Is YOUR Cap Tethered? (Page 2): I know, Steve ... they can be annoying ... especially, when you decide to shoot something at your feet .... But, overall ... they're a good way to keep...

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

steve DeMott wrote:

Tried a tether that hung off the lens. Drove me crazy with it flapping around. I generally take the lens cap off when I go shooting and put it in my pocket. I don't replace it until I'm done shooting.

I know, Steve ... they can be annoying ... especially, when you decide to shoot something at your feet ....

But, overall ... they're a good way to keep track of your cap, and very rarely do they invite anything foreign ... unlike pockets ...

And, hey ... most of these things can be added on to your lens purchase for a buck ... and some even give 'em away free!!!!

Fotomacher Loc: Toronto

Chris T wrote:

If so, do you use the kind that goes around the lens, or the kind that's attached to a strap lug on your body? ...

If you don't use either kind ... what do you DO with your cap, when you're shooting?

Tethers are goofy looking, the cap flops around and gets in the way. I used one for 10 minutes 40 years ago. Caps can go in a pocket, in a camera bag, in the hand of your assistant (unless she is also shooting like mine is). And I bought some spare caps on eBay for less than 2 bucks each and keep them in my bag in case I lose a cap. Most of my glass is 77mm and 3 primes are 52mm.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Chris T wrote:

If so, do you use the kind that goes around the lens, or the kind that's attached to a strap lug on your body? ...

If you don't use either kind ... what do you DO with your cap, when you're shooting?

I put it in my pocket. I have extra ones in my bag, just in case, for three of the most popular sizes 62mm, 67mm and 72mm but after 10 years I've never lost a cap yet. I've always thought tethered caps get in the way and look kind of silly and amateurish.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Flyerace wrote:

I take it off and put it in a pocket. Before I put it back on, I blow on it to make sure there isn't anything riding along for fun.

Better make sure it's a dry blow, Ace ... else you have saliva just looking to make an unpleasant landing ....

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Fotomacher wrote:

Tethers are goofy looking, the cap flops around and gets in the way. I used one for 10 minutes 40 years ago. Caps can go in a pocket, in a camera bag, in the hand of your assistant (unless she is also shooting like mine is). And I bought some spare caps on eBay for less than 2 bucks each and keep them in my bag in case I lose a cap. Most of my glass is 77mm and 3 primes are 52mm.

Yeah, but I'd rather have a goofy-looking tethered cap, than a missing one ....

2 bucks a pop, huh, Macher?

Is this your bare essentials type, or the kind with the double-pinch center indents?

I wonder what they get for those Sony ones - with the big round orange letter "a" on them ...

I'll bet you can't buy THOSE for two bucks a pop!!!!

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Chris T wrote:

I know, Steve ... they can be annoying ... especially, when you decide to shoot something at your feet ....

But, overall ... they're a good way to keep track of your cap, and very rarely do they invite anything foreign ... unlike pockets ...

And, hey ... most of these things can be added on to your lens purchase for a buck ... and some even give 'em away free!!!!

Why do you think a cap swinging in the air will somehow be cleaner than one in your pocket? What do you keep in your pockets anyway? I put my caps in the same pocket I put a clean handkerchief. They come out as clean as they went in. Forget a buck, or even free, I wouldn't use an attachment device even if they paid me to use it.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

NoSocks wrote:

Put it in a back pocket and when I lose one, I use a spare.

Lint has also been known to form in a back pocket, No Socks ...

Hey, here's an idea, for you, No Socks ...

I suppose you could always hold it between your toes, huh?

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Chris T wrote:

Yeah, but I'd rather have a goofy-looking tethered cap, than a missing one ....

2 bucks a pop, huh, Macher?

Is this your bare essentials type, or the kind with the double-pinch center indents?

I wonder what they get for those Sony ones - with the big round orange letter "a" on them ...

I'll bet you can't buy THOSE for two bucks a pop!!!!

