Does anybody use the lens cap tethers/keepers?

[dsze]

...just curious because I'm always misplacing my lens caps or putting them into my pocket (where they get lint on them) or holding them in my mouth (where they get chapstick on them).... I saw the little stick-on cap-keepers with the elastic band yesterday at the photo-shop, but wasn't sure I wanted to pay $2 a piece for them... Are they a convenience or do they just get in the way?

-daniel

[alexd1983]

I have one on my kit lens. and I recently picked up the Canon 50mm 1.8 and Sigma 70 - 300 APO SMII. and I find myself putting the caps in my pockets and i just know they'll get lost eventually.

The cap keepers are good things. The glue they use for the sticky part isn't the greatest.. I re-glued (using superglue) the plastic bit to my cap... and it hasn't moved since :)

[photoguynorth]

I have one on all my lenses - I've never lost or broken a cap. Or gotten chapstick on one!

[KennyG]

They make you look too much like a tourist. :)

[robertwgross]

Instead of buying lens-tethers, I bought shirts that have pockets pre-installed on them.

---Bob Gross---

[Belmondo]

Instead of buying lens-tethers, I bought shirts that have pockets pre-installed on them.

---Bob Gross---

Spiffy! Can you patent that? :wink:

[dsze]

...theres an idea!! Pockets!! Why didn't I think of that? Oh wait, I did mention that in my original post.... pocket lint and stuff on the lens caps... remember that was 1/2 of my reason for asking about the cap-tethers... :wink:

-daniel

[robertwgross]

My shirts are laundered in an ordinary machine using ordinary methods, so I don't get lint in the pockets.

Cotton tends to produce a lot of lint. Synthetic fabrics to not.

---Bob Gross---

[dsze]

...good for you robert... maybe someday I'll learn to do laundry properly That or I'll just buy all synthetic clothes.... I don't think I asked for a lesson in fashion or clothing maintenence, but thanks for your sarcastic & useless input once again.

I was questioning the efficacy of these little lens cap devices for everyday use. You know... the times when I improperly launder my clothes and/or make the mistake of wearing cotton.... :wink:

-daniel

[dsze]

Oh crap... wait a second; I've done it again... I'm wasting my time wondering about things that don't really matter... Gosh darn it, you've busted me again Robert.

-

[ScottW]

If synthetics don't produce lint maybe we've just hit on a good reason to bring back polyester suits again. Disco anyone? :roll:

[Hogleg 44]

I just had a thought....(amazing!!!)
Why not put a soft velcro dot on the outside of each cap and attach an opposite piece to an appropriate place on your neckstrap, Or, make a small dongle of velcro and attach it somewhere to the strap or your belt, to hold the cap????
I have already put a label on each cap and hood with the name of the lens it fits so I can quickly put it back where it belongs! One more thing stuck to it won't make it look any goofier!

[dsze]

Heck yeah! I'm all about standing out in the crowd when I'm trying to shoot. My love for disco aside, I have to say that I'm rather fond of wearing cotton, so maybe the tethers are my only option... besides learning to properly launder my clothing I guess.... :D

-the velcro thing dongle is an idea... but not sure I want to mess with glueing a velcro dongle to my neckstap... dongle is a good word by the way.. :D

-daniel

[Belmondo]

Oh crap... wait a second; I've done it again... I'm wasting my time wondering about things that don't really matter... Gosh darn it, you've busted me again Robert.

-

What we have here, ladies and gentlemen, is a textbook example of acerbic wit being reacted to with edgy, but good-natured sarcasm.
Read it. Study it. Learn it. :? :wink:

[s00pcan]

When I was buying a lens cap today they asked me if I wanted a keeper and I didn't know what it was.

[ohenry]

Oh crap... wait a second; I've done it again... I'm wasting my time wondering about things that don't really matter... Gosh darn it, you've busted me again Robert.

-

What we have here, ladies and gentlemen, is a textbook example of acerbic wit being reacted to with edgy, but good-natured sarcasm.
Read it. Study it. Learn it. :? :wink:

I think I fell asleep during the lecture...anyone have good notes?

[vfilby]

I just had a thought....(amazing!!!)
Why not put a soft velcro dot on the outside of each cap and attach an opposite piece to an appropriate place on your neckstrap, Or, make a small dongle of velcro and attach it somewhere to the strap or your belt, to hold the cap????
I have already put a label on each cap and hood with the name of the lens it fits so I can quickly put it back where it belongs! One more thing stuck to it won't make it look any goofier!

I was thinking the same things as I was reading this thread. Things that dangle around the the lens like keepers and even the neck strap, constantly get in the way and dangle in fron of the lens. I usually pocket them or toss them in the camera bag but I way change that habit.

[vfilby]

Ohh! I just had another idea, if you don't want velcro glued onto the lens cap maybe you could tried rubbing it against your head vigorously and hope that the static will make it stick to whatever you are trying to stick it to.

At least you won't look like a tourist!

[robertwgross]

Another lens cap trick is this one.

Do any of you find yourself shooting in near-black darkness?

Did you ever stare through the camera viewfinder, searching and searching for the subject, to no avail? Then you happen to notice that the lens cap is still on. That explains why things were so dark.

After that happened to me one too many times, I glued some strips of luminescent tape on the inside of the lens cap. Luminescent tape is the kind that glows yellow-green in complete darkness. Some military surplus stores sell it.

So, when I stare through the viewfinder and all I see is yellow-green, then I know it is time to remove the lens cap.

---Bob Gross---

[vfilby]

.. and now you can find your lens caps in the dark at 2am when you are trying to sneak out of the house to do some night photography and you don't want to incur the wrath of a significant other by turning the lights on.

[Conk]

Robert got me thinking of a cool trick. Place a small mirror inside the lens cap. :lol:
BTW, I do use the tether now. Not because I'd lose it or like Robert, forget to take it off but I keep forgetting the most important, putting it back on.

[vfilby]

Robert got me thinking of a cool trick. Place a small mirror inside the lens cap. :lol:

Out of idle curiosity why would that be cool? There would be no light entering from the lens, and I assume that no light would be entering through the viewfinder. Wouldn't the picture be black?

Or are you taking a picture of the world through the view finder?

[robertwgross]

Wouldn't the picture be black?

Ahh, that vfilby, master of the obvious!

---Bob Gross---

[ron chappel]

I've used lens keepers on occasions when they come allready attached to a 2nd hand lens.
All in all they are ok but i didn't find them a great benifit.

Probably because i have a system of working where i have spare compartments in the camera bag for each lens so that i can just drop each lens in without caps when i'm in a hurry
Once i have finnished the shoot i then put caps on all the lenses i've used

The only risk i have found is some dust gathering on the glass

[dsze]

.....acerbic wit eh Belmondo? Hmm.... I don't know about any acidic temperment here, but I'm shutting down and heading out right now to go buy some flouro-green tape for the inside of my lens cap! ALas! No, more having to use my imagination because all of my photos are black!

-daniel

[dsze]

Thanks Ron... I have a similar system worked out in my big-bag, but I find that it doesn't always work because I don't always take the big bag...I'll leave it in the car and pocket or small-bag a couple lenses and walk... like you though, I'm not sure I'm going to like the dangling lens cap with the tether... I'll give it a shot for a few days and chuck up the $2 for a piece of elastic and double-stick tape. :)

-daniel

[dsze]

Oh Ron...I forgot to ask. Are you Australian or just living in QLD? I lived in Sydney for a while and attended UNSW.... great uni... I loved my architecture classes there.... easily blew away any class I've taken at the university level in the USA... Have you ever shot architecture in Sydney? Sorry for getting off of my own topic... you can PM me if youd rather.

-daniel

[robertwgross]

.....acerbic wit eh Belmondo? Hmm.... I don't know about any acidic temperment here ...

It was acerbic, not acidic. Otherwise, we'll all get down to base facts.

---Bob Gross---

[Belmondo]

Enough, please.

[dsze]

You're right robert... it was acerbic....

Main Entry: acer·bic
Pronunciation: &-'s&r-bik, a-
Function: adjective
: acid in temper, mood, or tone
- acer·bi·cal·ly /-bi-k(&-)lE/ adverb

-daniel

...sorry... I will leave it alone now. But a definition is a definition..

[JohnEBongo]

I solved the problem by just not using my lens caps. I have UV filters protecting all of my lenses so I don't see the need for hassling with lens caps all the time.

[Belmondo]

I usually put the lens cap in my pocket (lint and all) and leave it there until I'm putting the camera away. I also use UV filters and don't worry about anything getting to the expensive optics. A little airborne dust is usually my only problem.

BTW, I purchased a couple extra lens caps in the three main sizes I carry (77, 72, & 58mm) just in case I actually do lose one. They're not expensive, and I don't like to store the camera without one, even though all I'm protecting is the filter. Since buying them, I've never lost one. Pockets really are pretty handy.

[dsze]

Yeah, mine typically slide into my back pocket. I too, use UV filters and so I don' t worry too much, but still I don' t want a bunch of stuff on my UV filter either... I realize they can be replaced for $20, but thats $20 that can be spent elsewhere if I can avoid scratching them up. :) I like spending money on new things, rather than replacing things :wink:

Anyway, thank you everyone for all of the advice... I guess its a mixed bag and I'll just have to try it for myself...

-daniel

[Conk]

Robert got me thinking of a cool trick. Place a small mirror inside the lens cap. :lol:

Out of idle curiosity why would that be cool? There would be no light entering from the lens, and I assume that no light would be entering through the viewfinder. Wouldn't the picture be black?

