E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Hi Folks!

Recently there has been a thread about theatherd lens caps, that is, those lens caps on a string that attaches it to the camera body or strap so that photographers never misplace their lens caps. There were over 150 posts- pro and con as to the usage of theses accessories accompanied by some typical rude references and some name calling etc. Of course many similar threads frequently occur, here on the Hog, pertaining to filters. post processing and so many other "controversial" matters- pro and con. Some of them do get pretty intense but why LENS CAPS! So allow me to give you brief "history" of lens caps and other lens accessories so that the younger folks will understand where all of this "anti this and that" stems from.

Back in the film era there were many silly jokes about photographers accidently shooting with the lens caps on or with no film in their cameras. It was not so silly in that many professional, press, sports and wedding photographers shot with large format RANGEFINDER cameras where focusing was accomplished with the use of a coupled rangefinder or guestomated via a footage scale. Composition was determined in a separate optical viewfinder or a sports or "wire" finder. It was very possible, especially in hurried circumstances, to begin shooting with a lens cap, filter or close up diopter filter accidentally left in place. There was NO reflex focusing or electronic image. You couldn't see through the lens unless you opened the shutter to the Bulb or Time setting, erected the hood at the back of the camera and viewed through the ground glass. This, of course was not practical or possible in fast hand held shooting scenarios.

Murphy's law was not "invented" as yet when I started out in photography. Dr. Murphy was an aerospace scientist with NASA who based his observations on the probability of making erroneous electrical connections and it was latter distilled to "Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong! So...my first mentors, trainers, bosses and employers knew this concept way before the space age and trained us accordingly in the foolproof use of press cameras. On the purchase of a new camer, the lens caps were immediately tossed in the garbage, never again to be seen! Filters, close up lenses etc. were NEVER used on location gear for wedding, press assignments and such. Herein are the early root of the aint- cap and filter sects and cults! Besides, in the throws of a quickly moving event, there was no time to fiddle with any superfluous accessories. Theses cameras give new meaning to the word "MANUAL" - you needed to pull film holders in and out of the camera, focus, compose in separate finders, adjust the optical or sportsfinder for parallax, set the exposure, cock the shutter and SHOOT- sometimes, all within seconds! When I first started, we also had to insert and eject flash bulbs for each shot!

More paranoia! Prees cameras were never-ever to be collapsed or folded away for fear that upon reopening the front standard would no be placed firmly against the INFINITY STOPS on the rails. Since flash lamps were being phased out the "M" dealy on shutters were removed or the switches screwed down in the "X" (strobe) position as was the front standard to the infinity stops. Repair folks could earn a living just screwing things down or routinely yanking "M" dealy and self times gear trains out of shutters- it was like precursive or preemptive tonsillectomies!

Film management procedures were big-time issues! Film holders was loaded and unloaded with religious ritual-like precision and routine! If the color coding on the dark slides were not carefully observed and empty holders were not properly isolated, a photgraher could possibly go out on an assignment with no film in the camera. Accidental double exposures always loomed. What's more, a sheet of film coud escape from an improperly loaded holder and pop into the bellows thereby cutting off the light path.

The reverend and iconic SPEED GRAPHIC of legend, myth and story was oftentimes unceremoniously desecrated and maimed before they was pressed into service. Since the front, full sync leaf shutters were preferred , the rear focal plane shutter was ripped out to make certain that it would not accidentally close down during an assignment. My first boss told me not to cringe- it was like altering a cat or christening a newborn!

The lens cap was the tip of the paranoiac iceberg but it became symbolic of lost images and careless technique.

Basically, their ain't nothin' wrong with lens caps with or without strings, that is if you are a gentle and perhaps casual photographer who works slowly and carefully and is never in a rush. Personally, I don't want anything that is unnecessary for the cameras efficient hanging off my handheld rigs. I don't want anything that can accidentally get in front of the lens, become tangled up with othere vital cords or cables and foul up the works in split-second scenarios. Even in the portrait or on a fashion shoot, oftentimes fast, efficient and unencumbered shooting is required even if it's simply to capture just the right expression, mood or pose.

In the aforementioned "lens cap" thread there were references to a stringed lens caps "looking" silly, awkward, clumsy or not cool etc! I suppose that's debatable if you are trying to make a fashion statement with your equipment. Within reason, I don't care what my gear looks like- I just want to operate easily and smoothg witout incumberabces or certain "boobetraps".

Be kind to each other!

alliebess Loc: suburban Philadelphia

Thanks for the interesting history. Brings back good memories of using a Speed Graphic in high school as a yearbook photographer (and the first girl in my high school to do that).

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Highly entertaining post, Ed!

Re being kind to each other: I'm not sure if the proper term is paradox, but how is that in the face of tremendous evidence that nobody reads what's already been written in a thread prior to saying what others have already said numerous times or asking clarification questions that have already been clarified, or providing specific information that has already been given...there are people who find ways to get in fights and insult and ridicule?

Is it two separate groups? The ones who ignore everything already written and the ones who read every word trolling for victims on which to pounce and feast?

Lemon Drop Kid Loc: Greeley, CO

Great article and memory jogger. I began my photo career in 1946, in Germany, with a speed graphic supplied by Uncle Sam.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Linda! I certainly agree!

