M body cap

[loquax ludens]

Neither my M3 nor my M6 came with a body cap. I see these really inexpensive (cheap?) plastic caps on ebay, such as this one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251023256326?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Anyone tried them? Do they fit well?

 

[Stern JA]

Curious about those too. There are some cheap 'Fotodiox' ones on Amazon too, not dealing with international shipping is probably worth the extra $3 for me.

 

[loquax ludens]

That's true, I just found the Fotodiox ones on Amazon for $1.50 plus about $3.00 for shipping. Those would almost certainly arrive before the ones from Hong Kong. I might just go with the Fotodiox ones and see how they do. The price is certainly right.

 

[Bob Michaels]

I have some M body caps and rear lens caps that I bought on E-Bay. They were made in India. It is possible that you will get the same thing regardless of where you buy them.

They do not fit perfectly but usually stay on and do their job. There is some impact of the price reflected in the quality.

I never have any concern about things shipping from Hong Kong. Delivery to the US seems to be as fast as our domestic shipping.

 

[beyond]

Got mine from DAG

 

[Shade]

Cant you order one from Leica?

 

[rlouzan]

Konica Hexar RF , Zeiss Ikon ... body caps.

 

[loquax ludens]

Cant you order one from Leica?

Yes, of course. The ones from Leica are plastic and look just like the ones that cost $1.50, but they cost $24 to $30 each, depending on where you buy them. I'd simply prefer to spend $3 for two body caps than $50 to $60.

Now the old Leica ones with the script Leica logo on them look very classy. They are available on eBay, but unfortunately they generally run $40 to $80 for pristine examples.

 

[loquax ludens]

Konica Hexar RF , Zeiss Ikon ... body caps.

Good point. Any camera that was made for the Leica M-mount would be a candidate. Thanks.

 

[loquax ludens]

I have some M body caps and rear lens caps that I bought on E-Bay. They were made in India. It is possible that you will get the same thing regardless of where you buy them.

They do not fit perfectly but usually stay on and do their job. There is some impact of the price reflected in the quality.

I never have any concern about things shipping from Hong Kong. Delivery to the US seems to be as fast as our domestic shipping.

Thank you, Bob. For the price, it seems worth trying them.

 

[kshapero]

I have used Voigtlander M body caps and no name cheap ones. They all seem to work ok (not as tight as a Leica cap). The good news is that they are plastic and can not do any harm to the metal mount of the body.

 

[rlouzan]

Beware, some cheap plastic lens/body caps can outgas 😱.

Yes, of course. The ones from Leica are plastic and look just like the ones that cost $1.50, but they cost $24 to $30 each, depending on where you buy them. I'd simply prefer to spend $3 for two body caps than $50 to $60.

Now the old Leica ones with the script Leica logo on them look very classy. They are available on eBay, but unfortunately they generally run $40 to $80 for pristine examples.

 

[thegman]

I got a cheap one off eBay, it's fine, a bit of plastic, nothing more required.

 

[Pablito]

The cheap ones work perfectly well. But some are shallower. so with the rear lens caps, be sure the focus is set so the rear element is as recessed into the lens body as possible. That's the way it works win an old Minolta rear lens cap I have (for their M-mount lenses)- when the rear cap is used you can't rotate the focus ring all the way from closest focus to infinity.

 

[rlouzan]

I've seen some Canon FD glass ruined from using cheap lens caps. The front elements were damaged, beyond repair, because of outgassing - not a pretty sight:bang: .

You get what you pay for!

I got a cheap one off eBay, it's fine, a bit of plastic, nothing more required.

 

[loquax ludens]

I ended up ordering the Fotodiox one on Amazon. Should be here on Monday, so I'll be able to evaluate it then.

 

[segedi]

I've seen some Canon FD glass ruined from using cheap lens caps. The front elements were damaged, beyond repair, because of outgassing - not a pretty sight:bang: .

You get what you pay for!

Yikes! I bought a cheapy for my CV 21mm... going to have to replace it...

 

[Rob-F]

Curious about those too. There are some cheap 'Fotodiox' ones on Amazon too, not dealing with international shipping is probably worth the extra $3 for me.

I've had good luck with Fotodiox Leica R to Nikon conversion mounts. I expect their body caps are fine, as well.

 

[Dan95]

Yikes! I bought a cheapy for my CV 21mm... going to have to replace it...

I just bought 3 Nikon lens caps from the bay :bang::bang:

 

[loquax ludens]

I've seen some Canon FD glass ruined from using cheap lens caps. The front elements were damaged, beyond repair, because of outgassing - not a pretty sight:bang: .

You get what you pay for!

rlouzan, how do you know it was outgassing from a cheap plastic lens cap that caused the damage? Also, how long ago was this, and where did the cheap plastic lens cap come from, and/or what brand was it? How have you come to the conclusion that all cheap plastic lens caps will outgas and cause damage?

A number of people have reported that the cheap plastic caps are serviceable. No one else has reported hearing of similar problems. Perhaps the case you cite was unusual, or limited to a particular brand or type of lens cap. In any case, it doesn't seem to be a well-known problem.