• Cinematography

  Sticky Rubber

  Posted by Todd Terry on March 4, 2019 at 5:52 pm

  I ran across an old still camera that we used to use, an Olympus E20…. this was a DSLR from back in the dark ages before anything like the 5D even existed. Even though it only shot something like a whopping 6mp image (if I recall… which was huge at the time) it was a great camera and I shot lots of great images with it. It had a ton of food photography come out of it for a couple of cookbooks, and I was always really happy with it.

  We have much better cameras now, but the Olympus is still in that “a bit too good to just chunk it” gray area.

  Something has happened to it, though, I think the textured rubber that covers the handgrip and part of the body is beginning to deterioate… it feels soft (you could easily dent it with a fingernail) and is very sticky.

  Anyone know any tricks to combat this?… or reverse it? Or just stop it? I don’t want to pick it up next time and instinctively go “Ewww,” which is what has happened every time I’ve touched it.

  T2

  __________________________________
  Todd Terry
  Creative Director
  Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.
  fantasticplastic.com
  

  Mark Suszko replied 7 years, 2 months ago 3 Members · 4 Replies
• 4 Replies

• 

  Rich Rubasch

  March 4, 2019 at 9:12 pm

  I have the same thing on my Nikon D80. Was thinking of hitting it with baby powder but fine powder and electronics don’t mix. Maybe freezing it and hitting it with light sandpaper?

  Hmmmm…anyone?

  Rich Rubasch
  Tilt Media Inc.
  Video Production, Post, Studio Sound Stage
  Founder/President/Editor/Designer/Animator
  https://www.tiltmedia.com
• 

  Mark Suszko

  March 5, 2019 at 4:42 pm

  The plasticizer is migrating out. Some popular remedies include a wipe-down with Windex, a wipe with isopropyl alcohol, and a thick paste of baking soda/water. I’d try these as none of them seem like they’d hurt anything if they fail. WD40 is something else I might try if the first 3 fail.
• 

  Todd Terry

  March 5, 2019 at 4:53 pm

  Thanks Mark…

  I found some advice on line that says yes, use 90% or higher isopropyl alcohol, and not to get too aggressive about it… dabbing and gently wiping.

  The tech advice I found said that the rubber was actually de-vulcanizing… and there was no way to stop it… but that alcohol would get rid of the stickiness… for now. But the process would have to be repeated periodically.

  I’ll give it a try….

  T2

  __________________________________
  Todd Terry
  Creative Director
  Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.
  fantasticplastic.com
  
• 

  Mark Suszko

  March 5, 2019 at 4:58 pm

  Every seven years, as I recall… 🙂

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