Losing Lens caps

Dave Canon

Dave Canon

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Anyone else have a problem with lens caps falling off. The older lens caps for my Canon lenses were only intended to fit Canon but at least they clipped on readily and stayed there. For more recent Canon lenses and my recent Sony lenses the lens caps appear to be interchangeable across Canon, Nikon and Sony and probably others. I often find them loose at the bottom of my camera bag. After a shoot last week, I returned to find I had lost the lens caps on both my Sony lenses. I checked the inside of my car and the coat I was wearing. I did not find them so ordered replacements. Today I discovered both lens caps in a pocket:oops: :$ OK I bought cheap replacements so now have spares. Because they fall off so easily, I had assumed that I had lost them while I was out.

Dave
 
I used to have a problem with them dropping off some years back but discovered that it was my fault! After years of the old slip on (and fall off again...) type caps, I was pushing the clip type on rather than pressing the release buttons/tabs so every time I clipped them on, I was gently grinding off the bits that grab the threads. I'm not so lazy these days and haven't had one drop off for ages!

As for leaving them in a pocket, I always slip them into my shirt pocket as soon as I take them off. If I'm wearing a t-shirt though, it's anyone's guess as to where the bu99er will end up! The original Fuji caps on a couple of my lenses had fairly rounded profiles so the lenses wouldn't stand as securely on their front ends as I would like so I got replacements from 7dayshop for about 50p each. The originals live in the bag for if when I lose the flatter ones!
 
I knew the lens cap was in the car somewhere, Canon it was. I'd sold the car the week before. I searched but never did find the lens cap. I wondered if ever the new owner found it. I thought it was on the lens but it must have slipped off, it did it many times.
 
I've never had that problem with them coming off and I've never lost one. I usually put branded lens caps in a box and replace them with cheap centre pinch caps and I've never had a problem with them coming off. If I sell the lens the branded cap will go back on.
 
There used to be a string thing that you fixed to the cap and then the camera so it just hung there. Perhaps do something like that. My main walkabout lens has a Cokin lens filter system attached and the cover slides in very firmly.
 
Yes, I lose the Olympus ones. (Never lost a Nikon one, or a 1970s Olympus one)

So, I buy in bulk now :D
 
I've had a few drop over over the years, but usually managed to retrieve them eventually. There is one I didn't manage to locate, but I'm confident it will eventually be found. The reason for that confidence? It rolled away while I was sitting on a bench at Vindolanda, which is an active archaeological site. Someday, that ditch and bank will be excavated, and the cap found...
 
StephenM said:
I've had a few drop over over the years, but usually managed to retrieve them eventually. There is one I didn't manage to locate, but I'm confident it will eventually be found. The reason for that confidence? It rolled away while I was sitting on a bench at Vindolanda, which is an active archaeological site. Someday, that ditch and bank will be excavated, and the cap found...
Click to expand...
If the dig takes place in say 10000 years time, they might find it hard to distinguish 20th century from Roman. ;)

Dave
 
Rarely have they fallen off in the bag. The ones I have (Nikon original) stay on fairly well. When off they go in a back pocket or zippered pocket.
 
My Nikon and generic plastic caps are fine. They mostly stay in the bag when I get the lens out, anyway. Fancy metal push-on caps stay at home, because they are expensive to replace and might scratch something if they come off in the bag. I have a rectangular Leica hood cap that seems designed to fall off, and they no longer make it. There's a cottage industry in 3D-printed replacements that are better designed and more secure than the original.
 
Just checked a couple of my lenses, it seems a total movement of around 1mm - 1.5mm of the spring loaded retaining clips releases the cap. It wouldn't need much accidental movement to release the cap.

Umm - do I see a business opportunity? A non-Kase magnetic lens cap- a magnetic ring specific for the lens size, a dedicated designer lens cap (logo of your choice) and a magnetic cap safe which clips onto you jacket to hold the cap when it's off the lens (available in a range of fashionable colours including real-tree camo).
 
Not lens caps but I lost the lens hood off my old sigma 150-500 into the bear enclosure at whipsnade zoo,
damn things was always a loose fit since I bought the lens 2nd hand, thankfully it's long gone now.
 
Gremlin said:
Not lens caps but I lost the lens hood off my old sigma 150-500 into the bear enclosure at whipsnade zoo,
damn things was always a loose fit since I bought the lens 2nd hand, thankfully it's long gone now.
Click to expand...

Lens hoods for the long Sigmas are good for decapitating people. Note to general public at an air show, Practice Social Distancing, as standing in front of a photographer using said lens panning results in contact. I get a dirty look from the 'victim' and I reply 'why did you stand there?'

Back to OP - I have not lost a lens hood but damaged several. I buy replacements but if the damaged item is still usable it stays on the lens and the replacement is on hand until the item goes on sale.

The snag I find with lens hoods are that if you put them in any pocket they do attract a lot of fluff - more cleaning!!
 
I don't loose lens caps because I take care to look after them.

I do however admit to being a bit CDO with things like this. - CDO? - It's the same as OCD - BUT WITH THE LETTERS IN THE CORRECT ORDER!
 
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