Let's talk caps...

[horosu]

Hello,

I have a 50/2 Planar which I intend to sell, since I recently acquired a Summilux ASPH, however I will stay in the Zeiss camp, since I'll replace it with a 35 Biogon.

Now, my question is: what replacement caps are you using on your ZM lenses? The Zeiss caps just drive me insane 😛 ...

My favorite cap so far was the one for the Elmar-M 50/2.8: felt lined, easy to put on or to take off.

 

[back alley]

no caps...uv filters

zeiss caps are best left in a drawer.

 

[FanMan]

uv-filters + the cheapest "HAMA" caps

 

[horosu]

But...(correct me if I'm wrong) even with a UV filter and no cap aren't you at risk of burning a hole through your shutter curtain in strong sunlight?

 

[FanMan]

But...(correct me if I'm wrong) even with a UV filter and no cap aren't you at risk of burning a hole through your shutter curtain in strong sunlight?

I think you are at risk to damage the shutter curtain. Maybe for the Leica it is a little bit more risky since the ZI's shutter curtain is metal. But I do not want to risk a damage which can be avoided by using a piece of equipment that costs only a few cent. However, I have to admit that at nearly every film roll I miss one shot because I forget to take of the lens cap

 

[kshapero]

Best thing to happen to me was the inevitable Zeiss Cap break. now I run capless all the time. BTW I use UV filters.

 

[back alley]

uv filter & hood for physical protection.
i use a wrist strap most of the time and carry a small to large (depends) bag all of the time. i either have the camera in my hand or in the bag. it's never really exposed to the sun for long.

 

[Tom A]

Hello,

I have a 50/2 Planar which I intend to sell, since I recently acquired a Summilux ASPH, however I will stay in the Zeiss camp, since I'll replace it with a 35 Biogon.

Now, my question is: what replacement caps are you using on your ZM lenses? The Zeiss caps just drive me insane 😛 ...

My favorite cap so far was the one for the Elmar-M 50/2.8: felt lined, easy to put on or to take off.

I have to admit that the only time I use front caps on any lens is when i put them away in the cabinet (provided that I can find the correct cap). When I am caarying the lenses in my bag, they are usually on a camera body and no caps, or if they are loose, they have back caps but no frontcaps (I know I should, but I never have the right cap handy!).
I agree that the Zeiss front caps are not the best. They keep popping off or when you remove them, they shoot out of your hand and into Mother Nature! I dont know how many has gotten lost so far!

 

[willie_901]

I scrounged around eBay and found screw-in metal caps. They just screw into the filter ring.

 

[Grober]

Screw-in aluminum are my choice when I can find 'em in the size I need. The Zeiss spring lens caps are looney at best.

(Despite my absolute dis-like of the Zeiss lens caps, I always use manufacturer's lens hood if they make them for the lens. Very cheap protection.)

-g

 

[sepiareverb]

I like the Schneider slip-on caps very much, but finding one that fits can be time consuming- and you need to put on on a filter with the ZM's due to the hood mounting system.

Day one with my ZM25 I removed the cap for the first time and it shot into the railroad tracks, found the cap but lost a spring among the cinders. Got a replacement from Zeiss, but I'm no fan of the ZM cap, and usually put them in my pocket as I leave the house or car- I only remove them in a contained place.

Current Leica caps aren't much better- thinking of the 39mm ones, my favorite caps are the 35/2 ASPH hood cap and the Contax G hood caps. Perfection.

 

[Keith]

I love caps ... I must because I seem to have photos of most of them! 😱

 

[Avotius]

I use my cap on my 50 planar when the camera is in the bag or dry box, other then that the cap stays off the lens. The cap is a little bit of the pain in the arse but not as bad as the one on my cv 35 PII. Besides that I never bothered to find another cap, it kind of works for what it does so I dont bug with it.

 

[Photon42]

If you don't use a lens shade, you may get away with a step-up ring to 52mm and a nikon cap. These are the best ones I've ever seen. It has the advantage, that tons of filters are available for 52mm.

Now you'd like to see how it looks ...

Regards
Ivo

 

[Roger Hicks]

Optech Hood Hats: http://optechusa.com/product/detail/?PRODUCT_ID=16

They have the secondary advantage that they are quite hard to leave on when you are shooting, and the tertiary advantage of offering useful protection against knocks.

I've just come back from shooting in Aragon, in glorious weather. When the camera is in constant use, obviously, there's no hat/cap. The rest of the time it's a Hood Hat. We used them with both Zeiss lenses we were carrying (18/4 and 50/1.5) and the old 35/1.4 Summilux where the filter is carried in the hood.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[pdx138]

Optech Hood Hats: http://optechusa.com/product/detail/?PRODUCT_ID=16

They have the secondary advantage that they are quite hard to leave on when you are shooting, and the tertiary advantage of offering useful protection against knocks.

I've just come back from shooting in Aragon, in glorious weather. When the camera is in constant use, obviously, there's no hat/cap. The rest of the time it's a Hood Hat. We used them with both Zeiss lenses we were carrying (18/4 and 50/1.5) and the old 35/1.4 Summilux where the filter is carried in the hood.

Cheers,

Roger

That's the best solution I've seen yet. I may have to pick up a couple of those. Thanks.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Kyle,

Tell 'em who sent you -- and send 'em our regards!

This really is a VERY clever solution.

Cheers,

R.

 

[sepiareverb]

If you don't use a lens shade, you may get away with a step-up ring to 52mm and a nikon cap. These are the best ones I've ever seen. It has the advantage, that tons of filters are available for 52mm.

Now you'd like to see how it looks ...

Regards
Ivo

I like this idea- does it intrude into the VF much? This might be a great solution for the Zeisse- the hoods are rather shallow anyway.

 

[Quinn Porter]

I use generic caps from B&H like this one:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/111308-REG/General_Brand__55mm_Snap_On_Lens_Cap.html

I like them because they are cheap, thin, and have no lettering on the front. When they arrive, the pressable tabs are a little stiff and not very smooth. However, they come apart easily and a little work with a file makes them smooth as butter.

 

[sepiareverb]

🙂 Just found that a 62mm snap cap fits the ZM28 hood darn well.