I'm sick of my 35mm Summilux lens cap!

[erl]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Biil, the loss, in my experience, occurs when the cap is attached to the lens, not in the pocket or camera bag. The various methods of attachment of Leica caps is anything but secure.

 

Most activity is OK, but any strenuous activity seriously puts the cap at risk of being knocked off.

[250swb]

It isn't just Leica though, nearly all lens caps are vulnerable, especially if like me you use the traditional style of carrying your camera on your shoulder with the lens facing inwards towards the body (so if the camera accidentally swings out from the body the back of the camera takes the knock, not the lens). Then the lens is behind you and is bumping against your waist, a sure way to dislodge a lens cap.

 

But the main point about using a UV filter instead of a lens cap is that when it gets rained on, when it gets dusty, when it gets a fingerprint on it, you just rub it off with a lens cloth without having to worry about the precious coating on the lens being damaged by grit and grime. Use the hem of a tee-shirt, it hardly matters if you avoid missing a photograph. And for the people who will chime in that 'filters cause flare', well yes they can under a few rare instances, but thats when a decent photographer has the judgement to take it off, not be hide bound to photographic pedantry.

 

Steve

[erl]

Yes Steve, most caps are vulnerable. A screw on cap is the answer for those that really want a solution. The best, not perfect, option is to be flexible and choose when to use a cap or filter or nothing. Addressing the actual topic, caps remain problematic.

 

Bit confused by the 'photographic pedantry' comment Steve. Where did that come from?

[250swb]

I meant the type of pedantic 'I never use a filter', or 'I always use a filter' philosphies. There are times and places for everything, favouring one most of the time, or the other, but 'never' and 'always' are shortsighted standpoints.

 

Steve

[pgk]

I guess I am weird since I have never lost a lens cap. Or maybe I am lucky. As soon as I attach a lens I take the cap off and put it in my pocket. I always have the hood on for protection. YMMV:)

My experience too. You simply have to be disciplined and careful - I have lost the viewfinder rubber cup off my Frankenfinder though as it unscrewed itself at some point - the next will get loctite treatment as soon as I get it!

[lupico]

I have lost several of my 35 Summicron ASPH rubber caps too because they tend to fit none too tight and you never know if an edge gets caught on e.g. some part of clothing and it then just drops off.

But I haven' t managed to lose the slip-on cap of the 35Lux FLE yet. But I agree, these flimsy caps made of cheap rubber are quite annoying - especially if you have to pay around €25/$28 to replace just one.

[lct]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

You're referring to hood caps, not lens caps don't you? If so, you might wish to let them in the bag or even in the box. Earlier hoods had no caps and i never missed them. YMMV.

[macjonny1]

You're referring to hood caps' date=' not lens caps don't you? If so, you might wish to let them in the bag or even in the box. Earlier hoods had no caps and i never missed them. YMMV.[/quote']

 

Yep hood caps. I took off the hood and just use a lens cap now

[erl]

Yep hood caps. I took off the hood and just use a lens cap now

While there is a place/use for lens caps, the hood will contribute more to (some of) your pictures.

 

Of course it's the cap for the hood that is the problem being discussed.

[macjonny1]

While there is a place/use for lens caps' date=' the hood will contribute more to (some of) your pictures.

 

Of course it's the cap for the hood that is the problem being discussed.[/quote']

 

Haven't had a lot of flare issues yet but you mentioned you use a 3rd party hood? Which one?

[erl]

Just prepping for a shoot now. Will check my purchase details later and let you know.

The hood is 'unbranded'.

Which lens or filter size are you thinking of?

[philipus]

Go hoodless and use the standard E46 plastic cap.

The FLE is basically immune to flare. And if you get flare you will get flare with the hood on as well.

 

I've recently begun using my FLE without the fancy-schmancy (though ridiculously cool-looking) metal hood and accompanying flimsy cap. I like that the lens becomes quite a bit smaller without the hood and also less eye-catching. I find it makes very little difference flare-wise. I have a UV filter on so I feel the lens is sufficiently protected against bumps.

 

Imho the FLE handles flare very well - I posted some examples here last year - but it isn't really on par with the 50 Summilux. Still, the FLE has never let me down and I tend to push it quite a bit.

 

Cheers

Philip

[elmarman]

I stick a small white label inside the lens caps with my name and address on it -- many years ago my wife lost her Nikon FE lens cap on a dusty track and several days later it arrived in the Post from an old couple who had found it -- all it cost me was a letter of thanks and a replacement stamp !

[lct]

With respect folks, using a filter and removing the hood is the worst thing to do flare wise. Also remember that a hood is more protective than any filter if it is not too small like some built-in ones from Leica. For filter users, the best solution is hood + filter if you can. The hood cap is useless then. FWIW.

[wattsy]

Imho the FLE handles flare very well

 

By Leica standards, I find this lens to be average in terms of flare resistance. Not nearly as good as the (admittedly much slower) 35 Summarit but possibly better than the Summicron ASPH in this regard. I think the previous version Summilux ASPH is more flare resistant but I'd need to look back through my older files to be sure.

 

I think the hood helps but in my experience it doesn't make a huge difference. Some recent snaps (all uncropped full frame) show various flare types I've encountered (first without hood, the second definitely with the hood, the third photo I'm not sure):

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[pgk]

Not nearly as good as the (admittedly much slower) 35 Summarit but possibly better than the Summicron ASPH in this regard. I think the previous version Summilux ASPH is more flare resistant ....

I'd say your comments apply equally well to the previous version - it does to mine! I leave the hood in place regardless, anything that helps with strong side illumination has got to be worth using.