Fidgety Lens Cap: Using a Nikkor 18-200, 3.5-5.6 G ED DX on my D7K and the lens cap simply won't stay on. No matter how I twist it, push it, fiddle with it, its still loose. Once it...

DharmaDude Loc: San Mateo, CA

Using a Nikkor 18-200, 3.5-5.6 G ED DX on my D7K and the lens cap simply won't stay on. No matter how I twist it, push it, fiddle with it, its still loose. Once it fell off and I heard it hit the ground!! In your professional opinions is this lens cap broken, or is my amateur derriere missing something??

VA7RS Loc: BC Canada

Do any other of your lens caps fit better?? If so then it is probably that one lens cap. If not, put a UV or CP filter on the lens. Hopefully that will tel you whether it's the cap or the lens.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

DharmaDude wrote:

Using a Nikkor 18-200, 3.5-5.6 G ED DX on my D7K and the lens cap simply won't stay on. No matter how I twist it, push it, fiddle with it, its still loose. Once it fell off and I heard it hit the ground!! In your professional opinions is this lens cap broken, or is my amateur derriere missing something??

eBay has inexpensive caps. I've bought a few, and they were fine. For something as lose-able as a lens cap, less expensive is better.

RocketScientist Loc: Littleton, Colorado

I have real good luck with these:
http://www.amazon.com/Vivitar-SC-62-VIVITAR-CAMLEN-Snap-/dp/B002DH5648/
Get it in the right size.

I had a filter that hit the ground and was not quite round anymore, that caused a good lens cap to not stay on very well.

DharmaDude Loc: San Mateo, CA

VA7RS
Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately I only have one lens right now and no filters so can't test at this point. I've examined the lens cap very carefully in bright light but can't see any defects. Its just loose and with just a slight pressure from a finger pops right off. I think i'll take the advice of another post and just buy a new one. Love this site, always get great info and read it everyday. Have learned a lot from others already. Thanks.....

DharmaDude Loc: San Mateo, CA

RocketScientist,
Thanks for the post. I will take your advice and just get a new one, for less then $10 surely can't miss. Its plastic so can't distort from droping but may be slightly worn where the naked eye can't see. Like I said earlier, I've examined it very closly and can't see an flaws but that doesn't mean there isn't any. A new one will surely answer my problem. When I look at the front of the lens there really isn't anything for a lens cap to bite on other then some very fine threads.. My thought was maybe its just a Nikon characteristic, loose lens caps. Thanks for taking the time to post

ggttc Loc: TN

Just got a 67mm lens cap for my canon sx50 on ebay for $3.49 and free shipping

RocketScientist Loc: Littleton, Colorado

DharmaDude wrote:

RocketScientist, br Thanks for the post. I will t... (show quote)

Are you putting the cap on the lens? or on a filter that is mounted on the lens? I know some filters are designed to be very thin so they don't cause vignetting. That would lead to not having much thread for the cap to bite on.

Edit - I should have read the previous post. You say you don't have a filter..

Walk into a real camera store. They will be a real good source of hands on advice and probably have a decent lens cap if that is what is needed.

DharmaDude Loc: San Mateo, CA

Thanks again RocketScientist,
I have already been looking on-line for a Nikon replacement lens cap. The real thing is only a few bucks more so may as well go for the real deal. I agree, there is only a very small lip for a lens cap to grab onto. If the tabs are worn at all or the spring is just a little weak, I can see the lens cap not staying put. There is a 'real' Nikon store close to me and I'm going to take my lens over to them for a little look-see. Good folks that will talk to you without asking for a consultation fee. Thanks again for the post.....

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

DharmaDude wrote:

Using a Nikkor 18-200, 3.5-5.6 G ED DX on my D7K and the lens cap simply won't stay on. No matter how I twist it, push it, fiddle with it, its still loose. Once it fell off and I heard it hit the ground!! In your professional opinions is this lens cap broken, or is my amateur derriere missing something??

About a week ago, someone posted a picture of a cap that attaches to the lens and flips up out of the way.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

DharmaDude wrote:

Using a Nikkor 18-200, 3.5-5.6 G ED DX on my D7K and the lens cap simply won't stay on. No matter how I twist it, push it, fiddle with it, its still loose. Once it fell off and I heard it hit the ground!! In your professional opinions is this lens cap broken, or is my amateur derriere missing something??

Is it a real Nikon cap or is the Nikon logo missing? if it's missing then it's probably an eBay cap already and the eBay caps I tried were loose fitting. If it's a Nikon cap, then just look closely at the plastic parts inside and look for chipping or broken plastic. If you see any damage just order a new one from Nikon. Be warned, I was looking at them just the other day and they were about $18.

grahamclarence

My Nikon 18-200 is has these same issues, so I look forward to seeing if you find a solution.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

DharmaDude wrote:

Using a Nikkor 18-200, 3.5-5.6 G ED DX on my D7K and the lens cap simply won't stay on. No matter how I twist it, push it, fiddle with it, its still loose. Once it fell off and I heard it hit the ground!! In your professional opinions is this lens cap broken, or is my amateur derriere missing something??

Dude, lens caps are made to be lost. You're not actually a real photographer until you've lost at least a dozen. You have to be extraordinarily talented to not loose them. I'm not very talented at all, so I gave up years ago. I buy cheap, used filters from KEH, for as low as a dollar and use them for caps. Since they screw on I loose them less often, but still loose them. I screw them on like two turns. And some of us rank amatuers sometimes accidentally press the shutter button with the lens cap on, then have to wait the obligatory 30 seconds for the camera to reset. With a filter cap you won't have to wait! I don't use filters when I shoot, but you can screw them onto a filter also. In a pinch you can shoot through them. Really big lenses don't even have filters or lens caps.

Anyway Dude, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Hope you find that elusive answer. I hope the answer exists

The Roving Viking Loc: Creston, British Columbia

Many years ago (actually 50 - Oh my. . . really?) a professional photographer gave me advice I never regretted. He told me to throw the front lens cap far away and get myself a good UV filter to protect the front element. No time lost in fiddling to remove it for a quick capture.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

The Roving Viking wrote:

Many years ago (actually 50 - Oh my. . . really?) a professional photographer gave me advice I never regretted. He told me to throw the front lens cap far away and get myself a good UV filter to protect the front element. No time lost in fiddling to remove it for a quick capture.

I use both, and I'm looking for a protective cover for the lens cap to keep it from getting scratched. (Only kidding about that.) I figure the $5.00 cap is protecting the $50 filter which is protecting much more expensive lens.