Are lens caps a bad idea?

[Sirius Glass]

I took my best photographs with a lens cap on ...

Mine too! We should exchange prints!

 

[ic-racer]

That Leica doesn't look like a rangefinder...she knows the lens cap is on.

Yes, where is the second window? I'm not so sure about the second statement.

 

[Vaughn]

My TLR had only a half lenscap...so yes, it is possible to leave the lenscap on the taking lens of a Rolleiflex also.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I use protective filter and hood. Even at cheap FSU lens I use on my Leica for now. Caps are staying home.

 

[etn]

I use protective filter and hood. Even at cheap FSU lens I use on my Leica for now. Caps are staying home.

Good and very much possible, (I also often do the same), but under some conditions you ought to be careful - see http://leica.nemeng.com/025b.shtml

 

[RalphLambrecht]

happens to the best of us!

 

[Roger Thoms]

happens to the best of us!

 

[Dali]

Good and very much possible, (I also often do the same), but under some conditions you ought to be careful - see http://leica.nemeng.com/025b.shtml

To avoid sun damage on the curtains, the best is to leave the camera focus at minimal distance.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

I don't see a problem with a lens cap....

 

[fstop]

Leica Digilux 2

 

[LAG]

A lens cap is always a good idea, even if you're not carrying a lens with you

 

[darkroommike]

On many low end SLR's the lenscap also functions as the meter on/off switch.

 

[albada]

To avoid sun damage on the curtains, the best is to leave the camera focus at minimal distance.

This posting prompted me to perform a quick experiment in today's hot southern California summer sun: I blacked the center-area of a piece of paper with a Sharpie so it would absorb most light, placed it on the film-plane of a rangefinder (45mm lens focused at infinity) with the shutter open, pointed it at the sun, and felt how hot the paper got by waiting a minute or two and touching the back of the paper with a finger. The results: At f/5.6, the paper got hot. At f/8, the paper was warm. At f/11, I could not feel any warmth. My conclusion for rangefinders: Leave the lens stopped down to f/8 or more, and the sun will not burn a hole through the curtain.

Mark Overton

 

[Chan Tran]

Good idea! I have a pentax K1000 with a 50mm f/2 lens. I hate the thing and would never use it. I think if I open the lens to f/2, focus at infinity, open the shutter and put a piece of paper there I I could use it as a lighter? I wouldn't care if something on the camera burns in the process.

 

[Huss]

I don't see a problem with a lens cap....

View attachment 181383

Bless you.

 

[Arklatexian]

Just when using rangefinders!

When I put my rangefinder cameras away, I put lens caps on the lenses as well as on each of the extra lenses that I carry. When I use the cameras, before I take a picture, I look at the front of the camera. I have noticed that lens caps are not as shiney and reflective as lenses are.and I make it a point to take them off before shooting. The old Graflex book on using their cameras had a procedure called F-A-S-T which stood for: "focus-aperture-shutter-and lastly THINK". Thinking helps you to remember to take the caps off.......Regards!

 

[TheRook]

To avoid sun damage on the curtains, the best is to leave the camera focus at minimal distance.

Remembering to leave the camera focus at minimal distance VERSUS remembering to remove lens cap before using camera... I'm not sure which of the two would be the more problematic.
Personally, I prefer the risk of lost frames over the risk of damaged shutter curtain.

 

[fstop]

Who leaves their camera in the sun?

 

[E. von Hoegh]

This posting prompted me to perform a quick experiment in today's hot southern California summer sun: I blacked the center-area of a piece of paper with a Sharpie so it would absorb most light, placed it on the film-plane of a rangefinder (45mm lens focused at infinity) with the shutter open, pointed it at the sun, and felt how hot the paper got by waiting a minute or two and touching the back of the paper with a finger. The results: At f/5.6, the paper got hot. At f/8, the paper was warm. At f/11, I could not feel any warmth. My conclusion for rangefinders: Leave the lens stopped down to f/8 or more, and the sun will not burn a hole through the curtain.

