Jump to content

Lens cap or not?


Julian Thompson

Recommended Posts

Guest MartinMann

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Exactly! I was going to order another after I lost mine, and I refused to pay that much for a lens cap which didn't stay on very well to begin with. I looked at several others, but none fit on snug enough for me. That's why I've decided to go the route of the Nikon UR-E8.

 

Good decision, so you got a lens protection and a lens hood and if you glue a reduction ring 58 -> 52 with a female thread to the Nikon adapter you can use filters also.

 

Sure, it does not look stylish but when i go to a fussy place I will put on the original Leica stuff :D

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/forum-zur-leica-x1/132008-sonnenblende-x1-selbstbauprojekt-4.html#post1403585

Link to post
Share on other sites

For those thinking of going without a lens cap you should know that if you were to scratch the front element badly enough to warrant a repair then you are looking at replacement of the whole Lens/sensor assembly.

 

I was wondering how careful I should be about the front element bearing in mind it is not easy to fit a filter so I asked Leica how much it would cost to replace the front element and got the following response:

 

"Thank you for your inquiry about the exchange of the front element of your Leica X1.

We are sorry to have to inform you, that it is not possible to exchange the front element of the lens by itself. The lens comes complete in a unit including the CCD attached. The exchange of this unit will cost about € 650,-. The unit itself as spare part costs € 500,-.

 

Mit freundlichen Grüssen / Kind regards"

 

I will be using the lens cap when the camera is not in use, that's for sure.

 

If I dont shoot than I have the camera in a bag where it is much better protected than from a lens cap.

The lens of the x1 is somewhat deeper inside the lens so IMO the risk to scratch it is reletivly small.

Anways I find it strange that Leica needs to replce the whole lens unit just in case.

 

I still feel pretty save without the cap for my way of shooting.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I have a Dlux-4, I am sorry, wrong thread.

I don't like lens caps too. An alternative would be a push-up filter. BUT during collapsing the lens sinks so deep, that the filter would not have enough hold. No hold to be honest.

In stead of a lens cap a (more or less) useful filter would do the same job. After it has become scratches one would buy a new one ($$$$!!, a missed chance?).

Jan

Link to post
Share on other sites

Being cautious is one thing, overcautious another imo. Using the camera is a 'risk' to start with. Leaving it a home is the safest bet.

 

If the fiddling with the lens cap doesn't annoy you, then by all means use it. I only pointed out that the semi hard lens dome from the brown leather case protects the lens very well. You'll have to do some very crazy things to get the lens damaged when it's in this case.

 

there is some truth in this. I don't (usually) use an ERC or a lens cap because they get in the way - then there is a, albeit small, chance of burning a hole in the shutter curtain... just be happy & don't worry.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Leica specifically suggests that the lens cap be used on the X1 in order to avoid inside damage from too much strong light. Panasonic suggests the same for their G1 (including at the viewfinder where there is no cap), and Canon suggests the same for their XL* video cameras - all for the same reason - damage.

 

A lens works like a magnifying glass if bright sunlight shines on the front

of the camera. The camera must therefore never be set aside in strong

sunlight without protection. Use the lens cap and keep the camera in

the shade (or immediately put it away in the case) help to prevent damage

to the interior of the camera.

 

But you don't have to use a Leica brand cap, of course.

Link to post
Share on other sites

there is some truth in this. I don't (usually) use an ERC or a lens cap because they get in the way - then there is a, albeit small, chance of burning a hole in the shutter curtain... just be happy & don't worry.

 

Don't forget that as a 'live-view' type camera, the X1 doesn't have a protective shutter curtain covering the sensor in the same way that an M8/9 or DSLR does. So the focussed sunlight will be busy burning up your image sensor!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Good point Nichole, it was said that setting the aperture wide open with the focus at close-up would prevent the 'burning glass' effect on the shutter curtain or sensor - I think (!) I got that the right way round. My Leica guy says he repaired a burnt shutter for a customer, only for him to have the same thing happen to the camera the following week - one would scarcely credit this on our foggy little island, would you...?

Cheers

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Zipper,

 

I wouldn't be too surprised to hear that. Although I'm rather amazed that the customer didn't learn their lesson the first time. :confused:

 

For example, say that you are out for the day with your camera, and don't bother using any kind of case or lens cap, because they are just too much trouble to bother with.

 

You then decide to have lunch. It's a nice sunny day, and so you sit outside. Whilst you are partaking of your lunch, your camera is sitting on the table with its unprotected lens pointing straight up at the mid-day sun. The lens is pointing up, because you don't want to scratch the lens by laying the camera face down. A great recipe for grilled sensor & chips if ever there was one. :eek:

Link to post
Share on other sites

I really wouldn't want to buy a second-hand X1 from someone who had rarely used the lens cap! Regard use of the lens cap as insurance against costly abrasion. Sure it can easily be lost. I ensure mine is firmly in a pocket before shooting and replace it as soon as I have finished. A simple but effective drill.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Zipper,

 

I wouldn't be too surprised to hear that. Although I'm rather amazed that the customer didn't learn their lesson the first time. :confused:

 

For example, say that you are out for the day with your camera, and don't bother using any kind of case or lens cap, because they are just too much trouble to bother with.

 

You then decide to have lunch. It's a nice sunny day, and so you sit outside. Whilst you are partaking of your lunch, your camera is sitting on the table with its unprotected lens pointing straight up at the mid-day sun. The lens is pointing up, because you don't want to scratch the lens by laying the camera face down. A great recipe for grilled sensor & chips if ever there was one. :eek:

 

agreed Nichole, and the aroma of burning shutter curtain would completely spoil my meal...!

Link to post
Share on other sites

If you are familiar with those cell phone pouches that go on the backpack straps.... put one on your camera bag strap for your lens cap. Always available, not dangling, and quick to put away. And you don't have to fumble around in your bag for it. And you never lose it because its' either on your camera or in that pouch.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I really wouldn't want to buy a second-hand X1 from someone who had rarely used the lens cap! Regard use of the lens cap as insurance against costly abrasion. Sure it can easily be lost. I ensure mine is firmly in a pocket before shooting and replace it as soon as I have finished. A simple but effective drill.

 

A x1 which sits allways in a small bag when its not used is much better protected than one which has a lenscap on it.

Having a lenscap which gets out of position when you slide the x1 in a bag could also eventually lead to some interference between the cap and the lens?

How many cases do we know where the sun has burned something on a sensor of an x1?

Seems more like theory than experience of today.

 

So IMO the quesion if somebody used a lens cap or not doesnt say anything about the condition of the camera.

Link to post
Share on other sites

How many cases do we know where the sun has burned something on a sensor of an x1?

Seems more like theory than experience of today.

 

So IMO the quesion if somebody used a lens cap or not doesnt say anything about the condition of the camera.

 

 

Or on the sensor from any camera for that matter.

 

+ 1

Link to post
Share on other sites

This is a ridiculous thread. If you're prone to losing things, drill a small hole in the edge of your lens cap and tie it onto one of the strap rings.

 

If you keep the camera ISOLATED in a bag with a soft, non-abrasive liner, you can go without a lens cap.

 

It's not wise to leave your camera sitting out or shoved in a bag with a million other objects with no lens protection.

 

We're beating a dead horse at this point.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...