DA 15 Scew On Cap, How to Work Around it?

lightbulb · 03-12-2012, 08:54 AM

Hurray! Gotten the DA15 from our local retail shop. Very happy with its performance after a few test shots but not happy with the troublesome screw on cap.

What is the best work around fellow DA 15 club members? Any alternatives?

thebigcat · 03-12-2012, 08:58 AM

You can use any other Pentax pinch cap thats 49mm.

lightbulb · 03-12-2012, 09:03 AM

Oh, that's embarrassingly simple. I mean that lens cap.

Parallax · 03-12-2012, 09:13 AM

Originally posted by thebigcat

You can use any other Pentax pinch cap thats 49mm.

Not necessarily. The curvature of the front element extends beyond the plane of the base of the threads. I don't use one on mine for fear it may actually contact the front element.

**luftfluss** · 03-12-2012, 09:45 AM

Originally posted by Parallax

Not necessarily. The curvature of the front element extends beyond the plane of the base of the threads. I don't use one on mine for fear it may actually contact the front element.

I'd be concerned about that, too.

I'd also not want to profane the the Mighty 15 with a cheap pinch cap.

The screw-on cap takes only 3 twists to remove.

loco · 03-12-2012, 09:49 AM

I'm not crazy about the cap either, but I have found that there is a "trick" to getting it screwed back on properly. I was having all kinds of trouble getting the threads to line up and get it screwed on, to the point of frequent profanity.

But if you have the hood out, you can simply line the cap up against the end of the lens hood, and then push the cap/hood in and the threads always seem to line up perfectly. Ever since I discovered this, I've not minded the screw on cap as much.

Parallax · 03-12-2012, 09:55 AM

One thing I'm going to try is a filter ring (with glass removed) to get enough extension so a pinch cap won't contact the glass.. I don't know whether it will vignette or not, but it's worth a try.

lightbulb · 03-12-2012, 10:03 AM

I am using hoya UV filter, no problem with pinch cap. Happy camper I am!

SOldBear · 03-12-2012, 10:20 AM

Read this post.

Quicksand · 03-12-2012, 11:57 AM

I have a side-pinch 49mm cap that's perfect for the DA 15.

Unlike the cap pictured in SOldBear's post, which is a center-pinch model, the cap I use has buttons that stick out from the side of the cap to disengage the grabbing mechanism.

Because the buttons stick out from the side of the cap, they protrude enough to keep the built-in lens hood from sliding out while the cap is on, which the included screw-on cap also does. The center-pinch cap I tried previously doesn't do that.

Unfortunately, I don't know where to get a cap like I have. I got it attached to an SMC Takumar 105/2.8 via Ebay, so it was basically just a fortuitous accident that it works so well on the DA 15.

the swede · 03-12-2012, 12:02 PM

Another wote for plain simple Pentax 49mm pinch cap. It works and doesnt harm the glass.

Cannikin · 03-12-2012, 03:58 PM

I use a standard Pentax 49mm pinch cap on mine. I confirmed it does not touch the glass at all.

I tested it by breathing some condensation on the glass, quickly putting the cap on before it evaporated, and turning it. When I took it off, the condensation was completely undisturbed, meaning at no point did it touch the cap.

lightbulb · 03-12-2012, 09:02 PM

Good job Cannikin! That is very reassuring!

steve1307 · 03-13-2012, 06:22 AM

I use the older style flatter pinch cap from an old FA 70-200 (still available from B&H). It does not touch the front element it just misses.
If you pressed into the centre if the cap it would bend and might touch. For this reason I store and transport with the metal cap. But then use the pinch cap when I'm out and about using the lens with its brothers & sisters 35, 43, 70 etc

wjjstu · 03-13-2012, 10:14 AM

I use the $7 B+W 49mm side pinch cap and haven't had any problems.

03-12-2012, 08:54 AM	#1
lightbulb Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 691	DA 15 Scew On Cap, How to Work Around it? Hurray! Gotten the DA15 from our local retail shop. Very happy with its performance after a few test shots but not happy with the troublesome screw on cap. What is the best work around fellow DA 15 club members? Any alternatives?

