Hi altogether,

I sold my little Elmar 3,5/3,5 with the lenscap, but since I have both a summar and an old hektor which are capless right now I am looking for replacements (A36 slip-on). Unfortunately here in Munich the dealers want about $30 for a cap which is half of what I paid for either lens (which states that they are not brand new, but still deserve a cap I guess).
Has anyone here found a cheap replacement (preferrably metal, but also plastic) for the original one ?

-- Kai Blanke (kai.blanke@iname.com), May 06, 2002

Answers

I was told the caps from the Russian copies fit-contact some of the Russian copy sellers to see if they have any extras. You could probably buy an Industar Elmar copy with the cap for what a Leica cap would cost.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), May 06, 2002.

You can check Stephen Gandy's cameraquest.com website. He provides caps and lenshoods for older Leica lenses, though they are not that cheap. But it is usually possible to find used A36 chrome lenscaps for $ 15-20 each at US dealers or on eBay. youcan't go too far wrong since these items have a remarkable tendency to hold heir value or even appreciate while used generic caps (and hoods) are worth little or nothing. I always prefer original accessories of the correct vintage, regardless of the value of the lens.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), May 06, 2002.

Try Thompson Photo Products
-- Gerry Widen (gwiden@alliancepartners.org), May 06, 2002.

b&h photo in nyc has generic caps in most sizes. stephen grimes (who has a website) also sells them. finally, any big camera store that's been around for a few decades should have a drawer full of odd size caps. also, if you attend any vintage camera fair/show, you should be able to score.

-- roger michel (michel@tcn.org), May 06, 2002.