Lens hood

[JennyC]

Just a simple question -- um, hopefully -- is it really necessary to use a lens hood?

Thanks,
Jenny

[Dylan8i]

all lenses hoods are designed to do, is to block out excessive light, glare etc, that would hit the lenses at awkward, sharp angles and possibly produce funny effects on the final image. they are especially useful when shooting in to direct lights, and when really bright lights are around when your shooting. So no they are not necessary at all, how ever in some situations it will effect your image.


also alot of people use them as protection for the front element of the lense.

[another view]

No, you don't need to use a lens hood. Most of the time you probably won't even see any benefit from using it. If the light source (sun, flash unit) is just barely out of the frame so that it's backlighting the subject then a hood can cut down on the glare that the lens sees. As mentioned, hoods also provide physical protection. The only time I've ever had a hood cause a problem is with macro, with the hood actually blocking light because the lens is so close to what I'm shooting. Because of this I almost always use a hood.

Not all hoods are created equal - generic rubber hoods in whatever diameter won't protect the lens from much in the way of flare, and provide almost no physical protection. The best hoods are the rigid plastic or metal hoods made specifically for a lens. They'll block as much light as possible without getting in the way. The wider the lens, the less amount of hood that can be used without it blocking the lens. So, zooms are a compromise - the hoods have to work over the whole range - but still a "dedicated" hood is the best bet.

[Stephen Lutz]

I use the lens hood always, and not just for photographic reasons. The hood protects the front element of the lens. Not too long ago, I was walking through the hall holding my camera, with 28-70 2.8L attached at waist level. My four year old daughter opened the door and the knob went straight into the hood! CLUNK!!

No damage, as the hood is so deep on that particular lens that the door knob didn't touch the front element. Without the hood on, though..... I would have been a very sad daddy.

[Frog]

I like them because while walking around, I can cup my hand over them, thus protecting the lens from dust and smoke or whatever but not needing to pull my lens cap off for a quick opportunity.
Also, they make you look like a pro :aureola:

[gryphonslair99]

Just a simple question -- um, hopefully -- is it really necessary to use a lens hood?

Thanks,
Jenny

To me the more important question would be why not use a lens hood? They provide protection. From stray light and for the front element of the lens. All without degrading the quality of your pictures like a filter, usually a cheap one, will.

[Dylan8i]

To me the more important question would be why not use a lens hood? They provide protection. From stray light and for the front element of the lens. All without degrading the quality of your pictures like a filter, usually a cheap one, will.

alot of times i have to take mine off to shoot because a fill flash with clcose objects ( mostly what i take pictures of) will hit the lense hood and leave a nice rounded shadow on the bottom of all pictures.

[mjs1973]

It is very rare that I won't use a lens hood. The two big reasons are when shooting something close up and using a flash, like Dylan said. The other is if I'm in a big hurry. If I have to pull out my gear fast to catch a shot that isn't going to wait for me to put the hood on, I will shot without it. Once the oportunitiy is gone, or I know I got the shot, I put the hood on.

[freygr]

The reason to use a lens hood is flare and loss of contrast in the sun. Unless you are always shooting with the sun to your back.

[JennyC]

Thank you. Very informative.

Jenny

[gryphonslair99]

alot of times i have to take mine off to shoot because a fill flash with clcose objects ( mostly what i take pictures of) will hit the lense hood and leave a nice rounded shadow on the bottom of all pictures.

I'm guessing that you are using the on-board flash? I never use it. I always use and external flash in the shoe or on a bracket and have never had that problem.

[Dylan8i]

I'm guessing that you are using the on-board flash? I never use it. I always use and external flash in the shoe or on a bracket and have never had that problem.

well yeah, but i don't have external flash yet, and it isn't really required for macro shots anyhows.... plus would still be blocked when lense is extended all the way with subject at closest focusing distance. but its so easy to just un screw the lense hood it doesn;t matter

[another view]

Using a built-in flash is a good reason for taking off a lens hood - problem is that the lens hood will usually block the light from the flash. Since the light is coming from the same direction that the lens is pointed, it won't cause lens flare (as backlighting would). Some lenses and lens hoods are more of a problem with this, just based on the physical size of the lens. Unless I have a good reason not to use a hood, I use one.

[gryphonslair99]

Here is an interesting thread from another forum on a DIY ring flash using the built in flash.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...cro+ring+flash

I usually don't use a hood for macro either. But I already had a pair of 580EX flash units (Yeah I'm obviously a Canon shooter) and came across a twin armed macro flash bracket at a crazy low price in a local camera store.