Perhaps I have lowered the bar for my expectations of courtesy, kindness and decorum so as to avoid personal frustration, disappointment and sadness. Oftentimes it's difficult to pinpoint the causes of all this verbail mayhem and chaos that frequently occurs here. Perhaps some folks have poor reading comprehension or just simply lack of patience to carefully read through each post and thread. There are many posts I would have liked to opine on or add some pertinent details but I pass them up because the are just too far gone and beyond resurrection. That is why I kind of rehashed or alluded to the other "lens cap" post and attempted to refresh the subject.

I suppose most folks post in in good faith with well meaning intentions but may inadvertently become repetitive or redundant.

Back at school, I immensely enjoyed my elective psychology courses. I took them for the credits and with the curiosity to discover if I and many of my cohorts in the photography program were actually insane as we were perceived by the engineering faculty. Obviously, I never became a psychologist so I will never understand what motivates so many folks to be maliciously obnoxious, disruptive, rude and patenely unkind and hurtful. Perhaps they are suffering abuse and wanting to pass it on? I can't undersatd or relate to those behaviors. All I can do to cope and continue participating around here is to ignore the bad stuff and appreciate the nice folks, the helpfulness and talent that is actually in the majority.

I find a little benign sarcasm and my morbid and odd sense of humor serves me as good medicine. After all, I don't' smoke, use recreational drugs, or drink booze! If I feel combative, I go to my Judio club, workout and get beaten up by young guys and ladies too! Mostly I work and take pictures. Working with all kinds of creative folks- photographers, art directors and ad people is indeed yet another ongoing and omnipresent psychology class- bizarre! This relatively easy!

Be well!

jak86094

Linda: I appreciate so many of your contributions both in terms of technical and practical knowledge and your effort to bring sanity and clear exposition to sometimes fractious discussions. As for the "evidence that nobody reads what's already been written in the thread...," it's a problem...but some of that is a result of the fact that threads don't automatically update whenever someone adds something to the discussion. I may have opened the digest 30-45 minutes ago before I find a thread I want to contribute to and by then dozens of comments, clarifications, etc. may have been added to the thread that I will not see unless I go back before adding my comments and updating the digest. I don't know how to avoid this totally, and I agree that sometimes duplication can be avoided by a little extra review by the comments. Keep up the kind and useful comments and please keep sharing your photos and experiences with us.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Back in the day, as a beginning film photographer who just left the local Ritz Camera in the Mall, a cap leash was an absolute, like a "protection filter," and was included in those "Essential Accessory Packs" with the Quaternary Professional logo.

But, geez, you went really, really back in the day with Speed Graphics. More back in the day than was necessary.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

That would certainly explain the first page of comments being repetitious. Two ways to avoid:

1. Click the refresh function (circular arrow icon) on your browser prior to leaving any comments in a topic. That will update the page you have open.

2. Stop delivery of the digest and use "newest topics" at the top of the page. First, though, click on "all sections" at the bottom of the page and subscribe to all the specialty forums that sound of interest. Now, when you log into UHH, you will see every single new topic, rather than just the select few the digest offers

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Good point, as I do this often myself, I see a question and then I try answering right off the bat, only to find out someone already said the very same thing. Maybe there should be a little number in parenthesis, or something like that, right next to the title of a post, showing the number of replies already posted. Everybody would know in an instant and may check first, before replying! Just a thought!

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Sorry man! It's my AGE. The late 1950s and early 60s were not all that long ago. I mean in the days of flash-powder and before shutters were invented the lens cap was even more essential. The photographer would remove the cap, expose, ignite the flash GUN and the replace the cap! That is, if he coud still do that after nearly setting fire to himself or being covered in soot! I could have gone back that much further, but alas, I was not born yet!

When I started out the 4x5 press camera was standard issue for pros and serious workers and the "badge" of the professional photographer. My start was in the wedding business which, in the era, was in the domain of established portrait studios. We were trained in posing, lighting by master portraitists who favored big negatives which were more conducive to expert retouching. The work was printed on high quality warm tone chlorobromide papers. The general quality was superb- I wish I had one of the wedding albums the we produced back then- y'all would be very surprised.

The Speed Graphic entered my life again in the army- there were hoards of them some in olive drab colors- Government Issue for sure. On the market, there were many othere models of Graflex gear in smaller formats as well. 4x5 Press cameras were also made by Linhoff , Bush (the famous heavy metal Bush Pressman), Burke and James and there were a few British imports.

Bush had a screw-on LENS CAP- they wanted to make sure it would not fall off.

BebuLamar

I knew about Ritz a long time before they have stores in the mall. They used to sell ruggedized cameras mail order.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

They had a decent cracker. NaBisCo I think.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I remember Ritz Camera way back in the 1950s. They ran ads in all the major photography magazines featuring a charricature of the owner, Bob Ritz. They were big into mailorder but the did have some walk in stores. I don't remember if there was on in New York. I think there was one in Philadelphia.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Thanks for that post. I no longer have to feel guilty about leaving the lens cap off.

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

Re getting into nasty fights over inconsequential matters: We live in "the mean times" when any difference becomes the cause of a huge fight. I wonder if the insecurity dates back to 9/11 when our personal security was so threatened and so we have to defend ourselves, especially by attacking, at little supposed insults, etc. Secure, understanding people don't indulge in such behavior. Being kind to each other is not evidence of weakness. It is the expression of real strength.