Patent: Lubricating Canon Body Cap

[Canon Rumors]

A patent for a Canon DSLR body cap that lubricates and protects the lens mount has appeared. I’ve never personally experienced a dried out or wind burned camera body lens mount, but maybe you have?</p>
<p>As pointed out in the forum though, this sort of concept could be to help protect the rubber seals on lenses. They can crack over time and need replacement. Or perhaps it’s to keep the contacts on the camera body and lens clean, maybe both.</p>
<p>Patent Publication No. 2015-121747 (Google Translated)</p>
<ul>
<li>Published 2015.7.2</li>
<li>Filing date 2013.12.25</li>
</ul>
<p>Canon patents</p>
<ul>
<li>Mount Cap</li>
<li>The mount and abutting surface, and oil-impregnated possible member, such as a porous plastic</li>
</ul>

 

[pdirestajr]

Maybe it's for the rubber "weather seal" ring at the back of L lenses? I've seen cracks in those on a few old lenses.

 

[Canon Rumors]

Maybe it's for the rubber "weather seal" ring at the back of L lenses? I've seen cracks in those on a few old lenses.

That might be the case, I've had to replace a few of those. I will amend the post.

 

[mangobutter]

I've never seen that (maybe 10 years of dSLR use (including many L lenses) isn't enough but even then... I never use the body cap. It does give me a good idea though at using some high end lubricant I use on my german door seals of my car. Just dab a little on a q-tip and swirl it on the L lens mount...

http://amzn.to/1J0fyM1

This is great stuff and lasts a lifetime. I've done like 10 whole cars with it. All rubbers. Keeps it pliable and soft. Overkill for a lens though maybe?

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

One of the recent Canon patents referred to a issue with lenses of excessive wear of the mount due to friction. I can't remember exactly which, bit I seem to recall it was for the new Mirrorless to EF adaptor.

 

[IglooEater]

I personnally would be interested to know if anyone ever uses body caps. I guess rentals and stores would, but I mean just normal people who own a camera.

 

[AcutancePhotography]

I personnally would be interested to know if anyone ever uses body caps. I guess rentals and stores would, but I mean just normal people who own a camera.

I use them when I store my lenses. I thought everyone did.

I do have to admit that a body cap with lubrication is a terrible straight line. Pretty much any joke that can be made will probably get me banned. ;D

 

[TeT]

Normally there is a lens on the body even in storage. Occasionally I will swipe a lens off to take with another body and slap the body cap on at that time...

a little lube is probably not a bad idea.. we have all had a lens that was tighter than others, that creates wear to the mount on both body and lens.

I would hesitate to guess the proper type and amount of lube though...

 

[lol]

I personnally would be interested to know if anyone ever uses body caps. I guess rentals and stores would, but I mean just normal people who own a camera.

If I want to throw a spare body into my camera bag, then I'd put the cap on. Even if it doesn't save space compared to using a lens as a cap, the shape is easier to pack. So this might be more of a situation for those with multiple bodies.

 

[Loswr]

My body cap is a 40/2.8 lens.

This patent seems like a great idea, we can always use things that get oil near our sensors. :

 

[Etienne]

I use a body cap when I travel with a Pelican carry on case.
Also, if you have a lot of lenses, and change them frequently, it's faster to have no lens on the body when you first arrive to shoot. If the wrong lens is on the body, then you have to remove and store a lens as well as put the right lens on.

 

[PureClassA]

I'm thinking the amount of oil/lubricant used would be something akin to that left by a fingerprint. I can see how those leads with constant friction could wear down with prolonged use of constant lens changes, particularly in adverse conditions (landscape guys especially). Probably having a light bit of something to apply to those contacts would mitigate that. Thinking like that lubricant you can buy to wipe onto the leads of your car battery to help prevent wear and corrosion.

 

[sfunglee]

apply proper grease onto the lens rubber should be fine, but some rubber might be sensitive as different grease will be tend to melt of soften the rubber part...

 

[Maximilian]

This patent seems like a great idea, we can always use things that get oil near our sensors. :

... and in addition pay money for that :

My first reaction on this was to check the calendar: no, not April's fools day again.