Camouflage for lenses.

[paul11]

Hi all, I am thinking of camouflage for my 300 and 400mm lenses,has anyone ever done this with paint or do you always use camo cloth,thanks Paul.

[Nutkin]

Hi Paul,

You can get lens covers such as the ones from Wildlife watching supplies - click the link to see:

Wildlife Watching Supplies Camera Accessories & Covers

scroll down a bit

Chris

[MagpieMick]

Theres no way i'd paint my lenses......!!!!!!!!!!

Cheap option buy a gun sock from the famous auction site and cut to fit...

Or buy the real thing if they make it for your lens that is.....

Mick..

[pressld2]

I've always felt the real ones are overpriced for what is basically just a scrap of camo pattern material. I was going to make my own but browsing in Millets one day I spotted a pair of kid's gaiters for £7.99. They have a zip and velcro for the full length and are a perfect fit for my Nikon 80-400...



Dave P.

[MeadsMan]

Good one Dave P.,I was thinking of using a green sock,but will check out millets too Do you find it a hinderance in anyway,with focussing ect ?

[pressld2]

Not with focusing as I rarely, if ever, use manual focus with this lens. It is a hindrance if I want to switch off VR or change focal length but again, that's not something I do very often in the field. I would guess that all wrap-around camo products will have the same issues.

Dave P.

[BillyPilgrim]

I purchased some neoprene camo lens covers for my Canon 300mm f4 L from W.W.S. but was dissapointed so I sent them back. Maybe I was being a bit picky but they felt too thick and not very vell made. They were made from very stiff 4mm material (felt like mousemats) and the seams were overlapped instead of being butted together. This meant that there was a big bulge where the seam was.

So I decided to try to make my own.

I wanted to use the really stretchy wetsuit-type camo neoprene but after spending ages searching the web for a UK supplier I was having no luck at all apart from the odd place where you had to spend about £80 to get a huge amount.

In the end I found a supplier in the USA who was willing to source Realtree Hardwoods, 3mm Camo Neoprene in small quantities for a reasonable price.

I bought a 10 inch wide strip (about 49 inches long) for less than £20, including delivery. I chose 10" because it fits into a cheap, pre-paid airmail package.

Anyhow, I was really pleased with the quality and versitility of the product and there was enough to make at least 4 sets of lens covers for my 300mm prime. They are easy to make and they fit snug and tight around the lens. Not only providing camo but protection as well. You can also cut holes for the focus window and the various switches if you like.

If anyone is interested I got the neoprene from here :-

Neoprene

[peterjclarke]

In my opinion these covers are overprice and really just for show. If your lens is a white Canon I can understand toning it down a bit but my big lens is black and I've never considered camo. If you use camo tape then it may leave adhesive residue on the metal, if you take it off to sell it and may affect the resale value. Good technique will outweigh the benefits of camouflage any day!!!
Peter

[paul11]

Thank you very much for your help I am going to make some from a camo T shirt,,,,,,,,,,,Paul.

[Deer Hunter]

A pair of old Camouflage trousers or a jacket - cut the arms or legs off - hi presto you hane camouflage lens jackets. Get the better half to sew a bit of elastic around one end to grip the lens hood -- Job done.
I've been using these for years even to camouflage the tripod legs