A lens cap is a highly useful piece of equipment. The lens cap serves as a protective measure against scratches and bumps that can occur on the camera lens when it is not in use. A cap also serves to protect from dirt and fingerprints. It is all too easy for such scratches to occur when proper maintenance is not used, and cameras are thrown into bags without protection for instance.
This is obviously a difficulty for photographers who want to protect themselves. It is therefore desirable that a cap is used as the camera lens is often the most expensive component of the camera and any minor damage will drastically reduce performance. Lens caps come as standard with most cameras and lenses.
Very often the lens cap is a neglected accessory despite its usefulness. There are reports of photographers at major events littering lens caps due to their low value. This is typically because they are seen as a cheap item to professionals. For many, lens caps are simply misplaced or lost as they are not a desirable item.
However, this attitude can lead to damage which for the common enthusiast can be highly expensive. For the serious photographer, the lens cap should be respected as it is a surefire way to avoid any mistakes or issues that can happen all too easily to even the most careful of camera enthusiasts.
Typical lens caps are plastic branded covers which clip over the lens and provide adequate protection. A more advanced solution comes from screw in metal lens caps. These are more difficult to ‘pop off’ which is a great advantage as it prevents any accidents. This also means it is more laborious to take off, which may be inconvenient for some despite the major benefit of it being stronger than comparable plastic caps.
An affordable alternative comes in the form of a silicon lens cap. This is less heavy than the hard plastic and metal caps and should provide adequate protection against general bumps and scrapes. It is highly recommended for photographers who neglect to use the bundled caps that come with lenses, or for those who buy second hand lenses that may not come with a cap.
It may even be the case that the camera you own has an automatic lens cap that is controlled by the camera. When you power it on, plastic blades will open to expose the lens. This system is common in compact cameras but it offers little protection from damage in comparison to metal alternatives.
Here are a pick of the lens caps on the market, showcasing a variety of the options available.
