What purpose does a lens hood serve?

momof4 · 10-21-2007, 05:23 PM

Do all lenses have a lens hood that can be purchased to go with the lens and what is the purpose of one and do I need one? Thanks!

little laker · 10-21-2007, 05:48 PM

Not all lenses have hoods, and some don't recommend them.

For example, the Pentax 10-17mm fisheye doesn't recommend using them. You'd actually see the hood in the picture.

The main purpose of a lens hood is to block some of the light rays, so you don't have any lens flair.
Where the reflection of the light is visible in the picture.
You can see it quite visibly at the top, just right of the center in this photo.

and follow the trail down

I've bought collapsible rubber hoods for most of my lenses which didn't come with them.
They use the filter threads to stay on.

Peter Zack · 10-21-2007, 07:03 PM

The other use is to protect the lens. A solid hood, metal or plastic, offers great front element protection. As Stu says, they will make a big difference in reducing flare and reflections from bright lighting or the sun. IMO don't shoot without them if the lens can take a hood.

Matt Miller · 10-21-2007, 07:55 PM

In addition to preventing flare and protecting your lens, they also eliminate non-image forming light which helps to boost contrast. Lens hoods are a must IMO.

little laker · 10-21-2007, 08:39 PM

I wouldn't necessarily call them a must.

I'm abut to retire them on a few of my lenses for the winter and start using my fast caps instead.

found here
Fast Cap | Demo Page

It's just a little too tough to mess around with lens caps and hoods when your knee deep in snow with the snowshoes on.
Not to mention they're a little hard to find when you drop them

Cold weather where I'm required to wear gloves makes it worst.

Mike Cash · 10-22-2007, 01:09 AM

Fortunately, almost every lens that I use on a daily basis uses a 49mm thread and I carry around an old Vivitar rubber hood that I picked up used from KEH and just swap it from lens to lens.

SupremeMoFo · 10-22-2007, 02:19 AM

My 16-45, 28-70, 70-200 and 70-210 all have lens hoods. It's by far the most useful on the 70-200 (and is also by far the largest). On the 16-45 it's pretty ineffective due to the amount of light it can actually cut down on at anything other than 16mm. The 28-70 is no better in that regard, and the 70-210 uses a plain cone-like design as opposed to the petal hoods on the others.

TaoMaas · 10-22-2007, 05:36 AM

Your shooting style will also determine how useful a lens hood might be to you. If most of your pictures are taken while the sun is at your back, then you probably won't notice a big difference in your pictures when you use a lens hood. But if you prefer backlit or sidelit situations, then a lens hood can make a dramatic difference for you. The key thing is to keep light from striking the front element of your lens, whether by turning away from the sun or by using a lens hood to shade your lens. Personally, I use lens hoods on all my lenses except my fisheye. I consider them a "must".

maj0rglitch · 10-25-2007, 03:27 PM

In the case of the DA limited the hood is where you put the lens cover.

m8o · 10-25-2007, 05:38 PM

I dropped my K10D w/Tamron 28-75 attached 1st week of ownership. Just slipped outta my hand when it hit the corner of the house I was rounding... fell about 3 feet. It went down lens first. The bottom of the camera body cracked but lens hood saved the lens ... just a skuff on the hood.

axl · 10-26-2007, 07:22 AM

Originally posted by little laker

Not all lenses have hoods, and some don't recommend them.

For example, the Pentax 10-17mm fisheye doesn't recommend using them. You'd actually see the hood in the picture.

The main purpose of a lens hood is to block some of the light rays, so you don't have any lens flair.
Where the reflection of the light is visible in the picture.
You can see it quite visibly at the top, just right of the center in this photo.

and follow the trail down

I've bought collapsible rubber hoods for most of my lenses which didn't come with them.
They use the filter threads to stay on.

I do get simillar flair with my DA 18-55, with cpl on, hood on, and sun out of frame, it's quiet irritating

Nesster · 10-26-2007, 07:35 AM

FWIW, a luminous landscape article on flare, I found this pretty clear and consistent with my experience:
Flare-01-11-01-03

mentions the pentax 43 and talks about hoods too

Nesster · 10-26-2007, 07:42 AM

FWIW, a luminous landscape article on flare, I found this pretty clear and consistent with my experience:
Flare-01-11-01-03

mentions the pentax 43 and talks about hoods too

Papersniper · 11-03-2007, 06:58 AM

Originally posted by momof4

Do all lenses have a lens hood that can be purchased to go with the lens and what is the purpose of one and do I need one? Thanks!

I have an old rubber lens hood. It collaspses so I can leave it on the lens when I stick it back in the camera bag. It screws into the filter threads, and has threads in in so one can use a filter if needed.

I need to try to find at least another one in 52mm. Anyone have a source for them? The double filter threads are a requirement.

Also, can someone give me some info on hood shapes? What makes sense on say a 35-70mm zoom? On a 28mm prime? On an 80-200mm zoom?

10-21-2007, 05:23 PM	#1
momof4 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 30	What purpose does a lens hood serve? Do all lenses have a lens hood that can be purchased to go with the lens and what is the purpose of one and do I need one? Thanks!

