Lens Cap Lanyard and Parking Spot

If you're a photography hobbyist with a nice SLR, you likely have more than one lens -- each with its own cap. If you're like me, you likely have lost more lens caps than you care to count -- and the stupid things ain't cheap! The obvious answer is a lens cap lanyard: you know, the $2 thingy you order from Amazon (or the $6+tax thingy you buy at your local camera brick-n'-mortar) that tethers the cap to either the lens or the camera.

I had issues with those lanyards. First of all, you gotta buy one for each different diameter lens. That seemed silly to me. Secondly, if you buy the kind that tethers to the camera, changing lenses can get messy. If you buy the kind that tethers to the lens, attaching gizmos (like I do) to the lens gets messy. Then there's the problem of the dangling lens cap getting in the way of the shot. There had to be a better way.

So I did a little mental algebra and made my own. Not only does the leash attach to all my lens caps with velcro, but that same velcro attachment is used to stash the cap on the camera strap while I'm shooting. One Lanyard to Rule Them All (my pile of unruly lens caps, that is).

And before you start telling me how inherently flimsy this is, please see the disclaimer on the last step! ;-)

Step 1 Assemble Ye the Materials.

1. Lens caps.
2. A couple feet of 1/8-inch grosgrain ribbon, or other sturdy string-like stuff.
3. Alcohol and cotton balls (or whatever) for cleaning.
4. Scissors you don't care about.
5. Small piece of coarse sandpaper for scuffing.
6. Sticky-back velcro for plastic surfaces.
7. Optional heavy tweezers or needle-nose pliers (not shown), if you don't have long, strong fingernails (I don't).

Comments

[Closer]

Your comment that the hook portion of the Velcro tends to grab on to stuff makes me wonder if it would be better to use the hook portion on the cap and the loop portion on the tether.

[cfishy]

Ah! Dental Floss seems like a good idea. I'm going to try industrial velcro tonight. Thanks.

[nukemall]

Good idea!

[Mr. Potato Head]

Definitely an A for ingenuity and do-it-yourself attitude. But it seems like an awful lot of effort and expense for a homemade leash that's not all that secure (yes I read the disclaimer). I checked an online photo dealer and I can get 5 of these from them for $9.95 plus and estimated $3.35 shipping. I'm all for creativity and thinking outside the box, but sometimes the best solution is the off-the-shelf one.

[notveryreal]

I rarely use lens caps. This is nice though. I used to use a lens keeper similar to this, except it used adhesive.

[angelabchua]

This is an awesome idea! wish i saw this about a week ago when i misplaced my own lens cap....