Are lens caps a bad idea?

[cliveh]

 

[George Mann]

Just when using rangefinders!

 

[BrianShaw]

You should have fervently demanded that she deletes the picture she took of you. You have inalienable rights to privacy and control of your image!

 

[Leigh B]

Are lens caps a bad idea?

No.

Rangefinders are a bad idea.

- Leigh

 

[cooltouch]

You know what I'm thinking? Dang, that's a big cap! I wonder what lens that is! Heh.

 

[Chan Tran]

I think she is pretending. That Leica doesn't look like a rangefinder but rather a mirrorless with EVF in which case she knows the lens cap is on.

 

[bdial]

They aren't a bad idea, but forgetting them is.

 

[Helios 1984]

The Leica owner is not used to manipulate his/her Leica since it's always stored under a crystal dome.

 

[ac12]

Just when using rangefinders!

+1

Though the Nikon L35-AF had a plastic attachment to the lens cap that covered the viewfinder, so you knew when the lens cap was on. Well that is IF you put the cap on so that the viewfinder cover was blocking the viewfinder.

 

[AgX]

Add an ear or so to the cap, that blocks the finder.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

I have a Voigtlander Bessa R which meters the image on the focal plane. Cap on and the meter doesn't essentially work. A builtin safeguard of this design. In general this is a mistake that RF users make once and then remember to always check.

BTW, you can always use a transparent lens cap in the form of say a skylight filter..

 

[cooltouch]

I think she is pretending. That Leica doesn't look like a rangefinder but rather a mirrorless with EVF in which case she knows the lens cap is on.

Methinks you're right. That Leica doesn't have the second window a rangefinder would need. It's also too deep to be a film M-series. Besides, what's that on top the camera? A little winklight flash?

 

[Sirius Glass]

It is not a problem for SLRs, only fro range finder cameras. I put yellow gaffers tape on the lens hood and lens cap of my Hasselblad SWC as a reminder. That usually works.

 

[TheRook]

When I got my first rangefinder, in the beginning I often made the mistake not removing the lens cap. Now it rarely happens. Making sure the lens cap is off is my first step for setting up a shot. Basically, it's a matter of developing and sticking to a procedure routine which helps one avoid common mistakes, such as forgetting to take off the lens cap, to focus the lens or adjusting exposure settings.

 

[macfred]

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

 

[pdeeh]

They're a terrible idea. All my photos come out blank when I use one. They should come with holes the same size as the lens. Someone should do a kickstarter for that.

 

[rpavich]

Hahaha I've done this too many times with my M6
Currently I'm in love with my Olympus Trip 35; it won't fire unless there is enough light and so I never have that particular problem with it!

 

[cooltouch]

They're a terrible idea. All my photos come out blank when I use one. They should come with holes the same size as the lens. Someone should do a kickstarter for that.

Yeah, but I believe they already exist. They're called 'hoods.'

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Lens caps are a good idea, especially if you're out on a bright sunny day - with any type camera, not just RFs. Trouble is, the SLRs have an integral reminder. The only perfect cure I've found for RFs is to use, exclusively, cameras with metal shutters. Next best is discipline yourself to check every time.
You can remember to advance the film, right? Unless I'm taking multiple photos at say a concert, I take one, don't advance the film, replace the lens cap. The next photo, I remove the cap, advance the film, take the picture, don't advance the film, replace the lens cap and so on. Works for me, YRMV. I never advance the film until I am about to expose it, regardless what camera I'm using.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

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

 

[etn]

I think she is pretending. That Leica doesn't look like a rangefinder but rather a mirrorless with EVF in which case she knows the lens cap is on.

If I am not mistaken, it is a Digilux 2 introduced in 2003. Indeed a mirrorless.

 

[etn]

Lens caps are not only a good idea but a necessity with cloth shutter cameras (such as Leicas, Nikon rangefinders, etc)

 

[Chan Tran]

If I am not mistaken, it is a Digilux 2 introduced in 2003. Indeed a mirrorless.

I think you are right! So lens cap isn't a bad idea as people who uses rangefinder do remember to take it off.

 

[etn]

I think you are right! So lens cap isn't a bad idea as people who uses rangefinder do remember to take it off.

There are 2 categories of rangefinder users: those who forgot to take the lens cap off, and those who will.

 

[Chan Tran]

There are 2 categories of rangefinder users: those who forgot to take the lens cap off, and those who will.

I started out with a rangefinder (a Petri 7s) at age 10. I never once forgot to remove the lens cap or putting the lens cap back. My dad (whose camera I used) would get upset if I did either.