Skymax 127 or others focus knob modification.

[Boros]

Hi

I've found like others that the small diameter focus knob on the Skymax 127 is not conducive to achieving accurate focus. I fully intend to add an auto focuser but in the meantime decided to make my knob bigger, er hmm, you know what I mean!  I've seen various methods, using clothes pegs, Nutella caps etc, but I wanted something that didn't look quite so 'Heath Robinson' so briefly here is what I did.

The idea was to use the existing knob to form a female mould using car body filler inside a larger diameter cap.

I managed to find an old Tamron adaptall mount cap, and a spare cap which I think came off an old diagonal, this proved to be almost an exact fit inside the Tamron cap.   I decided to cover the knob in clear tape to protect it and make it easier to remove from the filler. I then filled the diagonal cap with the car body filler, inserted the focus knob, centered it, then set aside to harden. Once hardened it was easy enough to remove the knob, then remove the excess filler, tidy it up and make black. I also added some black electricians tape around the central part of the cap, not necessary but I think it looked a tad tidier.

After that it's just a matter of securing it inside the larger cap with epoxy resin.

It's a nice snug fit over the knob, but with a slight smear of vaseline on the rubber it slides on and off more easily.

Overall, functionally I think it's a big improvement and it doesn't look too bad either, although I may add a plain plastic disc over the 'Tamron' printing just to tidy it up a bit.

 

[Tiny Clanger]

Neat !

I'd thought of buying some sugru off my favourite outdoor kit supplier to make something hand moulded https://alpkit.com/products/sugru-pack-of-8

Heather

[Louis D]

I put a cut-down foam bicycle grip over my 127 Mak's focuser shaft since the original plastic grip split and fell off.  I had to build up the shaft diameter with racquet handle grip tape first.  It works great and just fits next to its 2" visual back.

[Boros]

I tried the sponge thing, but have to confess didn't like the soft feel, just felt a tad vague to me.

[Louis D]

On 26/02/2021 at 09:54, Boros said:

I tried the sponge thing, but have to confess didn't like the soft feel, just felt a tad vague to me.

There is that I'll agree; but on the upside, it dampens vibrations from your finger touching the focus knob.