Lens hoods?

Usernameuser said:
When would you need to use one, what do they do?
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They serve a couple of main purposes - mainly to reduce flare/glare from strong side on light [the sun for example], but they also help protect the front element from any knocks. Many a lens has been saved from a scratch because of a hood I imagine
 
Helps when you drop your camera.

Raymond Lin said:
b****r.

HxvBzfG.jpg
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Also used for putting tight against glass to cut out reflections.
Most zoo's
Or even tight up against the wire ( if you don't get caught ;) )
 
Cobra.

"
I used to just crastinate.
But then I got so damned good at it...
I decided to go "Pro" "

Love your Sig!
 
snerkler said:
When would you use one? All the time imo, it protects the front glass element.
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I've come across people who never use the hoods, and it puzzles me. Hoods barely add any extra weight - even steel ones, the only time they are in the way is when you're packing up - sometimes hoods can prevent you sticking camera with lens attached into your bag - just reverse it, take a second! I use them all the time.

I hate companies [looking at you Olympus and Canon!] who don't supply one with some lenses and expect you to buy them separate. I'd put off buying one for my cheapy Canon 55-250 because I wasn't sure if I was keeping it or not. But even a dirt cheap no-make hood is better than none, so I should get that sorted really. Has been days where side glare has ruined shots on me, especially shooting through glass, like the kitchen window [birds at feeders]

Like Cobra says, pressing the hood against the glass can KO reflections or glare and your lens is safe.
 
Think of the lens hood as part of the lens, not as an accessory. They are there for a reason, not just too make you look like a pro ;).
 
Nostromo said:
Think of the lens hood as part of the lens, not as an accessory. They are there for a reason, not just too make you look like a pro ;).
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It is an accessory if you buy Olympus or Canon non pro line.
 
How do I look?

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Thanks guys, I have had a look at Canon ones, they know how to take your money off you dont they? Lots of cheap unbranded ones on eBay, are they worth a punt?
 
Usernameuser said:
Thanks guys, I have had a look at Canon ones, they know how to take your money off you dont they? Lots of cheap unbranded ones on eBay, are they worth a punt?
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A lens hood is just a cylinder of plastic (or occasionally metal). It cannot not work or work badly so long as it fits. Canon brand lens hoods are very expensive - my Canon lenses have cheap Ebay hoods.
 
Usernameuser said:
Thanks guys, I have had a look at Canon ones, they know how to take your money off you dont they? Lots of cheap unbranded ones on eBay, are they worth a punt?
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Yes
SOme of the cheaper ones don't have a flock interior (but that's true of many OEM ones too - if you feel the need you can buy sheets of adhesive felt and do it yourself.
 
While the reasons given so far are all true, a lot of the time all hoods do is make lenses look bigger and get in the way. :exit:

However, hoods can also help keep rain off lenses and the photographer's left hand out of the shot with wide angle lenses.(y)
 
Im struggling a bit with my other lens, its a kit lens and apparently Canon dont sell it over the counter. Im thinking the EW-60C will fit?

The only writing on it is EFS 18-55MM
 
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I use them all the time, if I buy a lens without one, I'll always buy a hood for it. They protect the front element from rain, scratches and bumps. Even more important for this if you are photographing events and are moving about in crowds of people.
The only time I take them off is when I'm using a square filter system.
 
For more complex hoods, like the petal designs for zooms, the third party version would have to be quite a close copy of the original to work well (similar size petals that lock in place at the same angle as the original to avoid vignetting, non-reflective inner surface, etc). You may not know whether it is until it arrives. If you want to use a protective filter at all (it's an endlessly debated topic), a 'free' brand-X filter probably isn't the best choice. It's unlikely to be coated to reduce flare, and the glass will be of unknown quality.
 
Retune said:
For more complex hoods, like the petal designs for zooms, the third party version would have to be quite a close copy of the original to work well (similar size petals that lock in place at the same angle as the original to avoid vignetting, non-reflective inner surface, etc). You may not know whether it is until it arrives. If you want to use a protective filter at all (it's an endlessly debated topic), a 'free' brand-X filter probably isn't the best choice. It's unlikely to be coated to reduce flare, and the glass will be of unknown quality.
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I thought it was a little cheap to be any good, and I dont think Canon made a petal design hood for my lens, I couldn't find one if they ever did. So for an extra few quid I thought it better to buy a genuine one.
 
I buy the metal ones from China for all my old vintage lenses, they cost £1-£1.50 each and work great. All modern lenses I've had come with one supplied and I always use them for both protection and to stop flaring etc. I was surprised to read that some new lenses don't come with one supplied.
 
NewBeetle said:
I buy the metal ones from China for all my old vintage lenses, they cost £1-£1.50 each and work great. All modern lenses I've had come with one supplied and I always use them for both protection and to stop flaring etc. I was surprised to read that some new lenses don't come with one supplied.
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I have a couple of those, where the original is hard to find, or goes for a silly collectable price, or seems impractical like this contraption:

Leica-Summitar-Barn-Door-Barndoor-Lens-Hood-Shade.jpg
 
Retune said:
I have a couple of those, where the original is hard to find, or goes for a silly collectable price, or seems impractical like this contraption:

Leica-Summitar-Barn-Door-Barndoor-Lens-Hood-Shade.jpg
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Now that's a hood
 
It's tempting to buy one just for the look of the thing - with that attached to a Summitar on a screwmount Leica, I'd basically be king of the analogue hipsters. Or arrested for carrying a suspicious device in public. The crazy thing does fold down so you can stuff it in your pocket when not using it to frighten pets and small children, though.
 
Usernameuser said:
I thought it was a little cheap to be any good, and I dont think Canon made a petal design hood for my lens, I couldn't find one if they ever did. So for an extra few quid I thought it better to buy a genuine one.
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Sometimes a petal hood doesn't make sense for a specific lens (e.g. if the front element rotates) though that doesn't always stop the third party suppliers making one anyway!
 
Retune said:
I have a couple of those, where the original is hard to find, or goes for a silly collectable price, or seems impractical like this contraption:

Leica-Summitar-Barn-Door-Barndoor-Lens-Hood-Shade.jpg
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I don't have a lens hood like that but I do have a similar camera, a IIIG if you know anyone who might be interested.
 
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