So I have had the weirdest issue with my 12-40mm lens hood falling apart. I have to say…lens hoods are a strange item across the board. Every manufacturer has their own ideas on lens hoods. Some are very simple and some are ridiculously complex. Some screw on, some twist and lock, some are built in, etc… The 12-40 seems to have an overly complex hood. Its just a pedal hood…why not just have a strong twist and lock? Instead Olympus designed it with multiple moving parts to release the hood. Mine has come apart on me in the field numerous times. I think I am evening missing a pin that holds one of the buttons firmly in place. I must have not realized it when the hood explodes into all its separate pieces. This doesn’t happen to one piece hoods…
Anyways, a replacement hood is $35 US. I don’t mind paying that if I know it won’t happen again (like if I lost it…) but I am sure it will. I decided to try and fix this the way working photographers know best…with Gaffers tape! I didn’t want this to look like some kind of last minute hold it together job, so I took the hood apart and added the tape on the inside.
Basically the problem is the outer ring of the lens hood looses its adhesion and slides off. Then all the buttons on the inside pop off due to the strength of the springs.
This obviously isn’t the worst problem in the world…but it sucks when it happens in the middle of the forest. Or a busy street as you are walking. Note ine picture above, when you put the hood back together, the extended piece of metal needs to go BEHIND the button! That is what creates the tension for locking the hood in place.
Notice the inside groove. I think that is some kind of adhesive that lost it’s hold. Otherwise there doesn’t seem to be anything else holding the unit together. If it was just pressure, then that is pretty impressive. Regardless, it falls off. So….I split a piece of gaffers tape (1″ width) in half and applied it to the sides.
Make sure there is not tape extending past the edges. This will make the hood more difficult to put on the lens. Also, you will have a better fit if the tape is ONLY on the side and not the bottom portion. I put too much and will have to trim it down.
I applied the tape to both sides and put the hood back together. Fits very snug and I can’t imagine it will ever fall apart again. Even looks normal from the outside. Lens hood fixed.
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My name is Tony. When I'm not writing for this site, i'm often creating images for clients, recording music, or out in nature. You can always bet I have my E-M1 next to me...
i’ve had the same thing happen to my 40-150 2.8 ‘s hood
it would explode when pulling it from my bag.
so i took it apart and superglued the bottom metal ring to the hood’s body and now it’s tougher than it ever was.
i think the original glue came off due to heat. last summer was pretty hot.
I have had a similar problem. I’m on my third lens hood for the 40-150 f2.8. If any twist is applied to the outside ring, it comes off because there is little or no glue to hold the retaining ring in place. The mechanics that control the sliding mechanism are little tiny beariings and very small copper springs. Of course, they fly all over the place. Has cost me $65 twice to replace it.
Wow, sorry to hear that! So far that hasn’t happened to my 40-150… I love the hood design. Then again, I don’t think there is anything wrong with a simple twist on hood, or a built in slider like some Leicas. Hopefully you won’t deal with that issue again!
The same thing happened to me last summer. No way to fix it. I ended up buying a no brand 7-euro cap. It’s made of strong plastic but it better made, sturdier and does not fall off.
The lenshood on my m40-150mm PRO lens just “exploded” and the ball bearings and copper tabs fallen out.
Called Olympus USA and the rep said they will send me a new one w/o charge.
Thanks Olympus for the service.
The problems with these lenshoods that the rear ring glued to the shade at three point, perhaps the glue is inferior or with cold/hot expansion just will give out.
IMO the camera with these hoods should be retracted when not in use and should not placed in rest where vibration occur,
such as the car seat etc. because it puts strain on the lens.
You also can substitute this LH 76 lenshood with Fotodiox C-ET-78II, B&W collapsible 72mm #900 Rubber Lens Hood
if you prefer so.
Glad to hear they came through replacing it. I think they just need to solidify that connection a lot better on the hood. Mine have always come apart while pulling them out of a bag. If there was just a tad too much tension along the hood, off the rear would come.
Hi
Would your replacement hood fit an 12-40 pro ?
Just “repaired” mine for the 12-40 with Gorilla tape as a shim, as suggested by the OP. It seems like it’s more secure now, but time will tell. I also had one of the exploding 40-150 hoods, which Olympus replaced under warranty.
Found this tip today, been looking for the answer for a while. They look to have used thin double sided tape. One side of mine was lose and a little prying was needed to remove the other side. The little spring on one tab had slipped out from behind the button. Popped it back in and a dab of 5 minute epoxy to hold it all together.
Many thanks!