Best Lens Hood For a 18-55mm L

seachunk2 · 09-28-2010, 03:04 AM

Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here.

The kit lens I got with my white Kx didn't come with a hood.
What's a good hood for this lens?

By the way, I also have a K7 & tried using the hood that came with the 18-55mm WR lens but that won't fit on the L lens.
(Makes me wonder why Pentax stripped the L version to the point where you can't use the non-L hood? Would it have cost that much more to have the L capable of using the same hood?)

woof · 09-28-2010, 06:01 AM

Originally posted by seachunk2

The kit lens I got with my white Kx didn't come with a hood.
What's a good hood for this lens?
By the way, I also have a K7 & tried using the hood that came with the 18-55mm WR lens but that won't fit on the L lens.
(Makes me wonder why Pentax stripped the L version to the point where you can't use the non-L hood? Would it have cost that much more to have the L capable of using the same hood?)

You are right, the hoods appear to be different for the "L" vs. "WA" models. According to Bojidar Dimitrov's page for the "L" lens, the hood part number is: PH-RBA52. The hood for the WA version is PH-RBC52.

See: DA L 18-55/3.5-5.6 AL
DA 18-55/3.5-5.6 AL WR

That said, have a look at this: Lens Hood for Pentax K2000, K20D,K200D w/18-55mm Lens - eBay (item 390120496732 end time Oct-14-10 19:13:57 PDT)

This lens hood is a direct replacement for the correct PH-RBA52 and is much less expensive than the Pentax version. I purchased a replacement hood for my 55-300mm hood as I dropped it in a field somewhere, and the quality is quite good. On first use it was somewhat stiff going on. But after that it has looked and felt like the real thing, and in fact seems to click into place a little more snugly and positively.

There are a lot of these on eBay. I'd go with something like this as it is purpose built and nearly indistinguishable from the original.
Hope this helps. Kind regards.
woof!

Ratmagiclady · 09-28-2010, 02:41 PM

This is one place where I could just slap Pentax. Supply the darn hood, already. There's no cheaper way to make your brand look good than to provide a piece of plastic like that, and no less-profitable way to make your brand look bad than to not do so.

It's like, 'Hey, let's talk IQ and hope stark beginners decide they want to pay fourty bucks to not be walking around with nekkid kit zooms! ....while they have *no idea why they should even want that fifty-cent piece of plastic..*

**NaClH2O** · 09-28-2010, 02:46 PM

Originally posted by Ratmagiclady

This is one place where I could just slap Pentax. Supply the darn hood, already. There's no cheaper way to make your brand look good than to provide a piece of plastic like that, and no less-profitable way to make your brand look bad than to not do so.

I have to agree RML, when a Nikon friend of mine found that the lens didn't come with a hood he asked "how cheap can they get?"

NaCl(it costs what? a dollar to make?)H2O

Ratmagiclady · 09-28-2010, 02:58 PM

Originally posted by NaClH2O

I have to agree RML, when a Nikon friend of mine found that the lens didn't come with a hood he asked "how cheap can they get?"

NaCl(it costs what? a dollar to make?)H2O

Boneheaded capitalism frustrating well-intentioned engineers, is what it is. Entry level cameras should have on their set-up screen, 'OK, you spent like an impounded Honda's ransom on this thing, it's now time to put that piece of plastic on your lens. This should never be removed until you know exactly why. Just trust me.'

Pablom · 09-28-2010, 03:05 PM

Originally posted by NaClH2O

I have to agree RML, when a Nikon friend of mine found that the lens didn't come with a hood he asked "how cheap can they get?"

NaCl(it costs what? a dollar to make?)H2O

I'm not sure how Nikon works but when I got my Nikon a few years back there wasn't a hood for the kit lens either

Ratmagiclady · 09-28-2010, 03:09 PM

Originally posted by Pablom

I'm not sure how Nikon works but when I got my Nikon a few years back there wasn't a hood for the kit lens either

I, for one, didn't say anyone *else* was being any smarter about that, either. Actually, Canikon's kit lenses are things I've considered just kind of insulting to begin with, never mind something to be hunting down matched hoods for.

Pablom · 09-28-2010, 03:37 PM

Originally posted by Ratmagiclady

I, for one, didn't say anyone *else* was being any smarter about that, either. Actually, Canikon's kit lenses are things I've considered just kind of insulting to begin with, never mind something to be hunting down matched hoods for.

I agree with you. my comment was directed to NaClH2O

09-28-2010, 03:04 AM	#1
seachunk2 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: New York Photos: Gallery Posts: 198	Best Lens Hood For a 18-55mm L Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. The kit lens I got with my white Kx didn't come with a hood. What's a good hood for this lens? By the way, I also have a K7 & tried using the hood that came with the 18-55mm WR lens but that won't fit on the L lens. (Makes me wonder why Pentax stripped the L version to the point where you can't use the non-L hood? Would it have cost that much more to have the L capable of using the same hood?)

