Protecting Your Lenses
By David Cobb
I’m often in a quandary about how to pack my lens gear when I travel, especially if it’s a backpacking trip. Some people use extra filters for glass protection with a lens cap, while others simply wrap their lenses in jeans. When backpacking, (see “Tips for Backpacking with Camera Gear: ultra-light”) I’ve often used thinkTank photo lens pouches to hold my lens inside the pack, then I slip the holsters through my butt-pack belt loop for day hikes once I’ve made a base camp. I think I may change that backpacking pack strategy now that DeluxeGear has developed the new Lens Guard. It’s created with neoprene with an outer shell of rubber for premium protection for the lens. My guess is that this protection would withstand my most brutal backpacking trips. The largest lens guard offered only weighs 11.8 ounces (335 grams), so it is fairly light too.
In the video below, an employee for DeluxeGear throws a lens across the room without a crack in the equipment. There may not be a mark on the outside of the lens, but it does beg the question if all that tiny gear inside still works?
Below I show my Canon 400 2.8 lens in its carrying case, and this works for me. However, I have taken this lens on the road packed only in a camera bag (to save weight for small airplane travel) for forays into the Alaskan backcountry a camera bag isn’t the best protection for this expensive lens, especially in a small Cessna plane with other gear packed on top. I have another shot below of the extra protection the Lens Guard offers.
Of course, throwing your lens is an extreme example of how to protect your gear. Most lenses are broken from simple bumps or drops, and I’m sure protection will easily be offered there too. This product is created for all sizes and makes of lens guards for Canon, Nikon, Tamron, Sigma, Zeiss, Pentax, and many more brands. You can find their compatibility sizing chart here: Lens Guard Compatibility Chart . So, if you’re a backpacker, a klutz, or just want to protect those expensive lenses with a little more padding than a lens cap, then Lens Guard might be something you can use.
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