Spending your hard earned cash on an expensive lens can be frightening.  Enter the Lenscoat line of lens covers to protect your investment from scrapes, dings, bumps, and general harsh weather conditions.

The Lenscoat lines of products are made of closed-cell neoprene.  The covers are advertised as a thermal barrier to protect optics from rapid changes in temperatures as well as providing a more forgiving surface for your hands when working in cold weather.  In addition the covers are meant to provide a light level of protection from scrapes and dings.  The Lenscoat line is also sufficient to break up the visual impact of some of the massive ‘white’ monsters such as the Canon 400mm L series lenses when nature photographers are on location.

While the Lenscoat for the Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8 runs about $80 from most online stores.  This seems reasonable given the total cost of the lens.  However, after field testing the product for a month, I feel the return on the investment is minimal.

The Lenscoat for the Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8 comes with what appears to be a collection of large neoprene rubber bands.  While covering the static elements of the lens, areas like the focus rings and the tripod mounting bracket are left uncovered.  This is partly due to the smaller size of the 70-200mm lens as compared to the monster sized lenses that Lenscoat product lines were originally designed for.

On the plus side I see how this product would keep the protected areas free from scratches and dings and would be a good investment for those trying to keep their gear in good shape for potential future resale.  The cover also hides the obviously large white, expensive, Canon L series lens which could potentially detract would be thieves from an otherwise obviously expensive target.

On the negative side having used this cover on this particular lens in the winter months, I saw little benefits to my hands.  All the parts of the lens I touch are generally uncovered by the Lenscoat lens cover, thus no tactile benefits to me.   When removing or putting the tripod mounting collar back onto the lens the rear most element of the cover also has to be removed.  This extra step was a bit frustrating when time was of the essence.

In summary, the product has potential for larger lenses, but for the 70-200mm it is something that I could live with, or live without.  I do not seem much value if you are a careful photographer with a good bag and a willingness to treat your gear with care.  If you are the type of photographer that is putting your gear under a lot of wear and tear, the investment might be better suited to your needs.

The full line of the Lenscoat products can be found on their website at http://www.lenscoat.com.