Do camouflage lens covers actually help in wildlife photography?
Asked 10/6/2014
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2 answers
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Wildlife lens covers are often sold in camouflage patterns. I understand the practical benefits of these covers for protecting a lens from scratches and dents, and for making a cold metal barrel more comfortable to hold.
What I’m unsure about is whether the camouflage pattern itself provides any real advantage in the field. In my limited wildlife experience, animals seem much more sensitive to movement, noise, scent, and reflections from the front element than to the side of the lens barrel.
Does a camouflage-pattern lens cover meaningfully reduce the chance of being noticed by animals, or is the pattern mostly marketing? If there is any benefit, is it because the pattern breaks up the lens shape, or simply because it reduces the visibility of a bright lens body?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
5
Movement, scent, noise and shape are more likely to effect an animal's behaviour than the pattern of the camouflage used on a lens. However the pattern may help in that it breaks up the shape of the outline of the lens, which is alien to the animal's habitat and will most likely be seen a trap. As many animals are colour blind, the colour may not effect them, but if it looks obviously manmade to them, they will behave cautiously around it. Also, the placement of the animal's eyes can effect how the lens is viewed. For example, a bird with the eyes located at the sides of it's head, will possibly notice the circular pattern of the front element of the lens when facing to the side (in front of the camera's position) rather than facing towards the lens. The material used on the lens cover can also reflect infra red or ultra violet light, which would be invisible to us, but may also be seen by certain animals or birds.
Originally by user32874. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user32874
11y ago
0
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Usually only a little, if at all. For wildlife, animals are generally more likely to react to movement, noise, scent, your overall shape, and reflections from the front element than to the pattern printed on the side of the lens.
A camouflage cover can still have some value:
- it protects the lens and makes it more comfortable to handle
- it may slightly break up the obvious outline of a long lens
- on bright lenses (such as white telephotos), it can make them less conspicuous simply by making them darker
So the main possible concealment benefit is usually not the specific camo pattern, but reducing a bright, man-made appearance and slightly softening the lens shape. On already black lenses, the camouflage pattern itself is likely to offer little real advantage beyond appearance or personal preference.
In short: useful as protection, possibly mildly helpful for concealment in some cases, but not a major factor compared with controlling movement, noise, scent, and reflections.
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AI11y ago
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