Arnoud Quanjer Wildlife Photography

When you're a wildlife photographer using Canon gear you're probably using one of the Canon super-tele lenses like the EF400 F/2.8L IS or the EF500 f/4L IS. These lenses offer amazing image quality, but in my opinion there's also a downside to these lenses. The downside is that these lenses have a white coating. Besides the fact that this coating is pretty easy to scratch it attracts attention from other people and it can also scare the crap out of animals when you point it outside your car window. I've seen birds, jackals, impala, kudu and even elephants get a scare when I put a big white lens on my window mount. To avoid freaking out the animals, attracting attenting and to protect it from scratching I use a LensCoat on my EF500 f/4L IS.

The LensCoat Lens Cover for Canon 500mm f/4L IS Lens covers the lens with a 100% closed-cell neoprene coat, offering protection from bumps, jars and nicks. Available in different finishes (cattails, millet, milo, corn stalks, sunflowers, oak and maple leaves, cedar and oak limbs), this coat will allow you to blend in with your surroundings. LensCoat lens covers also provide a thermal barrier, protecting your hands from cold lenses in lower temperatures. Not really an issue in Africa, but for arctic photography it's a big plus. The lens covers are pretty easy to install and remove and leave no residue on the lens. LensCoat lens covers are waterproof, providing protection in harsh conditions.

I highly recommend buying a lens coat for the Canon super-tele lenses. The lens coat offers protection from scrapes and bumps, preserving its resale value. It also helps break up the shape of your lens, making it less noticeable to wildlife.