfect companion to my K85 f1.8, and probably a K135 f2.8 If I find one at some point!

09-30-2014, 09:02 AM	#5
utak Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 928	A permanent black marker works for me. Although there's a point where lenses become so beaten up they start to look cool! I found a M50/1.4 in a local west London charity shop and it looks like it was used by a war photo journalist. It has bags of character, and the glass is great. Originally posted by hoopsontoast Its a perfect companion to my K85 f1.8, and probably a K135 f2.8 If I find one at some point! BTW you may wait forever to find a K 135 f2.8.....as its a f2.5...even better! I say this kind of smugly, as I'm also very keen on K-series, and recently purchased a f2.5 from the Marketplace here. It is a beast of a lens. I'm going to try it all month on the Single in challenge starting tomorrow, and also test it against my K 135 f3.5, another very fine performer. Just look at all this glass!! Last edited by utak; 09-30-2014 at 09:12 AM.

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09-30-2014, 08:02 AM	#2
beachboy2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 222	Black felt pen?

09-30-2014, 08:10 AM	#3
hoopsontoast Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 861 Original Poster	Originally posted by beachboy2 Black felt pen? Well I thought that but would it not just rub off with use? Or a Permanent Marker?

09-30-2014, 08:33 AM	#4
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	How about some Testors hobby & model paint. Or whatever they have over there as Testors only sell in the US & Canada AFAIK.

09-30-2014, 09:12 AM	#6
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by beachboy2 Black felt pen? Yep, black-tipped permanent marker (Sharpie) is the weapon of choice for those wanting to touch up a lens for resale. Of course it will only wear off, but that is for the buyer to worry about As for permanent solutions, there is no way to apply touch up paint in a manner that will look good and be durable. There is a forum member who does anodizing. That is probably the best option. Steve

09-30-2014, 09:27 AM	#7
hoopsontoast Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 861 Original Poster	Originally posted by utak A permanent black marker works for me. Although there's a point where lenses become so beaten up they start to look cool! I found a M50/1.4 in a local west London charity shop and it looks like it was used by a war photo journalist. It has bags of character, and the glass is great. BTW you may wait forever to find a K 135 f2.8.....as its a f2.5...even better! I say this kind of smugly, as I'm also very keen on K-series, and recently purchased a f2.5 from the Marketplace here. It is a beast of a lens. I'm going to try it all month on the Single in challenge starting tomorrow, and also test it against my K 135 f3.5, another very fine performer. Just look at all this glass!! Ah yes, my mistake, I meant the 135mm f2.5, doh! Originally posted by boriscleto How about some Testors hobby & model paint. Or whatever they have over there as Testors only sell in the US & Canada AFAIK. Sounds like Humbrol Paint we have here (Model Railways, Planes etc) Originally posted by stevebrot Yep, black-tipped permanent marker (Sharpie) is the weapon of choice for those wanting to touch up a lens for resale. Of course it will only wear off, but that is for the buyer to worry about As for permanent solutions, there is no way to apply touch up paint in a manner that will look good and be durable. There is a forum member who does anodizing. That is probably the best option. Steve I had seen those lovely lenses he has done, it might be an option for the K85 that I LOVE although my copy is pretty mint already, will see if this K55 f1.8 is just as lovely!

09-30-2014, 11:59 AM	#8
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	I have a lens that had some weird damage to the original finish, so I painted it. I think it's very difficult to get the paint as thin as the original finish. So the sharp original corners now look more like the plastic A series. I had a lot of trouble with the engraved lettering. Paint fills the recesses and makes the characters thin and fuzzy. The paint is more durable than I expected. I took the lens apart so the optics weren't at risk. My lens had unusual damage. Anything that looks like ordinary wear probably looks better left alone. Permanent black marker is a good compromise because it's not a lot of work, you won't be bothered by the wear for a while, and it'll come off if you want to reverse it.

10-01-2014, 04:07 AM	#9
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,891	I don't bother. Why hide the fact that a lens has been well used but otherwise cared for