Skins for protection of big lenses

[abc123brian]

It’s not hard but a tip I’d give you is line up your seams, it will look nicer. Also, don’t stretch the product. If you do have a hairdryer handy but stretching will cause it to not fit well.

Thanks David! Appreciate the tip.

 

[DavidT]

Thanks. Makes sense since it seems like it should be easier to apply? Did you cover the rubber rings on the lens and grip on the body, or just leave them uncovered? I think I would prefer the feel of the rubber over the vinyl of the stickers.

That is a very good question. I have not done any of my bodies as I was told by the manufacture to not do it. It comes down to heat which mostly is a concern if shooting 4 and 8K video for long periods of time. For the lens they do give you all the pieces and I didn't cover any of the original rubber for focus etc. I left them uncovered as I also like the feel and ultimately the look without the decals. The only knob I did was the lens hood knob as I am touching that a lot. So far it has held up 100%.

 

[DavidT]

Thanks David! Appreciate the tip.

Here is a pic from last week of my 600f4.

You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

 

[DavidT]

I should also add that the wrap on the 600 has been on there for 2 years now. I have a wrap sitting on my desk for the 400 but haven't made the time to do it. I would budget 2 hours to do a big prime. It is about what it took me and it was the first lens I did and I wanted it as perfect as you can get it. I get compliments on it all the time.

 

[DavidT]

For those of you in CA if you visit them and buy a wrap they will instal it for free.

 

[abc123brian]

@DavidT looks good and thanks for confirming the durability. I’m thinking I’m going to leave the rubber uncovered as well. Should feel better than the stickers.

 

[KimM]

Thanks. Makes sense since it seems like it should be easier to apply? Did you cover the rubber rings on the lens and grip on the body, or just leave them uncovered? I think I would prefer the feel of the rubber over the vinyl of the stickers.

I covered them because they fade with sun exposure...yes, not a museum piece it's a field camera. But over the years I have noticed how much condition matters on resale and I do like to keep my equipment in nice condition. It is a different texture from the body so you don't lose the tactile feel. If you don't like it, just remove it.

 

[MikeRegas]

I just tried the Alphagrd for my TC and FTZ, probably just could've jumped into the lens, but I will say they look cool. I don't know that they have any functionality beyond that. Which brings me to my question, do you add yours for looks, function (i.e. blending into the environment) or just a layer between your lens and whatever is going to scratch it up?
Tips for putting it on which have been repeated, multiple times. Take your time and be careful not to stretch it. With the ones I tried, they were very fragile and easy to stretch. hair drier or xacto helped out.

 

[DavidT]

I just tried the Alphagrd for my TC and FTZ, probably just could've jumped into the lens, but I will say they look cool. I don't know that they have any functionality beyond that. Which brings me to my question, do you add yours for looks, function (i.e. blending into the environment) or just a layer between your lens and whatever is going to scratch it up?
Tips for putting it on which have been repeated, multiple times. Take your time and be careful not to stretch it. With the ones I tried, they were very fragile and easy to stretch. hair drier or xacto helped out.

I use mine to protect the finish of the lens. I am going on over 2 years on my 600F4 and the skin is holding up perfectly.

 

[Kjellis]

My skins has arrived and I have applied it to my 600mm and 100-400mm. Handling the big prime without lenscoat feels weird, seems like I have grown custom to using over the years.

It took some time putting the skins on, but I do think it looks great though.
Now I just have to wait for my Wimberley replacement foot to arrive

You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

 

[DavidT]

My skins has arrived and I have applied it to my 600mm and 100-400mm. Handling the big prime without lenscoat feels weird, seems like I have grown custom to using over the years.

It took some time putting the skinson, but I do think it looks great though.

View attachment 62338

It looks great! Which color did you do?

 

[Kjellis]

It looks great! Which color did you do?

It was the Shadow Black.

 

[MatthewK]

My skins has arrived and I have applied it to my 600mm and 100-400mm. Handling the big prime without lenscoat feels weird, seems like I have grown custom to using over the years.

It took some time putting the skins on, but I do think it looks great though.
Now I just have to wait for my Wimberley replacement foot to arrive

View attachment 62338

That looks wicked! I have a new 100-400 that I'm needing to protect, and think a skin makes more sense than a neoprene coat on the zoom. Did you apply to the extended barrel as well?

 

[Kjellis]

No, it was not any pieces to apply to the extended barrel.

 

[MikeRegas]

They do look great! I tried the Obsidian Camo (FTZ) and Shadow Black (TC), but can't decide which I like better. The obsidian pops more with the lighter color in the camo pattern for sure.

You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

 

[MikeRegas]

I have question that I posted alone, but no real traction on the OP. Has anyone experienced any luck using a Cricut type vinyl cutter to make the skins? If you do where do you find the patterns?

