Lens hood or CPL which is better?

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Ajd1

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Andy
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Apologies if I'm in the wrong place.

I've just bought myself a Tamron 70-300 F/4-5.6 Di VC USD and am planning on using it at a few air shows later in the year.
What I'd like some advice on is would it be better to use the lens hood or a polarising filter?

Don't think I can use both at the same time as the hood is quite deep.
The lens is quite large as it is and I'm a bit worried about feeling self conscious if I put the hood on.

At the same time I would like to give myself the best opportunity to get some good photos.
I was thinking of getting the Hoya HD CPL not too cheap but not too expensive either.

I would like to get some practice in before I go so any advice would be gratefully received.
Sorry for rambling on a bit.

Andy
 
They do totally different things - the lens hood keeps the sun off the lens and protects it from bumps and knocks, a CPL reduces glare, darkens skys/seas etc etc.

CPL is one of the few filter effects you can't replicate in post production.

I'm guessing you're asking it it's worth using a UV filter as protection, in which case the answer is no - use the lens hood.
 
That is not a large lens; a 500mm F4 is a large lens. There will be plenty of people using lenses as big as yours and bigger, and most will be using a hood with their lenses.

Using a polarising filter depends on the light conditions. There is no point in using it on an overcast day. Also remember that you will lose approx 2 stops of light when you use a polarising filter

A lens hood is best used when shooting towards the sun, a polarising filter is best used with the sun behind you.

A lens hood is to shade the lens, like the peak of a cap. Despite the "advice" often given on this site, its primary function is not to protect your lens.

The Hoya is a decent filter.
 
Agree with both of the above. Only other thing to consider is that adjusting a cpl with a deep good in place might be fiddly but you'll probably find you only need to adjust it once as long as it doesn't move on it's own.
 
As above. They serve different purposes, and it's not a case of choosing one or the other. I always use a hood, and occaisonally use a CPL.
 
Thanks for the replies all are very helpful.
If the weather is the same as last year then the sun was mostly in front of where we park ourselves.

Going by the explanations above I would think the hood is the way to go and have the filter handy if needed.
I realise the lens isn't all that large compared to a lot of others, it's that self confidence thing again.

Then again if other people are like me I didn't tend to take any notice of what anyone else was using.
Need to get out and get some practice in.

Thanks again.

Andy
 
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