[Spock]

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Anyone know how these old metal lens caps attach?



I am looking to get one to replace the screw on one on my DA15. (The DA15 has a built-in retractable hood that may preclude to use of such lens caps).

[Asahiflex]

Anyone know how these old metal lens caps attach?



I am looking to get one to replace the screw on one on my DA15. (The DA15 has a built-in retractable hood that may preclude to use of such lens caps).

These Takumar caps, of which I have many are held in place by nothing else than friction. On the inner rim there's a strip of "suede" for the necessary friction and prevention of scratching of the lens.

[Spock]

Thanks. It doesn't sound like it would fit on the DA15. Pity. I'm guessing that only recent caps that sit flush on the end of the filter thread would fit.

[Sean Nelson]

Pentax also made spring-loaded caps with two tabs that grip onto the filter threads. I have several of them for a 49mm thread which came with the 28, 50 and 100mm lenses I bought back in the 70s and 80s.

[Steinback]

They look nice but as they age the metal lens caps can be a pain to use. The felt lining gets crushed down and the caps tend to just fall off. I expect the felt could be replaced but I've mostly picked up generic centre pinch lens caps for day to day use.

[Spock]

Pentax also made spring-loaded caps with two tabs that grip onto the filter threads. I have several of them for a 49mm thread which came with the 28, 50 and 100mm lenses I bought back in the 70s and 80s.

Yes I considered those too. I suspect that those wouldn't fit on the DA15 as they overlap the filter ring and would thus foul the DA15's built-in retractable hood - which sits flush with the outside edge of filter ring when retracted.

[wasser]

Yes I considered those too. I suspect that those wouldn't fit on the DA15 as they overlap the filter ring and would thus foul the DA15's built-in retractable hood - which sits flush with the outside edge of filter ring when retracted.

They don't. I've got that type of cap and a DA15.

Unless you've got a filter on the lens, it will have to fit flush to the filter ring.

[Spock]

They don't. I've got that type of cap and a DA15.

As I suspected. Thanks

I have however tried a more modern flush fitting Pentax cap off my F80-200 F4.7-5.6 and that fits great.

Only trouble is I am planning to see the 80-200 and would like to sell it with the original caps. It's strange that the only type of Pentax lens caps not currently available on ebay as these ones.

[knyghtfall]

Yes I considered those too. I suspect that those wouldn't fit on the DA15 as they overlap the filter ring and would thus foul the DA15's built-in retractable hood - which sits flush with the outside edge of filter ring when retracted.

Could consider fitting the pinch caps on the hood itself - that's what I did, putting a 52mm pinch cap on the hood of my FA 77 (filter size 49mm). My problem with the FA 77's original push on cap was that it kept falling off since I keep a UV filter on it, which would protrude out when the retractable hood is fully retracted. With the pinch cap on the hood itself - problem solved!

[Spock]

Could consider fitting the pinch caps on the hood itself - that's what I did, putting a 52mm pinch cap on the hood of my FA 77 (filter size 49mm). My problem with the FA 77's original push on cap was that it kept falling off since I keep a UV filter on it, which would protrude out when the retractable hood is fully retracted. With the pinch cap on the hood itself - problem solved!

Good suggestion but the DA15 has a petal-style hood so I don't think it would work.

[knyghtfall]

Good suggestion but the DA15 has a petal-style hood so I don't think it would work.

I start enlightened. One alternative I can think on is to get a plastic push on cap, which holds better than a metal one with the felt lining that can get depressed. That's the standard lens cap for my F 17 - 28 fisheye, which had a similarly odd filter rim with the sides cut away. You can see the image of the lens rim and cap here:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/sold-items/69725-sale-sold-pentax-f-17-28...orld-wide.html

You can probably find a third party plastic push on cap for yours, like this:
51mm Push On Cap - eBay (item 390102668766 end time Nov-04-09 17:10:59 PST)

Hope that helped.

[wasser]

A push on cap may not work too well with the DA15. The petal hood isn't smooth. The cap would rest on a slightly raised and very narrow space. I'm not sure it would provide the necessary friction to hold the cap on.

I can't find this anywhere else, but this appears to me a modern Pentax 49mm pinch cap. It should work.

Pentax O-LC49 49mm Lens Cap - Only £7.99 - SRS Microsystems

[Spock]

Thanks everyone. Much as it would have been nice to have an old style cap on this metal lens, looks like my only option (apart from the screw-on cap) is one of these modern style flush-fitting pinch caps.