I've purchased used finders for my 6x7: TTL Pentaprism, Pentaprism, Folding Focusing & Rigid Magnifying Hood. All four finders are marked 'Asahi Pentax', which means they're quite old. The foam cushions on each finder have deteriorated over time and are turning to crumbs, which makes a mess on the ground glass each time I change a finder. I'd be curious if anyone out there has replaced these foam cushions on their own. Do these foam cushions have an self-adhesive back (tape) or is it necessary to apply some sort of adhesive (if so, what type - double-sided tape or glue?)? What type of solvent (if any), did you use to remove the old adhesive? Finally, any tips on doing this job yourself, or should I just send the finders to Pentax and let them do it? Pentax Canada estimates each finder foam cushion replacement would cost ~$25 USD - the cost isn't the issue - I don't want to be without the finders for weeks at a time (I live in the 'sticks', hundreds of miles from the nearest Pentax service centre).

For those interested, the following is the Pentax part number for each type of foam cushion:

1. TTL: one each of #71003 A31 & #71003 a39-01 2. Pentaprism, Folding Focusing & Rigid Magnifying Hoodfinders: two each of #70034 P17-01

-- kb86rl (kbodnar@home.com), April 30, 2000

Answers

You can buy foam rubber self-adhesive sheets. Perhaps your local camera repairman will part with some ($), or you could buy it direct from a repair trade supplier, Micro-Tools: http://www.micro-tools.com/

You'll need to approximatly get the right consistancy. Using an X- Acto knife type tool just cut out the entire whole piece or the four individual strips. This is what I did when I replaced the foam rubber surrounding my Horseman's Graflok back.

-- Garrett Adams (gadams@jps.net), May 01, 2000.

Hi there,

The same problem occured with my early '70 set. The finders and with the camera back became sticky, after calling pentax (Pentax service centre in Breda the netherlands) they send me new foam parts. You need to ask for the repare department, not sales! the foam costs about 6 dollar pro set. 1)these foam cushions have an self-adhesive back (tape) 2)whith alcohol you can remove the sticky dirt.

Good luck Gert Jan

-- Gert Jan Bollen (Gert.Jan.Bollen@philips.com), May 02, 2000.

Does anybody have the phone number for the Pentax (Colorado) parts department handy?

I have two finders that need replacement foam.

-- Bruce Gavin (doc@compudox.com), August 17, 2000.

I had some spare flocking felt handy which I had gotten to flock my Kiev 88 (the problem child in my family). It was also peel-off self adhesive. Cut out some and lined it around my pentax 67 prism.

Works ok.

-- Kelvin (kelvinlee@pacific.net.sg), August 24, 2000.