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10-07-2011, 08:13 PM - 1 Like   #1
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Pentax Body Caps and Rear Lens Caps

Somebody please tell me why, after all this time, Pentax insists on outfitting cameras selling for $1000+ with a clear, push-on body cap that falls off almost immediately after using the first time.

Also, why are the kit and entry 50mm lenses given a different, black push-on rear lens cap that shreds little plastic shavings each time it's pushed on and pulled off?

Instead of a $0.10 cost per cap, we're talking $0.05 per cap, maybe?

Let's hope Ricoh has this on their list of no-brainer, low cost enhancements.

Or, maybe I'm being too picky?

10-07-2011, 08:16 PM   #2
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QuoteOriginally posted by aekn Quote
Or, maybe I'm being too picky?
Yep.

Never, ever had a problem with the push on caps.
10-08-2011, 01:52 AM   #3
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QuoteOriginally posted by aekn Quote
Instead of a $0.10 cost per cap, we're talking $0.05 per cap, maybe?
Maybe someone who is now a 'person of great importance' once ordered an embarrassing amount of these and no-one dares to change the spec until they run out ?
10-08-2011, 06:36 AM   #4
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Try buying used cameras. I have 6 bodies at the moment and not a single one came with a body cap of any sort. Ugh.

10-08-2011, 06:54 AM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by aekn Quote
a clear, push-on body cap that falls off almost immediately after using the first time.
I think those are only for packaging and not for daily use. But they should include a real body cap.
10-08-2011, 07:19 AM   #6
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The idea is that you take the camera body and you put a lens on it and don't need the caps any more. When you buy an accessory lens, it comes with a bayonet mount cap, and you use it on the lens you remove and put the new lens on the camera.
There is no reason to ever use the shipping caps once the new camera and lens has gone into service unless the product needs to be shipped back for repair.
These caps are not meant for day to day usage for good reason.
10-08-2011, 10:31 PM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by Don From The Radio Quote
Ugh.


QuoteOriginally posted by aekn Quote
Somebody please tell me why...
Presumably, Pentax is trying to wring the last yen of profit out of every item. It seems they've decided most of their customers don't care about cheap details or cut corners. Are they right?


Last edited by .a.t.; 10-08-2011 at 11:11 PM.
10-09-2011, 08:26 AM   #8
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You can buy bayonet-fit body caps and rear lens caps from eBay for a $ or so a hit - posted from China. I done that and it works fine!!
10-09-2011, 09:11 AM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by all thumbs Quote




Presumably, Pentax is trying to wring the last yen of profit out of every item. It seems they've decided most of their customers don't care about cheap details or cut corners. Are they right?
Pentax has been shipping with the same shipping caps for the past 20 or more years. It's not a money issue, it is an issue of practicality. The shipping caps are not intended to see any use after the camera has been unpacked. Every new body I've bought (and they have been legion) has the shipping cap sitting in the box, unused since the camera was put into service.
What would be the justification for using anything better since it is, in essence, a throwaway item?
10-09-2011, 10:48 AM   #10
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I have 5 back caps and a couple of fronts from my old ME collection that I use. Check out eBay and such.
10-09-2011, 01:09 PM   #11
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Body caps do have their uses, but not as body caps (usually). The almost-trivial usage is to cut a hole in the middle and glue on a sheet of tinfoil with a carefully-made pinhole, for exploring fun pinhead pinhole photography. [Note: On an APS-C dSLR, this sucks.] Mostly I use them as el-cheap-o lens adapters, especially for enlarger-projector-copy-process-MF-Polaroid-toy-etc lenses with odd mount threads (if any). Longer lenses so mounted will fit onto bellows; shorter lenses go onto tubes or straight to the camera body. Handy-dandy items, eh?
10-09-2011, 10:17 PM   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by Wheatfield Quote
The idea is that you take the camera body and you put a lens on it and don't need the caps any more.


I never had a problem with the white body caps. They are actually better than the bayonet ones - the bayonet ones can grind against the mount and drop plastic clippings inside the camera - not good - the push-on white ones are the best.
10-09-2011, 11:54 PM - 1 Like   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by Laurentiu Cristofor Quote
- the push-on white ones are the best.

To each his own.
I think bayonets have more flavor.




Mmm... shortbread!

Last edited by .a.t.; 01-20-2012 at 01:38 PM. Reason: presentation
10-10-2011, 01:02 PM   #14
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YET ANOTHER example of Canon and Nikon users getting all the good stuff:

LockCircle camera body cap for your Canon DSLR | Photo Rumors

(Me, I'll stick with the push-on translucent plastic one. If I ever need it, which I don't. Or if I can even find it, which is doubtful at this point.)
10-11-2011, 09:42 AM - 1 Like   #15
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lenses make good body caps. just grab a cheap 28 or 50 off ebay if you need one. insert smilie.
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