A transparent lens cap is a great idea. I guess they are black to blend in with the camera since they were all black in the beginning. As for the stickers - it was a smart marketing plan. We don't take them off for fear of them ripping and not coming off completely which would look uglier than the stickers. Vicious cycle.
Link: Seth's Blog: Gil's invention.
I think there is a practical reason that lense caps are black. I was warned never to point my SLR camera at the sun for long periods of time, even if the shutter is off. Why? Because the lense will focus the light on the shutter's curtain, and can burn it. My guess is that lense caps are black to prevent damage like this.
But since I'm not a photographer, I'm not sure if this is actually true.
Posted by: Anthony Yan | March 22, 2006 at 02:35 AM
Up front it seems like a novel idea. You look through the camera and see the words "remove the lens cap". You slap your head and say, "gee" I forgot to remove the lens cap. Well, since this could only work with an SLR, then looking through the viewfinder and seeing nothing would make you say... "gee, I forgot to remove the lens cap".
Lens caps are black because there is less of a chance of light getting in. This is only crucial when film is used.
Posted by: Steven | March 25, 2006 at 10:06 PM
I believe you're right. That's what I'd learned when I took up photography in the early 1970s. However, I don't think that this has applied for the last two generations of cameras, digital or otherwise.
Posted by: raj | March 27, 2006 at 06:01 PM