09-28-2010, 02:41 PM	#3
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563	This is one place where I could just slap Pentax. Supply the darn hood, already. There's no cheaper way to make your brand look good than to provide a piece of plastic like that, and no less-profitable way to make your brand look bad than to not do so. It's like, 'Hey, let's talk IQ and hope stark beginners decide they want to pay fourty bucks to not be walking around with nekkid kit zooms! ....while they have no idea why they should even want that fifty-cent piece of plastic.. Last edited by Ratmagiclady; 09-28-2010 at 02:51 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
DA* 55mm/1.4 Lens Hood Discontinued	MrPetkus	Pentax News and Rumors	27	06-29-2010 12:22 PM
PH-RBA lens hood for DA 18-55mm AL	G-CPTN	Ask B&H Photo!	3	06-28-2010 10:30 AM
55mm f1.4 lens hood	cpk	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	5	06-22-2010 08:49 PM
Lens hood for the kit 18-55mm?	cinaibur	Pentax Camera and Field Accessories	15	03-06-2009 08:04 AM
For Sale - Sold: Pentax 18-55mm lens hood with box (no lens, just hood and box)	drabina	Sold Items	3	09-13-2008 06:21 PM

09-28-2010, 06:01 AM	#2
woof Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: In the present Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,870	Originally posted by seachunk2 The kit lens I got with my white Kx didn't come with a hood. What's a good hood for this lens? By the way, I also have a K7 & tried using the hood that came with the 18-55mm WR lens but that won't fit on the L lens. (Makes me wonder why Pentax stripped the L version to the point where you can't use the non-L hood? Would it have cost that much more to have the L capable of using the same hood?) You are right, the hoods appear to be different for the "L" vs. "WA" models. According to Bojidar Dimitrov's page for the "L" lens, the hood part number is: PH-RBA52. The hood for the WA version is PH-RBC52. See: DA L 18-55/3.5-5.6 AL DA 18-55/3.5-5.6 AL WR That said, have a look at this: Lens Hood for Pentax K2000, K20D,K200D w/18-55mm Lens - eBay (item 390120496732 end time Oct-14-10 19:13:57 PDT) This lens hood is a direct replacement for the correct PH-RBA52 and is much less expensive than the Pentax version. I purchased a replacement hood for my 55-300mm hood as I dropped it in a field somewhere, and the quality is quite good. On first use it was somewhat stiff going on. But after that it has looked and felt like the real thing, and in fact seems to click into place a little more snugly and positively. There are a lot of these on eBay. I'd go with something like this as it is purpose built and nearly indistinguishable from the original. Hope this helps. Kind regards. woof!

09-28-2010, 02:46 PM	#4
NaClH2O Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bronx NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,631	Originally posted by Ratmagiclady This is one place where I could just slap Pentax. Supply the darn hood, already. There's no cheaper way to make your brand look good than to provide a piece of plastic like that, and no less-profitable way to make your brand look bad than to not do so. I have to agree RML, when a Nikon friend of mine found that the lens didn't come with a hood he asked "how cheap can they get?" NaCl(it costs what? a dollar to make?)H2O

09-28-2010, 02:58 PM	#5
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563	Originally posted by NaClH2O I have to agree RML, when a Nikon friend of mine found that the lens didn't come with a hood he asked "how cheap can they get?" NaCl(it costs what? a dollar to make?)H2O Boneheaded capitalism frustrating well-intentioned engineers, is what it is. Entry level cameras should have on their set-up screen, 'OK, you spent like an impounded Honda's ransom on this thing, it's now time to put that piece of plastic on your lens. This should never be removed until you know exactly why. Just trust me.'

09-28-2010, 03:05 PM	#6
Pablom Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Usa Posts: 1,940	Originally posted by NaClH2O I have to agree RML, when a Nikon friend of mine found that the lens didn't come with a hood he asked "how cheap can they get?" NaCl(it costs what? a dollar to make?)H2O I'm not sure how Nikon works but when I got my Nikon a few years back there wasn't a hood for the kit lens either

09-28-2010, 03:09 PM	#7
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563	Originally posted by Pablom I'm not sure how Nikon works but when I got my Nikon a few years back there wasn't a hood for the kit lens either I, for one, didn't say anyone else was being any smarter about that, either. Actually, Canikon's kit lenses are things I've considered just kind of insulting to begin with, never mind something to be hunting down matched hoods for.

09-28-2010, 03:37 PM	#8
Pablom Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Usa Posts: 1,940	Originally posted by Ratmagiclady I, for one, didn't say anyone else was being any smarter about that, either. Actually, Canikon's kit lenses are things I've considered just kind of insulting to begin with, never mind something to be hunting down matched hoods for. I agree with you. my comment was directed to NaClH2O