Re: [Leica] Lens Caps and Coupling Rings

["Bryan Caldwell" <bcaldwell@softcom.net>]

Walt,

The reason I like to have two lenses attached back-to-back is that I can
then drop them into one compartment in my bag without them constantly
banging into each other. I have a lot of camera bags and, as I'm sure we're
all aware, most camera bags are designed for SLRs and the compartments for
lenses are bigger and usually taller than needed for Leica M lenses. I'm by
no means a fanatic about lens caps. But, when I pack my equipment into a
bag, especially for travel when the bag is going into an airline overhead
bin, I can get a lot more into the bag safely by attaching lenses to each
other. Otherwise it would either be one lens per compartment or two lenses
in one compartment banging into each other all the time.

Lately I've been using a Billingham 205 bag which holds two M bodies with
lenses attached, one without, and, in two center compartments, I can put
four lenses attached two and two. When I get where I'm going, I seldom carry
a bag. Usually I just carry the cameras and maybe a small waist pack for
film and an extra lens.

I don't like to work out of a bag if I don't have to. I consider a bag to be
more of a means of transporting my stuff from one place to another rather
than to hold my stuff while I'm taking pictures. I tried hard cases, but
didn't like them. For a number of years I got great use out of a LowePro
Magnum bag (wonderfully made) but I've recently pared down my equipment and
the LowePro is too big. The Billingham seems to be just right for me.

I can't say it would work for anyone else, but it works for me.

Bryan


- ----- Original Message -----
From: Walter S Delesandri <walt@jove.acs.unt.edu>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Cc: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Thursday, July 22, 1999 6:21 AM
Subject: Re: [Leica] Lens Caps and Coupling Rings


> Assuming that you have a "normal" lens (for you) or if you have multiple
> bodies, you keep a "set" of normals  (in my case, a 50 on one and
> 28 or 35 on the other)....usually with a 90 summicron in the bag, used
> very little...do you guys actually USE lens caps?.....for example,
> if you're shooting, and you want another lens for one or two pictures,
> do you bother with caps on the "unused" lens?   or do you not keep
> certain lenses on as "Normal?\".....I know this sounds confusing,
> but here's what I"m saying:
> For years, working or just playing, I'll carry a body with a 35, plus a
> 90 in bag/pocket (possibly plus a Nikon, but that depends on the task)
> If I carry two Leicas, one ALWAYS has the 35 on it....  If I need/want
> the 90 for a shot, I take it out of the pouch, drop the other lens
> in the bag pocket (with SL filter, face down, but sans rear cap)....shoot
> my "90" picture(s), and stick the short lens back on.....just be careful
not
> to drop/cram anything in the pocket with the exposed lens element....
> I, and fellow photogs, have been doing this for 25 years, and no problems.
> Of course, there are klutzes out there that scratch/ding EVERYTHING, but
> my gear (some of it 30 years old), looks good, with normal "wear", but
> no real damage.
> Do you folks "unpack" and "uncap" and "repack" etc. between EACH usage?
>
> I'm always interested not only in other's WORK, but HOW they work....their
> methods, how much gear, how carried, etc....it's always useful to get new
> ideas.
>
> CU later,
> Walt
>
> On Wed, 21 Jul 1999 19:48:43 EDT InfinityDT@aol.com wrote:
> > In a message dated 7/21/99 5:01:04 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> > msmall@roanoke.infi.net writes:
> >
> > << Leitz/Leica intended there to be two separate devices, a lens cap and
a
> >  lens coupling ring.  Why try to combine them?  That is the most
unseemly of
> >  all possible things!
> >
> >  You have, say, two lenses attached by a coupling ring in your bag, and
> >  another on the camera.  You remove the lens from your camera and swap
it
> >  onto the coupling ring for a lens there, which you then install on your
> >  camera.  Why the need for this mixture of lens cap and coupling ring?
> >
> >  Marc >>
> >
> > Of course you know that the R lens couplers *do* have a solid partition
in
> > the middle.  Why the M couplers don't is probably open (pardon the pun)
to
> > conjecture, but to me it's no big deal because I simply put the body cap
on
> > the open end of the coupler, just to protect the rear element of the
other
> > coupled lens.  The most important fact is that Leica, and nobody else,
makes
> > couplers *period*, and they're a darned nifty idea.  I had to jury-rig
two
> > lenscaps together for my Nikons.  I don't trust glue.  I used
flatwashers and
> > pop-rivets.  But I doubt if I'd have ever thought of it were it not for
the
> > Leica couplers.
> >
> > DT
>
>