Kickstarter: The Universal Lens Cap by KUVRD

Canon Rumors Guy

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Jul 20, 2010
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<a href="https://223f0d.kckb.st">Here is a Kickstarter campaign we thought you’d like</a>, it’s for a pretty cool universal lens cap solution. This lens cap will fit every lens with a diameter between 60mm and 150mm, so that will cover most non supertelphoto lenses, as well as protecting pretty much every lens mount.</p>
<p>Not only will it protect the glass on either side of the lens, it’s also good protection from drops, as the rubber from the universal lens cap will give you some added protection.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-32569" src="http://www.canonrumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/e1bacc65c3e1f3eb0887d4c6825ba829_original.gif" alt="" width="680" height="383" /></p>
<p>Beyond drop protection, these caps will give you good protection from dust, dirt, water and pretty much anything else you may subject your lens to.</p>
<p><strong>From KUVRD:</strong></p>
<p><em>OUR MISSION: To Eliminate Photographer’s Anxieties.</em></p>
<p>At some point, we lose lens caps and worry about the protection of our lenses. The Universal Lens Cap (ULC for short) is the best way to cover and protect your camera lenses. Period.</p>


<p>It’s designed to fit every camera lens. Now, you can travel stress free knowing you won’t loose your lens cap, it won’t fall off, and you can go wherever and however you desire knowing you have the lens protection you need against the elements.</p>
<p><a href="https://223f0d.kckb.st"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-32563" src="http://www.canonrumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/be6a8222ecf9d8e40899f8706cbe66e3_original-578x1024.png" alt="" width="578" height="1024" srcset="http://www.canonrumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/be6a8222ecf9d8e40899f8706cbe66e3_original-578x1024.png 578w, http://www.canonrumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/be6a8222ecf9d8e40899f8706cbe66e3_original-325x575.png 325w, http://www.canonrumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/be6a8222ecf9d8e40899f8706cbe66e3_original-127x225.png 127w, http://www.canonrumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/be6a8222ecf9d8e40899f8706cbe66e3_original-610x1080.png 610w, http://www.canonrumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/be6a8222ecf9d8e40899f8706cbe66e3_original.png 680w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /></a></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://223f0d.kckb.st">You can learn more about the Universal Lens Cap project at Kickstarter</a></strong></p>
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Jul 21, 2010
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unfocused said:
I can't believe that more than 500 people thought this was a good enough idea to actually pledge money for this product.

Cameron: But we don't have any money.

Michael: Yeah, well, what we need is a backer.

Cameron: What's that?

Michael: Someone with money who's stupid.

</obscure movie reference>
 
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ahsanford

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Aug 16, 2012
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Just a first glance look at this thing:

1) It's reversible so stuff can much more easily touch the inside 'bottom' (glass covering bits) of it, unlike a rear element cap which is rigid and therefore permanently recessed.

2) Universal front mounting makes identifying your lenses in your bag (when you can only see the end of them in a bag chamber) much more difficult. A standard front element lens cap doesn't occlude the barrel of the lens or mask its relative diameter to other lenses.

3) No possible way it is faster to put on / take off than a lens cap. None.

4) Rubbery material will cling to dust/dirt/particulate in ways that hard plastic will not. An air blower can clean a plastic cap, but you'd likely need to immerse and air dry these silicone things to clean them.

5) Some good lenses are externally focusing (think 85 f/1.2L II, 50 f/1.4 USM, etc.), so I'm not sure how an elastic sock like this won't pre-load an extended internal barrel that you shouldn't be pushing on.

6) It is less rigid than a plastic lens cap, so what is preventing the middle bit from being bumped/pushed into the very front element it was designed to protect?

7) One would assume a flexible + sticky/friction grab design like this will not dismount in a [connected/disconnected] binary way. Partial dismounts will lead to odd orientation situations in which you might tuck your fingers under the dismounted bit and possibly touch the front/rear element.

8.) If you want to pull this off quickly and shoot with an attached CPL or variable ND, you'll have to reset the ring before you go -- no leaving it at max ND or max pol and just shooting.

9) Current lens hoods (on not-too-long FL lenses) allow you to leave the hood on and still get the lens cap on / off. This new idea does not. In fact, this new idea would completely forego the opportunity for you to reverse your lens hood, which will require more space to be made available for lens hoods in your bag.

10) Lenses will now take up more space in your bag than your usual low profile plastic lens caps.

I hate to pile on here, but this appears to be a textbook example of a solution looking for a problem, or possibly someone with tunnel vision on one design concept despite it blowing up 6-7 other requirements that are already being well met with current technology.

- A
 
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ahsanford

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jolyonralph said:
Also, I guess people are running out of sensible names now that haven't been used by everyone else.

Millenials in rock bands, entrepreneurial endeavors, etc. absolutely LOV dropping letters from existing words to name their projects. It gets them:

  • Top of google's search results -- if this thing was called 'Covered' it would get lost amongst insurance carriers, CoveredCA, tupperware, trash can lids, etc.

  • A free lane towards trademarking as there's very little chance of this being used elsewhere

  • A free lane towards social media handles so that their identity is 100% consistent across all platforms (FB, Twitter, business URL, IG, etc.)

  • The hip millennial startup vibe -- love it or hate it, it's a thing and has proven successful commercially

I'm no fan of it myself, but they are not doing it without good reason.

- A
 
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unfocused

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ahsanford said:
jolyonralph said:
Also, I guess people are running out of sensible names now that haven't been used by everyone else.

Millenials in rock bands, entrepreneurial endeavors, etc. absolutely LOV dropping letters from existing words to name their projects...

Blame Prince. He started it.
 
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unfocused

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ahsanford said:
Just a first glance look at this thing:...

...this appears to be a textbook example of a solution looking for a problem, or possibly someone with tunnel vision on one design concept despite it blowing up 6-7 other requirements that are already being well met with current technology.

I was tempted to dissect this as well, but you've done a great job.

Can't resist adding:

I believe the video specifically mentions the beach and/or sand. I can just imagine the damage these things would do once you get some sand inside and it starts to grind into your lens.

I could not believe they were actually suggesting that these rubber sleeves would provide any real protection for a lens that gets dropped (as shown in the video). They better put aside a significant portion of their proceeds to hire a good attorney when some fool bounces his lens on the ground and then points to the video as an implied promise that their little sleeve was supposed to protect the lens.

I really do hope that they call the largest size "magnum."

Thanks CR Guy for posting this. It's a fantastic break from all the dreary fights over Canon's impending doom.
 
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ahsanford

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unfocused said:
I could not believe they were actually suggesting that these rubber sleeves would provide any real protection for a lens that gets dropped (as shown in the video). They better put aside a significant portion of their proceeds to hire a good attorney when some fool bounces his lens on the ground and then points to the video as an implied promise that their little sleeve was supposed to protect the lens.

I believe they did this to show that the silicone stays in place even in the event of a drop, something a traditional lens cap typically won't do. But I agree, it's irresponsible to imply you are drop-proofing your lens. Try that same test with a heavier lens and it won't matter if there's a small margin of silicone -- that lens would be toast.

- A
 
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I was thinking why don't use a waterproof cloth like material and wear it like a sock.

IMG_6462.jpg
 
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