On Leica Lens Caps

35mmdelux

35mmdelux

Veni, vidi, vici
Local time
1:37 AM
Joined
May 17, 2005
Messages
4,211
Do you take your original lens caps when you go shooting? Leica caps can be kind of pricey to replace. Some people take 3rd party to the street in case the caps fall off and get lost.

What's your solution?
 
Yes, I do. Only because the leica caps are the only caps I've got, they're also pretty tight on the lenses. I stick the cap in my back pocket when I'm out and about, and only put it back on when I change lenses or won't be using the camera for a while. This works out pretty well because I don't keep anything else that might scratch the cap in that pocket and it won't fall out.

I'm not worried about squashing a cap either, the ones I've got are pretty substantial and if I'm going to be sitting for any length of time the cap goes back on the lens anyway.
 
Yeah, I take the originals. For the 50mm summilux asph, the original cap fits wonderfully and actually screws down to tighten in further. For the lenses with hoods, I just take the hood cover and no caps. They're not too too bad to replace at Popflash photo. Yes, they are more expensive than a canon or nikon cap, but $25 is not much considering the alternative of scratching your lens by using the wrong cap or not having one.
 
35mmdelux said:
Do you take your original lens caps when you go shooting? Leica caps can be kind of pricey to replace. Some people take 3rd party to the street in case the caps fall off and get lost.

What's your solution?
Click to expand...

No! Just another thing to keep track of.
I have UV filters plus lens shades mounted permenently on my two M7's with 21mm and 35mm lenses kept in a large leica 'Outdoor' bag with an additional 75mm lens. I just grab the caneras and go. The vehicle has net pouches behind each front seat that accomodate the cameras in travel.-Dick
 
I have several caps in a pile on the front of a shelf in a glass fronted bookcase in the living room, next to my spare Weston Master V meter. I'm not so much worried about dinging up the finish on the caps as I am concerned about crushing the velvet pile lining! Hoods protect the lenses. I'm amazed at how expensive Leica caps & hoods have become over the years.
 
Having lost a couple of caps over the last several years, I do sometimes use cheap plastic clip type caps or go out capless. Depends on where I am going, the lens, and the possible cost of replacing the cap. The cap to my Summarit hardly ever makes it out of the house.
 
I bring 3rd party caps, along with 3rd party lenses, bodies, film and batteries (just in case my Leica gets stolen)

:)
 
I don't use lens caps. UV filters work just fine. While functional, some of the hood/cap combinations seem over-built. Like the one on the 28mm f2.0. On that lens, I use a Contax GG-1 hood and a UV filter. Works just fine. No more or less flare issues, and it is much smaller/less obtrusive. And no lens cap.

One exception - rain. The hood/cap assembly for the 28mm f2.0 is one of the better arrangements for shooting in the rain. Cap is very quick to remove and that hood is like a veranda for your lens.
 
For the rear caps, I like the metal ones that heavystar sells (e.g. 110361968694) better. For the front, I mostly use screw on hoods and rarely caps at all (use filters though).
 
Wow! Fort-five bucks apiece. I'd roughen up the outside front ring on those lenses and fasten the caps on with epoxy. You can never be too careful. Money is tight these days.
 
Hi.

I worried about the cost of replacements and one day I was pouring the milk into my wife's coffee when I had a bright idea. I now have a bright red lens cap, which is difficult to forget and easy to replace. It also has the legend "Store Upright" and "Keep refrigerated" on it...

For the Elmar it pays to cut out a little bit at the side to go over the focusing knob.

Regards, David
 
lenscaps? When I get a lens I promptly put the lens cap in a drawer and there it stays! Problem with Rf's is that you can happily shoot with the lenscap in place.
A famous Swedish pressphotographer was once selected to shot the Official portrait of the Swedish King at his 80's birthday. The king suggested some pictures in the rose garden and started doing pirouets and dance steps as well as strange facial expressions. The photographer thought "Pulitzer, Press awards and eternal fame". Once he got through his first film in his M and started to rewind his camera, the king leaned over and said "Oh, far be it from me to tell you how to take pictures - but dont you remove that cap over the lens first"! Of, course, after that he posed regally and properly for the whole session.
 
Tom A said:
lenscaps? When I get a lens I promptly put the lens cap in a drawer and there it stays! Problem with Rf's is that you can happily shoot with the lenscap in place.
A famous Swedish pressphotographer was once selected to shot the Official portrait of the Swedish King at his 80's birthday. The king suggested some pictures in the rose garden and started doing pirouets and dance steps as well as strange facial expressions. The photographer thought "Pulitzer, Press awards and eternal fame". Once he got through his first film in his M and started to rewind his camera, the king leaned over and said "Oh, far be it from me to tell you how to take pictures - but dont you remove that cap over the lens first"! Of, course, after that he posed regally and properly for the whole session.
Click to expand...

:) Great story...

I don't remember where I read a list of pros and cons of RFs vs SLR.
a con for RFs was: "try to shoot a whole film of the iside of your lens cap with an SLR". Still chuckling from this one.

Of course, been there, done that...
 
I've never used my lens caps in any cameras / lenses. Right now, I have no idea where are my m-lens caps, what brand are they etc. Also, no idea if I still have lens caps for my xpan lenses... They might be somewhere in the closet. Lens caps are IMO totally unnecessary items unless you really need to cover your lens from something (heavy snow, flying sand etc.).
 
Hood Hats also protect better against knocks than any other cap and (like all caps) remove the risk of shutter burning.

Tasho delek,

R.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom