Center Pinch Lens Cap Leaving Smudge on Lens

I bought an off brand center pinch lens cap and then later bought a Canon center pinch lens cap for my EF 24-105L and have noticed that they both leave a smudge on the center of the lens. I have compared the 77 mm cap to other caps, 67 & 58 mm, and the center portion of the 77 mm cap seems to be flush with the gripping edges of the cap allowing it to touch the lens but the other caps seem to have a more recessed center. I hope that description makes sense.

Has anyone else noticed this? I saved the cap that came with the lens so I will revert to the old style cap.

I have the center pinch caps on my 70-200 and my 85, neither of which touch. I did think the clearance on the 85 looked pretty close when I got it, but closer inspection it doesn't look like its touching. I looked at my caps though, and it looks like the center part is recessed into the cap a little, and then the tabs that grip the inside of the filter ring stick out further than the cap, providing clearance. I don't think I would want to use them if they were rubbing though, sorry to hear

I have Canon pinch caps on the 40 pancake, 24-105, and the 100-400 V2. As far as I can tell none of them come close to touching the lens. Are you sure the mark isn't residual from the 3rd party cap?

I have Canon pinch caps on my 50mm f1.8, 85mm f1.8 and the 17-40mm f4. I think it's 52, 58 and 77mm. I have no issues with any of them. In fact, the Sigma will get the same cap when I get round to it.

bummer. I actually noticed a week or so ago that the lens/filter thread seems to be shallow on that lens.

wonder if a small step up ring would work and still let you put on the hood?

that or one could take a cheap UV/other filter in 77mm and remove the glass, then thread it on and put the cap on that (a spacer, basically). That wouldn't interfere with the hood, but may add some vignetting at the wide end if another filter were ever used on top of it.

Maybe that's what you meant by a step up ring, though in my head a step up means it is going to the next filter thread diameter, so a different cap would be needed as well.