alternative to lens cap

[ericperlberg]

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I doubt that this is going to interest most x1 users, but I'm sharing it in case someone else finds the idea helpful.

 

I'm frequently in dodgy neighbourhoods or situations where I have to be camera-discreet. I carry an old ratty shoulder bag and when I shoot I like to quickly take my camera out of my bag, take my shots and then return the camera to my bag. I hate using lens caps as they slow the process down and generally either put a uv/ir filter on my lenses or use the lens shade to protect them. I've been a bit challenged by my new X1 as taking off the lens cap and holding it in one hand or putting it in my pocket slows me down. But not using the lens cap seems risky as potentially I could scratch the lens. Someone else mentioned a solution of drilling a hole in their lens cap and attaching it to the camera with some thin string or thread which might work for others but personally I hate having the lens cap dangling from a camera when I'm shooting.

 

Today I unscrewed the knurled threaded sleeve which sits around the lens and took the Leica accessory lens hood from my 75mm summarit. It screwed right onto those threads and was a perfect fit for the camera! It's length is within a few mm of the length of the lens when its extended so there's no vignetting. The lens moves freely within the lens shade. The camera is obviously larger as a result although its proportions are exactly those of the camera with the lens extended. That doesn't matter to me, at least for photostrolling and even with the lens hood the camera still fits in the front pocket of my Belstaff bag. The summarit lens hood gives the camera a nice chunky look which seems in perfect proportion to the camera in general.

 

If this doesn't work for you, don't bother telling me, I just wanted to share it in case someone else finds it useful.

 

Now to solve those pesky dials which turn too easily...

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[Ro1and]

Could you post a picture of your camera with this on?

 

Thanks

Roland

[Paul Hart]

How on earth did you think of doing that? Happily I have the 75 Summarit (and what a lens that is) so here's a photo of the shade on the X1:

 

 

I'll have to think about whether I like it. Note the strap I'm using: it's the strap that comes with the Leica soft leather case they made (in small numbers, I think) for the M6 with the 50mm Elmar. It will also fit the M6/MP with the 50mm Summarit.

[Paul Hart]

Just a couple of initial thoughts about this approach in use.

 

1. It intrudes into my finder (which, as I've mentioned in another thread, is a 28mm finder so it may not intrude so much into a 35mm finder).

 

2. It doesn't serve any useful purpose as a lens hood. When the lens is extended, it is flush with the front edge of the 75mm hood.

 

3. The camera ceases to be pocketable. Would be OK in your bag, I guess.

[ezc203]

Woo, I am very intrigued by the idea of using the 75 Summarit hood for the X1.

 

It most certainly looks very good, and it looks like it'll provide additional protection for the retractable lens. For those of you who has this, how's the functionality of it?

[PayPerView]

I doubt that this is going to interest most x1 users, but I'm sharing it in case someone else finds the idea helpful.

 

I'm frequently in dodgy neighbourhoods or situations where I have to be camera-discreet. I carry an old ratty shoulder bag and when I shoot I like to quickly take my camera out of my bag, take my shots and then return the camera to my bag. I hate using lens caps as they slow the process down and generally either put a uv/ir filter on my lenses or use the lens shade to protect them. I've been a bit challenged by my new X1 as taking off the lens cap and holding it in one hand or putting it in my pocket slows me down. But not using the lens cap seems risky as potentially I could scratch the lens. Someone else mentioned a solution of drilling a hole in their lens cap and attaching it to the camera with some thin string or thread which might work for others but personally I hate having the lens cap dangling from a camera when I'm shooting.

 

Today I unscrewed the knurled threaded sleeve which sits around the lens and took the Leica accessory lens hood from my 75mm summarit. It screwed right onto those threads and was a perfect fit for the camera! It's length is within a few mm of the length of the lens when its extended so there's no vignetting. The lens moves freely within the lens shade. The camera is obviously larger as a result although its proportions are exactly those of the camera with the lens extended. That doesn't matter to me, at least for photostrolling and even with the lens hood the camera still fits in the front pocket of my Belstaff bag. The summarit lens hood gives the camera a nice chunky look which seems in perfect proportion to the camera in general.

