Re: [Leica] [Q] How to clean a 21mm finder?

[D Khong <dkhong@pacific.net.sg>]

>Arne Helme wrote:
>
>
>>I have a few things to say about the 21mm black plastic finders.  (1)
>>they *look* cheap, but (2) they *are* expensive, and (3) dust builds
>>up on the inside of their main lens element (in mine at least).
>>Apparently there is sufficient space between the lens element and the
>>plastic housing to let dust in.  It's not that dust specks irritate
>>me, but after about a year of use the finder has become difficult to
>>use because of stray light created by an increasing amount of dust.
>
>
>I bought a 21mm ASPH about a month ago with the finder and found a
>considerable amount of dust behind the front element right of the box.
>Like you, I was tempted to pry the darn thing open but at almost $250 a pop,
>I figured I'd better just send the finder back for a replacement.  Took the
>local dealer about 2 weeks to get one as they were out of stock.  I'm almost
>certain that its a design fault which allows dust to get into the housing
>and you would think that for the $$$s that you pay for the darn thing that
>Leica could at least look into better QC.  I guess its only a matter of time
>before dust starts accumulating in my replacement finder - wonder if there's
>a way to seal off the joints?
>
>Les
>
>

Perhaps silicone sealant applied to the "gaps" very carefully under a
dissecting microscope?

Dan K.