Nikon Lens Caps -- Minor irritations

[alastair_anderson]

<p>We're very fortunate to be living in an age where photographic technology is as advanced as it is. There seems to be almost no limit to what can be achieved. However there are always niggles. Here's one of mine, perhaps you might like to share yours.</p>

<p>I find that I struggle to put a lens cap on when a hood is fitted. In mind I have my two medium focal length fast primes: 50 f1.4 and 85 f1.4. After taking a shot I can't seem to centre the lens cap when the hood is on so invariably have to remove the hood to replace the cap. I find this irritating and time wasting. Any suggestions?</p>

[rodeo_joe1]

<p>I'm afraid I have no problem with that Alastair. Nikon's latest internal pinch release caps are <em>far</em> more convenient than the old external pinch type, which in turn were far better than the ones with sticky-out ears that had to be squeezed to release. Anyway, surely it's easy enough to just bayonet off the hoods and reverse 'em?</p>

<p>Niggles in general? Better not get me started down that path!</p>

[MichaelChang]

<p>It's an annoying problem.</p>

<p>High end camcorders come with a rectangular lens hood that have a built-in barn door cover. It's actuated by a small sliding lever on the side, and the assembly is bayonet-mounted with a 1/4 twist and secured with a retaining screw. There's one on eBay listed under <a href="https://www.google.ca/search?q=Lens+hood+for+Sony+PD-170+PD-150+camcorder+Genuine&oq=Lens+hood+for+Sony+PD-170+PD-150+camcorder+Genuine">"Lens hood for Sony PD-170 PD-150 camcorder Genuine"</a> if you want to see pictures of it.</p>

<p>I'm unaware of an equivalent made for DSLRs, but you never know. </p>

 

[keith reeder]

<blockquote>

<p>Any suggestions?</p>

 

</blockquote>

<p>Yep - keep the lens cap in your pocket until you're done for the day. The hood will protect the front element well enough.</p>

[pge]

<p>Alastair, I am with Keith but I would go one step further. I have a protective filter on all of my lenses and I don't worry even a little about any minor image quality that might be lost as a result. Because of the protective filter I don't even take lens caps out of the house, they just sit on my desk until I return home.</p>

<p>My minor irritation, I am so used to Dxxx's not needing to be turned off, and even if they are off they turn on instantly, I am irritated by how long my P7700 takes to turn on. The P7700 has to be turned off because that is the only way to retract the lens. Nevertheless I really enjoy having a smaller camera with such good image quality as an alternative.</p>

[ShunCheung]

<p>As long as you are using the modern style "pinch the center" type lens cap, like the Tamron one shown below (Nikon has a similar design), I can't imagine it'll be all that difficult to use, unless you have a really deep lens hood. If you have problems with 50mm and 85mm lenses, you need some practice.</p>

<p>If you are talking about the old style lens cap that you pinch the rim of the cap to lock it, I too have difficulty using them with a hood on.</p>

 

 

 

<blockquote>

<p>High end camcorders come with a rectangular lens hood that have a built-in barn door cover. It's actuated by a small sliding lever on the side, and the assembly is bayonet-mounted with a 1/4 twist and secured with a retaining screw.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>My wife has a couple of Sony camcorders with that kind of lens hood. Those hoods are really bulky and are not designed to be reversed back onto the lens for convenient storage.</p>

 

 

<P>

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[rodeo_joe1]

<p>Here are the 3 types of Nikon lens cap that I'm aware of - not including any metal screw in ones, as for the Reflex-Nikkors or pre-Ai tele lenses.</p><div></div>

[craig_shearman1]

<p>I generally don't put a cap on a lens while it has the hood in place. <br /><br />When I pull a lens out of the bag, I take the cap off and put the hood on. When I'm done with it, the hood gets put back on in the reverse position (the way they generally are stored on the lens) and then the cap goes on.</p>

[Robin Smith]

<p>Common problem with Canon too and they have only just gone over to center pinch types. I have great difficulty getting the cap on correctly with the 24IS in particular even with a Tamron cap.</p>

[jose_angel]

<p>I think I damaged the front element of one of my lenses when trying to blindly attach a "modern style" cap. I was not aware of some grit inside my backpack, even this cap rim is so slippy to my hands, so I rub the lens with bit of sand. Maybe it`s a finger size issue.<br /> Also, this filter thread attached caps use to jump inopportunely. I use to hate them.</p>

