The JJC ALC-3 Lens Cap (Version 2) - Update
Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 8:59PM 
For those who are following the saga of the hunt for an auto lens cap for the LX3.....
Today I received the Version 2 JJC ALC-3 Lens Cap from an Ebay seller in HK.
JJC produced the version 2 lens cap in response to users comments about their original LX3 auto lens cap vignetting at maximum zoom (the doors were visible in the corner of the picture). To combat this, JJC added raised plastic ridges inside their spring loaded doors in an attempt to keep the doors wider apart to prevent them from encroaching on the lens.
The packaging for the version 1 and 2 lens caps are identical - the only difference I noticed is a variation in the font on the label that states "Panasonic DMC-LX-3". The v2 lens is supplied with a single small thin piece of 3m sticky back rubber (there are no instructions in the pack to explain what this is for). The springs on the doors seem a bit stronger that the v1 - which was another common complaint .
Anyway - the big question, do the v2 lens cap improvements prevent vignetting? Answer....No. Even though the v2 modification does keep the spring loaded doors further apart, the vignetting is still very evident when a photo is taken of a white wall.
My suggestion is still to do the 5 min modification I demonstrated in my video. I've already done this to my v2 cap and it works perfectly.
Reader Comments (19)
thanks for your review! you have saved my money!
what's the sticky back rubber for?
Re the rubber - good question. My guess is that JJC expect you to cut it into three pieces and attach it over the fins inside the doors so they open wider. But it's just a guess and I prefer the rubber washer solution anyway.
So the updated version includes the rubber for free? That's awesome!
Thank you for this update. Can you please list the name of the eBay vendor that sells Version 2 of the cap? Or provide a link to their eBay Item Description.
To the extent that Version 2 still has vignetting issues, has the manufacturer promised to create a Version 3?
Can this JJC ALC-3 cap be used with the lens adapter (for attaching filters) is in place on the LX3?
If so, is there a vignetting issue. Should we make the same modification in your video if we use the lens adapter? Thank you.
Ebay seller = lsshishang (the description of the item 360250309145 doesn't mention the fact this is a version 2).
I haven't contacted the manufacturer to ask about a v3 - I'm happy with my modded v2 now.
The ALC-3 cannot be used in conjunction with the DMW-LA4E lens adaptor.
A nice chap called Erik did all the running about before. Then another commenter, Dan, found the Ebay seller. You can see their comments in my earlier post/review of the v1.
Many thanks for all this, Techmoan. I intend to order this cap eventually, but my LX3's delivery has been delayed. To me your tap washer solution looks the least likely to mar the lens barrel, so that's what I plan on doing.
However, since it's safe to use pure silicon fish tank sealer around Koi carp and other sensitive tropical fish (=no harmful vapours), I'll be using that instead of a solvent-based glue with its attendant risk, however remote, of latent fumes affecting the lens after it's 'dry.'
I never even considered any problems with glue vapours damaging anything - although I was careful not to attach the cap until the glue was fully dry (for fear of getting glue on the lens). If you have access to non toxic glue then it would probably make sense to use it instead.
Actually I just happened to have some of that fish tank sealer left over from my daughter's aquarium, but I have had blooms show up on carbon tubes next to glued-on parts after they'd been stored in bags, so being extra careful around a Leica lens seems prudent, if not totally paranoid. I remember when I was a kid glue vapours could cause clear plastic model airplane windscreens to fog.
Thanks for the review Techmoan, much appreciated. I was looking for a different cap and your review help me quite alot.
I've done the rubber washer mod with good success.
I've use 3M command strips (similar to double sided foam tape) to mount:
http://solutions.3mcanada.ca/wps/portal/3M/en_CA/CA-Command/Home/Pages/Products/ReplacementStrips/
thin enough, strong enough and no fumes or risk of damaging the plastic or your lens. I just stuck the half washer to the command strip, trimmed and stuck it on the lens cap. Stick the "wall" side to the lens cap and you're good to go.
I just received my v2 lens cap from ebay seller magic.camera. i have tried taking photos of a white wall @ max zoom and there doesn't seem to be any vignetting so your mileage might vary.
thanks for the review Techmoan, else i would not have known such a cap exists! i almost paid for the ricoh non-threaded one! *shudders*
I got my ALC-3 today. Package was simalar like one on the left side (v1) but cap was v2 model with raised ridges and 3M rubber tape.
What to do with the tape... I placed piece of rubber tape on top of each ridge and vignetting was 90% gone.
My ALC-3 finally arrived and it is currently airing, but I couldn'r resist trying it out and the 3/8 tap washer arches work like a charm (so does the silicon cement, though it takes a while to thoroughly cure).
Many thanks for this tip - it was really well sorted out.
Made a custom-fitted hand (not wrist) strap from a wrist lanyard and two short lengths of heat shrink tubing.
Glad to see that this information is still proving useful, thanks for the feedback.
would love to have an exact link to this product please, thanks in advance.
Hi Jorge, well the eBay seller I bought mine from is still selling them - current item number 360250309145. There are other eBay dealers selling them as well, another one was mentioned earlier in the earlier comments. eBay is the best (only?) place to find one.
I received mine from isshishang in 5 working days, and it was the latest version. It could be adjusted at odd angles so that there was no vignetting, but I used the tap washer arches anyway so I could snug it up and clear the AF light. I then found the silicon fish tank sealer I'd used wasn't as strong a bond as the old-style silicon sealer used on space craft, so I peeled the arches off, tapered them into wedge shapes to reduce their weight (to take some of the load off the flap springs), and stuck them back with Flash Bonder from Aldi. NOW it's perfect.