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Hi I have a Leica 39mm Metal Lens Cap when I bought my 135 Tele-Elmar from Keh. I don’t use it because I use a lenshood for the said lens. I am planning to use the  Metal Lens cap on my other 39mm lenses. Are there any disadvantage or problems when using the Metal Lens cap? I heard that the Metal Lens Cap stores moisture and might cause fungus problems on lenses. 

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On the 50 APO, and the Noctilux I replaced the plastic cap because I think the velvet of the metal cap becoming thinner setting it in/off willl allow to loose it and I am not ready to pay a big amount of money to get a new one.

Got the plastic cap for fewEuro the Bay for the APO; the plastic cap is provided  in the box when puchasing the Noctilux.

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These caps fit  over most better quality 39mm filters. On the 50 Summicron v5 they actually fit over the filter perfectly while slipping underneath the built-in hood. If you don't use hoods these are the way to go. Pinch caps are a pain! I can't believe they are the de facto standard! The 40mm fits over filters and the 42 fits the naked lens. These are fairly cheap and don't wear the lens. I can't comment on moisture as I live in a dry climate, but I can't believe a lens will breath much through the front with or without a cap.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/125270-REG/Kaiser_206940_40mm_Push_On_Lens_Cap.html

Edited by Rob L
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I use them on all my 39mm lenses and have for years, I do have the shade and plastic cap I use on either my 90 Elmarit or 135 Tele-Elmar, the other one gets a metal cap. No one has "warned" me about them. I haven't had any fungus problems. I have had my 35 Summilux for 40 years and have always had a metal cap on it. If you live in an area that is prone to have fungus in lenses you might want to look at alternatives otherwise don't worry about it.

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Never got the least problem with Leica push-on metal caps in 30+ years, especially E39 ones (14003, 14031, 14285, 14321), but i don't live in a warm country. BTW, for those interested, some China-made copies are available for little money (link). Not sure if they are legit but i ordred a couple of them and they are superb really. 

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Lens caps were essential in the days of plate film cameras. They were the shutter. A shot was focussed with the cap off. Once that was done, the cap went on, a plate was loaded, and the covers were removed. After that the cap was removed for however long the exposure needed and the cap replaced. Then the plate covers were replaced, and the plate developed.

Today we use them for protection of lenses.

How important are they these days? 

Think about it.

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