What do you do with your lens cap when shooting?

[Groucho]

This seems to be a bit of an issue for SLRs... those darn lens caps! I used to always just jam it in my pocket and hope that I could find it easily if I wanted to switch lenses quickly... and occasionally it'd go missing (fortunately never permanently.)

I figured that there had to be a better way, and a few weeks ago, I took a little bit of self-advesive velcro and stuck the "loop" (soft) side onto the left side of the camera, in a spot where it'd never be in my way, and the "hook" (scratchy) side on the middle of the lens cap, with a piece for each of the lenses.

So far, it works great and I hadn't had any problems with it falling off or going missing. The black loop piece of velcro blends into the black camera so you wouldn't notice it if you weren't looking for it. I had thought about using magnets but I was concerned about them possibly affecting something inside the camera (probably not, but I wasn't 100% sure), plus it'd be more easy for one to be knocked off accidentally than with the velcro.

Surely others have come up with similar solutions? Is there some obvious "perfect" solution that I've overlooked?

 

[FishFlavoredSoda]

Anytime I know I'm gonna lug around my SLR, I make sure to wear a shirt with a front breast pocket. This is much better than shoving it in my pants pocket. I don't have to remove it everytime I wanna sit, which ends up in misplacement. With the breast pocket, it's always there, and very easy to reach for. Or if it's summer time, I buy those shorts that have like 80 pockets all over. Those are great photography gear carriers

 

[jann1033]

i put it in my pocket since anyplace else i seem to have to hunt for it...the velcro might be good though since occasionally i wear pocketless pants and then have to put it in the case ( why does it seem most cases are black inside and impossible to find black lens caps, etc in)

i know you can get little lens cap cord attachers ( not the technical name ) for about 2 bucks on some online camera shops but just never wanted to pay $5 to ship in and never think of it when i order something else

 

[Anewman]

Cargo shorts.

 

[mabas9395]

Lose it.

 

[Charade]

Lens cap? LENS CAP? We don't need no stinkin' lens cap!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I used to use a lens leash. It's a little string that holds the lens cap while you are shooting. I got to where I hated having it dangle.

Now I just shove it in my pocket. I ususally use a lens hood and leave the cap off for long periods at a time.

Another nice thing is that most of my lenses have the same diameter, so I carry one extra lens cap that can be used if I loose the cap to any of my three mostly commonly used lenses.

 

[0bli0]

if i'm anywhere but home, the lens cap is generally removed by my left hand and put in back left pocket.

i seem to have this annoying habit - at home - of putting a lenscap down on something (desk, counter, ironing board, etc.). later, i wonder where the heck i put it.

 

[handicap18]

I use a lens leash. I have one on all my lenses. Take the lens cap off and it just hangs from the lens. Been using them for 15+ years. It doesn't bother me that it dangles. Sure it occassionally gets in the way, but nothings perfect. They do work great for a $2 item.

 

[TomPokNY]

I use a lens leash, too. The dangling lens cap doesn't bother me. More importantly, my caps seem to pop off unexpectedly, and the leash has kept me from losing a cap several times now.

 

[mhutchinson]

if i'm anywhere but home, the lens cap is generally removed by my left hand and put in back left pocket.

Last time I did that I sat on it, seriously. Now I either leash it and let it dangle or just leave it in the camera bag for when I put the camera away.

Mike

 

[Groucho]

My two point-n-shoot digital cameras (6x zoom and 12x zoom) had a tethered lens cap and it was OK most of the time but occasionally annoying.

I got motivated to do the velcro after the lens cap went missing after I'd had the camera for a week or two... my wife had used it and it turned up between two couch cushions. And I thought the couch only ate remote controls!

I'm very good at putting things down and forgetting where I put them. (I think we've all lost wallets, keys, etc this way.) Even with pockets, if you're wearing a jacket, it could be in any number of pockets and somehow I never remember which pocket is which.

Possibly the best solution is a combination lens leash and velcro - that way, you know it's securely tethered, and it's not dangling all over the place (very annoying when pointing downwards!)

 

[jann1033]

the leash would also help not not drop it on removal which i did 2 times on the beach= sand i had to clean out of every nook and cranny so i didn't get it on my lens or filter

 

[allyn]

i never use a lens cap. i have a uv filter over the lens and i usually keep the hood on.

 

[0bli0]

my lens caps are generally 77mm, 86mm, and 105mm. sitting on them is not an issue. although most of the time if the lens cap is off, i'm either running, kneeling, or standing/walking. i do put the ones from my smaller primes in my front pocket or vest.
i've tried leashes in the past and they're too much hassle with hoods and my shooting style.

 

[WillCAD]

I leave my lens cap in my camera bag, and my camera bag in the room.

A camera is useless if it is not accessible when you need to take a shot, and it is inaccessible if it is in a bag, has a lens cap on, or is sitting in your hotel room. That's why I carry my camera with me all day at the parks, on a strap, with no bag, and leave the lens cap back in the room.

 

[iluvmickeytown]

I stick mine in the top of my bra , I seem to never have pockets and I can feel it there so I dont forget it.

 

[Groucho]

That might work for my wife but probably not for me.

Maybe someone'll come out with a camera bra for men (camera manssiere? camera bro?), it couldn't be any dorkier-looking that some stuff they sell.

I have met a woman who keeps her cell phone in her bra... obviously recently, not one of those giant '80s cell phones that were the size of a brick.

 

[WillCAD]

That might work for my wife but probably not for me.

Maybe someone'll come out with a camera bra for men (camera manssiere? camera bro?), it couldn't be any dorkier-looking that some stuff they sell.

I have met a woman who keeps her cell phone in her bra... obviously recently, not one of those giant '80s cell phones that were the size of a brick.

Well, that would depend on the lady, wouldn't it?

 

[iluvmickeytown]