forgotten lenscap

[ortogo]

I've recently bought a Fuji gw690, and love the images its producing. Just one problem, after a lifetime of slr's and LF cameras where you are viewing the image through the lens I keep forgetting to remove the lens cap :bang: any good ideas as to how to stop this or will it eventually become second nature to check and remove the lens cap

 

[Scrambler]

Get a good coated UV filter and leave the cap at home.

EDIT: Brain fart - I meant UV all along, not ND.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

When you take the camera out of the bag immediately put the lens cap back in the bag. The first thing that you do with a rangefinder is take off the cap. I don't have a problem with taking off the cap as almost all my lenses have filters protecting them so keeping a cap on is not that necessary.

 

[jordan.dickinson]

It'll get a lot easier as you shoot with it more. I usually hold cameras when not shooting, kind of in the crook of my arm, so I'm usually reminded if I ever forget. Also, I find it's easier just to take the cap off right away and not put it back on til I'm ready to pack up. I find the biggest issue is trying to remember which pocket (jeans/shirt/coat/bag) I put the cap in!

 

[Mark C]

I leave hoods but no caps on my Leica lenses. Some are over 50 years old now and just fine. I believe I took the same approach with the Mamiya 6 I had for a while. Back caps of course for interchangeable lenses off the camera, and face down in the bag.

A filter works fine too, but I have yet to need an ND, especially with medium format.

 

[V-12]

Yes, leave the cap in the box for the time you sell the camera, use a lens hood, a filter, but no cap. Admittedly you don't want a front element rubbing against the inside of a camera bag, but specks of dust on the front element, or even a big fingerprint, will not show up or degrade the image in any way.

V

 

[DCB]

Get a good coated ND filter and leave the cap at home.

What they said.

Filter no cap.

I usually just use a lens hood and nothing else.

Peace

 

[Addy101]

Why a ND filter when you can have a clear filter?
Anyway, i had the same problem with mine, I decided to filter up, just a basic multi coated B+W UV filter. I normally don't filter, but this is easier.

 

[rhl-oregon]

Every time you forget to remove the cap, you must go without one of the following the next day: shirt, pants, shoes, glasses (if terribly nearsighted!). All day, everywhere. You will be cured in two days.

In fact, considering that you get only 8 frames per roll, change the injunction above to: "For each frame where you forget..." Etc. This way, if you blow 4 frames, you're guaranteed to experience a day of chagrin in socks and undies, and you'll be cured forever. Though I expect anyone with a rangefinder who sees you on the sidewalk will remember to remove her lens cap.

Good luck! The RF life is tough, but eventually we all become emperors with clothes on! ;-)

 

[ssmc]

Funny you should mention this. The GW690III is the only camera in recent memory I can recall leaving the lenscap on to shoot. After realizing this (and kicking myself because, as you know, there are only 8 shots to a roll...) I haven't done it again. I suspect it has something to do with the hood being extended so I couldn't see the front of the lens (that's my story and I'm sticking to it 😉). I tend to swap my lenscaps for inexpensive but functional and easy to grab Nikon/Tamron/Canon ones, or the excellent Kaiser push-on caps. Perhaps if I'd left the stock slip-on Fuji cap over the hood I'd have seen it. Oh well...

BTW good to hear you're enjoying the Fuji!
Scott

 

[rhl-oregon]

Despite my snarkiness, Ive wasted 690 frames too. And M4, M5, S2, Contax G....

If anyone reports here he or she has never done it, I'll make her/him an aluminum foil halo.

 

[Vics]

I don't have any lens caps or "protective" filters. I just use screw-in lens hoods. Plenty of protection. I do use filters for the effects I need sometimes, though.

 

[farlymac]

Yes, remove the cap, and replace with a hood. But I also have caps for the hoods. My solution was to get those clip-on caps with the lanyards, toss the lanyard, and make sure that the loop on the cap (where the lanyard would have been) is visible in the viewfinder when the cap is installed.

PF

 

[FrankS]

Skylight or uv filter = transparent lens cap

 

[Huss]

Like everyone else mentioned, I leave the cap off and keep a filter on my GW690III.
Unlike everyone else, I waste frames by wondering if the shutter lock is on by pushing on the shutter release...

 

[Addy101]

Unlike everyone else, I waste frames by wondering if the shutter lock is on by pushing on the shutter release...

I'm sure it will happen to me :bang:

 

[Spanik]

Same here, got a lot of photo's of the back of lenscaps. And with camera's where shutter and transport are not coupled you may include double exposures and blanks as well.

Or dark slides forgotten...another of those silly things. Going to tie a large red ribbon to those. Could maybe be used for lenscaps?

 

[Prest_400]

I've got a GW690III and I first remove the cap, then extend the hood. I got used to do this steps and it has beome natural.

IIRC that is an interesting feature of the slip on original cap, you are supposed to extend the hood and remove the cap at the same time.

 

[Trooper]

Get a good coated UV filter and leave the cap at home.

EDIT: Brain fart - I meant UV all along, not ND.

I have a clear filter on my lenses. I have never used a cap in twenty years of photography and I am rough with my cameras. No issues...

 

[sevo]

Unlike everyone else, I waste frames by wondering if the shutter lock is on by pushing on the shutter release...

So do I. I always found the shutter lock positions to be quite unusually counter-intuitive - I don't think I have ever used any other device where a straight position meant off and a 45° position on...