fwiw, I use Lenscoats on my super teles for mainly 2 reasons: 1) protection from dings & nicks; 2) they look cool, imho.
On the value of camo for lenses. DGCI has the first point, but it's only part of being stealthful for photography, as is selecting the clothing you wear. Camo is useful for breaking up your image, changing your shape, primarily edges and reducing contrast differences. But you really need to know your photo subject, what they fear, and what they expect to be happening at that time of year in that location and that time of day.
Can the raptors see you? Absolutely yes. They can recognize people at distances of 2 to potentially 5 miles. But given their behavior at many of the Bald Eagle photo locations, they also know what photographers are. And the odds are that your noise told them you were around too. But you still do not want to draw their attention by doing things like waving your arms, wearing bright clothes etc. Mostly camo is not needed unless you are looking to get closer or to have them come closer.
Deer, foxes, bear etc each have their own fears and things they will react to. Prey animals will often only look at the low levels where a threat could come from ( deer seldom ever look up hence the success of tree hides). But they will react to quick or repetitive motions, sounds & smells. Some colors certain critters can not see, and others can see colors we can't; like birds, insects and some reptiles being able to see in the ultraviolet end of the visible light spectrum. And if the clothes you wear were washed in any normal detergent or fabric softener, you will glow to them like a light house light.
And that's just an attempt to do a 2 paragraph summary. So it's just a gloss over on the subject of stealthful photography & the value of camo.
And the importance "what they expect" can't be minimized. After carefully tracking deer at a nearby refuge, I found a likely pathway and settled in. They came up the path and I got some great shots. I was feeling that I'd done a really good job of blending in, right. Then when I got up to leave, all the deer did was watch me. It seems that there are many photographers who go there and the deer are "ok" to them being there but only at the end of the day. Sure didn't need my camo lens covers, right?
To demonstrate the irrelevance of good camo: I was picking up leaves in my front yard with a tractor & Trac-n-Vac system. (Two 11 HP gas engines noisily running, red tractor, white leaf trailer, dry leaves crunching, noisy vacuum system running.) And who walks down the driveway 150-170 feet away? A larger healthy good looking 8 point buck.
It was the fall leaf gathering time here and the deer apparently knew that nearly every house would likely have engines running. And so I was just an expected activity for the buck that he could ignore. But if I'd been walking, he would have disappeared quickly, I'm sure. Of course no camera available.
Overall most of the camo that people buy is made to look good to other people. But I understand camo freezer suits are more comfortable than the standard freezer suit.
Just returned from Nepal where I was counting migrating Steppe Eagles near Pokhara in the foothills of the Himalayas. On this hill was a small Buddhist shrine where people would come to ring the bell (a smaller version of our liberty bell). When folks first started doing this I almost had conniptions - thinking that no Steppe Eagle (a close relative of our Golden Eagle) would pass close hearing the gongs or seeing the people moving about the shrine area. Much to my surprise, there were days when folks would be gonging all day and walking around in good number - and the eagles (of all ages) continued to pass about 5-20 meters above us...Now in North America (well here in the northeastern USA), this would never happen. But in Nepal unless I saw the eagle migration just overhead with all the commotion below...I would never have believed these birds would get so close...here are images (scroll down a bit) - double-clicking will enlarge most images significantly:
Incidentally, there is a new product on the market which would surely pretty up your lens : LENSSKINS.
Even B&H carries it now in a very ample palette of colours and patterns.
Great price but I think I would pass on the design but I am sure you would look great with this one
DGC1 wrote:
Obviously no ex military personnel here. The first rule of camo is "don't move". No matter what color your lens is, you have a 3-6" piece of shiny glass facing your subject and there is no way to make that disappear. Camo colors and patterns are for people, not for animals.
Totally agree I have animals right next to me didn't even see me until I moved this was without camo. Protection only I say
After laying out in the south texas desert for a time I have found that the lenscoat does help keep the tele a little cooler to the touch, otherwise mainly protection.
the 500vr i bought had a lens coat on it, so i use it. i certainly think it helps keep the outside of the lens in better shape, and it also keeps the lens a more constant temp and also makes it more comfy to hold. does it help camouflage you from the wildlife--i have no idea and am a bit sceptical that it does much good in that regard...but the other benefits are real so i keep using it with my big lens.
I use them for protecting my lenses. I think considering the material and quality of the craftsmanship, they are a rip off for the price. My nice wetsuit which uses 20x neoprene material cost only $120...all the seams and cuts are sewn up. It probably takes 20x longer to put together the wetsuit
Now I just buy neoprene material and sew them up myself. $15
Easier on the hands in Winter :P
Protection is the big thing.
Camo Patterns earn their keep by breaking up the shape of the big lens from bi-peds fairly well, so I don't end up with hikers/joggers asking me questions :P
DGC1 wrote:
Camo colors and patterns are for people, not for animals.
+1
I use camo so people don't see me. Nothing ruins a good photo session with wildlife more than a curious person wanting to see what I'm doing. I want the animals to see me: it's much easier to maneuver for clear views and best lighting and backgrounds if they know I'm there and know I'm not a threat. Being stealthy is a great way to spook an animal.
My lens isn't "look at me" white so if I were to use a neoprene cover for my lens it would be as a thermal barrier.
PetKal wrote:
What is the primary reason for your use of "Lenscoat" on your telephoto lenses, tripod legs, gimbal heads and god knows what else ?
(I do not use Lenscoat so I can't vote in the poll. )
I bought my first one on day two of owning my 300 2.8 as I hit it against our front door as I was leaving the house with it. So reason one for me was protection.
In my opinion using them for the looks or camouflage should not be the reason to purchase them as the great whites are a lot nicer by themselves and not covered. I also do not think animals come closer to a photographer (or photographers can get closer to them,) because they have cameo Lenscoat on their lenses. Although I have to admit this has worked great as a marketing ploy as some are buying them for that reason.
Finally, I am wondering if a 4th option should be added to your list of choices and that is "Using Lenscoat on telephoto lenses as insulation". I can't tell you how nice it is not to almost get a frost burn when you touch the lens in harsh cold weather.