Mark Overton

But the high temperature inside the camera will cause lubricants to degrade and migrate, as well as other troubles.

What's so difficult about using a cap? Sheesh.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Good idea! I have a pentax K1000 with a 50mm f/2 lens. I hate the thing and would never use it. I think if I open the lens to f/2, focus at infinity, open the shutter and put a piece of paper there I I could use it as a lighter? I wouldn't care if something on the camera burns in the process.

Just put some old nitrate stock in, set to f:2, and leave it on "B".

 

[guangong]

Lens caps protect expensive lenses and filters. Only somebody with lots of bucks would ignore using them. Of course, when actively out shooting the lens cap is not on the lens. Moreover, being around many photographers for 50 years i have never even heard of anyone burning a whole in a cloth focal plane shutter. Seems to me it would require deliberate effort. However, an old shutter could possible develop pinhead holes from normal deterioration. Accidentally burning a hole in a shutter sounds more like a myth repeated by authors of how to do books.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Lens caps protect expensive lenses and filters. Only somebody with lots of bucks would ignore using them. Of course, when actively out shooting the lens cap is not on the lens. Moreover, being around many photographers for 50 years i have never even heard of anyone burning a whole in a cloth focal plane shutter. Seems to me it would require deliberate effort. However, an old shutter could possible develop pinhead holes from normal deterioration. Accidentally burning a hole in a shutter sounds more like a myth repeated by authors of how to do books.

I did. Accidentally. 1.5 lens wide open, bright sun, white snow. Went out for few minutes, it was enough. And hole from burning looks very different from pinhole.

 

[pathdoc]

That's a di&!^@l camera, leaving the cap on is the best way to use those.

Now now, no need to get snobbish

Sadly, one of my favourite film SLRs is the Spotmatic F... which, as for the K1000, requires a lens cap to shut the meter off. A bizarre design flaw when you consider that the F actually has a mechanical shutter lock! Why they didn't also use it as a meter disconnect switch, I have no idea. Good thing they rectified that for the MX.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Now now, no need to get snobbish

Sadly, one of my favourite film SLRs is the Spotmatic F... which, as for the K1000, requires a lens cap to shut the meter off. A bizarre design flaw when you consider that the F actually has a mechanical shutter lock! Why they didn't also use it as a meter disconnect switch, I have no idea. Good thing they rectified that for the MX.

I found a filthy Spotmatic F at a yard sale, for $4 I got it and an old all-steel Weaver K8 riflescope with mounts. The camera cleaned up really well, meter works accurately, and the 55/2 Super Tak gives a 1:1 veiwfinder. There's actually a separate cds cell and transistor circuit just to turn the meter off in these, K1000 as well. I think they wanted to fine you a new meter cell every time you leave the cap off. And yes, the Spotmatics are one of my favorites too.

As for snobbery, I had a t-shirt made specifically for use with my Deardorff view camera. It reads "My Other Camera is a Linhof". I think I'll have a whole series of these made.

(Singnificantly, I do not own a Leica any more.)

 

[pathdoc]

I found a filthy Spotmatic F at a yard sale.. The camera cleaned up really well, meter works accurately, and the 55/2 Super Tak gives a 1:1 viewfinder.

For me, a Super Tak is a mismatch on a Spotmatic F - it makes it no better than a Spotmatic II. I save them for my S1a.

I actually only bought my SPF because I already had some SMC and S-M-C Takumar lenses I'd bought to shoot on Pentax DSLRs, and figured why not have a film camera that can make full use of them? It's cured me of any urge I might have to buy a KM or K1000, seeing as it does just about everything they do anyway, and the range of aperture-coupled Takumar lenses - though nowhere near as wide as that for Pentax K mount - is more than enough to keep me happy.

At least with the S1a there are no issues with the meter running the battery down (unless you have one of those clip-on meters, which I don't - or at least not one that currently works).