Leica lens caps - how could this be?!!!!

[jagsiva]

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How can a company that produces such wonderfully engineered and machined products like the M9 and M lenses come up with the most ridiculous lens caps. Finally, the lens hoods on the newer lenses (screw in type) are vastly improved, but the lens caps on these hoods still remain an after thought.

 

Recently I lost the cap off my Cron 35, and paid 30 bucks for the most expensive 2 sq inch of rubber in my life. Then yesterday, I had my camera over my shoulder with the lux 24 and of course, the hood falls off in the autumn leaves. How can this happen on a 6K lens in a camera system that is supposed to be used on the move? I spent 40 mins looking for it, and did find it in the end, but its just silly.

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[redbaron]

Just what exactly did you expect?

 

Try leaving it in the bag, where it belongs.

[hoppyman]

I think that you meant to say tht the CAP fell off not the HOOD. The hood is much more secure than any of the earlier clip ons or collapsibles.

What cap design would you suggest then? What is any other camera /lens maker using that you would prefer? Any clip-in is hardly more secure when carried as you describe. I guess you could fit a little keeper leash for $1.99 if you wanted. Or simply leave the cap off if you are carrying the camera with hooded lens on your shoulder strap. That means you won't lift the camera for a quick shot and get a miss, not to mention possibly looking like a goose if another rangefinder photog sees you

I have two of the modern lenses that use the newer external hoods and am happy to accept just being a little careful with the slip on caps. Personally never lost a cap of any kind, ever. Now hats, I seem to leave on cafe tables all of the time!

Sort of like having a Ferrari to drive and complaining about the quality of the sunvisors really

[cheewai_m6]

Just what exactly did you expect?

 

Try leaving it in the bag, where it belongs.

 

bit grumpy aren't we?

[diogenis]

What are you talking about?

The lens caps are perfect. How else could they be? They use a screw mechanism with springs for quick placement and quicker release. Once they are in place they cannot be removed, unless you intentionally unscrew. How did you dropped one?

[PasMichiel]

What are you talking about?

The lens caps are perfect. How else could they be? They use a screw mechanism with springs for quick placement and quicker release. Once they are in place they cannot be removed, unless you intentionally unscrew. How did you dropped one?

 

I think you are talking about another cap. Here this is the cap (14043):

 

Solution:

make a small hole in one corner. add a string and make a knot inside. fasten the other end attached to the strap or hood of the lens.

[andybarton]

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I too have lost one of those. In the UK they are £20 to replace.

 

This is why I now use a 12504 hood instead, which works perfectly.

[PasMichiel]

I too have lost one of those. In the UK they are £20 to replace.

 

This is why I now use a 12504 hood instead, which works perfectly.

 

 

But then you need the (14033):

 

Not practical to turn it en place the cap. AND I lost a lot of these 14033's

[andybarton]

No you don't. A standard 39mm Leica cap works perfectly, clipped into the front of the hood.

[PasMichiel]

No you don't. A standard 39mm Leica cap works perfectly, clipped into the front of the hood.

 

okay. that I didn't know.

[rob139]

I'm using the Optech Hood hat mini for this lens (the 24mm summilux), very good protection and at the same time a fine cap which you will never lose unless you're leaving it somewhere on a table...

 

It's 10 euros I think.

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Everybody,

 

I think one problem with losing lens caps, hoods & the like is people sometimes forget cameras are as fragile as other laboratory instruments.

 

How many people would put their microscope over their shoulder walk around and expect to not possibly lose a lens cap? Let alone do damage.

 

That things are useful in fields other than that for which they were designed does not necessarily mean they meet the criteria for use within the parameters of general utility within that other field.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

[giordano]

cameras are as fragile as other laboratory instruments.

 

This implies (a) that cameras are laboratory instruments and ( that all laboratory instruments are equally fragile. Both false. Leicas from the very start have been designed to be carried around and used in the field. (However it took a scandalous number of years before they designed lens hoods that weren't easily knocked off when walking through dense vegetation.)

 

How many people would put their microscope over their shoulder walk around and expect to not possibly lose a lens cap? Let alone do damage.

How many microscopes have strap lugs? For that matter, how many microscopes have lens caps?

[jacarape]

I dropped the cap off of my 28/2,8 ASPH 4 times while hiking in National Forest. The fifth time I couldn't find it after 45 seconds and walked away not caring.

 

I don't have plans to replace the auto discarding cap.

[Bo_Lorentzen]

My new lens came with something like that, I installed the hood and left the cab in the drawer at home, it is not lost I'm pretty sure I can find it in less that 30 minutes. That said, I do realize not everybody see the world and lens cabs the way I do,

 

.

[koray]

Check out this: DIY cap solution for 14043 Summicron 35 hood.

 

K.

[lct]

Never came to my mind to put a cap over a hood for any other purpose than transportation so far. Matter of generation i guess. Perhaps our children will put something else over the cap who knows?

[menos I M6]

I never permanently lost a Leica lens cap.

 

I use a camera bag, when going out shooting - size matching, if I go with just one camera or several + lenses.

 

The cameras, I intent to use during a day are stored in the bag uncapped, switched on and set to a basic setting, to work from - I don't fiddle with bags, caps and settings, when I grab another camera for a different focal length or film speed.

 

I have a compartment in my bags, that is always dedicated to bits and pieces like lens caps, empty film cans, etc.

 

If you carry a Leica over the shoulder or around your neck with lens cap on, you are entitled, to loose caps unfortunately (as well, as getting the occasional black frame in between) ;-)

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[Sspector15]

I am sympathetic, even if most of the responders aren't. While it is nice having a built in lens hood on my 50mm Summicron, the lens cap design is fraught with opportunity for the cap to fall off. It seems like just brushing against something can pop the cap.

 

I've found the 35mm Zeiss Biogon lens cap fits perfectly on the hood as a short term alternative to finding a new cap.

[Guest BigSplash]

Surely the cap is there to protect the lens while it is in the camera bag with other lenses and maybe the camera. As soon as you remove the camera you fit the hood to the chosen lens and then fit it to the camera. Why would anyone then wish to walk the street with a cap fitted? If it rains or is bad weather then I personally would return the camera with lens and cap fitted to the bag. I am clearly missing something here.