 

[DRwyoming]

I have question that I posted alone, but no real traction on the OP. Has anyone experienced any luck using a Cricut type vinyl cutter to make the skins? If you do where do you find the patterns?

I made skins from the vinyl available from Mossy Oak for my 300mm and 500mm PF lenses. I just used a straight edge and a utility knife. Flared areas (as in my 600mm f/4) take more time but I didn't explicitly cut a matched pattern, I just added slits and overlapped the vinyl skins as needed to handle the tapers. Cylindrical sections are easy, just cut a strip of the appropriate width and length.

Camouflage Vinyl Wraps, Mossy Oak Vinyl Camo | Mossy Oak Graphics

Mossy Oak Graphics - Serious Products for Serious Hunters. The only cast vinyl camouflage system. Proudly made in the US. Free shipping on $100.

www.googleadservices.com

 

[splatbass]

I guess I must be lucky, I've had Lens Coat on my 500PF for 4 years, using it every weekend (my most used lens, it pretty much lives on my Z7 and D850 before that) and on numerous trips around the US and overseas, and it is not frayed, it is not loose, it is not curling, it still looks great. I've also been in a downpour with it and when I got home I checked underneath and there was no moisture. I haven't babied it at all, so I don't know what you guys are doing with yours.....lol. This is my second lens with Lens Coat and the other was fine too.

Of course now that I've bragged about it it will probably start falling apart....

 

[EricKlees]

Skins help with scuffs ava abrasion wear but zero protection from small bumps and dings.

Lens Coat brand is a complete ripoff. They have no stitching on the edges and after a year they start to fray and roll back a bit. RolanPro is SIGNIFICANTLY better than any of the other coats. It's a waterproof canvas type cover with all the edges and cutouts stitched making it so they never fray.

I had a RolanPro for my 500PF for 3 years and still looking brand new when i sold it back in February after getting my 800PF and then bought the RolanPro for that lens.

For me and coats, there is no other option then RolanPro.

 

[ButlerKid]

I ordered an Alphagvrd skin for my 400mm f4.5 on May 28 and just got it today. You are instructed to scan a QR code which brings up a diagram of the lens and how the skin pieces to onto the lens. That's all the "help" you get. I found this video which was helpful. The associated pieces of the skin are labeled A1, A2, A3, etc, B1, B2, etc and C1, C2, etc. (I HATE using the phone for this and would have much preferred to have the diagram on my large PC monitor. Oh well.)

HOWEVER, the pieces of the skin are laid out on sheets with no labeling at all of any of the pieces!!!! The hood piece was easy to ID. As were a few of the pieces that had cut outs for the various texts on the lens, or buttons or such. But the labeling was of no help at all. Still I muddled my way through it. Why do I have so many left over pieces.......

......even more than those that were to cover the rubber rotating rings I had decided when I ordered it that I wouldn't cover.

Here is how it looks now:

You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

I much prefer the camo look of @jadewolf 's lens! But I do like the pre-cut pieces. Just wish they were better labeled. I probably won't do this with my 600mm TC due to the curved nature of that lens. I'm much more inclined to get a LensCoat (I have used several and had NO problems with them) or something similar.

 

[DavidT]

Looks great!

 

[ButlerKid]

FWIW......I just received my Zemlin hood for the 400 f4.5. Soooooo...... I tried taking the Alphagvrd skin off the OEM hood and re-applying it onto the Zemlin hood.

It's not perfect, but it worked. The top edge of the skin had stretched a bit more than the bottom edge, so I couldn't get the skin on perfectly straight. And heating with a hair dryer didn't seem to help. But I did get it on the Zemlim hood "good enough". Only upon a close examination would a person see that it isn't perfect.

BTW - LOVE the Zemlin hood. It stays on tight!

 

[MatthewK]

Installing the AlphaGvrd “Urban Camo” on my 100-400. Application was semi-difficult at first, but once you get into a rhythm, it gets easier, but there’s still a little “good enough” in some spots, where I can’t get it 100% perfect. I think I’m going to convert my 800PF to a skin as well, which currently has a neoprene coat.

You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

 

[hrv]

@Butlerkid maybe a little late to the party, but...

HOWEVER, the pieces of the skin are laid out on sheets with no labeling at all of any of the pieces!!!!

I ordered mine directly from the manufacturer (lifeguard-design). Their site has details on every lens and at the bottom of that scree is also a lay-out of your sheet with all cut-out pieces, with corresponding labels. See https://www.lifeguard-design.com/pages/onlinemanual-nikonz100400f4556vrs-1019 for an example of the Z 100-400.

This is the same brand as Alphagvrd, they are listed as the distributor for US.

 

[MatthewK]

Switched my 800PF over to a skin, matching my 100-400 with the “Urban Camo” pattern. I may cut up the piece for the Nikon hood and use it to cover the Zemlin hood.

Here’s an updated photo in daylight; the pattern is more green than anything, with some light tan mixed in. Not sure why they call it Urban camo

You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.