Enlarging lenses - why no lens caps for them?

[Jeff Bannow]

Did enlarging lenses originally come with caps? It would seem that the answer is no, but why not?

Shouldn't they stay dust free just like taking lenses? Is this some kind of unidentified conspiracy?

 

[Zathras]

Most of my enlarging lenses came with caps. This includes my EL-Nikkors, Minolta Rokkors, Rodagons and even my old Enlarging Ektars. All bought used. If you're buying used lenses, the caps were probably lost or kept by the original owner.

 

[Jeff Bannow]

Most of my enlarging lenses came with caps. This includes my EL-Nikkors, Minolta Rokkors, Rodagons and even my old Enlarging Ektars. All bought used. If you're buying used lenses, the caps were probably lost or kept by the original owner.

Guess I'm really unlucky then. Only a few Nikkors have front caps - Never seen rear caps for any lens.

 

[tkamiya]

I don't think good ones EVER came with rear caps. They were sold in a bubble case where the screw bottom had a thread that lens screwed into. An EL-cheapo lens I have did have a rear cap.

 

[toro_mike]

I don't think any of my enlarging lenses came with rear caps because of the packaging they were sold in. They were screwed into a plastic base with a clear top, hence the need for only a front cap. I have a couple of these that came in darkroom lots I've picked up over the years.

EDIT: tkamiya just beat me to it

 

[Ian Grant]

None of the new enlarger lenses I've bought had lens caps they had keeper housings though.

Once a lens is fiitted dust doesn't fall upwards

Ian

 

[Jeff Bannow]

I don't think any of my enlarging lenses came with rear caps because of the packaging they were sold in. They were screwed into a plastic base with a clear top, hence the need for only a front cap. I have a couple of these that came in darkroom lots I've picked up over the years.

Yeah, I've got a few of those as well. They aren't very useful though after the lens is mounted.

Still seems front and rear caps could be pretty useful to keep the dust off and such.

 

[Jeff Bannow]

None of the new enlarger lenses I've bought had lens caps they had keeper housings though.

Once a lens is fiitted dust doesn't fall upwards

Ian

Right - so it seems we need rear caps and no front caps then!

 

[tkamiya]

Maybe we should put a UV filter and lens hood, too....

 

[Jeff Bannow]

Maybe we should put a UV filter and lens hood, too....

Well, of course! I was going to start a new thread for those ...

 

[tkamiya]

You know... the heat from the lamp will cause a convection air current around the enlarger. The resulting flow of air levitates dust particles that will stick to the surface of the lens.... We certainly need a protection from this.

 

[Jeff Bannow]

You know... the heat from the lamp will cause a convection air current around the enlarger. The resulting flow of air levitates dust particles that will stick to the surface of the lens.... We certainly need a protection from this.

I think what I need is a darkroom-sized lens cap so that no dust can get in anywhere. That should solve all the problems!

 

[Jeff Bannow]

All of my enlarger lenses are Schneider Componon-S: 50, 80, 150, 210, 240, and 300mm. All of them came with rear caps except the two smallest, which came in the plastic bubble cases. I have since purchased Schneider rear caps for them.

Finally, someone with rear caps!

 

[Bill Burk]

Right - so it seems we need rear caps and no front caps then!

Haaaa, why are my prints so light????


I have front and rear caps for both my Rodenstock Omegaron and my Schneider Betavaron. The Betavaron came with both, I think the Omegaron are "found" caps. The rear cap has "Omega" silkscreened on it and has a tab sticking out.

 

[tkamiya]

I do have a genuine front cap for EL-Nikkor 50mm f/4. It's a metal cap with two little clips on both side of the cap. I don't use it though.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

The Schneider lenses that I bought new came in cardboard boxes with both front and end caps. Other brands that came screwed into plastic boxes also had front caps.

 

[SkipA]

Lens caps would be nice, but I don't find them to be necessary. I wrap my enlarger lenses in a microfiber cloth and put them in a drawer when not in use.

 

[ic-racer]

Enlarging lenses with-and-without caps. The ones without the original rear caps or cases, have aftermarket caps (not shown) From Right to Left:

Rokkor CE with plastic case as rear cap (? front cap)
Behind a Schneider Betaveron with front push-on cap and rear hard plastic screw-on cap.
Schneider Componon S with plastic case as rear cap and original front push-on cap.
Front Omegaron with original Rodenstock special cap, it squeezes inside the opening.
Behind Komura with plastic case (? front cap)
EL-Nikkor with plastic case and original squeeze-to-release front cap
300mm Schneider Componon with original front cap (? rear cap)

 

[ic-racer]

Fujinar with original front cap (? original rear cap).

 

[ic-racer]

Rodenstok Rodagon with original front cap (? original rear cap).

 

[ic-racer]

I noticed this is missing a cap when I came back from John's last weekend.
JOHN: I may have left a Schneider lenscap in your darkroom last weekend!

 

[ic-racer]

Did enlarging lenses originally come with caps? It would seem that the answer is no, but why not?

Shouldn't they stay dust free just like taking lenses? Is this some kind of unidentified conspiracy?

The conspiracy is someone lost or threw out the caps and cases for your lenses!

 

[Jeff Bannow]

Fujinar with original front cap (? original rear cap).

I think that's the prettiest lens cap I've ever seen!

The conspiracy is someone lost or threw out the caps and cases for your lenses!

I think you must be right! Time to get some lens caps ordered.

 

[ic-racer]

Kaiser caps are made in just about every size you would need. I even got a tiny one for the back of my 30mm Rokkor. B&H carries them.
Measure the outside diameter of the lens and get the cap with that measurement.

The only thing Kaiser does not make is half-millimeter (0.5mm) sizes. The Eskofot Ultragon needs a 0.5 mm size.

 

[Stan160]

Does anyone know a source of caps, or even better keepers/bubble cases, in the UK or elsewhere in the EU?