03-12-2012, 03:58 PM	#12
Cannikin Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: SW Washington Posts: 833	I use a standard Pentax 49mm pinch cap on mine. I confirmed it does not touch the glass at all. I tested it by breathing some condensation on the glass, quickly putting the cap on before it evaporated, and turning it. When I took it off, the condensation was completely undisturbed, meaning at no point did it touch the cap. Last edited by Cannikin; 03-12-2012 at 04:04 PM.

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03-12-2012, 08:58 AM	#2
thebigcat Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Chicago Posts: 95	You can use any other Pentax pinch cap thats 49mm.

03-12-2012, 09:03 AM	#3
lightbulb Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 691 Original Poster	Oh, that's embarrassingly simple. I mean that lens cap.

03-12-2012, 09:13 AM	#4
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,332	Originally posted by thebigcat You can use any other Pentax pinch cap thats 49mm. Not necessarily. The curvature of the front element extends beyond the plane of the base of the threads. I don't use one on mine for fear it may actually contact the front element.

03-12-2012, 09:45 AM	#5
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	Originally posted by Parallax Not necessarily. The curvature of the front element extends beyond the plane of the base of the threads. I don't use one on mine for fear it may actually contact the front element. I'd be concerned about that, too. I'd also not want to profane the the Mighty 15 with a cheap pinch cap. The screw-on cap takes only 3 twists to remove.

03-12-2012, 09:49 AM	#6
loco Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,846	I'm not crazy about the cap either, but I have found that there is a "trick" to getting it screwed back on properly. I was having all kinds of trouble getting the threads to line up and get it screwed on, to the point of frequent profanity. But if you have the hood out, you can simply line the cap up against the end of the lens hood, and then push the cap/hood in and the threads always seem to line up perfectly. Ever since I discovered this, I've not minded the screw on cap as much.

03-12-2012, 09:55 AM	#7
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,332	One thing I'm going to try is a filter ring (with glass removed) to get enough extension so a pinch cap won't contact the glass.. I don't know whether it will vignette or not, but it's worth a try.

03-12-2012, 10:03 AM	#8
lightbulb Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 691 Original Poster	I am using hoya UV filter, no problem with pinch cap. Happy camper I am!

03-12-2012, 10:20 AM	#9
SOldBear Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 3,206	Read this post.

03-12-2012, 11:57 AM	#10
Quicksand Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Ohio (formerly SF Bay Area) Posts: 1,519	I have a side-pinch 49mm cap that's perfect for the DA 15. Unlike the cap pictured in SOldBear's post, which is a center-pinch model, the cap I use has buttons that stick out from the side of the cap to disengage the grabbing mechanism. Because the buttons stick out from the side of the cap, they protrude enough to keep the built-in lens hood from sliding out while the cap is on, which the included screw-on cap also does. The center-pinch cap I tried previously doesn't do that. Unfortunately, I don't know where to get a cap like I have. I got it attached to an SMC Takumar 105/2.8 via Ebay, so it was basically just a fortuitous accident that it works so well on the DA 15.

03-12-2012, 12:02 PM	#11
the swede Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2,310	Another wote for plain simple Pentax 49mm pinch cap. It works and doesnt harm the glass.

03-12-2012, 09:02 PM	#13
lightbulb Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 691 Original Poster	Good job Cannikin! That is very reassuring!

03-13-2012, 06:22 AM	#14
steve1307 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,130	I use the older style flatter pinch cap from an old FA 70-200 (still available from B&H). It does not touch the front element it just misses. If you pressed into the centre if the cap it would bend and might touch. For this reason I store and transport with the metal cap. But then use the pinch cap when I'm out and about using the lens with its brothers & sisters 35, 43, 70 etc

03-13-2012, 10:14 AM	#15
wjjstu Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 181	I use the $7 B+W 49mm side pinch cap and haven't had any problems.