Cracked Tokina lens -

R

r/b

New member
My tripod knocked into my Tokina 11-16mm 2.8 during a shoot on a moving bus. Luckily, no damage was done to the glass pupil, just a dent in the bordering iris.

No visible difference (to me) in the images I'm yielding with the damaged lens. However, I'm worried moisture might build up inside the lens and start to effect the image as time passes. (?) Any other concerns to look out for? Any DIY or professional fixes you'd suggest for the lens?
 

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That piece looks very easy to replace... if you can find a spare for sale (not sure if Tokina sells bits; some manufacturers do, some don't). Just use the dents on the sides to unscrew the broken one, and to screw a new one.
 
If the part is unavailable, you could also try unscrewing that annular shaped plastic shroud (using the indents as mentioned) and perhaps seal the fractured ends together with a plastic solvent based glue, then let it throughly dry before you screw it back on.
 
If the plastic is ABS, it disolves on acetone (or nail polish removal), then glues itself when the acetone evaporates. I've had both good and bad results with this method (which I learned about from a motorbike guy who was fixing a crack on a piece that has a much tougher life than a lens).
 
Thanks for the suggestions everybody.

I was a lot more concerned about it when it first happened - it should be an easy replacement if I can find the right parts.

Just glad I didn't have my lens hood attached at the time, would have turned out far worse, pushing the tripod head right into the glass. Millimeters of luck.
 
I got one of those $15 lens spanner tools from China on eBay… just what you need for stuff like this (if that indeed screws off, I've been fooled before but those look like spanner holes).

I'd take care with solvents on that… who knows what evaporating stuff could affect lens coatings?

But any moisture or dust that could enter that crack could just as easily get in the (four!!) holes. Usually the element group is sealed, that front piece is just for looks and to close up the hole. I wouldn't worry about it.
 
YES: if you use acetone to fix the part, you HAVE to take it off first!!! don't use acetone close to your lens!!
 
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