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!