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

Nikon Z Rear Lens Cap: What It Covers

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).