All,
I found a good way to get the lens centered and unfortunately I scratched the lens good when I did it. However, I also divised a good way to keep from scratching anything while doing it.
Here's the end result:
- End Result
You can see the nice scratch I put in the lense (it runs from the lower left to the middle-upper-right with a nice hook at the top). I was originally trying to work with the lense without touching it and my tweezers slipped and put a nice scratch in it. Now I recommend just holding the lens in place with your thumb while getting the springs in place and cleaning it after it is all set up. Use a q-tip and some acetone. You can also see the circular scratches in the lens from when I first installed it... the circular scratches are off center becuase I didn't have the lens centered at first
The springs are 1/4" tygon tubing cut really thin and then cut into quarters.
I found the best way to cut the tubing is to press it on a table and use a very sharp knife. Make a cut to square up the end and discard that. Pressing the tubing down helps keep everyting square as the knife goes through. You can really cut this stuff thin this way. The more uniform the cut thickness, the better.
- cutting a thin section of tubing
Then just cut the sectioned tubing it into quarters.
The first 2 tubing springs go in really easy. Make sure the outer radius touches the lens.
- 2 springs in place
Then hold the assembly with 2 fingers and pull the lens down with your thumb and be sure to cover the whole thing (make sure your hands are as clean as possible to avoid scratches).
- Pulling the lens down
Then you have to work the last spring in place. I used an xacto knife to get it in there. Keeping the lens covered with your thumb when you work with it ensures that you don't scratch the lens (this is what i should have done). Then you can position the springs evenly.
The nice thing is that you can visually center the lens by pushing on the edges and the tygon will keep the lens exactly where you moved the lens without springing it around... it's "grippy" enough to do this and not a really strong spring so it works well.
Once the springs are moved to the right position and the lens is centered, clean it with acetone to remove finger prints.
This works really well. I will be doing this agian when I get a new lens. I'll keep this one for a backup.