Lumix FZ200 red dot sight installation

problem: acquiring birds-in-flight @ 40x zoom (24x with 1.7x tele converter)

aid: red-dot sight

problem: hot shoe not rigid enough for commercial rails.

work-around: anchor sight at both ends

parts:

• • JB-Weld

  • Canon D ring

  • two 1/4-20 nuts and one oval head 3/4 inch screw

  • MDE Polymer Rail L4 or equivalent

  • hot shoe 1/4-20 adapter

  • red dot sight for Weaver-Picatinny rail

• 1. Drill and tap a (third) 3/16 hole in one rail section end slot.

  2. Tap amd countersink the hole near the other end of the rail section.

  3. Clamp the D ring on the lens housing

  4. Thread the hot shoe adapter part way up into the bottom of the rail end slot hole.

  5. Slide the adapter into the hot shoe.

  6. Without forcing, tighten the rail down on the hot shoe.

  7. Align the rail with the lens. A rail hole should be over the D ring.

  8. Thread the screw down through the countersunk hole .

  9. Thread a nut partly onto the bottom of the screw.

  10. Mix a small blob of JB-Weld.

  11. Using a toothpick, smear JB-Weld on the bottom of nut, avoiding nut's threaded hole.

  12. Continue turning the screw until the nut firmly contacts the D ring. Over-tightening will bend the rail.

  13. Apply more JB-Weld on the D ring around the nut.

• 1. Allow 12+ hours for JB-Weld to cure.

  2. Install and align the red dot sight.

FWIW, my Field Sport Red and Green Reflex Sight with 4 Reticles loses zero by simply removing and reinstalling its dust cover a few times.