Ever since I bought my long white lens I had been wanting to own a Lenscoat to cover the barrel. Initially it was the used 100-400 that I had bought from Arka. It really needed a cover. Because of the various usage marks on it. Next came my 400 F5.6 and I wanted to cover it with a coat so that it wouldn't get any bruises. But the high price kept my desires at bay.
After a few months the lens got its first nick. I think the scratch happened inside my Lowepro. A very fine and thin V-shaped line. Last month when Suranjan told me that he would be going to Singapore shortly and whether I wanted anything, my first reaction was a Lenscoat. But serious research on the product showed that it is one piece that covers the lens hood as well as the barrel. I decided not to buy it because I would need to push the hood on and off. Also I really needed it for protection and not for camouflage.
And then this brilliant idea struck me.
I had always read in POTN that some people use cheap socks to cover their lens. I thought I would try this out. As I said, I do not really need to camouflage the lens. Birds aren't that dumb that they would be fooled by a camouflage cloth. I wanted to protect the lens during storage and carrying. The pair of brown socks I had once purchased off the sidewalk in front of our office came in handy. I never wear it. So I asked my mother-in-law to cut it off from the ankle and stitch that end a little. And voila. It made a perfect protective sheath for my lens.
I wish some bright socks maker would sell this as a regular item. They should have elastic on both the ends and I am sure lot of people will pay to get it for their lens. I will not use it inside my Digicabi but while putting it inside my Lowepro I will most definitely use it all the time.
