Why Do Pros Cover L lenses in Black Tape?

toadlet · Mar 9, 2007

Just a curious question - When I am at sports games I see many of the offical photograhper walking around with the lenses covered in black heavy duty tape.

Can anyone shed light on why they do this for?

Dan Sawyer · Mar 9, 2007

Can't say I've seen that. At a guess, it might be because they want to disguise the expensive lens?

SNGX1327 · Mar 9, 2007

they want to warm the lens up? those silly engineers at canon chose to color their lenses in a color that repels heat!

Another birder · Mar 9, 2007

toadlet said:
Just a curious question - When I am at sports games I see many of
the offical photograhper walking around with the lenses covered in
black heavy duty tape.

Can anyone shed light on why they do this for?

I guess its the same reason my mother in law keeps all her furniture covered with plastic - to protect it. Those guys are pretty rough with their gear

--
Canon 20D
FujiFilm F20

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Ryan Ly · Mar 9, 2007

I covered up all my 'Canon' labels with black tape when I was in Tanzania. If someone wanted to steal my 350D then they probably would steal it but apparently, not having the 'Canon' words highlighted will decrease the amount which the camera stands out and stolen... True or not? Who really cares but every little bit to help avoid getting my gear stolen counts IMO. Plus the tape came in handy for other purposes.

As for why Pros cover their white L lenses... I can only imagine that white is easy to notice smudges so having a protective layer over the lens is desirable. And if I were suppose to pick a colour, I'd pick black to keep the lens and body matching. Would you tape a 70-200 f/2.8 L IS USM up in aqua?

jag1 · Mar 9, 2007

--
jag1

NorVa.

Doug Brown · Mar 9, 2007

... a professional photographer do this.

Doug B
Torontowide.com

theatrus · Mar 9, 2007

I've heard of covering the red ring on the black L lenses to make them appear less expensive (adding a silver ring for "consumer kit" might help too

), but never covering a whole white L. It'd probably be easier to get out a can of spray paint if thats your goal.

toadlet said:
Just a curious question - When I am at sports games I see many of
the offical photograhper walking around with the lenses covered in
black heavy duty tape.

Can anyone shed light on why they do this for?

Campfire · Mar 9, 2007

Seems like a lot of pros use tape and stickers on their longer lenses (mainly on the hoods). Maybe it's just to spot their gear in a crowd?

-- Steve

Rudiman · Mar 9, 2007

I noticed MANY of the pro's on pit road use yellow tape on the ends of their lens hoods.....i have no idea why. Anyone know?

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jerryk · Mar 9, 2007

Have you ever seen how some of the gear is treated? I know a pro for a major newspaper. He has a shoulder back where he carries 2 1D's and 3 or 4 lenses. All of the gears is stacked against each other with no padding. The paint is worn off the lenses where they have rubbed together and there are chunks of the rubberized coatings on the bodies missing.

Think carpenter and hammer.

--
jerryk.smugmug.com

jml2665 · Mar 9, 2007

never tried them, but I wonder how these work. Comes in many stylish patterns
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=search&Q=&ci=12668
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Jim Lee · Mar 9, 2007

I often see shooters who use gaffers tape to secure the lens hood, but I never see anyone taping up the entire lens.

MirkoK · Mar 10, 2007

Well while wildlife shooting its much better not being noticed by the animals, well white is quite attracting, while in sports....hmmmm maybe the yellow tape is for the different agencies? or for security to know he is a pro and is allowed, just my guesses

Jim Lee said:
I often see shooters who use gaffers tape to secure the lens hood,
but I never see anyone taping up the entire lens.

--
http://www.pbase.com/mirko79

Paul Boothroyd · Mar 10, 2007

It's to stop the lenses falling apart - well the black tape is anyway! Coloured tape means, "This one's mine!"
--
Paul

MarkHaertl · Mar 10, 2007

I think it's mainly some sort of "branding" or "marking one's territory" thing.

--
Mark Härtl

Paul Boothroyd said:
Current Sports Pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/markhaertl/

friedduck · Mar 10, 2007

We used to mark climbing gear with colored tape just for this reason. Mix a bunch of gear together on a rack & you'd never figure out who owns what.

--Jeff

Eric Sorensen · Mar 10, 2007

--

Bossier City, Louisiana
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Brianks · Mar 10, 2007

Rudiman said:
I noticed MANY of the pro's on pit road use yellow tape on the ends
of their lens hoods.....i have no idea why. Anyone know?

Looking at the picture, my guess is:

The yellow is so that when folks are walking by and not paying attention, they have a better chance of not banging into the lens while you are trying to take a shot.

Pits and sidelines are busy places with lots of people who aren't paying attention to you because they have their own job to do.

Rudiman said:
--

Rick Knepper · Mar 10, 2007

Why Do Pros Cover L lenses in Black Tape?

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