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GoWing will release a new Micro Four Thrids lens holder on April 16 (found via Dicahub). The video shows how it works (Nikon version):
There is yet no info about the price but the other version do sell for around [shoplink 52416 ebay]$100 on eBay (Click here to see them)[/shoplink].
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46 Responses
It’s neat and useful. But a hundred dollars???
yeah I’m also thinking that. Price is way too high. Somebody’s bound to bring out a plastic version that’s almost as reliable. And let’s face it – most MFT lenses aren’t as big or heavy so plastic might really be fine.
You can buy the same thing from other brands such as from Optech for $15, and I had thought the Optech one was a little on the pricey side.
This thing has been sold by Optech USA for years under the less poetic name of “Double lens cap”.
The Canon, Nikon and Sony versions shown on the eBay page appear to have metal flanges and (possibly) lock buttons, along with strap lugs. The one pictured on Dicahub looks to be nothing more than a couple of plastic rear caps attached back-to-back.
I’ve made my own using a couple of rear caps and some epoxy, and I can tell you from experience that the lenses will NOT stay attached to them without some kind of latch. Okay for saving space by stacking two lenses inside a camera bag, but you won’t want to hang the assembly from your shoulder as shown in the video.
I have been wanting a double lens cap for a long time. I had them for Leica and it makes lens changing much simpler and more secure using two hands. If each lens in your bag has a double-sided cap, then you have a simple procedrure: Remove first lens from camera with one hand, hold second lens (with double cap) in other hand and insert first lens into empty side of cap. Then remove second lens from cap and mount it on the camera. It’s faster, reduces juggling and it minimizes the amount of time any lens is exposed to dust.
I was going to make one by joining two MFT caps back-to-back, but the problem is that most of the MFT caps aren’t very tight. To make this technique work safely, the double-cap needs to fit nice and snug on the lens mount. It looks like this GoWing actually has a click-mount release(?) which makes it costlier. The Leica version is just plastic with a snug fit to the bayonet lugs, even as a Leica accessory it was inexpensive.
“but the problem is that most of the MFT caps aren’t very tight”
My experience: there is quite a difference between which of the 3 possibilities you turn the lens into the cap. If it is too loose, turn 1/3 and try again.
Just buy (2) m43 extension tube sets and make your own. Almost zero effort.
And then you glue strap rings to the extension tubes and trust their strength with your expensive lens? Also, I assume this holder has a barrier in the middle so that the mount-side glass doesn’t get debris in it when there is no lens on the other side. Otherwise, you’ll need to glue a barrier onto yours or throw a cap on the end, which adds cap-removal as another step.
My extension tubes come in several segment for different amounts of extension, and they connect with standard filter thread, so you could just screw a cheap filter to one of them. The more difficult issue is that you’d need some kind of male/female adapter to connect the other tube.
As for gluing rings, it’s actually pretty simple to drill a couple holes and screw them on.
Yeah, many things could be done and I’ve got no shortage of imagination or skill, but for many people it moves further away from the “zero-effort” promise when you have to find hardware and break out the drill. I do like the idea of this, but not necessarily for $100.
DIY stuff can be a distraction, but I actually enjoy that kind of stuff. Also just wanted to add that the correct (52mm) male/male adapter is available on Amazon for under $5. So in this case, assembling the parts would take just a few seconds, not counting the strap rings.
But I found an even better option: a 52mm macro reverse mount adapter for $5, that can screw directly into the Neewer extension tube lens mount segment, for a total cost of about $15, and assembly time of about four seconds.
And you get a reverse-mount adapter for macro use! I already have an old Pentax 50mm f1.4 lens with 52mm filter thread, so this is something I can use anyway. And I also have 52mm filters I could use as a barrier, but if I do this I’ll probably just use one of the extension tube segments and glue the barrier into that and attach some d-rings to that section as well.
Another idea is that instead of making a double lens cap, I could make a lens cap with built-in filter storage.
Sure, flour and water paste won’t do it but epoxy will.
Could always weld or glue two macro extension tubes back to back if you want click releases, won’t be much bulkier.
They are copying me! In the days of film I had three lenses and two OM2 bodies, one for black & white and the other for colour. Each had an extension tube screwed to their tripod sockets. I could take off a lens, clip it in to the vacant extension tube and replace it with the lens I wanted. It all took just moments and meant I didn’t need a camera bag.
