Rubber focus ring on various Canon lenses

Bayfront Benny · Sep 21, 2013

I am getting a type of "melting" effect on the rubber focus ring on my EF-S 17-55 and EF-S 10-22 lenses.

On the EF-S 17-55, the rubber comes off like a sticky black ink on the hand and fingers and the actual ring shape is beginning to look uneven (slightly thicker in some parts). This same thing is becoming noticeable to a much, much lesser degree on the EF-S 10-22.

I keep all my lenses with silica bags to remove excess humidity, in a dry area inside Lowepro lens bags.

Has anyone encountered this? I understand this happened to some degree with the T4i - but this is something I heard at a camera shop no real source.

Can these rings be cleaned or changed and if so with what cleaner and where can they be purchased online?

borno · Sep 22, 2013

Do you use insect repellent with DEET? It will melt your stuff.

Bayfront Benny · Sep 22, 2013

I do - but I don't remember using at the time I used these lenses. I had already noticed this as well as some sunscreen tend to destroy all rubber. That said this lens has been stored and unused for some time - 2 years or more as I have been playing more with point & shoots lately (till now).

Do you know of anything that will reverse or stop this proc?

How hard is it to change the rubber ring?

billythek · Sep 22, 2013

I had something similar happen to me, not with a lens, but with a grip on a golf club that I hadn't used for several years. The thing seemed like it just melted away as I played with it.

I doubt if there is anything you can do to stop or reverse the process. As for replacing the focus rings, I don't know the specifics for your particular lenses, but it has to be one of the easier lens repairs you can make. Depends on how handy and brave you are. It may be worth it to get a quote from Canon or some other repair shop, though.

Suave · Sep 22, 2013

Rubber grips can be easily replaced - takes seconds, well, minutes if it's a wide grip. Just lift the edge with your nail or plastic fork and peel it off. Canon will sell you replacements if the lens is still in production, you'll probably need to order them over the phone.

Bayfront Benny · Sep 23, 2013

I'll try to get pricing. Probably comes with some instructions. Have searched and found nothing useful (specific) on YouTube.

Bayfront Benny · Sep 23, 2013

I'll try with some more effort. Kind of scary in the sense I don't want to damage the lens.

Bayfront Benny · Sep 23, 2013

By the way - Kind of funny but, I had this happen on a Hyundai Santa Fe on the entire front dash console. Thought it was some kind of cleaner used at a car wash that caused it and replaced the dash console. I would be driving and getting this stuff all over everything - in a car you cant exactly wash your hands.

kkx · Sep 23, 2013

I brought a 85mm 1.8 second hand and the rubber focusing ring have turn a bit grey/white due to contact with salt from sweaty hand (guessing).

So I call UK canon repair center to ask about replacement. They would sell the replacement spare part directly to customer. Since it is very easy to just remove the old rubber ring and slip the new one on.

Cost a few GBP + postage. Total under 10 GBP.

The service center said that they normally do not sell spare parts directly to customer. But this rubber is an exception because it is too easy a repair job. They do not expect customer to send the lens in just to have some technician slip on a new rubber ring.

At the end, I slip mine off and wash it in warm soapy water for a few minute. All the white/grey mark is gone once dried. Looks like new till now (over 2 years). And slipping the rubber ring back on is so easy.

Worth giving it a try to fix it yourself I think. But 85mm 1.8 is a very different lens from yours, so the usual YMMV warning apply.

-kk

Steve Balcombe · Sep 23, 2013

kkx said:
kkx wrote:
The service center said that they normally do not sell spare parts directly to customer. But this rubber is an exception because it is too easy a repair job. They do not expect customer to send the lens in just to have some technician slip on a new rubber ring.

I've bought spares from Lehmanns - http://www.hlehmann.co.uk/#!spares/component_53793 - no bother at all, they routinely supply spares to the general public.

Suave · Sep 23, 2013

It's just a piece of rubber - it's really not that different from taking the rubber band from a bunch of broccoli crowns.

Bayfront Benny · Sep 23, 2013

Where I am there is only one Canon service center and I am fairly sure it is not of the authorized variety. It has been there a long time. I can not seem to get this thing off without applying an uncomfortable amount of brute force.

Bayfront Benny · Sep 23, 2013

I don't know better attach the file so to avoid mistakes with the ring. This puppy does not come off easily (or I'm getting wimpy or something). The ring I'm referring to is the focusing ring.

kkx · Sep 23, 2013

Thanks for the info. Good to know that there are easy means to get spare parts when needed (hope I don't ever).

-kkx

Suave · Sep 23, 2013

I just tried focusing rings on three canon lenses I have on hand - all rubber pieces lifted easily with a nail. Of course it's easy for me to say after taking off a few dozens of them, but trust me, I've never heard of one being glued on.

Bayfront Benny · Sep 23, 2013

And you are sure it's the focusing ring and not the zoom ring? I don't know whats wrong with me maybe this stuff that's coming off the ring is sticking it on as well. It is extremely sticky and does not come off with just soap - I have to actually scrub it off my fingers with a brush.

BPLOL · Sep 23, 2013

It's been a long time since I sold my EF-S 17-55, but I've got the impression that the focus ring isn't exactly the same rubber as the zoom ring. To say the truth, I recall a more "solid/plastic/metal" feeling.

If that's the case, maybe you will need assistance.

TamizhSamanan · Oct 12, 2013

I took my Canon EF-S 17-55mm lens out after long time and shocked to see (feel) the sticky rubber focus ring and got online to see if there is a solution. Seems like quite a few have the same problem. From where I am (Chennai, India) currently, getting genuine spares seems to be difficult

Trinity Wescott · Oct 25, 2013

Have you tried cleaning the rubber grip itself with a brush? If you went to great lengths to clean and dry it once, would it keep "melting" and create the problem all over again? Or is it for some reason impossible to clean in the first place?

Are you still trying to find a replacement for it? You said it seems difficult to get off of the camera. Maybe you could take a picture of what's wrong with your camera (you could just use a cell phone, for that) and post it here so we can see?

And finally, has there been any update in the status of this problem since your last post?

Stoli89 · Sep 4, 2015

I found that plain black Silicone wristbands, purchased for pennies on eBay, are a tactiley adequate substitute for the OEM bands. Just be sure to take the correct measurements (circumference of focusing barrel and proper width). Usually the children or women sizes retain enough tension so as to avoid the need for adhesive.

Works great for vintage lenses, where access to quality rubber replacement parts is non-existent.

Rubber focus ring on various Canon lenses

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