 

If this doesn't work for you, don't bother telling me, I just wanted to share it in case someone else finds it useful.

 

Now to solve those pesky dials which turn too easily...

 

That's great. Thank you for sharing. I also could not live with a dangling lense cap and I am certain I will lose this one as it is...

 

I can't stand that I have to remove the lens cap to access the menu's...I make adjustments all the time when I am not taking the shot necessarily...this is a great solution for the kind of photography you do and I also often do.

[AlanJW]

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A regular Leica 46mm lens cap will fit on the X!, though just a bit more snugly than the provided lens cap. This will not of course solve the problem of the OP, but you can buy a 46mm cap on eBay for about $2.00 and store your original cap (or replace it after you lose it, which is a matter of when, not whether.

[ericperlberg]

Woo, I am very intrigued by the idea of using the 75 Summarit hood for the X1.

 

It most certainly looks very good, and it looks like it'll provide additional protection for the retractable lens. For those of you who has this, how's the functionality of it?

 

I spent the day shooting with the camera with the summarit lens hood on. As mentioned I keep my camera in a shoulder bag. I can quickly grab the camera, turn it on and shoot. It just works. No down sides that I can see except that it makes the camera unpocketable in your trouser pockets but then again it's unpocketable in my jeans in any case.

 

I use a voightlander 28/35 finder and the lens hood very very slightly intrudes into the 35 part of the finder. If you're a regular M camera user it certainly intrudes less than almost any Leica M mount lens.

 

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[ericperlberg]

How on earth did you think of doing that?

 

I think the coincidence of buying a 75 summarit on the same day I bought the X1. I remembered being a bit surprised at how the lens hood on the summarit screwed on with inside threads and I had just read how the knurled cover on the X1 screwed off so I tried that and saw the outside threads and voila, I thought I'd try it and was pleasantly surprised that it screwed right on.

 

Not really up there with figuring out how to make chocolate from a bean though...

[Cirrus]

Well I like the idea a lot. Just ordered one. Thanks.

Dan

[stephen.w]

It reminds me of the lens adaptor for the Panasonic LX3. It would be nice If Leica or a 3rd party developer came out with one for the X1, together with some filters and a wide angle converter. (Would kill the X1's pocketability though).

[ezc203]

Just purchased the 75/90 Summarit hood, its excellent. Doesn't really provide flare protection, but it does protect the retractable barrel of the lens. Also improves the ergonomics of the camera, makes it easier for you to hold it like a Leica M camera.

 

I'm lovin' it! I highly recommend it.

 

 

 

 

 

...

[earleygallery]

I've said before that the lens should've been a fixed barrel design with a regular filter thread.

[Leicaiste]

Just purchased the 75/90 Summarit hood, its excellent. Doesn't really provide flare protection, but it does protect the retractable barrel of the lens.

 

And what about the 90mm Summarit hood ?

[ezc203]

And what about the 90mm Summarit hood ?

 

It's the same hood for both lenses.

[bad robot]

Hi,

you don't have to take the lens cap off to access the menus. Just hold down the play button as you turn the X1 on. then press the menu button

[250swb]

New Metal 46mm Screw-in Standard Lens Hood + Cap E46 on eBay (end time 06-May-10 22:54:15 BST)

 

You could try this combination of hood and lens cap. A 'wide angle' hood and cap is also available

 

 

Steve

[wattsy]

New Metal 46mm Screw-in Standard Lens Hood + Cap E46 on eBay (end time 06-May-10 22:54:15 BST)

 

You could try this combination of hood and lens cap. A 'wide angle' hood and cap is also available

 

Aren't they threaded differently (I thought the Summarit lenses have the hood thread on the outside of the lens barrel)?

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[ericperlberg]

Aren't they threaded differently (I thought the Summarit lenses have the hood thread on the outside of the lens barrel)?

 

My Summarit lens hood is threaded on the inside and the lens is threaded on the outside.

[250swb]

Aren't they threaded differently (I thought the Summarit lenses have the hood thread on the outside of the lens barrel)?

 

Ah yes, they are.

 

Steve