Who makes the best replacement lens caps?

[Jeff Bannow]

I need some replacement lens caps, and I figure someone has to make a decent one. What's the best? I'm going to need a bunch in 77mm size.

And not slip-ons - I've had too many issues with them falling off in hot weather (plastic expands and is no longer a tight fit).

 

[BetterSense]

I don't know about best, but I bought some of these in 49mm and they were good for the price:

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/digital-camera-lens-cover-cap-with-strap-for-canon-77mm-24252

 

[Jeff Bannow]

Wow - the price is certainly right. Does it hold well onto the lens?

 

[Ian C]

These are inexpensive Chinese caps, but they work well and seem reasonably well made. They are the newer type that doesn’t easily get bumped off because there are no protruding “ears” when installed.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/649755-REG/Bower_CS77_CS77_77
mm_Pro_Snap_On.html


These are solid aluminum screw-in caps and give the best protection. The only downside is: friction with the metal cap could scuff the end of the lens barrel’s finish. I suppose that could be prevented by cutting out a thin paper washer to fit over the cap’s thread to insulate the end of the lens barrel from scuffing.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?ci=297&N=4277997919+4291432579

On some of my big lenses I install a step-up ring and then place a metal screw-in cap on that.

Using the step-up ring is especially useful with wide-angle lenses because it forces me to use larger diameter filters that don’t vignette if stacked.

As an added bonus that places the cap even further from the surface of the front glass, potentially preventing disaster if something should strike the cap.

I don’t use slip on caps at all. Their use eventually leads to scuffing the outside of the end of the barrel due to tiny abrasive particles that get trapped between the slip-on cap and the OD of the barrel.

 

[jovo]

This site has pretty much every accessory you might want including lens caps front and rear. There is a range of quality and of price so you'll likely find what you need.

http://www.camerafilters.com/default.aspx

 

[Jeff Bannow]

As a tangent on this topic, how does everyone feel about step-up rings? Is it worth going name brand over generic?

 

[Dan Grisez]

The inexpensive Chinese pinch-type caps I have purchased from eBay for my Rokkor lenses work well. The quality is good enough for me. But if you are looking for solid, high quality caps, nothing beats genuine Nikon pinch caps.

 

[SWphoto]

The inexpensive Chinese pinch-type caps I have purchased from eBay for my Rokkor lenses work well. The quality is good enough for me. But if you are looking for solid, high quality caps, nothing beats genuine Nikon pinch caps.

2nd the Nikon caps- the pinch feature makes them pretty secure, and easy to work with lens hoods, etc.

 

[Lee L]

As a tangent on this topic, how does everyone feel about step-up rings? Is it worth going name brand over generic?

I have many, and prefer the Heliopan and B+W step-up and step-down rings because they are brass and don't bind nearly as easily as others. There's also a difference in flexing and binding between the Hoya, Tiffen, etc and the cheap no-name rings.

KEH will sell you all kinds and sizes of used stepping rings at good prices under /Filters/Adapter Rings. Like that 49 - 43.5 (or 49 - 43) step-down ring you've been looking for.

Lee

 

[Jeff Bannow]

I have many, and prefer the Heliopan and B+W step-up and step-down rings because they are brass and don't bind nearly as easily as others. There's also a difference in flexing and binding between the Hoya, Tiffen, etc and the cheap no-name rings.

KEH will sell you all kinds and sizes of used stepping rings at good prices under /Filters/Adapter Rings. Like that 49 - 43.5 (or 49 - 43) step-down ring you've been looking for.

Lee

Heliopan makes the 52mm - 77mm I need, which is nice (B+W doesn't). I plan to leave the adapter on the lens and use a 77mm cap over the top. I am concerned about binding issues, since I will be using filters with it a lot.

How have I gone this long without a 49mm to 43.5mm step-down ring? I should order 2!

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I'm also a fan of Heliopan or B+W for step rings.

I've been happy with inexpensive Chinese metal screw caps, which you can find on eBay, but they may not be ideal for lenses that have prominently convex front elements that could contact the inside surface of the cap. Not everyone likes screw caps, because they take longer to remove.

Nikon pinch caps are nicely made. Zeiss pinch caps can pinch from the center, so you can remove and attach them with a bayonet-mount or slip on lens shade in place.

 

[BrianL]

Stay away from those plastic stepup and stepdown rings. I bought 1 out of desperation and whenever I used it, I had a dickens of a time getting it off as it would deform when grabbed. Finally figured out to keep an elastic band on it to grip it with least deformity.

 

[BrianL]

In a pinch, use a plastic bag with an elastic or something like Saran Wrap. Beats no lens cap or lens back cap.

 

[bobwysiwyg]

Zeiss pinch caps can pinch from the center,

I used similar caps for a time. It's a personal flaw I know, but on occasion, I would forget if I had already removed and pocketed the cap or not. I would go "pinch" it to remove it, only to find it was already removed and now have finger prints on the front element. Now I only use the ones that pinch from the outer edge.

 

[Jeff Bannow]

Thanks everyone. APUG is indeed a fountain of knowledge.