There’s some wonderful solutions going on here but why use relatively expensive extension tubes and adaptors when a plastic end cap is so much cheaper?
I find MFT lenses small enough to hold and palm the cap so lens off, palm cap, lens on, cap on. In one go. Use both hands?
Perhaps because a plastic lens cap does not lock on and a great many of them are quite loose in use.
I’ve got over a dozen of the things and none of them are a loose fit, quite the opposite.
otoh I don’t like the idea of a lens bouncing around on a strap, it slips into a bag or pocket.
Plus as I explained above, despite arthritis, I can still manage to hold two lenses and camera, and swap the cap over without problems
My expensive glass connected together by a piece of plastic hanging by my side. Yes, that’s what I want /S
expensive glass for small m43 sensor…. just try to get on that stupid Mod’s nerves.
…and you WONT get it
Don’t really see a point for this beside using with those big telezooms. Most of the MFT are tiny enough you can just fit it in your pocket or a small sling pouch. much safer that way too
This way you don’t have to juggle a separate lens cap, so instead of juggle three things with two hands you’ve just got two. And only one lens is uncapped at a time, so less chance to get dust blowing in. Also, for smaller lenses this could actually fit better in some bags. I think it’s brilliant.
But the price is stupid. I can get a couple cheap Neewer extension tubes for less than ten bucks each and just epoxy them together.
I use lens pouches from ebay. JJC, Safrotto – they come in different brands. They’re belt-clippable and much safer solution than this. You’ll never risk hitting or scratching your lens. They’re zippable, so I don’t even use lens caps for faster swapping. Cheap and effective.
Yep. I use a bunch of different small lens cases from LowePro, Pearstone,Tamrac and Mountainsmith. They’re probably similar to yours… belt loops, zippable tops and well padded. I even keep silica gel pouches in them when it’s humid, like the last time I was in Costa Rica.
Having two cameras is faster.
What about having 2 cameras AND this lens holder?
I still like an old school camera bag for my tiny MFT primes (pancake) lenses better. I can put 2 E-PM1s, P14, P20, O45, O75 and the future O7-14 and the total weight is about 7-8 lbs. I don’t want people to see what gear I bring other than a black low profile bag. The weight will be rested on my shoulder and waist equally.
When I go out on nature photo hikes, I’ll put a couple of lenses in separate lens cases on the hip belt of my pack. It’s not great, but the lenses are easily accessible and well protected.
Similar solution here. I use a lightweight shoulder bag now (with Lumix lens pouches), I’m not much into hiking these days but when I was lightness was a key factor, camera holster (doesn’t bounce) on hip, 35mm camera and just two lenses.
Dude your bag must be made of lead! Thats way too heavy. My bag plus two bodies and 5 lenses plus a few filters is under 4lbs. A GM1 body plus 3 small lenses is a tad over 2lbs in the bag.
“I routinely drag as much as 40 pounds over 12 miles without having sore shoulders, back, or neck”
http://www.bythom.com/bags.htm
LOL!!!..If I get this to complement my iWatch my life will be complete with useless accessories!!!
“The video shows how it works (Nikon version):”
Are you sure that’s a Nikon?
Isn’t it CaNikon, so it doesn’t matter?
Just wait 9 months and it will be available from China for $19.99. Wait another 9 months and it will be $9.99 including shipping.
Or you could buy it now in the US for $15 from Optech USA.
Interesting gadget. Although, I wouldn’t want any of my lenses swinging around unprotected.
I’ve been thinking of some sort of lens bandolier for a few primes in separate lens cases.
Agreed. The GoWing seems to be a good idea that was not properly thought-through. The unused lens slot is open and faces upwards as it swings on your hip. When you stash your lens on that slot and flip it over, it deposits all the dirt that it collected directly onto the rear of your lens.
100$ for the 2 lens cap glued together with handles for strap.. really?????
You beat me to that one – $100 for two end caps glued back to back?
Hey hey hey….this is a single piece design. No gluing going on around here.
You can glue both lens rear cap with super strong epoxy and add your own strap and BAM, I’ve saved you a few bucks~
This thing is going to swing around like hell when you walk.
I can see it being handy for shooting at an event.
However I wouldn’t wanna be travelling or walking around with it.
Koreans sure are banking on it!
I can see a DIY project comming on. With rotating maxis for a strap and 2 lens caps…
$15 budget and some glue…