10-21-2007, 07:03 PM	#3
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	The other use is to protect the lens. A solid hood, metal or plastic, offers great front element protection. As Stu says, they will make a big difference in reducing flare and reflections from bright lighting or the sun. IMO don't shoot without them if the lens can take a hood. Last edited by Peter Zack; 10-22-2007 at 01:41 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Looking for an all-purpose lens	wedge	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	12	04-08-2010 06:17 AM
General purpose zoom lens about 25-100 mm	standerstv	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	14	12-15-2009 07:43 PM
General purpose zoom lens	VincenTC	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	6	02-26-2009 02:06 AM
Weather sealed multi purpose lens	edumad	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	4	06-27-2008 10:26 AM
will this lens serve any purpose for me if im buying a k100d?	zimzum	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	2	02-13-2007 08:58 PM

10-21-2007, 05:48 PM	#2
little laker Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,697	Not all lenses have hoods, and some don't recommend them. For example, the Pentax 10-17mm fisheye doesn't recommend using them. You'd actually see the hood in the picture. The main purpose of a lens hood is to block some of the light rays, so you don't have any lens flair. Where the reflection of the light is visible in the picture. You can see it quite visibly at the top, just right of the center in this photo. and follow the trail down I've bought collapsible rubber hoods for most of my lenses which didn't come with them. They use the filter threads to stay on.

10-21-2007, 07:55 PM	#4
Matt Miller Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Cambridge, Iowa Photos: Gallery Posts: 339	In addition to preventing flare and protecting your lens, they also eliminate non-image forming light which helps to boost contrast. Lens hoods are a must IMO.

10-21-2007, 08:39 PM	#5
little laker Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,697	I wouldn't necessarily call them a must. I'm abut to retire them on a few of my lenses for the winter and start using my fast caps instead. found here Fast Cap \| Demo Page It's just a little too tough to mess around with lens caps and hoods when your knee deep in snow with the snowshoes on. Not to mention they're a little hard to find when you drop them Cold weather where I'm required to wear gloves makes it worst.

10-22-2007, 01:09 AM	#6
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	Fortunately, almost every lens that I use on a daily basis uses a 49mm thread and I carry around an old Vivitar rubber hood that I picked up used from KEH and just swap it from lens to lens.

10-22-2007, 02:19 AM	#7
SupremeMoFo Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 668	My 16-45, 28-70, 70-200 and 70-210 all have lens hoods. It's by far the most useful on the 70-200 (and is also by far the largest). On the 16-45 it's pretty ineffective due to the amount of light it can actually cut down on at anything other than 16mm. The 28-70 is no better in that regard, and the 70-210 uses a plain cone-like design as opposed to the petal hoods on the others.

10-22-2007, 05:36 AM	#8
TaoMaas Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,574	Your shooting style will also determine how useful a lens hood might be to you. If most of your pictures are taken while the sun is at your back, then you probably won't notice a big difference in your pictures when you use a lens hood. But if you prefer backlit or sidelit situations, then a lens hood can make a dramatic difference for you. The key thing is to keep light from striking the front element of your lens, whether by turning away from the sun or by using a lens hood to shade your lens. Personally, I use lens hoods on all my lenses except my fisheye. I consider them a "must".

10-25-2007, 03:27 PM	#9
maj0rglitch Forum Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 56	In the case of the DA limited the hood is where you put the lens cover.

10-25-2007, 05:38 PM	#10
m8o Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 40°-55'-44" N / 73°-24'-07" W [on LI] Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,092	I dropped my K10D w/Tamron 28-75 attached 1st week of ownership. Just slipped outta my hand when it hit the corner of the house I was rounding... fell about 3 feet. It went down lens first. The bottom of the camera body cracked but lens hood saved the lens ... just a skuff on the hood.

10-26-2007, 07:22 AM	#11
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	Originally posted by little laker Not all lenses have hoods, and some don't recommend them. For example, the Pentax 10-17mm fisheye doesn't recommend using them. You'd actually see the hood in the picture. The main purpose of a lens hood is to block some of the light rays, so you don't have any lens flair. Where the reflection of the light is visible in the picture. You can see it quite visibly at the top, just right of the center in this photo. and follow the trail down I've bought collapsible rubber hoods for most of my lenses which didn't come with them. They use the filter threads to stay on. I do get simillar flair with my DA 18-55, with cpl on, hood on, and sun out of frame, it's quiet irritating

10-26-2007, 07:35 AM	#12
Nesster Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 13,072	FWIW, a luminous landscape article on flare, I found this pretty clear and consistent with my experience: Flare-01-11-01-03 mentions the pentax 43 and talks about hoods too

10-26-2007, 07:42 AM	#13
Nesster Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 13,072	FWIW, a luminous landscape article on flare, I found this pretty clear and consistent with my experience: Flare-01-11-01-03 mentions the pentax 43 and talks about hoods too

11-03-2007, 06:58 AM	#14
Papersniper Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 82	Originally posted by momof4 Do all lenses have a lens hood that can be purchased to go with the lens and what is the purpose of one and do I need one? Thanks! I have an old rubber lens hood. It collaspses so I can leave it on the lens when I stick it back in the camera bag. It screws into the filter threads, and has threads in in so one can use a filter if needed. I need to try to find at least another one in 52mm. Anyone have a source for them? The double filter threads are a requirement. Also, can someone give me some info on hood shapes? What makes sense on say a 35-70mm zoom? On a 28mm prime? On an 80-200mm zoom?