Or are you taking a picture of the world through the view finder?

Humor me will ya! Geez.:roll:

[vfilby]

'Twas completely lost on me Conk, I thought that you were being serious....

"Really? I would have never guessed that the word gullible is not in the dictionary." ;-)

[Lamplight]

I usually just shove the cap in my front pocket. If I can ever afford a 400mm prime lens, this may become uncomfortable. :?

[PacAce]

Instead of buying lens-tethers, I bought shirts that have pockets pre-installed on them.

---Bob Gross---

I bought a vest instead. It's got lots of pockets for keeping your equipment and stuff in. Now my problem is trying to remember which darn pocket I put the lens cap in. :shock:
:mrgreen:

[vfilby]

I usually just shove the cap in my front pocket. If I can ever afford a 400mm prime lens, this may become uncomfortable. :?

"Excuse me is that a lens cap in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?"

[PacAce]

Another lens cap trick is this one.

Do any of you find yourself shooting in near-black darkness?

Did you ever stare through the camera viewfinder, searching and searching for the subject, to no avail? Then you happen to notice that the lens cap is still on. That explains why things were so dark.

After that happened to me one too many times, I glued some strips of luminescent tape on the inside of the lens cap. Luminescent tape is the kind that glows yellow-green in complete darkness. Some military surplus stores sell it.

So, when I stare through the viewfinder and all I see is yellow-green, then I know it is time to remove the lens cap.

---Bob Gross---

Naw, that wouldn't work for me. At my age I'll likely forget that I put the glow-in-the-dark tape. Next thing I know, I'll see a strangely glowing UFO of sort in my viewfinder and start shooting away a zillion frames with the hope that at least one of them should come out well enough to id the mysterious object.

:lol:

[PacAce]

On the serious side (as if that can ever happen :) ) I used to use a cap tether during my younger days and I soon discovered that the glue that held the tether to the cap, over time, turned gooey and eventually detached itself from the caps. And worse, the now softened glue ended up sticking on everything the tether end came in contact with, mostly the camera body. :(

So I next I drilled a little hole in the cap (a new caps) and strung the tether through the hole and knotted the end. That worked for a while until the tehter worked its way out of the hole.

Two lens caps later I opted to just stick the cap in my back pocket and I've been doing it ever since. :)

[jgbeam]

I use the tether on my G3 because the lens pushes the cap off when you turn the camera on. The first day I used it (without the tether) I was walking around in grass and didn't hear the cap drop. Took me an hour to find it. Since I have never seen a pro use a tether, I wouldn't think of putting one on my Mk II. :lol:

Jim

[DocFrankenstein]

This is such a funny thread. Esp the first page. :lol:

I don't quite get it... What's the problem with lint? It's softer than any element your outer lens may have and in all probability it won't even touch the glass. It's not like the uv filter/front element gets charged and attracts dust.

And even if does get on the front element, get a blower. There's gonna be no damage.

[dsze]

Yeah, I'm not worried about lint damage... still I don't necessarily want in on my UV filter...even though it never becomes charged and attracts dust... it does still stick on there sometimes..

Anyway, it is a funny thread... :)

-daniel

[Kabz]

I don't know how to use the damn thing!
help!

[dsze]

....how to use what thing?

[Kabz]

the lens holder on the strap?

:oops:

[dsze]

There's a lens holder on the strap?? :wink:

Are you talking about the little rubber piece on the drebel strap that is for covering the viewfinder?

-daniel

[Kabz]

covering the viewfinder?
Now I'm even more confused haha......

[vfilby]

On the strap of the 300D you will find a little black piece of rubber. you can use this rubber to block stray light from entering into the camera through the view finder window. You can put it on by removing the normal eye piece and sliding the cover in its place.

You will find all of this in the users manual.

Cheers,

[Tomsk]

On the strap of the 300D you will find a little black piece of rubber. you can use this rubber to block stray light from entering into the camera through the view finder window. You can put it on by removing the normal eye piece and sliding the cover in its place.

You will find all of this in the users manual.

Cheers,

Where do I put the eye piece?

Starts googling for 'eye piece keeper' :P

[vfilby]

Where do I put the eye piece?

Starts googling for 'eye piece keeper' :P

Actually I think you can buy special eye-piece tethers :D :D

Cheers,

[G2Jim]

This is the funniest thread I've read in a long time. Thanks for the laugh! :D

[KennyG]

Tethered caps remind me of those sixties medalions worn by tanned, hairy chested. shirt open to the waist actors on old TV series with bad dialog.

Sort of the Huggy Bear accessory for your Canon.

[dn7elson]

Sort of the Huggy Bear accessory for your Canon.

ROFL :lol: :shock: :lol:

[Kabz]

ok......figured it out.....haha

but I don't understand how the hell it affects exposure??