<p>Suggestions? I have some of them with the rims carved (with something like a Dremel tool), so they can be now easily and securely pinched. Another option (which I use to take) is to attach a small piece of anti-slip tape (the ones used on stairs and bathrooms) in the critical areas. >>Beware that some kind of tapes tend to release sand grains that could be fatal for the lens. Better a full plastic one.<br /> Another way (but not for all the lenses) is to use "real" caps, like the old ones.</p>

<p>BTW, I find the Tamrom caps to work better than the Nikons. The older one in Rodeo`s photo works best for me (not for hooded lenses), but the hook is made in metal, maybe not so good for the lens`coatings...</p>

[Kent Shafer]

<p>Here's one more variation to add to Rodeo's three.</p><div></div>

[vivid_earth_photographics]

<p>Soemtimes when aggravated over something like a lens cap, I distract myself from the upset by reading the paper. Today, for instance, the headlines were about poison gas atrocities in Syria, deadly flash floods in Colorado, a plutonium reactor being restarted in North Korea, the continuing grief of 9/11 families all these years later, camels as a possible source for the deadly MERS virus, ultra violent rebels in the Philippines, ...<br>

And then I think, how blessed is one's life that one can actually summon the time and energy to feel and express annoyance about a piece of plastic not being easier to clip onto another piece of plastic or a metal ring?</p>

[Palouse]

<p>Nicely said Kyle---and then I go and have a cold beer or a nice glass of wine!</p>

[CvhKaar]

<blockquote>

<p>I find that I struggle to put a lens cap on when a hood is fitted.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Minor irritations ? DO something about it !<br>

<br /> This is sitting next to a vase with flowers, thinking they need water, and doing nothing about it !</p>

<p>Ok here's some help : look around and find something like this ( there are many variations, and are even easy to create ono yourself....) . :</p>

<p><a href="http://www.lenscoat.com/hoodie-lens-caps-c-5.html?osCsid=86912724f254564241b6aa667c6a9f4e">http://www.lenscoat.com/hoodie-lens-caps-c-5.html?osCsid=86912724f254564241b6aa667c6a9f4e</a></p>

[joseph_smith3]

<p>I do not use the Nikon lens caps for various reasons. Instead I use a Hoodie made by Lens Coat that is sized to fit over the lens and the lens hood. Others make these too. If you prefer not to have it fit over the hood than get one sized just for the lens. These are a lot easier to use and not lose. The only drawback is that you have to buy them. Go here for more info:<br>

<a href="http://www.lenscoat.com/hoodie_selector.php?dealer=OutdoorPhotoGear">http://www.lenscoat.com/hoodie_selector.php?dealer=OutdoorPhotoGear</a></p>

<p>Joe Smith</p>

[dave_wilson1]

I almost never use front caps, so no problem.

[pablito_pistola]

<p>I suggest not using the lenscaps at all, or use them only when you are storing the lens and not using it. </p>

[rodeo_joe1]

<p>"I suggest not using the lenscaps at all, or use them only when you are storing the lens and not using it." - Ah, so <em>that's</em> why I've been getting all those black pictures!</p>

[CvhKaar]

<p> Ah, so <em>that's</em> why I've been getting all those black pictures</p>

<p>Lol, but Joe , dont'you know, you should drill a tiny hole in those caps, so that you can see at least something when looking through your viewfinder ?</p>

[ShunCheung]

<p>I suppose this may not be the topic for this thread any longer, but I think most people should be able to put a new-style "pinch the center" type lens cap onto a 50mm/f1.4 AF-S easily, while the lens hood is attached. If you are using an older lens cap, I would get new-style lens caps, perhaps Tamron caps; those are cheaper than Nikon lens caps and work just as well.</p>

<p>It should be even easier with the 85mm/f1.4, which is quite a bit bigger with 77mm lens caps/filters.</p><div></div>

[alastair_anderson]

<p>Shun, I have the new caps. For some reason though I struggle to centre the thing. If the hood is off then I have the side of the lens as a guide and it's no problem at all. Perhaps I should look into the alternatives suggested by C.P.M. van Het Kaar and Joseph Smith. I sometimes do without the caps but when travelling on dusty roads even filters get dirty.</p><div></div>

[Mary Doo]

<blockquote>

<p>If the hood is off then I have the side of the lens as a guide...</p>

</blockquote>

<p>This seems to tell me you are probably thinking too much when you insert the lens cap. Try holding the pinched area of the cap - and don't think too much about it - just stick it inside the hood. For me it is a subconscious activity (that's why I always misplace the caps - but that's another story). Anyhow, I just consciously tested this with the 80-400 lens, which has a long hood. The cap snapped on instantly.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>