The One Photography Accessory You DON’T Need!

Mike Shoemaker | Ellicott City, MD


I recently did the tourist thing with our first visitor here in Hawaii.  I saw a lot of cameras during this time.

Here is ONE accessory that you don’t need.

Can you guess what it is?

Your LENS CAP!*

But… it protects my lens!

Buy a good uv filter and keep that on your lens at all times.  It will do all the protecting you need.  Here’s the uv filters I use.  

None of my lenses have lens caps.  As soon as I get a new lens I throw on a good uv filter and put the lens cap in the box.

Lens caps are just one more step between you and the shot that you want!  I remember one of my photography students missing an epic shot of a helicopter taking off because he was fumbling with his lens cap.

With a UV filter, your lens is protected, and you can pick your camera up and shoot instantly.  

*I’m writing about lens cap on detachable lenses for DSLRS.

Ready to ditch your lens cap?  Yes or No?  Let us know in the comments.  

Ashley A - I still use the lens cap, but mainly just to make sure the filter stays in good condition while everything is in my bag.. As soon as a lens comes out of the bag, I take that thing of and stuff it somewhere like my back pocket. And I HAVE just popped it off and let it fall to the ground in order to get a shot I wanted. So it hasn’t been a real problem for me… so far 😉

Marc Andrew Scott - Yeah gonna have to look into that!
 

Megan McCormack - Good to know, I’ll have to switch to that. My lenses cap always ends up left in my pocket and generally being a pain to keep track of instead of protecting anything anyways

theBAKERSphotography - i remember losing a lens cap that I left on top of a car once, at the time it was a big deal, now who cares :)  Let me know how you like life without a lens cap!

theBAKERSphotography - do it!  hows your new dslr treating you Marc?  

theBAKERSphotography - but what if you see something and don’t have your camera out?  that split second could be the difference between a good shot or not 😉  Also doesn’t your bag have separate compartments for your gear?  Your lenses shouldn’t be in any danger of stuff hitting it in the bag right?  

Ashley A - I don’t know, I guess I’ve just never had that situation before, where the split second makes a difference… I totally could try it, cuz yes, my bag does have compartments. But honestly, my more pressing issue with “getting the shot” quickly is that I have the 10-25 and then the 70-200.. No “mid-range” type lens like the 24-105. So I basically have a 50/50 chance that the lens that will work for the situation is on the camera. That’s next on my list! Haha.

theBAKERSphotography - ahhhh… thats an interesting point, and sounds like a really good excuse to get a new lens :) 

Ashley A - It is, isn’t it? I’ll get it eventually… I’m saving up! :)

Tim lease - I use a fanny pack to carry my lenses when im shooting, I do keep lens caps on but as soon as a lens comes out to be put on my camerathe lens cap comes right off and stays off, and I keep a lenspen in my pocket to get any finger prints off

Jeff Stanford - That makes so much sense.  I have the UV filter but still keep the lens cap on, oftentimes.  And look stupid going to take a photo, realising the cap is on, and spending seconds taking it off.  Definitely have missed an interesting shot or two.  haha.

theBAKERSphotography - haha, yup… you described it so vividly, i can see myself trying to take a photo with the cap on and feeling dumb :)  let us know how you like life capless :)  

theBAKERSphotography - woah, fanny pack… upload a photo of that photo fanny pack.  and a lens pen… you’re super prepared.  my lenses need to be cleaned… i should do that before tmrws shoot.  

Jeff Stanford -  will do :)

Jacob Angier - I remember when max did that! SO funny!! My caps are in a drawer..

Jacob Angier - I remember when max did that! SO funny!! My caps are in a drawer..

theBAKERSphotography - haha, glad you remember that.  good times!

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