p.1 #1 · 300mm GM: It seems the more you spend on a lens...
...the worse the "lens cap" is. Just got my new 300mm GM today, and like all my other expensive tele lenses that have been purchased across the years and across different platforms (e.g. 600mm GM, 500mm Canon, etc...) - the soft hood "lens cap" is simply ridiculous and needs replacement immediately.
p.1 #3 · 300mm GM: It seems the more you spend on a lens...
Quoting a prior post: "The problem with rigid lens caps is that they are rigid. That means when in the field I can't remove the cap and put it in my pocket.
I use Op-Tech Hood Hats with all my lens hoods. They are easy to put on and take off, whether the hood is on or reversed, and the hood hat provides some protection for the hood. They're inexpensive.
Best of all, I can remove it, and stuff it in my pocket. "
p.1 #4 · 300mm GM: It seems the more you spend on a lens...
Do the Op-Tech hood hats have a cutout for the tightening screw on the 400/600? Been eyeballing one but if I can't use it when the hood's collapsed it's sorta pointless for me.
p.1 #7 · 300mm GM: It seems the more you spend on a lens...
dclark wrote:
Quoting a prior post: "The problem with rigid lens caps is that they are rigid. That means when in the field I can't remove the cap and put it in my pocket.
I use Op-Tech Hood Hats with all my lens hoods. They are easy to put on and take off, whether the hood is on or reversed, and the hood hat provides some protection for the hood. They're inexpensive.
Best of all, I can remove it, and stuff it in my pocket. "
p.1 #8 · 300mm GM: It seems the more you spend on a lens...
dazzerfong wrote:
Do the Op-Tech hood hats have a cutout for the tightening screw on the 400/600? Been eyeballing one but if I can't use it when the hood's collapsed it's sorta pointless for me.
No cutout but the hood is pretty flexible, so I suspect that if you get one that is not too tight a fit it will work well.
I recommend replacing the Sony hood for the 600/4 with the Zemlin hood or a hood from @buffalowolf. I am using a Zemlin hood and it's a big improvement over the Sony hood, mainly due to the shorter length I chose, and the way it snaps on without a tightening screw. The Sony hoods on the 300/2.8 and the 200-600 are both good enough and I use both with Op-Tech hood hats.
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Hodie wrote:
+1 for Zemlin. He's also a FM member.
I concur on the hood. The one I have is excellent.
p.1 #9 · 300mm GM: It seems the more you spend on a lens...
dclark wrote:
Quoting a prior post: "The problem with rigid lens caps is that they are rigid. That means when in the field I can't remove the cap and put it in my pocket.
I use Op-Tech Hood Hats with all my lens hoods. They are easy to put on and take off, whether the hood is on or reversed, and the hood hat provides some protection for the hood. They're inexpensive.
Best of all, I can remove it, and stuff it in my pocket. "
Thanks. I am going to try the Op/Tech cap. Right now I have a Buffalowolf cap for the 600mm (quality cap by the way) and I often find that I do not have a pocket big enough to store that cap. I agree with your quote from a prior post. It gets annoying when something of interest is happening quickly and I have just enough time to get the cap off the lens and start shooting. Sometimes I just toss the cap on the ground. Something more flexible would solve this problem - presumably I could just jam it in a pocket. Thanks again for the suggestion.
p.1 #15 · 300mm GM: It seems the more you spend on a lens...
I'm also using a 105mm centre pinch lens cap that works fairly well. Just need to make sure it is seated properly.
I have the Breakthrough Photography one that is available on Amazon.
I know others have used the Sigma 105mm.
I have read some don't fit as well as others.
p.1 #17 · 300mm GM: It seems the more you spend on a lens...
I'll second the Zemlin recommendations - both for the short twist-on hood, as well as the lens cap. Very solid and very well constructed. It does have the downside of needing a larger pocket, if you want to walk around with the cap. For me, it's not an issue - when I leave the car, the lens cap usually comes off and stays in the car till I'm back.
p.1 #18 · 300mm GM: It seems the more you spend on a lens...
Another +1 for Zemlin hoods and caps. I have them for my 600 and 300. I have also used the OpTech caps and think they combine well for field work and then travel. I feel better about the Zemlin pinch cap protecting the lens while schlepped around in the backpack or the Pelican case through airports.
p.1 #19 · 300mm GM: It seems the more you spend on a lens...
Check out CamDec Lens Caps for the Sony 300mm F2.8 as an alternative (and for Sony FE 600mm F4, Sigma 300-600mm, etc.). I design and 3D print them in-house - literally in my house- and have priced them as reasonably as possible + Free shipping in the US + 60-day return, end of commercial