Canon's latest pinch lens caps cost around $6 to $12 each depending on size. I have at least 2 spares for every size lens I have. However, in 10 years I have never lost a lens cap but have the spares "just in case". I'll happily spend the money for a replacement before using a goofy looking and inconvenient tether.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

mwsilvers wrote:

Why do you think a cap swinging in the air will somehow be cleaner than one in your pocket? What do you keep in your pockets anyway? I put my caps in the same pocket I put a clean handkerchief. They come out as clean as they went in. Forget a buck, or even free, I wouldn't use an attachment device even if they paid me to use it.

It's logistics, MW ...

The chance of a cap swinging in the air, catching something in the process ...

Is much, much, much less - than the chance it will catch something, shoved into a pocket ....

And once it does, it transfers all foreign matter to that which it protects ....

So - give me a hanger, any day ... than that which is an unknown entity ....

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

mwsilvers wrote:

Canon's latest pinch lens caps cost around $6 to $12 each depending on size. I have at least 2 spares for every size lens I have. However, in 10 years I have never lost a lens cap but have the spares "just in case". I'll happily spend the money for a replacement before using a goofy looking and inconvenient tether.

It's only inconvenient when you want to shoot something at your feet .... and how often do you do that?

As far as it being Goofy-looking ... who cares?

Mickey Mouse? ... or, Donald Duck?

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Chris T wrote:

Lint has also been known to form in a back pocket, No Socks ...

Hey, here's an idea, for you, No Socks ...

I suppose you could always hold it between your toes, huh?

Lint has been know to form? You've go to be kidding right? I have NEVER transmitted pocket lint to a lens, EVER!!!. Now, I do not store my lens caps in my wool socks, but that's just me. I've heard of people using tethers because they drop or misplace things and are fearful of losing a lens cap, but I believe this is the first time anyone has suggested that it's use could prevent the accumulation of pocket lint on a lens front element. Thanks. That was the funniest thing I've heard all day.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Chris T wrote:

It's only convenient when you want to shoot something at your feet .... and how often do you do that?

As far as it being Goofy-looking ... who cares?

Mickey Mouse?

If they served any useful purpose I might agree, but unless you are careless or clumsy and easily drop or lose things, they just get in the way. And yes, I would prefer not to look goofy.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

mwsilvers wrote:

Lint has been know to form? You've go to be kidding right? I have NEVER transmitted pocket lint to a lens, EVER!!!. Now, I do not store my lens caps in my wool socks, but that's just me. I've heard of people using tethers because they drop or misplace things and are fearful of losing a lens cap, but I believe this is the first time anyone has suggested that it's use could prevent the accumulation of pocket lint on a lens front element. Thanks. That was the funniest thing I've heard all day.

Well, MW ... I'm so glad I found something to amuse you ...

But, strange as it may seem ... just such occurrences HAVE happened ....

BTW ... I wouldn't store lens caps in a sock, either ... but, since NO Socks doesn't use them, apparently ... I suggested he might hold the cap between his toes ...

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Chris T wrote:

It's logistics, MW ...

The chance of a cap swinging in the air, catching something in the process ...

Is much, much, much less - than the chance it will catch something, shoved into a pocket ....

And once it does, it transfers all foreign matter to that which it protects ....

So - give me a hanger, any day ... than that which is an unknown entity ....

Do you think I keep gravel, sand, grit or peanut butter in my pockets? I have never seen accumulated lint or anything else on a lens cap in any pocket of my pants. Perhaps you need to buy better pants or speak to the person who does your laundry.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

mwsilvers wrote:

If they served any useful purpose I might agree, but unless you are careless or clumsy and easily drop or lose things, they just get in the way. And yes, I would prefer not to look goofy.

No, I'm not careless OR clumsy ... but, I have been known to drop a lens cap or two ....

And the tethered arrangement (a buck each) has saved me from having to order new lens caps - at anything up to $25 apiece ....

So, as I say ... with that kind of savings .... who cares about looking Goofy?

Not me .... no, Sirreee, Bob ....