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Caps, Hoods and Cases
© 2006 KenRockwell.com
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Nikon 12-24mm Tokina 12-24mm Sigma 10-20mm Tamron 11-18mm

Nikon 12 - 24 mm f/4, Tokina 12 - 24 mm f/4, Sigma 10 - 20 mm f/4 - 5.6 and Tamron 11 - 18 mm f/4.5 - 5.6.
Click an image to get it from Adorama. Also try Amazon. It helps me if you get yours at either one.

Index

Front Caps back to top of page    skip to rear caps

I got a four-year engineering degree to review lens caps? There is a huge difference between them, so read on.

Lens Caps

Lens Caps

The Nikon cap is the best. The Tamron cap is quite good. The Tokina is well made but pops out of your hands. The Sigma cap is awful.

I'd keep the off-brand cap in the box for resale and use a real Nikon cap I buy here. I'm not kidding: this is exactly what I do when I buy off - brand lenses.

Front Cap Observations (Weights are listed under weights)

Tokina
Sigma
Tamron
Type
Spring Loaded
Spring Loaded
Spring Loaded
Spring Loaded
Color
Black
Black
Black
Black
Material
Plastic
Plastic
Plastic
Plastic
Graphics
Silver Paint
Gold Foil
Molded
Silver paint
Access
Front and Sides
Front and Sides. More likely than Nikon's to pop out of your fingers accessed from front.
Sides only
Front and Sides
Finish
Semi-dull
Textured Matte
Dull
Textured matte
Quality
Excellent in every way. I cover the Nikon logo with black tape to be less obvious.
Excellent construction. Much more likely to pop out of your hand when grabbed from the front.
Crappy. Spring catches seem likely to stick. Can't be removed with hood in shooting position Throw it away and replace it with a spare Nikon cap.
Excellent design and operation. Very good construction.

Rear Caps back to top of page   

I wish I was kidding, but there are huge differences between rear caps, too!

The Nikon and Tokina caps work great. You put them on the back of any lens. End of story. They both work perfectly on any of these four brands of lenses.

The Tamron and Sigma caps are awful. I have no idea why, but they need to be aligned precisely to only one position. Otherwise they won't mount! You have to stop and look for the index marks, which of course are black on black. I'd also leave the Tamron or Sigma rear cap in the box for resale time and replace them with a real spare Nikon cap here. If you don't you'll always be wasting a lot of time fiddling to get them on any lens.

Worse, the Tamron cap is so shallow inside that it won't fit on my Nikon lenses or the Tokina lens! Throw it away and buy a real Nikon replacement here. The Tamron rear cap just wont fit the other lenses.

Rear Cap Measurements (Weights are listed under weights)

Tokina
Sigma
Tamron
Material
Black textured Plastic
Black Shiny Plastic
Black Plastic
Black Plastic
Outside Diameter
53.4 mm
57.8 mm
57.7 mm
58.9 mm
Depth, external
17.1 mm
14.0 mm
15.6 mm
13.0 mm
Depth, Internal
13.8 mm
10.5 mm
13.1 mm
9.6 mm
Mounting Positions
Three
Three
One
One
Overall
E
VG
A little dinky
VG, but arrived a little dusty.

Hoods (Weights are listed under weights) back to top of page   

Oddly the most complex piece is the most similar among brands. They are all plastic bayonet cut-out hoods that can mount backwards for storage.

I never use a hood. I use my hand if the sun is shining in my lens. Therefore my Nikon hood is stored away and I didn't measure it.

Nikon
Tokina
Sigma
Tamron
Included
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Type
Scalloped
Scalloped
Scalloped
Scalloped
Material
Plastic
Plastic
Plastic
Plastic
Attachment
Bayonet
Bayonet
Bayonet
Bayonet
Reverses?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Max Diameter
104 mm
95.6 mm
106.9 mm
Depth, total
48.6 mm
36.4 mm
36.7 mm
Extension from front of lens
43.3 mm
30.5 mm
33.4 mm
extension from rear flange
137.7 mm
108.7 mm
111.9 mm
Extension from end of R cap
147.3 mm
123.7 mm
125.6 mm
Exterior Finish
Nude speckled plastic
Nude speckled plastic, same as Nikon
Nasty flat sparkle paint
Nude textured plastic
Interior Finish
Black Flocking, excellent
nude plastic, serrated baffle
nude plastic, serrated baffle
Model #
HB-23
BH-777, marked*
unknown and unmarked
DA13, marked
Mounting marks
Dot at "IN"
IN and arrow for mounting. Unlabeled dot for reverse mounting. Unnecessary OUT and arrow for removal. Confusing.
Circle and dot
Other markings
none
SIGMA in white paint.
"TAMRON" in gold paint and Japan in white paint
Feel
Sturdy
Sturdy with weird paint job.
Big and reasonably sturdy

* February 2006. In June 2007 a reader reports his says BH-779.

Cases back to top of page   

The Sigma comes with a very nice case. The others don't. I never use these. I put my lenses in my pocket or a larger bag.

Nikon
Tokina
Sigma
Tamron
Included?
No.
Yes.
No.
Type
Custom padded nylon
Model
LS-432A
Made in
China
Markings
EX Sigma
How Marked
Sewn on plastic patch
Color
Black Nylon
Zippers
One
Zipper Sliders
Two
Zipper Brand
None
Belt Loop
Yes, fixed
Fabric loops at end of zipper?
Yes, both ends
Overall
Nice, functional and well done.

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