Every photographer who changes lenses on the move knows the juggle: camera in one hand, new lens in the other, and nowhere to put the old one. This week Digital Camera World spotlighted a tiny accessory built to solve exactly that. It is called the CapSlinger, it was designed by Joohon Chae, and it turns your camera’s hot shoe into a spot to twist off and park a rear lens cap.
It is a small, inexpensive idea, but the problem it targets is one we deal with at nearly every event. Here is what the CapSlinger does, why lens changes are a real risk at busy events, and the simple habits we use to swap lenses quickly without dropping anything or letting dust onto the sensor.
What the CapSlinger is
- A soft hot shoe mount for your rear lens cap. The CapSlinger is a small piece of soft TPU that sticks onto a rear lens cap with adhesive. Its top is shaped to slide into a standard hot shoe or cold shoe.
- One-handed cap removal. With the cap slotted into the shoe on a camera that is hanging from a strap or harness, you push the spare lens onto the cap and twist to release it. Then the lens you just took off the camera can twist onto that same cap, still sitting in the shoe.
- Works across systems. Because hot shoes are standard, it should work with almost any camera, as long as you stick it to the right rear cap for your lenses.
- It does not carry weight. The maker is clear that your hand still supports the lens and camera. The CapSlinger only holds the cap so you can twist on and off.
- Small batch and inexpensive. It weighs about 2 grams, is handmade in limited batches, and is sold through eBay from Germany for about 10 euros for a two-pack.
Why lens changes are a real risk at events
In a studio you can set a lens down on a clean table. At a conference, gala or community celebration, the clean table is usually covered in food, drinks, programs or someone’s purse. That is when photographers start tucking lenses under an arm, balancing a camera on a knee or leaving the sensor open longer than they should.
We have shot Nikon Z9 and Z8 bodies since they launched, and the biggest lens-change moments at an event are predictable. You go from a wide zoom for the room to a telephoto for the speaker, or from a standard zoom to a fast prime or macro for details like the decorated cookies above. Each switch is a chance to drop a lens, smudge a rear element or let dust in.
How we swap lenses quickly and safely at events
- Change lenses less often. The best lens change is the one you skip. Two bodies on a dual harness, one wide and one telephoto, cover most of a program without a single swap.
- Plan swaps around the run of show. Change lenses during transitions, breaks or the walk to the next room, not seconds before a speaker takes the stage.
- Keep the camera secured. A strap or harness means the body hangs safely while both hands handle the lenses. That is also what makes a tool like the CapSlinger work.
- Point the mount down and work fast. Face the camera opening toward the floor, keep the swap to a few seconds, and get the cap on the old lens right away.
- Use a lens pouch or holster. A belt pouch or a two-lens holder on a strap gives the spare lens a home, so you are never hunting for a surface.
- Check the sensor after a dusty day. Outdoor events, wind and crowds add up. A quick look at a frame shot at a small aperture against a plain sky or wall shows spots before the next job.
What this means for San Antonio event clients
You will never see us juggling lenses, and that is the point. Smooth gear handling means fewer missed moments, clean images without dust spots, and a photographer who blends into your event instead of fumbling with equipment by the buffet. When you book, it is fair to ask:
- Do you bring more than one camera body so you are not changing lenses during key moments?
- Will you cover both the wide room shots and close details like decor, food and signage?
- Can we share the run of show so you know when the big moments happen?
A little planning around gear is one of those behind-the-scenes things that shows up in a stronger, more complete gallery.
Gear mentioned in this post
- The CapSlinger is sold by its maker through eBay, not through camera stores.
- Peak Design Lens Kit, a lens holder that clips onto a Capture clip so you can swap lenses without setting anything down: Buy the Peak Design Lens Kit at Adorama
- Spare Nikon Z rear lens caps, handy to keep on every lens and to try an accessory like the CapSlinger: Nikon Z rear lens caps at Adorama
- Nikon Z8, one of the bodies we have relied on for event and headshot work since it launched: Buy the Nikon Z8 at Adorama
Disclosure: some links in this post are affiliate links, which means Grey Bug Photography may earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you.
Source: Mike Harris, “Swap lenses with one hand! This clever camera accessory looks like a great solution to lens changing,” Digital Camera World, November 11, 2026.
Planning a conference, gala or community celebration in San Antonio or elsewhere in Texas? Reach out to Grey Bug Photography, or see how we work with planners on our For Planners page.
