Today’s Post by Joe Farace
Back in the days when manufacturers thought we wanted lenses with depth-of-field scales and infrared focusing marks—as if autofocus actually freed us from these technical concerns—they used to include lots of what now many companies think of as extras. Lens hoods for one. While some camera manufactures include them especially on their premium priced lenses, others—I’m looking at you Olympus. Really $62.50 for the Olympus Lens Hood for the M.ZUIKO Digital ED 75mm f/1.8 Lens? This dearth of options from the factory has spawned a huge submarket of inexpensive and sometimes cheaply made in China lens hoods. The Sensei PRO 58mm Aluminum Lens Hood for this lens is $9.29. But hey, it’s just a lens hood. No optics required.
The same thing has happened to cases and pouches for the lens. I must admit to smiling when I get a Panasonic lens and it comes with a nice pouch case and the high quality cases that Sigma provides are genuinely awesome. The rest of us? Most of the time, we’re on our own.
I’ve always been fond of products from OP/Tech who is located less than ten miles from the Bridger Mountain Range and ninety miles from Yellowstone National Park. They’re a family owned and operated company and 90% of their products are made in their Montana factory. And they are genuinely nice people who care about their products, and how they’re made and they care about their customers too.
OP/Tech USA’s Fold-Over Pouch comes in ten different sizes with prices from $14.99 to $19.99 and are designed accommodate all kinds of lenses and accessories. The Fold-Over Pouch is a convenient and easy way to store and protect small to medium-sized lenses, converters, adapters and other miscellaneous items. The soft, durable neoprene construction protects delicate gear against dust, moisture and impact. The unique fold-over closure system has no abrasive hardware and remains attached to the main body at all times so there’s no fear of losing it. (They were thinking of me, it seems.)
Fold-Over Pouch are made in the good ole USA in nine different sizes to fit a wide variety of lenses. The next time you’re visiting your favorite camera store pick one up and if ordering on-line add one to your order. It won’t break your piggy bank and you may love it. I do.
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