Two Caps, Two Different Openings
A body cap and a rear lens cap are not interchangeable, because they close different openings. A body cap covers the camera's lens mount and shields the sensor and internal components while no lens is attached. A rear lens cap covers the back of a lens, protecting its rear element and mount while the lens sits off the camera.
That distinction decides your purchase. If you store or transport a camera body without a lens, you need a body cap. If you swap lenses and leave one off the camera, you need a rear lens cap for that lens's mount. Many photographers keep a spare of each, but the fit is specific to the mount, not to the brand name alone.
Nikon F Body Cap: What It Covers
- Fotodiox Black Body Cap for All Nikon F SLR/DSLR Cameras: Body cap for Nikon F-mount camera bodies, protects the camera sensor and lens mount. This is the camera-side cap. It is the one to choose when the body is stored or carried without a lens attached.
Fotodiox Black Body Cap for All Nikon F SLR/DSLR Cameras - Fotodiox Black Body Cap for All Nikon F SLR/DSLR Cameras: Fits tight and securely on the body by a simple twist. A twist-on fit matters because a loose cap can slip off in a bag and leave the sensor exposed.
- Fotodiox Black Body Cap for All Nikon F SLR/DSLR Cameras: Compatible with all Nikon F-mount SLR/DSLR cameras, including D1 through D6-series bodies, D100 through D5000-series bodies, and film bodies such as FM2, F100 and F6. If you shoot Nikon F-mount film or DSLR gear, this cap is made for the camera side rather than the lens side.
- Fotodiox Black Body Cap for All Nikon F SLR/DSLR Cameras: Available as a single cap or a set of 5. A multi-body shooter or a shared studio kit can keep a cap on every F-mount body instead of moving one cap between cameras.
Nikon Z Rear Lens Cap: What It Covers
- Fotodiox Designer Rear Lens Cap - Compatible with Nikon Z-Mount Lenses and Adapter Mounts (Replaces Nikon LF-N1 Rear Lens Cap): Rear lens cap for Nikon Z-Mount lenses, protects the rear element and mount of the lens. This is the lens-side cap for Nikon Z glass. It is not a body cap and will not seal a camera's mount opening.
Fotodiox Designer Rear Lens Cap - Compatible with Nikon Z-Mount Lenses and Adapter Mounts (Replaces Nikon LF-N1 Rear Lens Cap) - Fotodiox Designer Rear Lens Cap - Compatible with Nikon Z-Mount Lenses and Adapter Mounts (Replaces Nikon LF-N1 Rear Lens Cap): Precise fit and solid connection; no play, gap or wiggling when mounted on lens or adapter. A rear cap that shifts can let dust reach the rear element, which is exactly the surface you are trying to keep clean.
- Fotodiox Designer Rear Lens Cap - Compatible with Nikon Z-Mount Lenses and Adapter Mounts (Replaces Nikon LF-N1 Rear Lens Cap): The plastic cap protects the rear element and mount against scratches, moisture, dust, and fingerprints when the lens or adapter is not attached to the camera. This spells out the job of a rear cap: it is a storage and transport cover, not a substitute for a front lens cap.
- Fotodiox Designer Rear Lens Cap - Compatible with Nikon Z-Mount Lenses and Adapter Mounts (Replaces Nikon LF-N1 Rear Lens Cap): Compatible with Nikon Z-Mount lenses and adapter mounts; replaces the Nikon LF-N1 rear lens cap. Z-mount adapters also need a rear cover, so check whether you are capping a lens or an adapter before ordering.
- Fotodiox Designer Rear Lens Cap - Compatible with Nikon Z-Mount Lenses and Adapter Mounts (Replaces Nikon LF-N1 Rear Lens Cap): Available in Black, Orange, Red and Yellow. Color coding helps you tell Z-mount rear caps apart in a crowded bag, though it does not change fit.
How to Choose Between Them
Match the cap to the opening you need to close, then confirm the mount. The table below summarizes the practical difference between the two supplied caps.
- What it seals: Body cap: the camera mount and sensor area. Rear lens cap: the back of a lens or adapter.
- Mount in this guide: Body cap: Nikon F. Rear lens cap: Nikon Z.
- When you reach for it: Body cap: camera stored or carried without a lens. Rear lens cap: lens removed from the camera and stored or carried.
- Spare-quantity option: Body cap: single or set of 5. Rear lens cap: one cap per lens or adapter, in four colors.
What About M42 and Other Mounts?
The same logic applies to any mount: an M42 body cap covers an M42 camera body, and an M42 rear lens cap covers an M42 lens. The supplied records here cover Nikon F body caps and Nikon Z rear lens caps, so do not assume an F or Z cap will fit an M42 thread or any other mount. Check the mount name on the camera or lens before ordering, and treat the cap's stated compatibility as the deciding factor.
If you use adapters, note that the Z rear cap is described as fitting adapter mounts as well as lenses. That makes it useful for capping a Z-mount adapter when it is off the camera, but it does not turn it into a body cap for a different camera mount.
Checks Before You Order
- Identify the open side: Look at whether the exposed part is the camera mount or the lens rear. That tells you body cap or rear lens cap.
- Confirm the mount: Nikon F and Nikon Z are different systems. The F body cap is for F-mount camera bodies; the Z rear cap is for Z-mount lenses and adapters.
- Count your bodies and lenses: A set of 5 F body caps suits multiple F-mount bodies. For Z glass, plan one rear cap per lens or adapter you store separately.
- Check the supplied dimensions if space is tight: The F body cap measures 2.7 x 2.7 x 0.5 in (6.8 x 6.8 x 1.3 cm); the Z rear cap measures 2.6 x 2.6 x 0.5 in (6.5 x 6.5 x 1.2 cm).
